Leafpool nodded to the ShadowClan guards as she slipped out of the camp, leaving Littlecloud to take care of Applepaw. She could hear him chivvying the mottled she-cat into a nest, gently rebuking her as she squirmed.

"Ah, the youths never change. I know warriors who do that, too." She chuckled to herself. Slowly, the sucking mud and pine-needled forest floor changed to one with lush grass and undergrowth. New flowers, leaves and buds were starting to spring up everywhere, and she could see the shapes of at least one family of squirrels within a tree. She veered off course a bit to investigate a scent of herb in an area where there had not been one before. A small bundle of herbs lay forgotten, and she could see pawprints in the soft earth leading away, laden with unfamiliar scent.

Trespassers had been here, Leafpool surmised. And as a ThunderClan cat, it was her duty to pursue. She hurried her pace, hoping to catch up to the intruders, or even better, a patrol to help her. Quickly she chased the pawprints to a glade just in the edge of Clan territory, where a pretty gray she-cat and a tabby elder were sharing a bird.

"I must say, prey's a lot richer here. Reminds me of a small forest I stopped in once." the elder reminisced.

"What are you doing on ThunderClan land?" Leafpool asked. Her fur fluffed up before she got a closer look at the she-cat and stood, shocked. This was a Tribe cat, Brook where Small Fish Swim.

"Hello, Leafpaw. The Tribe's been divided over signs. Stoneteller's seen... well, he's seen a glimpse of sharp teeth and wolf's fur, and of a gray cat of ThunderClan. Some say that the sign means we stick to ourselves, others say we are prophesied to help. Stoneteller thinks it is a forewarning, so we may be prepared where your Clans weren't."

"I've seen the sign too. ThunderClan are preparing."

She seemed to relax a fraction. "We held a vote; most cats voted to stay rather than send help. But I couldn't live in a place where they ignored our own saviours. I've been wandering awhile. This loner told me he knew the way."

"Yep! Just as I told that Squirrelwhatsit and her friends on the way to the sea! I can find anywhere, given enough time!" Recognition clicked into place.

"You're Purdy, aren't you?"

"Yep, that's me! How did you know?"

"The 'Squirrelwhatsit' you mentioned is my sister." Purdy nodded at this statement.

"Now come on, you should come to camp. Wait, is that a leg infection, Purdy?"

"This 'un tried to treat it with herbs, but she's not familiar with the stuff down here."

"That's where I can help. There are supplies at camp. Can you walk?

"Of course I can!" Purdy snapped, getting to his paws. The remaining walk was slow but steady, and to everyone involved's dismay, the prickly Sootfur was on guard, along with Mistleflight, who wasn't afraid to snark back.

"And I told you, flea-brain, that the bee's nest could have been avoided had someone kept clear of it!"

"Was I going to magic the honey out of the hive? Ask a StarClan warrior to deliver some from the sky?"

"Hello, Sootfur, Mistleflight."

"Who are those, Leafpool?" Sootfur asked.

"They are friends to ThunderClan and will be taken to see Firestar."

"Didn't you recognise Brook?" Mistleflight asked.

"Oh, sorry that I didn't recognise a cat who I met once."

"Come on. They'll be at it for a while." She led the pair into camp and straight into the medicine den, trusting that their guard, once they had stopped yammering, would alert Firestar.

"Hm. Oak leaf and marigold. Pretty standard. Are your joints aching?"

"'S not the biggest concern."

"Okay, I'll fetch some comfrey as well." Leafpool moved to the back, where she picked up the requested herbs; the spider had created another web, which she took as well as some extras.

"Alright, these should do." She expertly applied the oak leaf and marigold and bound it tightly, before placing comfrey around Purdy's joints. "Usually we'd line the nests, but since you won't stay in this den, it's a bit pointless. Now, Brook, have you got any injuries?"

Brook was fine, although Leafpool still used marigold on some of the scratches she had picked up along the trail as a precautionary measure.

"Ready to speak with Firestar?"

"As I'll ever be." Purdy hauled himself to his paws and beckoned to Brook. "Coming?"

Brook stood up and shook her fur out, heading to the exit. Cinderpelt passed them as Leafpool padded out.

"And borage for Sorreltail..."

Well, I know who's having a ceremony soon... She thought, going out into the bracing air. Cats were milling about, and Stormfur in particular was in the middle of the camp, eagerly talking with some others. Mistleflight was among them, and she guessed the news about their guests had spread.

Firestar met them at the base of the dens. "Hello, Purdy, Brook. It's a surprise to see you. What brings you here?"

"I decided to leave the Tribe." Brook spoke calmly.

"Why would you leave your home?" Firestar enquired.

"The Tribe of Endless Hunting sent a sign about a wolf here on Clan land, and the Tribe of Rushing Water decided it was to prepare. In the end they offered no help. I decided that a Tribe that wouldn't help its saviours was no tribe of mine."

"And I picked her up in the Upwalkers' domain." Purdy purred.

"I see. Thank you for your conscientiousness. Both of you have helped this Clan; as a result, I'd like to offer you places in the Clan, as a warrior and an elder."

"I'd like that." Brook dipped her head; her eyes seemed to gaze at one tom in particular.

"Well, my old bones have seen enough roamin'. I'll gladly join."

"Then we shall conduct ceremonies now. That is, if you wish to take warrior names."

"I want a new start here. I will take a warrior name."

"Sure. I've had a lot of different names in my time; what's one more?"

Firestar leapt to the top of the highrock, summoning the Clan to meet.

"You may have noticed that we have newcomers. Brook, formerly of the Tribe, and Purdy, who helped our journeyers get home safely, wish to join ThunderClan. Does anyone have any objections?"

Sootfur opened his mouth, but Silverstream gave him a look and he fell silent.

"I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this cat. She will train hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in your turn. Brook, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." Brook mewed.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Brook where Small Fish Swim, from this moment on you will be known as Clearbrook. StarClan honours your integrity and compassion, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

"Thank you." Clearbrook whispered, as Firestar rested his muzzle on her head. Firestar gave her a warm look before proceeding to Purdy.

"Purdy, is it your wish to give up the name of warrior and join the elders?"

"It is." Purdy mewed.

"Then we welcome you as an elder of ThunderClan and wish you many moons of rest." Firestar paused for a second before moving on.

"Spirits of StarClan, you know every cat by name. I ask you now to take away the name from the cat you see before you, for it no longer stands for what he is. By my authority as Clan leader, and with the approval of our warrior ancestors, I give this cat a new name. From this moment on he will be known as Patchfur, for he is no longer a loner and as such deserve a name that will stay with him."

Patchfur smiled widely; as the ceremony dispersed, Stormfur and Clearbrook met in the middle of the camp.

"Hello." Clearbrook breathed.

"Hi." Stormfur whispered, before dropping any acts and pressing into her.

Leafpool: *Stumbles upon herbs, Brook and Purdy*

Leafpool: I'm a bit upset about the trespassing, but you didn't even get the remotely right herbs. If you stay, I'm going to teach you herb uses until your ears bleed.

Clearbrook + Stormfur: OH GOD THERE's MY CrUSH PLAY IT COOL DO I LOOK NERVOUS I BET THE oTHEr CAT IS CALM-

Crowd around them: I'll check the marriage ceremony dates.