And here it is, the end of the first part of the story! Thank you all for your patience and acceptance, and your wonderful reviews! You guys are awesome!

I'll be working on the sequel now - there are going to be more obvious changes in that one than there were in this one, and I look forward to it all! Until I get a little buffer going of the sequel, look forward to more chapters of Blood of the Tiger, and possibly a short story to go in-between this and its sequel. I haven't decided yet.

Anyway, I'm sure you're all looking forward to the end of Into the Wild - I know I was! From here on out it's the wild west for warrior names - some will be the same, some won't... and some won't be what you expected at all!

Without further ado, here it is - the closing chapter of Tinystar's Beginning: Into the Wild!


Chapter 26

Frostfur was huddled in the center of the camp, eyes blue pools of misery. She didn't lift her head when Tinypaw and Graypaw pushed their way into the camp ahead of the patrol – but when Willowpelt and Mousefur padded in, kits in tow, Frostfur's head shot up and joy flooded over the grieving queen.

"My kits!" she cried. Nothing but a white streak, she rushed for Thornkit and Swiftkit, licking them both and purring. Mousefur and Willowpelt stepped aside, allowing the queen to relish being with her kits again.

Her cries alerted the camp – soon enough, most of ThunderClan was out of their dens, eyes round and curious. Tinypaw spotted Yellowfang hanging back near the camp entrance, eyes darting awkwardly to and fro.

Spottedleaf's body lay in the clearing. Most of her mourners had gotten up thanks to the commotion – Tigerstar was the last of them, getting to his paws and striding through the crowd to greet the returning patrol. Bluefur stepped in beside him, throwing a suspicious glare at Yellowfang.

"Are you all right?" Tigerstar asked Whitestorm.

"We're fine," the white warrior answered, dipping his head. "The kits are, too."

"Well done, Whitestorm," Tigerstar meowed, his amber eyes glowing. "ThunderClan honors you."

Whitestorm lifted his head, eyes shimmering at his leader's praise. "I am grateful; but it was thanks to these apprentices that we found the kits at all," he meowed, flicking his tail to Tinypaw and Graypaw.

Tinypaw lifted his head under Tigerstar's approving gaze, and opened his mouth to tell the story of what had happened – but Bluefur's accusing growl cut him off.

"What is she doing here?" Bluefur growled. "Why did you bring back this traitor?"

"She is no traitor!" Tinypaw snapped, narrowing his eyes at Bluefur. Their eyes met, and Tinypaw suddenly felt a rush of self-consciousness. Was he really going to talk back to his mentor right now? For Yellowfang, for Ravenpaw, he figured he had to.

Longtail scoffed, eyeing Yellowfang with hatred. "She killed Spottedleaf!" he growled.

"Look between Spottedleaf's claws," Graypaw offered, a challenge in his eyes. "You'll find the brown fur of Clawface – not Yellowfang's gray fur!"

Tigerstar nodded to Mousefur – the brown warrior shot off immediately. The Clan waited in tense silence for her to return with the truth. When Mousefur came back, her eyes were full of confusion.

"Graypaw is right," Mousefur announced. "Spottedleaf was not attacked by a gray cat."

A ripple of surprise shuddered through the crowd.

"But that doesn't mean she didn't have a paw in taking the kits!" Bluefur insisted, blue eyes blazing.

"Without Yellowfang, we never would have found the kits!" Tinypaw retorted. He let his neck fur fluff in irritation – would she let it go already and just listen? "She knew ShadowClan cats had taken them – she was looking for them when Graypaw and I found her. She risked her life for those kits! She's the one who came up with the plan to get us into the ShadowClan camp to get them back! She was the one who gave us the chance to defeat Brokenstar!"

Astonishment flashed across the cats of ThunderClan – all but Bluefur, who did not take her eyes off of Tinypaw. Tinypaw could not tell what the deputy was thinking, and Tinypaw's heart was throbbing in his ears.

"It's true," Whitestorm offered. "Yellowfang is a friend."

"I'm glad to hear it," Tigerstar rumbled, glancing at Tinypaw – the young apprentice tore his eyes away from his mentor to catch the look. A warm feeling spread through his body, melting the ice that Bluefur had put there.

"Is… Is Brokenstar dead?" mewed Oakheart.

"No, he regrettably escaped," Whitestorm replied. "But he will never lead ShadowClan – or any Clan – again."

