Thank you to Greywhisper8598 for pointing out that I unwittingly changed Honey's name to Bramble in the last chapter. Tawny's kits are indeed named Honey & Lark, not Bramble & Lark! I shall try to be more diligent in my editting! Thank you to all who have been reading & I apologize for my sporadic updates-college likes to keep me busy!

I do not own Warriors or any of the original characters from Warriors, I simply own the ones not in the original series.

Chapter Thirteen

Icepaw remained awake that night, even though his body cried out for sleep, he wanted to see if Blazepaw would actually remain in camp that night, though he didn't think he would.

A pang of regret shot through him as he thought of their fight. He hadn't meant to attack Blazepaw, he'd merely wanted to confront his friend about his nightly escapades, but when Blazepaw had challenged his loyalty, he'd lost all self-control.

He could still see Blazepaw's ginger pelt as his flanks rose and fell. His eyes started to droop close, Icepaw fighting the urge to sleep, but his tired body soon won out…

Icepaw found himself in an unfamiliar camp, though it smelled of ThunderClan. The camp was deserted; not a cat in sight. When he finally spotted a white pelt he had to stifle a purr as he recognized Whitestorm from his dream as a kit.

Wondering what the warrior wanted, he was surprised when Whitestorm meowed, without any greeting, "Wake up, Icepaw. You need to know what your friend has been up to. Wake up!"

Startled by this, he sat up in surprise just in time to see Blazepaw's tail tip as he left the den. Whitestorm's words rang in his mind, and he silently prayed, please just let him be using the dirtplace! Cautiously exiting the den, Icepaw spotted Blazepaw padding towards the entrance of the camp, the ginger apprentice looking around as if he didn't want to be seen or followed.

Blazepaw…Icepaw thought worriedly, padding quickly after his friend, and darting out of the entrance as he heard the paw steps of whoever was on guard duty. Diving under a nearby bush, he watched as Loudfang sat down at the entrance to camp once more.

Mouse-brain…Icepaw thought as he crept quietly out from under the bush out of Loudfang's sight. Moving cautiously away from the entrance to the camp, he didn't stop till he was certain that Loudfang wouldn't be able to hear him.

Frustrated at the delay, he set off towards the old thunderpath, having investigated near there two nights in a row, he was fairly certain that he'd find Blazepaw there along with whomever else was there, sheltering in the bushes.

Taking his time, Icepaw arrived near the old thunderpath, and he slowed, stalking through the undergrowth towards the bush where he could hear voices, and he could easily pick out Blazepaw's from all of them. As he got closer, a she-cat spoke, "I figured they needed some fresh air!" The first voice purred.

"I still don't like it," a second voice growled.

A tiny kit mew sounded then, "Blazepaw will protect us!"

Without waiting any longer, Icepaw leapt around the bush that was blocking his view, and he found Blazepaw sitting with two she-cats, two kits playing.

The kits squeaked in alarm when they spotted him, while one of the she-cats, a calico, darted in front of them, her fur fluffed out in fear, but baring her teeth bravely at him. The second she-cat screeched in fury and threw herself at him, her light brown body crashing into him, taking him off-guard.

The she-cat leapt away from him before he could retaliate, and she lashed her tail, her amber eyes blazing with pure fury.

Icepaw prepared to leap at her when Blazepaw caterwauled, "Stop!" He darted in between them, first staring at the she-cat.

"Why haven't you driven them off our territory?" Icepaw demanded.

Blazepaw stared at him then beseechingly, "Please, hear me out!"

Reluctantly, Icepaw sheathed his claws and sat down, though he kept a wary eye on the light brown she-cat, who was glaring at him from where she now sat. The calico she-cat had relaxed a bit, though her fur was still fluffed out. "Well?" He demanded, "If Foxstar or Moonpelt finds out about this you'll be crowfood!"

"I couldn't drive them off," Blazepaw meowed, scoffing the ground with his paw. "They're not doing any harm…"

Icepaw growled, "Except eating the prey that ThunderClan desperately needs!"

The light brown she-cat spat, "We need to eat as well!"

"But not on ThunderClan territory!" Icepaw spat right back, hackles rising again.

Blazepaw glanced between the two cats, before meowing, "Stay here, Tawny, I need to talk with Icepaw for a minute, alone."

The light brown she-cat, Tawny, nodded, though her amber eyes were slits as she watched them retreat several fox-lengths.

"Well?" Icepaw meowed once they were seated again.

