Dawn shone gray from the warriors' den as Fireheart stretched.
"C'mon, Leo." Sandstorm was prodding Leo awake.
"You're up early." He remarked.
"Yeah. I figured I'd let you sleep a bit."
Leo staggered to his feet, jaws agape. "Thanks." He padded out of the den into the warm glow of the sun. Fireheart and Sandstorm quickly followed suit.
"I'm coming." Brightpaw said, a steely glint in her eyes.
"So am I." Cloudtail lashed his tail. "I'm ready to fight."
"Cloudtail, you've had a long day."
"So?"
"You have the vigil tonight."
"I'm still coming."
"If you're sure."
"Don't go without me." Whitestorm purred, leaping down from the warriors' den.
"Alright, are we ready then?"
"Yes." Cloudtail looked expectantly towards Leo. "Well, lead the way, then."
Hesitantly, Leo padded up the slope towards a large cluster of bushes. He pushed his way through, leading them through a worn trail into a clearing, where a Twoleg nest stood. A large garden was next to it, and the acrid scent of fear and the rank scents of dog and rot rolled off it.
"This is where they kept her?" Brightpaw asked.
"Yes. I tried to free her as soon as I realised, but the Twoleg just patched the cracks."
"I am not leaving this place without her." Whitestorm vowed, echoed by the others.
"That Twoleg won't just open that door."
"So, what could?" Whitestorm asked.
"What if we fought?" Cloudtail asked.
"Fighting? What do you mean?" Fireheart asked.
"We fight with claws sheathed. The Twoleg doesn't seem to be the tolerant type. He'll open the door to try and do something to us. Then-"
"We rescue Mom." Brightpaw finished.
"Alright, Leo, if you could communicate with her?"
"Already on it." He dashed to the window, a part obviously boarded up, softly mewing to someone inside. Heartbeats later, Leo nodded.
"Alright. She's ready."
"Cloudtail, Brightpaw, you train. Sandstorm and Whitestorm, you come in with me. Leo, wait outside and grab Cloudtail and Brightpaw should anything go wrong, okay?"
Leo nodded once, retreating to a bush.
"Ready?"
The air was rent with hisses and screeches as Brightpaw and Cloudtail rolled over in the grass, looking by all appearances to be locked in a fierce fight. He saw Cloudtail twist and come up behind Brightpaw, which was quickly countered. An old male Twoleg came out of the den, yowling. A large Twoleg object was held in his hand, ragged pelts hanging off him. He was alit with fury, almost frothing at the mouth with rage. Sandstorm and Ravenflight dashed in with him, and a white she-cat lay on the floor of the sordid hut.
"We're here to get you out."
"I'm afraid that I'm going to slow you. My forepaw was broken in one of my escape attempts."
"That's alright." Sandstorm mewed. "The Twoleg's distracted. Lean on me."
They limped out to find the Twoleg incoherent with rage, clawing at Cloudtail. His manic gaze shifted onto Frost.
"Run!" Sandstorm yowled as she lugged Frost along the grass. They made it to the bush, Brightpaw and Cloudtail keeping up; the Twoleg's yowls subsided.
"Sorry about that." Sandstorm said, releasing Frost. "I assume you're Frost?"
"That's me. Wait – Bright?"
"Hi, Mom."
"Are your siblings okay?"
"They're doing fine, although-"
"Although what?"
"Cinderpaw was hit by a monster. She's got a crippled leg but she's doing fine." Fireheart interjected.
"How do you know this? Why Cinderpaw?"
"We are a group called ThunderClan. We found them and took them in. They are being taught to hunt and fight.
"And Cinderpaw?"
"She's taking a different path. She's learning all manner of healing herbs to heal her Clanmates."
"And she still gets to eat, right?"
"Of course. Even if she was not a medicine cat, she still has the right to eat."
"Thank you." Frost leaned on Sandstorm again and they trekked into camp.
"Welcome to the gorge." Fireheart announced as they reached their destination. Below them, Thunderflower was sunning on a rock while Featherkit and Stormkit peered out of the nursery, sulking.
"Why aren't they going outside?" Frost asked.
"They snuck out and almost ate deathberries. They're confined to the nursery for today." Ravenflight told her.
"What was their mother doing?"
"She'd laid them to sleep. She was asleep herself when they snuck out."
"Oh."
"Well, anyway, we'll get you in to see Cinderpaw. She'll splint that in no time, and you can stay while you recover, and after if you wish."
"Thank you." Frost was escorted into the medicine den.
"And you, Cloudtail, get some rest."
"Alright, Fireheart."
Brightpaw looked towards Whitestorm.
"Want to do some hunting?"
"Sure." Whitestorm replied. The pair moved away from the gorge again. Ravenflight broke off to share tongues with Graystripe and Fireheart went to lap from the river.
After a while, Frost walked out of the den, a large stick prominently tied to her forepaw, and went to sit beside Leo. Noise drifted over, an imploring tone followed by a saddened one, and suddenly one radiating annoyance and then a voice that radiated happiness in every syllable. Fireheart looked up; thirst quenched. Behind him, he could hear the squeals of the kits from the nursery and the sounds of a playful scuffle emanating from the apprentices.
Finally, Leo came to sit beside him.
"It's a lovely place, isn't it?"
"It is." Fireheart replied. "I was worried I'd never see my pads harden!"
"Every cat here gets used to it."
They watched the river ripple for a while longer before Leo spoke again.
"We've talked things over, and Frost and I have decided to join the Clan... that is, if you'll have us."
"Leo, as we've told you multiple times, you are extremely welcome to stay. In fact, we can hold warrior ceremonies now, if you want."
"Is that the one where your names change?"
"It is."
"Alright. We'll make that promise."
"Excellent!" Fireheart looked towards the warriors' den, where Cloudtail was soundly asleep. He had a feeling even a horde of badgers would not wake the young tom now.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Rockpile for a Clan meeting!"
"I, Fireheart, future leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these cats. They will train hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Frost, Leo, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"
"I do." Frost answered, Leo answering just heartbeats later.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Frost, Leo, from this moment on you will be known as Frostfur and Lionheart. StarClan honors your spirit and courage, and we welcome you as full warriors of ThunderClan."
"Frostfur! Lionheart!" The assembled cats cheered, none louder than their kits.
He touched his nose to theirs briefly, then gazed at them again.
"I'll explain what I said later. Just be prepared for a long night tonight."