Frostfur let out a sigh of relief, nuzzling her kits. Thornkit, despite his injury, scrambled around his mother, excitedly whispering about his adventure – Swiftkit was huddled closer to Frostfur, snoring.

Whitestorm blinked at them, then looked back at Tigerstar. "I promised ShadowClan peace for a moon," he explained. "Brokenstar left them… ruined."

Tigerstar nodded his great head. "A wise and generous offer," he agreed. He padded past Whitestorm and the patrol, coming to stand before Yellowfang. He looked upon the old gray she-cat with sympathy and admiration. He leaned forward and touched Yellowfang's coat with his nose.

"Yellowfang," he rumbled, "I would like you to replace Spottedleaf as ThunderClan's medicine cat. I am sure you will find her supplies where she left them."

Yellowfang glanced about anxiously as the Clan murmured in surprise and approval. Yellowfang glanced at Tinypaw, uncertainty in her eyes, and Tinypaw gave her an encouraging nod. If anyone wanted her to stay in ThunderClan, after all that had happened, it was Tinypaw. We need you, you old bone-bag, he thought affectionately. I need you.

The old she-cat glanced at the queens. "I…" she began, uncertain.

Frostfur purred, her eyes brimming with gratitude. "It would be a blessing to have you, Yellowfang," the white queen breathed. The other queens nodded in agreement – even prickly Speckletail looked at Yellowfang with appreciation in her eyes.

Yellowfang blinked, her eyes suddenly certain. She looked to Tigerstar and dipped her head, mewing, "I accept. ShadowClan is no longer the Clan I once knew – ThunderClan is my home now."

Tinypaw smiled at Yellowfang. He was sad that he would never see Spottedleaf again, but Yellowfang was his friend. The old she-cat he had come to love would be their new medicine cat now, always there with her sharp tongue.

"Where is Ravenpaw?" Tigerstar asked suddenly. He moved his great head about, searching the crowd for the skinny black tom. "My apprentice – where is he?"

"Yes," Bluefur agreed. She did not seem to care one way or the other that Yellowfang was now the medicine cat – nor that Tinypaw had openly defied her in front of the Clan. She got to her paws, blue eyes blazing. "Strange that he should disappear now!"

"If you think he was working with Brokenstar, you were wrong!" Tinypaw snapped, narrowing his eyes at Bluefur once again. Yes, he thought, as her blue eyes burned into his. I know what you were trying to do to my friend!

Remembering his promise, Tinypaw dipped his head in grief. "Ravenpaw is dead," he meowed. Shocked mews rose from the Clan, and Dustpaw's fur stood straight up. "Graypaw and I found him on the border of ShadowClan just before we found Yellowfang. A ShadowClan patrol had slain him on-sight."

He glanced up at Tigerstar, whose amber eyes were wide with the shock of losing his apprentice. "I will tell you everything later," Tinypaw promised.

"I never wished to insist that Ravenpaw was a traitor," Bluefur reasoned, her eyes clouding with grief for but a moment. "His loss is a great blow to ThunderClan."

Empty words! Tinypaw longed to hiss aloud. He dug his claws into the earth. I saved him from you!

"He would have made a fine warrior," Tigerstar murmured, his head bowed. "I only wish I could have spent more time with him, before the end."

He lifted his head. "It is a great loss, but we will mourn him tomorrow," Tigerstar decided. "First, there is another ritual to preform – one that I know Ravenpaw would have loved to be part of." He drew his gaze over Tinypaw and Graypaw. "You have shown great courage tonight, the both of you. Did they fight well, Whitestorm?"

"Like warriors," Whitestorm replied solemnly.

Tigerstar met his gaze, and nodded. Then, he looked up at the night sky – Silverpelt blazed ahead, twinkling and sparkling against the night sky. Tigerstar raised his voice, the rumbling roar like thunder in the sky: "I, Tigerstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down upon these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn."

He looked back down, amber eyes burning into Tinypaw and Graypaw. "Tinypaw, Graypaw – do you promise to uphold the warrior code to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

Tinypaw suddenly felt memories stirring in his mind – every bit of prey he had stalked, every move he had learned, every friend he had made, and every struggle had led up to this moment. From the day he stepped paw outside of his home in the Twolegplace, he had faced all the trials of warriorhood. He was a kittypet no longer.