Blazepaw meowed, "Those kits are about three or four moons old! Do you understand what that means?"

Understanding flooded through Icepaw, "They could be apprentices if they joined the clan!"

"Exactly!" Blazepaw meowed, looking happier. "I've been slowly trying to convince Tawny since her kits seem to like the idea along with Sweetie, the other she-cat, but Tawny still refuses to at least come and see the clan!"

Relieved that his doubts about Blazepaw had been wrong and that they seemed to be on the same side once more, he meowed, "What have you tried telling her?"

"How safe her kits will be and how well cared for mainly," Blazepaw meowed.

Icepaw frowned, "Nothing about what she can give though?"

Now Blazepaw was frowning, "No…I didn't think about that…"

"Let me try to talk to her then," Icepaw meowed, not waiting for Blazepaw to answer as he padded back towards the formidable she-cat.

"Wait!" Blazepaw hissed, but it was too late.

Icepaw sat down, dipping his head to the older she-cat, "I'm sorry about earlier, I'm Icepaw of ThunderClan, formerly of WindClan."

Tawny was obviously taken off-guard by this statement, "You were not born in ThunderClan?"

"No," Icepaw meowed. "I disobeyed my clan leader, who wanted me to hurt Blazepaw when he trespassed on our territory, when I didn't; he banished me, along with my father. ThunderClan took us in, knowing we'd be valuable assets to their clan."

The calico she-cat, Sweetie, meowed, "So then you're loyal to ThunderClan now?"

"Yes," Icepaw meowed. "And I'd give my life for the clan and all the cats in it."

"See?" Sweetie demanded of Tawny. "Here is another example of how loyal they are! We should take Lark and Honey there!"

"I can take care of all of us!" Tawny spat, bristling.

Icepaw meowed, "The clan could use a fierce she-cat like you."

Tawny whipped around, baring her teeth at him, "Use me? No cat uses me!"

"You misunderstand me," Icepaw stated, backpedaling quickly. "You see, ThunderClan needs more warriors, and you would make a great one with your fighting ability and fierceness." He turned to Sweetie, "You'd be a warrior as well!"

"But-but I can't hunt or fight…" Sweetie murmured, "I just thought if we joined your clan I'd be a queen, constantly caring for kits…"

Blazepaw, having remained silent for a while, now meowed, "You can be taught to hunt and fight to protect kits and clanmates."

Sweetie's eyes brightened, before they were blazing, "I want to join this clan, Tawny, if it means I can protect kits better I'm all for it!"

The fierceness with which the calico she-cat spoke surprised Icepaw, but he didn't say anything as a light brown she-kit with a white muzzle and front paws meowed, "Please Tawny! I want to be a warrior!"

"Me too!" The other she-kit, a dark brown tabby meowed.

Blazepaw waited a few seconds before prompting, "Tawny? Will you and your kits join ThunderClan?"

Tawny remained silent, looking from her kits to Sweetie, and back again, before she turned to look at Blazepaw and Icepaw, "You say my kits will be well cared for and that your clan needs my skills?" Blazepaw and Icepaw nodded. "All right then…we'll come with you back to your clan."

"Yay!" The two kits yowled, bouncing around happily.

Tawny stared at the two apprentices, "Lead the way."

Nodding, Icepaw and Blazepaw walked side by side while Tawny, Sweetie, and the two kits followed.

"Thanks, Icepaw," Blazepaw meowed, brushing against Icepaw's pelt. "I'm sorry about earlier…I just didn't want any other cat to find out, but I'm glad of your help."

Icepaw purred, brushing against Blazepaw's fur, "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have lost it like that." He glanced back at the four cats, "We now have more warriors for ThunderClan."

"If Foxstar accepts," Blazepaw muttered nervously.

Icepaw shared his friend's worry, recalling how Foxstar had stared at him as he'd left the leader's den that day. He still tried to reassure his friend, "I'm sure he'll take them in. ThunderClan NEEDS more warriors!"

Luck was with them as they finally reached the camp entrance at sunrise, Rosepetal standing guard at the entrance to the camp instead of Loudfang.

Thank StarClan! Icepaw thought, remembering how the tiger-striped warrior had tried to rip him to shreds the other day.

Rosepetal stood up and snarled when she spotted the four new cats, but Blazepaw quickly meowed, "They want to join the clan!"

"Do they now?" Rosepetal meowed, looking over the four cats. "And how long have these trespassers been on our territory?"

