Chapter 2

"Strange Things."

7/31/16

She felt her head beating against her skull like a loud drum. She slowly opens her eyes and was blinded by sunlight peering through the opening. Her eyes began to hurt from the brightness, so she covers her eyes with her...paws.

She stares at dainty paws that moved on her command. The golden she cat Stealth looks over her shoulder and sees a long, winding tail that bushed up with her fear.

"Good morning!" She jumped and sees a bright ginger she cat approach her with a squirrel in her jaws. She puts it down and gives her a friendly smile.

"I thought you might be hungry." She pushes the squirrel toward Stealth.

Stealth looks at the dead squirrel. "What is it?"

The ginger she cat stared at her as if she made a joke.

"It's food. Here, watch me." The ginger she cat took a bite out of the squirrel's side and swallowed, Stealth stared at her in shock.

She's serious… But, I can't eat that I'm not even a cat!

Somewhere in her heart, Stealth knew she was a human, but her memories were nothing but a void of darkness and silence.

Stealth's stomach growled, so she, reluctantly, knew she doesn't have a choice.

Stealth leaned in and sank her teeth into the squirrel's body, feeling it's fur touch her tongue, she tried not to gag.

She then chewed and swallowed. Stealth was surprised that she actually likes it.

The ginger she cat notices and said, "Go ahead. I've already eaten."

Stealth eagerly devours the squirrel's corpse, and licks her jaws when she finishes.

"I'm Yellowpaw, by the way." The ginger cat said. "It's nice to meet you, Stealth."

The golden she cat looked up at Yellowpaw.

"Stealth?"

"Our leader named you. Do you have a real name?"

Stealth shook her head, unable to remember, still.

"Okay, well that's good you finally received a name." Yellowpaw said.

Stealth tries to get up, but she yelps in pain and saw deep scars on her hind legs.

"What happened?" She asks quietly. Yellowpaw pads to her legs and sniffed them.

"A fox attacked you, so you might be unable to walk properly for a few days."

"I remember…" Stealth murmured. "Those two cats helped me… How long did I sleep?"

"Three days."

Stealth blinked in shock. No wonder she was so hungry!

"Can I… Go out?"

Yellowpaw stares at her thoughtfully, then nods.

"It wouldn't hurt to stretch your legs." Yellowpaw nosed her head under Stealth's belly and helps her up. Stealth's forelegs wobbled and fell down, out of the nest she was in.

For the love of-! Stealth spat in annoyance. This cat body was too weird!

"It's okay," Yellowpaw said. "Your legs are still weak, just lean on my shoulder."

Stealth blinked gratefully at the bright ginger she cat. She quickly gets up and leans against Yellowpaw. Stealth puts one paw forward, and used the other. It was basically crawling on four legs as a baby...only in cat form.

Stealth blinks the sun out of her eyes and sees a colony of cats padding around.

Some were placing small dead animals in a pile, others were fixing dens and licking each other's fur coats.

Stealth lowered her ears at the many, many voices they were saying; it began to overwhelm her as she shook her head.

"I'm guessing you're not used to hearing so much noises." Yellowpaw commented.

Stealth flicked her ear when her mind calmed down. "You can say that…"

"Well, let me show you the camp." Yellowpaw gestures with her tail for her to sit, Stealth plopped her haunches down.

"We are ThunderClan. Our territory is dominated by trees, bushes and woodlands."

Yellowpaw flicked her tail to the pile of dead animals. "That is the fresh kill pile. The warriors go out and hunt them for food, obviously."

Stealth licked her lips, remembering that squirrel.

"There are dens for different ranks in our Clan." Yellowpaw explained.

"One is for the nursery, where she cats wait to give birth and raise kits. The second is the apprentices den, where kits six moons or older stay in until they become warriors.

Then there's the warriors den. Warriors hunt, fight and pledge their loyalty to their Clans."

"Foxpaw! You got my nest stinking of mouse bile!"

Stealth saw a ginger tom with white chest and paws run out of the den like a red blur, his amber eyes wide with fear as he stopped in front of Yellowpaw.

"Let me guess," Yellowpaw mews knowingly. "You dropped the bile on Mooneye again?"

The tom named Foxpaw nodded.

"It was just a drop! Honestly, it's like he's looking for excuses to yell at someone!"

Yellowpaw presses her nose on Foxpaw's shoulder.

"Just wash your paws in the river, I'll see to him."

Foxpaw bowed his head and quickly disappears in the thorn barrier. Yellowpaw rolls her eyes. "That tom overworks himself so much, he might fall asleep on patrol and never wake up."

Yellowpaw leaned down, and Stealth uses her shoulder for support as they pad toward a den. Stealth sees three other cats: a silver tabby she cat, a light grey tom with cloudy blue eyes, and a dusty yellow tom.

"Yellowpaw!" The cloudy eyed tom growled. "Where's that blasted Foxpaw? He almost tainted my nest!"

"Oh, calm down, Mooneye." The yellow tom said. "It was an honest mistake."

Mooneye growled and curled into his nest as Yellowpaw padded to his nest.

Stealth was unnerved by his hostility, and keeps a mental note to avoid him in the future.