He was a warrior.

"I do," Tinypaw replied solemnly.

"I do," echoed Graypaw.

"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names," Tigerstar announced. "Graypaw, you will be known as Graystripe. StarClan honors your bravery and your strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Tigerstar touched his nose to Graystripe's forehead, and Graystripe bent his head to give Tigerstar a respectful lick on the shoulder. Graystripe stepped back, eyes glowing.

Tigerstar cast his amber gaze upon Tinypaw. He stared, thoughtful, for a moment, before announcing, "Tinypaw, you will be known as Tinyclaw. StarClan honors your loyalty and your skill, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." He touched his muzzle to Tinyclaw's head, and murmured, "I am proud to have you as my warrior, Tinyclaw. Serve your Clan well, little one."

Tinyclaw's muscles were trembling with gratitude – it was hard to stretch to reach Tigerstar's shoulder. He managed, however, and Tinyclaw licked his leader's shoulder respectfully. He purred to show his thanks before stepping away to join Graystripe.

Yowls of tribute sounded from the crowd, some voices louder than others: "Tinyclaw! Graystripe! Tinyclaw! Graystripe!"

Tinyclaw felt overwhelmed by the respect of his Clanmates, those he had trained with and fought beside for the past two seasons. He had never felt more at home, or more comfortable, in his life – and Tinyclaw realized that he never, ever, wanted that to change. If only Rusty could see me now! He thought.

"It is just past moonhigh," Tigerstar meowed, the crowd calming at his voice. "In the tradition of our ancestors, Tinyclaw and Graystripe will keep silent vigil until dawn, to guard the camp and reflect upon their apprenticeships and new honors."

Tinyclaw and Graystripe nodded, silently and solemnly.

The rest of the Clan began to melt away into the shadows of their dens, some staying to observe Spottedleaf before she was buried by the elders. Bluefur blinked at Tinyclaw, striding up beside him.

"You have done well, my apprentice," she mewed quietly into his ear. "But do not think I am a fool. I know just what you are up to… and I must say your betrayal was something I had not foreseen."

She strode past him, and the ice returned to Tinyclaw's veins. He had to tell Tigerstar the truth, before anything more could happen!

Tinyclaw ignored Graystripe's grunt of protest and headed for Tigerstar. The massive tabby was just ducking into his den, tail low with grief and tiredness."Tigerstar!" Tinyclaw hissed. "I know I am breaking the vow of silence, but I must speak with you!"

Tigerstar turned his head to look at Tinyclaw. "This is an important ritual, Tinyclaw. What you have to say can – and will – wait until morning," he rumbled.

Tinyclaw sighed, dipping his head. It's not like the Bluefur problem can be solved in a day, anyway, he told himself. He headed back to sit beside Graystripe, feeling the chill against his dark pelt. It would take time to root out all of her secrets.

Graystripe purred as Tinyclaw settled in beside him – the only sound they could make without breaking their vow. Tinyclaw purred back getting comfortable staring at the entrance. Moonlight washed over the camp, and a light breeze rustled the branches of the trees. Tinyclaw's eyes followed some dark leaves as they fluttered to the ground.

Tinyclaw closed his eyes, suddenly recalling the dreams from his kittenhood – pairs of strange eyes, watching him as he hunted in a lush meadow. Now Tinyclaw could recognize the eyes as the eyes of his Clanmates, of ThunderClan. Now he could see himself prowling confidently through the woods, free of his Twoleg bonds, his ice-blue eyes sparkling with confidence as they met another pair of blue eyes.

Bluefur!

Tinyclaw opened his eyes. In the gloom of the warrior's den, he spotted Bluefur's blue eyes gleaming in the moonlight, watching him with an unreadable expression. She blinked once, and then turned away to settle down. Tinyclaw, twitched his whiskers.

My mentor is now my enemy, Tinyclaw thought. There was some sadness in that – he had looked up to her so much, and had to admit that some part of him still did. But she had betrayed the Clan, and he couldn't help but feel like she was a danger.

Tinyclaw adjusted his paws, flexing his claws. Let her try something - anything, he thought, confidence searing his pelt. She taught me everything she knows. She made me stronger, faster, and smarter. Let's see how she feels when I turn what she taught me against her – if I am destined to oppose Bluefur, then so be it.

I welcome the challenge.