Blazepaw scoffed the ground with his white paw, "Awhile now…"

Rosepetal scolded her apprentice, "The Warrior Code tells us to drive off intruders!"

At this Tawny bristled, while Sweetie wrapped her tail protectively around the two kits.

Sighing, Rosepetal flicked her tail over Blazepaw's ears, "Your heart is in the right place though…" Flicking her tail for them to follow, she led the way towards Foxstar's den. "Wait here," Rosepetal mewed as they reached the base of path that led up to the ThunderClan leader's den. They all sat down, waiting for Rosepetal to come back.

Having smelled the new cats, the clan was coming out of their dens, even grouchy Jayfeather padded out to get a better idea of what he was smelling.

Tawny looked extremely uncomfortable, her ears flat against her head, though she didn't smell of fear, unlike Sweetie, who cowered against the other she-cat. The two kits gazed around with eyes filled with wonder at the sight of the camp and all the new cats.

Icecloud padded out of the Nursery, her four kits bouncing around her. Icepaw purred when he heart Thunderkit ask, "Icecloud? Can we go play with those other kits?"

Looking their way, Icecloud meowed, "You may say hello, but you can't play with them yet."

"Yay!" Thunderkit meowed, bounding over; his sisters beating him over to Tawny's two kits.

"Hi!" one of the white she-kits meowed, "I'm Snowkit!"

"I'm Silverkit!"

"I'm Frostkit!"

"And I'm Thunderkit!" the gray and white tom declared, managing to shove past his sisters.

The light brown tabby with the white muzzle and forepaws meowed, "I'm Honey."

"And I'm Lark," the other she-kit meowed.

Icepaw couldn't help noticing that both of the two kits were much larger than Icecloud's kits, Blazepaw's right, they've got to be about four moons old…in two moons they can start their training!

"Those are weird names!" Snowkit mewed, staring at the two she-kits.

Before they could respond, Rosepetal returned, meowing, "Foxstar would like to see you all in his den."

They all stood up, and Blazepaw led the four cats up to Foxstar's den, Icepaw flanking them. When they entered, Icepaw was surprised to see Moonpelt in the den as well, sitting beside Foxstar, his eyes widening in surprise as he took in the four cats.

Foxstar meowed, "So, we've had loners on our territory for some time now, Blazepaw, and you convinced them to join our clan?"

"Icepaw helped too," Blazepaw meowed. "But he didn't know about them till last night!"

Icepaw flinched, wishing Blazepaw had left that little detail out.

Foxstar's eyes narrowed, "So you left the camp even though I'd ordered you not too?"

"Yes, Foxstar," both of them meowed, lowering their heads.

Moonpelt commented, "Even though they disobeyed your orders, I believe both their hearts were in the right place, Blazepaw wanting to convince these cats to join the clan and Icepaw wanting to know what Blazepaw was up to."

"Is that why you quarreled the other day?" Foxstar questioned.

"Yes, Foxstar," they both answered again.

Foxstar looked thoughtful before he turned to the four cats, "You want to join ThunderClan?"

"Yes," Tawny and Sweetie meowed. The kits were staring at Foxstar and Moonpelt with wide eyes. Icepaw assumed they'd never seen such large, fierce looking cats in their lives.

Foxstar looked thoughtful, but he didn't say anything. Moonpelt murmured, "We need more cats, and those kits will be apprentices sooner my own kits."

This seemed to decide it, as Foxstar nodded, "I will allow you to join ThunderClan."

Sweetie looked relieved, as did Tawny, while the kits yowled triumphantly, "Yay! We're going to be warriors!"

Moonpelt's whiskers twitched in amusement, while Foxstar merely watched all their reactions with an unreadable look in his eyes. "I will formerly tell the clan about you all at sunhigh, until then, Blazepaw and Icepaw can show you around the camp." His whiskers twitched with amusement as he added, "And then they can clean out all the dens in camp."

Dipping their heads respectively to Foxstar, Blazepaw and Icepaw trotted out of the den, the four new cats following along with Moonpelt. Once they were in the main clearing, Moonpelt meowed to the four cats, "I'm Moonpelt, the deputy of this clan."

Tawny nodded, while Sweetie gazed at the gray warrior in awe along with the two kits.

Moonpelt turned to Icepaw and Blazepaw, "Make sure you give them a good tour so they know where everything is and how our clan works."

