Chapter 2

"Wh-What?" Rusty asked surprised.

"It's clear to me that you have a gift, Rusty. You belong here." Bluestar meowed.

"B-But…" Rusty meowed.

"Know that Bluestar does not make this offer to anyone, especially to kittypets. If you wish to train with us, we will have to take you into our clan. You must either live with us and respect our ways, or return to your twolegplace and never come back. You cannot live a paw in each world. Bluestar is only offering you training, Rusty. There is no guarantee you will become a full warrior. It might prove too difficult for you." Lionheart warned.

"So why offer me the chance, then?" Rusty asked.

"You are right to question our motives. The fact is, Thunderclan needs more warriors." Bluestar explained.

Rusty nodded. He couldn't believe it. He was being asked to live in the forest; his dream home and wish, but Rusty had to know, what was a clan? Was it a group that work together to survive or was it more than that? Whatever it was, Rusty had to know, but there were some things he wish he didn't have to leave behind.

"Well?" Bluestar asked.

"I-I-I…is the clan big?" Rusty asked.

"Big enough. Our territory can support us, but there is no prey left over." Bluestar answered.

"But, surely there's enough to go around, right?" Rusty asked.

"There's never enough to go around, if you didn't live such a soft, overfed life, you would know that! You threaten our clan when you take our food, you have plenty of food in your twoleg nest already. You come here only to hunt for sport, but we hunt to survive!" Bluestar scolded.

Rusty flattened his ears; embarrassed. He didn't realize that prey was a source of food for forest cats. If there was no prey left because of him, he would feel terrible and cats would go hungry.

"I…I had not thought of it that way, I'm sorry. If I refuse to join, I'll never hunt here again." Rusty apologized.

Bluestar's ears perked; surprised by the reaction.

"You are an unusual kittypet, Rusty." She meowed.

Rusty looked up; surprised by this. Bluestar and Lionheart smiled and Greypaw gave a relief sign. Rusty smiled and made sure to be careful about to say next.

"So, are all of you warriors?" he asked.

"Some are warriors. Some are too young, too old, or too busy caring for kits to hunt." Lionheart meowed.

"And you all live and share prey together?" Rusty asked.

"Yes, that's what being in a clan is. If you join, you would train with Greypaw to become a clan warrior." Bluestar meowed.

"But kittypets can't be warriors! They don't have powers!" Greypaw blurted out.

"And yet you've got burns on your shoulder, and besides, too much warrior blood has been spilled recently." Bluestar meowed.

Rusty was confused. What did she mean? Was the clan weak from loosing so many warriors or was something else going on? If Rusty was willing to join Thundrclan, what would he give up? He had friends and family at the twolegplace, but he dreamed of living in the forest.

"You're wondering if it's worth giving up your comfortable kittypet life, but do you realize the price you will pay for your warmth and food?" Bluestar asked.

"What do you mean?" Rusty asked.

"I can tell you're still a tom, despite the twoleg stench clinging to your fur. You haven't been taken by the twolegs to see the cutter, you would be very different, then. Not quite so keen to fight a clan cat, I suspect." Bluestar added.

Rusty understood what she meant. Henry went to the vet and became a very different cat. Rusty couldn't bear the thought of being altered like that, especially becoming fat and lazy.

"The clan may not be able to offer you such easy food or warmth. In the season of leafbare, nights in the forest can be cruel. The clan will demand great loyalty and hard work. You will be expected to protect the clan with your life if necessary and there are many mouths to feed, but the rewards are great. You will remain a tom, you will be trained in the ways of the wild, and you will learn what it is to be a real cat. The strength and fellowship of the clan will always be with you, even when you hunt alone." Bluestar finished.

"And my powers?" Rusty asked.

Bluestar stood up, turned around, and headed back into the forest; completely ignoring Rusty's question.

"Lionheart will be here tomorrow at sunhigh, give him your answer then." She meowed.

"One more thing Rusty, do not tell any cat you saw us, or else." Lionheart warned.

"Or else what?" Rusty asked scared.

Lionheart didn't answer. He got up and followed Bluestar. Greypaw gave a worried look, before following Lionheart and Bluestar back into the forest. Rusty was confused. What would happen if he told anyone about this? Rusty shrugged, he would get the answers tomorrow. Rusty headed home; his mind made up, but he had one last thing to do.