"Yellowpaw, who's your new friend?" The silver tabby said.

Stealth feels all eyes - excluding Mooneye - on her, and her pelt bristles uncomfortably with the attention.

"I-I'm Stealth."

"We know who you are." Mooneye growled, frightening Stealth.

"I thought you were sleeping, Mooneye." Yellowpaw said. After that, the grey tom was silent again.

"Ignore him, he's actually a big softie once you get to know him." The yellow tom said to Stealth. "I'm Frogpelt, and this is Silverlight." He nodded to the silver she cat.

"Elders are cats who were once warriors and queens, but have become too old to continue their duties." Yellowpaw explained to Stealth.

"Don't you get bored?" Stealth asked before she could stop herself.

Silverlight chuckles. "Not at all, especially when we have kits and apprentices around to keep us company."

Yellowpaw purred with satisfaction.

"Alright, your nest is clear. I gotta show Stealth around the camp."

"Don't be a stranger!" Frogpelt called as the two she cats left. Yellowpaw glances at Stealth, and smiled. "See? You're already regaining your strength in your legs."

Stealth looked down and bumped into a cat. Dark ginger fur and muscular build, she instantly remembered this cat.

"You helped me with the fox. Flamepaw, is it?"

Flamepaw narrowed his eyes and stuck his nose up.

"Who else would it be?" Flamepaw stalked away with a black tabby, who was waiting near the thorn barrier.

Stealth pouted and turned to Yellowpaw. "What's wrong with him?"

"Oh, just ignore Flamepaw." She replied. "He's always thought he was too good for other cats because his ancestor was Firestar."

Stealth nodded. "By the way… You said that apprentices train as warriors. Aren't you a warrior too?"

Yellowpaw shook her head.

"No way. I'm a medicine cat apprentice. Medicine cats learn how to heal Clanmates instead of fighting. We have dreams of StarClan and share information with other medicine cats, and we aren't allowed to have mates or kits."

"That's a lot of stuff to give up." Stealth whispered. "All cats have emotions."

"True." Yellowpaw admitted. "But we do what we must for the good of our Clan, besides, I'm not too broken up about giving up toms."

"So… After I'm healthy, what do I do next?"

Yellowpaw suddenly gets on her paws and bows. Stealth sees a shadow loom over her, and looks over her shoulder to see a huge, golden tabby with scars on his pelt.

Stealth bristles her fur and suddenly hides her face in her paws.

"It's okay, little one. There's no need to be afraid."

Stealth slowly looks up at the tom, he was smiling and his amber eyes were gentle.

She gets up, flustered for jumping to conclusions.

"It's good to see you exploring the camp," the tom said to her.

"I assume that Yellowpaw pushed you into it?"

"I asked to go out!" Stealth exclaimed, believing that Yellowpaw would get in trouble.

But the tom nodded and smiled. "I wouldn't blame you. In fact, I have something I want to ask you. Yellowpaw?"

The bright ginger she cat bowed her head again and padded toward the medicine cat den. The tom touches her shoulder with his tail and led her across the camp.

"I'm Thornstar, by the way." He said. Thornstar leaped up the tall stone with ease, but Stealth was already dreading the rough, pointed feeling on her paws.

She heaves herself up and pushed herself to the top with Thornstar.

Thornstar nods to the opening and goes inside, Stealth followed and sees a huge, open cave with a nest inside. The golden tabby cat sits in front of the nest and looks at her.

"Let's talk."

Stealth padded to Thornstar and sits in front of him, but every now and then she would glance at the cave in wonder.

"I heard you were attacked by a fox in our territory, how are you feeling?" Thornstar asked her.

"Pretty good." Stealth said. She searched for more to say… "I really like your squirrels!"

Thornstar purred.

"Yes, well, all of us love squirrels."

Nice, Stealth, really nice conversation you're having…

Stealth brushes her paws on the stone floor.

"I, uh, I also like Yellowpaw and Silverlight. They seem nice."

"I'm glad you like them. Because I want to ask you a question."

Stealth looks at Thornstar attentively.

"How would you feel about staying in ThunderClan?"

Stealth blinked at him.

"As an apprentice? Like Flamepaw and Foxpaw?"

Thornstar nodded, but his eyes suddenly became serious.

"Although I must warn you. The life of a warrior is not laughing matter.

Everyday is hunting, fighting and risking your life for your Clan. Cats you grow close to may die, and you may also die, but all of it is for the good of the Clan."

Stealth instantly thought of Yellowpaw, and shudders.

"I understand… I would still like to be an apprentice."

Thornstar saw honesty in Stealth's bright yellow eyes, and nods.

"Okay. Then I'll address the Clans and pick out a mentor to train you."

"Please don't pick anyone mean!" Stealth pleaded.

Thornstar smiled and nodded to her. Both cats leave the den, but Stealth hid behind Thornstar as he said, "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, meet me at High Rock for a Clan meeting!"

The whole Clan approached the rock and waited for Thornstar to speak.

"As you can remember, our young rogue Stealth has recovered from a fox attack three days ago."

"Is she leaving? Good!"