"We will!" They both meowed, before setting off, showing the four cats all the dens, along with introducing them to as many cats as possible before sunhigh. As they met more and more cats, Icepaw noticed that Tawny and Sweetie kept exchanging uncertain glances, and he hoped the two she-cats weren't having any second thoughts, they'd already grown on him, and he truly believed that they would be great additions to ThunderClan.

When sunhigh finally came, Tawny, Sweetie, and the two kits had managed to meet all the cats in the clan. Most of the clan cats seemed okay with the latest additions to their clan, including Loudfang, though Dawnstep was wary of them, but Icepaw had found it hard not to yowl triumphantly when the she-cat had greeted him warmly when he'd introduced her to the new cats.

Foxstar caterwauled to get the clan's attention, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath Highledge for a clan meeting!"

All the cats in the camp gathered below Highledge, "Cats of ThunderClan, as you know there are four new cats in our camp who I have formerly accepted into the clan. Until they gain knowledge of our ways and the Warrior Code, I will not give them clan names. However, they are to be treated like any other member of the clan." Foxstar walked into his den, ending the meeting.

"You can't get better than that at the moment," Blazepaw explained to the crestfallen kits. "You all need to learn about the Warrior Code and clan life."

A quarter-moon later, Icepaw was on a border patrol with Hawkwing, Bumblestripe, and Tawny, the four cats having settled well into the clan, the two she-cats splitting their time between Lark and Honwy and a warrior's life. As far as Icepaw was concerned, Tawny was a natural warrior, picking up quickly on battle techniques and the Warrior Code. Sweetie was a bit slower, the former kittypet struggling with some aspects of clan life, but showing determination in understanding all that was necessary to become a warrior.

The patrol slowed as they reached the Thunderpath, scenting the air for any signs of ShadowClan intruders while renewing the border markings.

As they reached the curve of the Thunderpath, Tawny meowed, "The marker has been moved!"

Icepaw, Hawkwing, and Bumblestripe all scented the air and blinked in surprise as they noticed the change as well. ShadowClan had moved the marker to the other side of the curve, deeper into their territory.

"About time you came along," a mottled brown and ginger tom growled as he stalked out of the undergrowth. "We've been waiting since dawn to catch a ThunderClan patrol." More cats stalked out of the undergrowth at this, easily outnumbering their patrol.

"Doesn't ShadowClan have enough territory, Redbird?" Hawkwing demanded, his fur bristling, ears flat against his head.

Redbird snorted, "Our clan is growing larger everyday while yours grows smaller, so our leader felt it was time to add to our territory!"

"You'll have to take it from us then," Bumblestripe spat, his teeth barred.

"With pleasure, a dark brown tabby snarled, leaping at the tiger-striped tom.

Hawkwing yowled as Redbird slammed into him, "Icepaw! Go back to camp and get help!"

Icepaw nodded and turned to flee, when he felt claws on his haunches. Yowling in pain, he turned to face his attacker, when the weight left his haunches suddenly. Tawny had a tortoiseshell she-cat pinned to the ground, and she snarled, "Go, Icepaw!"

Icepaw took off through the forest, heading towards camp, the screeches and yowls of the fight fading as he tore back to camp. The journey seeming to take forever and driving Icepaw to run faster when he thought of the drastically outnumbered patrol, he half-slid, half-ran into camp, caterwauling, "ShadowClan is trying to expand their territory! We need help!"

Moonpelt shot out of the Nursery, and Loudfang, Ashfall, and Dawnstep came out of the Warriors' Den. Foxstar called out as he raced down from Highledge, "Go help the patrol, I'll find Rosepetal, Sweetie, and Blazepaw and we'll come help too!"

Moonpelt turned to Icepaw, "Lead the way!"

Nodding, Icepaw tore out of camp, the others following after him, their longer legs enabling them to keep up with his faster run. Please be okay! Icepaw thought as he led the patrol nearer and nearer to where the patrol had been battling. The screeches and yowls of pain and fury reached their ears first, and then the battling cats came into sight, Hawkwing taking on three warriors, fighting like all of LionClan, Bumblestripe fighting with two cats that had him cornered and unable to dodge their attacks, while Tawny was also fighting with three warriors, fighting with the ferocity of TigerClan.

Yowling a battle cry, Moonpelt took the lead, charging into the fray, and leaping at one of Bumblestripe's attackers, while Loudfang threw himself at the other. Screeching furiously, Dawnstep launched herself at a black tom with two white paws that was attacking Hawkwing, Ashfall flinging himself at another of Hawkwing's attackers.

