The only thing that Rusty could think in his head was fear, never had the young tom had seen such a large cat before. In fear he wondered how his father would of stood up to them. Then again, these cats did not look as friendly as the moor cat his father had spoke about. He was more regretful then ever that he did not listen to Max's warnings. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't be stuck in this situation right now.

His paws quivered slightly, but he didn't let it get to him.

"I didn't know that you lived here in the forest," Rusty lied, hoping they would fall for it.

But none of the three wild cats seemed to believe him, their eyes still narrowed angerily at him.

"Why should we believe you? You can't trick us like that, kittypet!" the largest of them, a dark brown tom spat a name that must be one of the many insults that they had for cats living with housefolk.

The three cats came were staring to close in on him, showing him their teeth.

"Come on Longtail, dont you want to teach a lesson to this pipsqueak? Bluestar will never know," the large dark grey tabby tom said, who was a few tail lengths away from Rusty.

The pale brown tom next to the large brown tom hesitated.

"But what about hunting? We were sent out to hunt the prey for the clan," he protested.

The dark brown tom looked away from Rusty and tossed his piece of prey towards the cat that was named Longtail.

"Shouldn't this suffice her? Just take it back to camp, tell Bluestar that I and Darkstripe are still hunting. She cant know about this kittypet, got that?" he spat at the tom.

With one more hesitant look towards Rusty, Longtail picked up the mouse in his jaws and raced away from the clearing. Disappearing into the forest.

The intimidating large brown tabby tom turned to Rusty again, Rusty could see the lust for blood and the burning hate that was in his eyes. It made him wonder why a cat like him could hold some much hatred.

"Stand still Kittypet, I promise I won't take long for me to give you the rightful punishment for trespassing on Thunderclan territory," he coldy said as he unsheltred his claws, "You will pay!"

Rusty's hesitation to move finally caught him when the large brown tom pounced on top of Rusty, pinning him down. His weight made it hard for him to move.

"It's a shame that you're so weak, now you'll always be remembered as nothing," he hissed into his ears.

Panicked, Rusty took the risk and slashed his claws across the tom's face before he could sink his teeth into his neck.

The large forest cat yowled in pain and released his grip on Rusty's body. The tom reeled back as blood dripped from his freshly cut wound.

This time, he didn't hesitate. With all of the energy he had left in him, Rusty made a run for it. He didn't care what direction he went. For he knew he would likely be killed if the forest cats were to catch him.

His ears perked slightly when he heard from a furious yowl. Rusty was certain more than ever that his only chance of survival was to run. He frantically looked around his surrounding area. There was a way out, but he had to risk being closely followed by them. There was no time, he had to do it before they could catch him.

Rusty did not look back, but he did not know if they had stopped chasing him. Even as leaves from the bushes whacked him in the face, he was determined to escape the forest. He ran further than he ever had before, passing by four mighty oaks. All in an effort to save himself from death.

After running long and far, Rusty rested under a huge rock that pointed towards the sky. He was finally free of the forest and was certain that the vile cats of the forest would not mind him on the moor.

The smell of heather was very much a welcoming sign he had finally made it to the place where his father had met his dearest friend that he had once travelled far beyond the forest on a journey. It made Rusty wonder if his father's friend was still out there longing to see him.

Rusty's ears twitched when he heard movement in the grass, the wind brought a different scent that wasn't heather.

What was it?

Without any warning, something tugged Rusty down from behind him. The breath was knocked right out of him. He struggled to breathe for a moment, his heartbeat began to beat fast again.

Rusty was quick to kick out his back legs and managed to throw off what had landed on him. He turned around to see a pale orange she-cat.

"Who are you?" Rusty growled as a warning, trying not to be afraid of this cat. Her amber eyes narrowed at him angrily. "You think I would tell a kittypet like you about who I am?" she hissed and leaped forward towards him.

Rusty quickly got out of her way and then tried to look at her again. "I don't mean you any harm, I was attacked and chased away by other cats like you".

She finally sat down and then sheathed her claws. "If your meaning by ThunderClan or RiverClan, then they're always like that," she said, giving out a loud yawn.

Rusty gave her a puzzled look. What does she mean by Clans?

"Morningpaw, how many times have I told you not to run off? Me and Deadfoot were worried sick," the tom meowed. A few tail legths away from him was a black tom with a twisted left paw. Rusty guessed that he must be Deadfoot.

"Tallstar, I'm sorry I did not tell you first about scenting this kittypet," she meowed bowing her head. Rusty gulped and looked towards the black and white tom. His amber eyes looked towards Rusty.

But they weren't threatening at all. They instead had warmth in their eyes. Something seemed familiar about him, but Rusty couldn't decide what it was about him.

"You did a good job of defending yourself against this kittypet, Morningpaw," he said to his apprentice before he turned to face Rusty, "You however, are one the strangest kittypet I have ever met," he murmured, only making Rusty even more confused, "Perhaps you would like to join our clan?"

Join them?

"Tallstar, you can't be serious. Kittypets cant be good warriors. He'll be useless to us," Deadfoot protested.

"I know what you may feel right now, but WindClan needs more warriors. Even if they're just kittypets. I can see great potential in you. Will you join us?"

Rusty hesitated, he didn't know what to say.

Join a clan? Leave to live a life on the moor?

Tallstar turned to his deputy.

"It seems I've overwhelmed the poor lad. It that case, I'll allow Deadfoot to escort you back to your den and he will return to wait for your answer tomorrow," he murmured and his deputy flicked his tail for Rusty to follow.

"Bye, kittypet," Morningpaw meowed as she followed in behind Tallstar. Rusty turned his head to follow Deadfoot, who lead him towards what they call Twolegplace.

By the time they had reached the end of the moor, the sun was high into the sky. Deadfoot stopped walking and then looked back at Rusty.

"This is as far as I can take you, hopefully, you can find your way," Deadfoot meowed as Rusty took a few paces ahead of him.

"I shall be waiting tomorrow evening for your answer," he meowed and Rusty shook his head in return.

"Will do," Rusty replied as Deadfoot's tail flicked to show his last goodbye.

Very soon, Rusty knew he was going to be a wild cat.