Stealth felt anger and searches the crowd for whoever said that, but Thornstar continues his speech.

"Stealth has agreed to stay in ThunderClan and train as an apprentice."

Cats cried out in protest, and Stealth almost wished to could fade away and become a human again…

"We don't need a rogue in our Clan!"

Stealth looked at the source of the voice. She saw Flamepaw lashing his tail and glaring at her. Stealth growled as her fur began to spike.

She suddenly hears a voice, talking to her as if someone was standing next to her ear.

He is challenging your choice, what will you do? Stealth snorted and jumps down from the rock. She shouts, "Flamepaw!"

The dark ginger tom stalked forward with arrogance.

"I have just as much right to be here." Stealth said, although she was shaking in her forelegs.

"Clans are for Clanborn only!" Flamepaw spat, making Stealth wince. "How can we trust some stray not to bail if things get tough?"

Cats were beginning to agree with Flamepaw. Stealth quickly began to lose self esteem…

Stealth. Remember his ancestor, Firestar. He was a kittypet, a cat who lived with humans as pets. He was an outsider too, but became one of the most remembered leaders of ThunderClan.

She didn't know who was telling her this, but Stealth swallowed and said,

"Your ancestor was Firestar. He was an outsider too, but he remained with ThunderClan even when things got horrible. Doesn't that prove anything?"

"She's actually right about that."

"But how did this rogue know about Firestar?"

"Come on, Swiftclaw, even kittypets have heard of Firestar!"

Stealth began to feel bigger hearing the cats agree with her. But Flamepaw was growing angry.

"Fine then, let's see you fight." Flamepaw lunged and knocked Stealth down.

Eaglecry prepared to intervene when Thornstar climbed down and blocked her way.

"Let's see how she handles herself." He whispered to Eaglecry. The dark brown she cat nodded.

Stealth kicked her hind legs on Flamepaw's belly, but he bites Stealth's ears and sank his claws on her cheek. Stealth used her adrenaline rush to kick him off of her.

Stealth quickly gets back on her paws, Flamepaw spat and lashed her tail.

"You're going to have to do more than that to beat me!" He taunted.

Stealth didn't want to fight! She was hoping to talk him out of it, and no cat was intervening.

Keep calm, Stealth. Flamepaw maybe stronger than you, but you're smaller, which makes you faster.

Stealth looks around for the person talking.

Who are you? Where are you?

I'm not important at the moment. I'm here to help. Keep your eyes on Flamepaw and use your speed as an advantage.

Stealth kept her eyes on Flamepaw. The dark ginger tom charged forward, and she swiftly dodged and, accidentally, used her long tail to trip him. Flamepaw's muzzle hits the dirt and he spits out the soil.

Good. Now, let him come near you and use his weight against him.

Flamepaw whirled around and glared at her.

"You stinking rogue!"

Flamepaw charged again and unsheathed his claws toward her. Stealth was knocked down, and she found the momentum to use her legs, and throw Flamepaw over her and landon his back.

Without thinking, Stealth lashed her claws on his exposed belly!

Stealth caught herself and backed away out of fear. Flamepaw gets back up and glares at her. He took one paw forward-.

"Stop!"

Stealth and Flamepaw look at Thornstar as he approached them with Eaglecry next to him. "The battle has been decided, Stealth will be trained as an apprentice of ThunderClan."

"But-!" Flamepaw stopped when Thornstar glanced at him, he lowered his head and growled.

"Now, I would like to start her apprentice ceremony. Stealth, please step forward."

Stealth felt every cat stare at her, but she pads forward and stops in front of Thornstar.

"I call upon my warrior ancestors to accept this cat as an apprentice. She has agreed to learn the warrior code and stand by it as a loyal ThunderClan cat."

Stealth looked up at the evening sky. Were there really cats watching her? If Thornstar is saying it, then maybe they are…

"Stealth." The golden she cat looks at the ThunderClan leader.

"Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, even if it costs you your life?"

Stealth blinked and puffed her chest out.

"I-I promise."

"Then I, Thornstar, leader of ThunderClan, hereby cast aside your rogue name, and name you Stealthpaw."

"Stealthpaw! Stealthpaw! Stealthpaw!"

Thornstar looks at the crowd of cats. Stealthpaw wanted a cat who wasn't mean, but he also wants a cat who won't go soft on her… He found a silver tabby she cat with green eyes.

"Seabreeze." He said. Seabreeze stepped from the crowd and looks at Stealthpaw softly.

"You are a strong, and strict warrior. Mooneye has certainly taught you how to be strong, I and trust you to pass it down to Stealthpaw."

Seabreeze nodded. "I will."

Stealthpaw feels Thornstar's breath on her ear.

"Go and touch noses with her."

Stealthpaw pads towards Seabreeze and pressed her nose on the silver she cat's nose. Stealthpaw's paws itched for the next thing, as she silently thanks the voice who helped her.

Well I'm glad this turned out good. I deleted this by accident and I thought I had to reduce the whole thing. But I found it in my trash can, and my sanity is saved!

Remember, Warriors belong to Erin Hunter, but the OCs, Thornstar, Stealthpaw etc. obviously belong to me