Icepaw made a beeline for a white tom with small black spots that was attacking Tawny. As he landed on the ShadowClan warrior's back, the tom whipped around in fury. The warrior managed to throw him off, and Icepaw landed on his paws, spitting in the warrior's face. The white tom lunged at Icepaw, who leapt to the side, striking out with a forepaw, clawing the warrior's side. Screeching in pain and rage, the warrior turned around and struck at Icepaw with a forepaw. Icepaw pulled back but he hissed as the ShadowClan warrior's claws raked across his ear. Leaping forward, Icepaw slammed into the warrior's side, knocking the white tom to the ground, having taken him off guard. With a snarl, Icepaw pinned the warrior, kicking him with his hind paws and biting his shoulder. When the warrior yowled in pain, Icepaw got off him, the warrior dashing off back into ShadowClan territory.

He turned to help Tawny once more only to see the she-cat giving a nip to a ShadowClan warrior's haunches as the warrior fled.

Tawny slid to a halt at the original border, tail raised high in the air, even though she was bleeding from her ear and shoulder, she looked ready to take on more ShadowClan warriors.

A yowl rose above the remaining sounds of battle, "Retreat!"

The ShadowClan warriors ran back to their territory, Redbird pausing to hiss at the ThunderClan cats, "This isn't over!"

"Just remember that this territory still belongs to us!" Moonpelt snarled.

Eyes glittering with malice, Redbird followed after his clanmates deeper into ShadowClan's territory.

"Well done," Moonpelt meowed to all the ThunderClan cats once he was sure ShadowClan was truly gone. "We need to head back to camp now." With that, the gray warrior started to lead the way back to camp, bearing only a few minor scratches from the battle.

Icepaw noticed that Hawkwing, Bumblestripe, and Tawny bore the worst injuries, but that made sense, since the three warriors had fought off the ShadowClan warriors up until the rest of them had arrived.

Crashing in the undergrowth made Moonpelt halt, his hackles rising, but he relaxed as he recognized Foxstar's scent a minute before his leader appeared, followed by Blazepaw, Rosepetal, and Sweetie, "Did you drive them off?"

Moonpelt nodded, "Yes, they won't be trying that again in a hurry."

Foxstar nodded, taking in those that had fought, "I'm very proud of all of you." His gaze rested on Tawny, but he said nothing, merely beckoning for the cats to follow him back to camp.

As Foxstar bounded into camp, he leapt up onto Highledge, "Let all those cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath Highledge for a clan meeting."

Icepaw sat with the rest of the cats that had just returned the elders, Jayfeather, and Icecloud all coming out of their dens, looking wary, obviously not expecting good news.

"As you know, ShadowClan tried to take more of our territory today," Foxstar meowed, gazing down at his cats with obvious pride. "They were driven off though, knowing that ThunderClan will no longer let them take what they want!" Yowls of approval rose from all of them, Icepaw among them. "And now, I'd like to give a cat their warrior name…" His gaze rested on Tawny, and Icepaw's heart plummeted a bit, but the feeling didn't last long, glad that Tawny was finally being fully accepted into the clan. "Tawny, please step forward."

Tawny obeyed Foxstar, but she meowed, "I would prefer to keep my name as it is, Foxstar."

The ThunderClan leader's eyes narrowed to slits, "You will either take a warrior name, or leave this clan."

Tawny dipped her head, her gaze showing that she didn't want to leave, "I will take a warrior name…"

Foxstar nodded and gazed up at the sky, "I call upon our warrior ancestors to look upon this cat, she has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend her to you as a full warrior of our clan in turn. Tawny…from this moment on you will be known as Tawnyclaw. StarClan honors your fierceness and strength and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." He leapt down from Highledge and touched her head, and she respectfully licked his shoulder.

"Tawnyclaw! Tawnyclaw!" The clan yowled Tawny's new name, and the usually fierce she-cat looked embarrassed.

Foxstar signaled for silence and meowed, "I also want to formerly welcome Honeykit and Larkkit into the clan."

Icepaw's whiskers twitched in amusement as he heard yowls of joy from the Nursery.

"I've never been prouder of this clan," Foxstar meowed, gazing around. "I know that we have what it takes to regain the territory that we've lost." His eyes blazed, and Icepaw agreed with his leader. ThunderClan certainly seemed unbeatable at the moment.