---Chapter One---

The tiny kit raced back to camp, a dead mouse clamped proudly in its small jaws. Even though the sun was up and shinning, rain would soon be on the way, and he didn't feel like being caught up in it when he was so far away from the nursery. Already, clouds were starting to form, and all around him he could hear the sounds of prey also looking for shelter from the storm, but he didn't have time to stop and hunt for more. Even through the trees, a cold gust of wind ruffled his fur, indicating that a storm was on its way.

The kit had never been this far from home before, but once he stopped to sniff at the brambles around him, he thought they seemed quite familiar. A flicker of excitement surged through him, as he realized the ThunderClan camp was close by. Without thinking, he immediately broke into a run and dashed off through the brambles. He let out a cry of protest as a thorn pulled at his flame-colored pelt but it didn't take the excitement out of his eyes for a minute.

He burrowed through the thorns, and just when he thought he was about to break through on the other side, he felt his heart sink as the thorns gave way underneath him. Too late, he realized he was on the highest part surrounding the ThunderClan camp; any cat who fell off of this cliff was destined to break their necks. His hind paws scrabbled on the ground as he tried to heave himself back away from the edge, but to no avail. He almost dropped the dead mouse, dangling from his jaws, as he let out a wail of horror.

But just then he felt sharp, white teeth meet his scruff. The kit was instantly hauled off of his paws by an older cat who brought him well away from the edge of the cliff before placing him back down on solid ground again. He could feel his heart pounding against his chest and he took a few deep breathes before looking up at his rescuer. It was Brambleclaw.

"What do you think you're doing, Flamekit?" The dark tabby warrior asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Hunting!" Flamekit mewed excitedly, his fear already ebbing away. He was not one to take a while to recover after a terrifying experience, so instead he quickly pushed his fear aside and proudly showed off the mouse to Brambleclaw.

"You know kits aren't aloud to wander off on their own," Brambleclaw went on, ignoring Flamekit, "Didn't I tell you before kits and apprentices aren't allowed anywhere near the cliff. Firestar would be furious if he found out."

Flamekit bowed his head, scuffling the ground with his paw. "I'm sorry," he looked up into the warrior's narrowed eyes and added, "You're not going to tell Firestar are you?"

Brambleclaw's expression softened as he met the kit's eyes. "Not this time," he meowed at last, "But if you ever do it again, don't expect me to go lightly on you then." He turned away and signaled with his tail for Flamekit to follow him. Brambleclaw padded through the camp entrance with Famekit right behind him. Hardly a couple of heartbeats after Flamekit set paw in the ThunderClan camp did he hear his mother calling his name, and turned to see Sandstorm racing over to him.

"Where have you been?" She demanded as soon as she came skidding to a halt beside him. "I've been looking everywhere for you!" She gave her kit a few fierce licks before stepping back and waiting for an answer.

"I went hunting!" The kit repeated and showed his mother the mouse.

"Mousebrain, kits aren't suppose to hunt until their apprentices, and you're not an apprentice yet." She explained calmly.

"But I caught something didn't I?" He retorted, the tip of his tail twitching, waiting for someone to comment on his grand hunting skills. Sandstorm sighed and leaned on one of her forepaws. She was clearly exhausted from chasing around her kits all day long, but it looked as if the shock of loosing one of her kits was finally disappearing.

"Don't you understand?" She mewed impatiently. "We had half the clan looking for you! You gave us quite a scare; Firestar was almost about to send a patrol out to look for you."

Flamekit's whiskers drooped in shame, and Brambleclaw's ears twitched. "Go easy on him; he's not the only cat that's missing. I heard Leafpool went out earlier today to collect some herbs. She hasn't been back since," the warrior lifted his head up and stared at the grey clouds starting to form, "Shall I go tell Firestar I found him, then?" He offered.

"Yes, please do." Sandstorm thanked the tabby warrior has he padded over to where Firestar was chatting with Cloudtail and Brackenfur. She stared after him for a while before turning back to her mischievous kit. "As for you, put that on the fresh-kill pile," she flicked her tail toward the mouse, "and then we'll talk about this later."

A yowl came from behind them, and they both turned their heads around to see Flamekit's siblings. Rollingkit, a light-brown tabby tom who looked almost identical to their older sister, Leafpool, with the exception of his pale green eyes, and Foxkit, a pale ginger she-cat with a white-tipped tail and white paws, were both pouncing on the Longtail's tail. The blind warrior hissed playfully, pretending to be annoyed but any cat could see the good-humored expression on his face. Both of Firestar and Sandstorm's other kits were just as daring and trouble-making as Flamekit himself and he watched them proudly as they took turns swatting at the older warrior's tail with their tiny paws.

"Great StarClan, you kits are more trouble than a starved fox!" Sandstorm flicked her tail irritably and got to her paws. "I better stop them before they actually do hurt him."

Flamekit watched her as she padded away to go round up her other two kits, before picking up his catch and heading over to the fresh-kill pile. He held his head up in order to place the mouse on the very top of the pile where it could be clearly seen by any cat who walked by. He stared at it for a few heartbeats, his chest bursting with pride, until a prod on the shoulder made him look up to see Firestar standing over him.

"Yes, O great leader of ThunderClan?" He meowed, giving his leader a respectful bow of his head.

"Don't act like a mousebrain," Firestar narrowed his eyes as he continued, "Brambleclaw tells me you were off hunting."

"I was." Flamekit replied proudly before adding, "And I caught something!"

For a heartbeat, he could've sworn he saw a flicker of pride flash through his father's eyes but a minute later it disappeared. "Well, don't ever do it again. You know kits are suppose to stay in the nursery with their mother until their apprenticed."

Flamekit bowed his head, ashamed until Firestar lowered his head so that it was level with his. "So, how far did you go?" The Clanleader whispered, a gleam of amusement in his deep, green eyes.

"As far as the abandoned Twoleg nest!" Flamekit squealed delightfully and, picking his head up, he flicked his tail towards the fresh-kill pile, "That's where I caught that mouse!"

The ThunderClan leader's eyes stretched wide. "That's a long distance for a kit, you must have some paws!" He purred gently, and rasped his warm tongue over Flamekit's ear. "Now go rest in the nursery, you must be tired after all that," Firestar straightened up before adding, "and it's going to rain soon."

Flamekit nodded respectfully and dashed off after his mother and siblings, who were just disappearing behind the entrance to the nursery. As soon as he and his brother, Rollingkit, settled down in the warmth of Sandstorm's fur it began to pour. Even though they were well sheltered from the battering rain, his sister, Foxkit moved around restlessly.

"Rain, rain go away! Come again another day." She called out to the nursery entrance, seriously expecting this to work. Flamekit rolled his eyes at her and buried his face into his mother's soft fur. He didn't care if it rained, the plants that grew in the forest needed it anyways, and right now nothing could ruin the growing excitement that was rising in his chest. For tomorrow, his father had already made a promise that he would be made an apprentice at last. And then, he thought, I can catch all the mice I want!