A/N: Thank you, Twitchtail13 & ZantSpellcaster (aka: Rino! *hugs* She's a good friend of mine) for the reviews! They are much appreciated. I'm glad to hear you both like it and I shall definitely continue!

Chapter 6

Welcome to ThunderClan

"We're here."

Shell's tail twitched restlessly as Lionclaw suddenly spoke. The group of four cats had stopped at the top of a small ravine. As the tortoiseshell looked down she couldn't see any sort of opening. Was the camp really here?

Shell was usually outgoing and full of energy, but at the moment panic had engulfed her. What would happen if the leader refused to let them join? Would they kill her and Patch there and then? The fur along her back slowly stood up. What would happen if they died? Would Bear and the others investigate if they didn't meet him and Scar in a moon? Or would they just forget about them and move on? All these thoughts seemed to buzz around in the young she-cats mind as she tried to figure out what would happen when they went into the camp.

She then turned her head to look at Patch. He was standing very still, his gaze settled on the bottom of the ravine. He didn't look scared at all, but then again he never showed much emotion. Could thoughts similar to her own also be swimming around in her brothers head?

"Come on."

Shell turned to see Lionclaw making his way to the bottom of the ravine. She scrambled down after him with Patch and Pinepaw close behind. When everyone reached the bottom Lionclaw quickly disappeared into a thick patch of gorse. Shell hesitated for a moment but then pushed her way through. The prickly gorse snagged at her pelt as she trudged through, causing her to keep her head down. She noticed that the grass underneath her was flattened as if many cats went through this particular space, so she suspected that this was the entrance.

When she was finally all the way through, Shell lifted her head to see where they were. A clearing spread out in front of them, edged with thick grass, a few treestumps and a fallen tree. The camp was shielded by thick ferns and gorse. Her green eyes widened when she noticed that the clearing was filled with cats. Most of them were minding their own business, eating, resting, or grooming eachother, but some of them had lifted there heads to see who had come through the entrance. The few that paid attention to them nodded respectfully to Lionclaw. When their eyes scanned over Shell and Patch they were filled with suspicion, but also a bit of curiosity.

At the head of the clearing was a large boulder. Seated underneath it were three cats. Two Shell recognized as Whitefoot and Shadepaw. The other was a sleek black she-cat with piercing golden eyes. Could that be the leader? She seemed so petite compared to Lionclaw. But as Shell looked closer she did notice hard muscles under the she-cats black pelt. She also happened to notice quite a few scars.

Lionclaw made his way over to the group, Shell and the others following. He dipped his head in respect to the black she-cat then sat down. The three younger cats mimicked him. The black she-cat nodded in response to Lionclaw then her gaze settled on Shell and Patch.

"These must be the visitors that Whitefoot and Shadepaw spoke of," she meowed, her voice firm as she looked at Lionclaw. "Am I correct?"

"Yes, Thornstar," Lionclaw replied. "Our patrol found them over by Snakerocks. They say they come from Twolegplace and are all alone. They wish to join ThunderClan."

Thornstar's gaze settled back on the two siblings. "Is this true?"

Shell, seeing that Patch, once again, wasn't going to speak up, nodded. The young tortoiseshell then retold the story she had just told Lionclaw, though it seemed like days ago to her, when it had really only been minutes. As she explained she watched Thornstar's expression, trying to tell what she was thinking. But the leader remained rather emotionless, or at least she didn't give away what she thought, but nodded occasionally instead.

When Shell finished, Thornstar turned to Lionclaw. "What do you think?" she questioned the deputy.

"They are young and could make promising warriors," Lionclaw stated, repeating what he had told the siblings earlier. "But, they need to know the full extent of Clan life before they can really be a part of the Clan."

Thornstar nodded. "You are right, Lionclaw." She slowly turned back to face Shell and Patch. "I will allow you to stay with our Clan for ten days, to give you time to learn our ways of living. If you feel you still want to be a part of my Clan when your time is up, and if you both have proved yourselves worthy, you may join ThunderClan."

Shell had to stop herself from leaping about in joy. Although her main goal was to join the Clan in order to help her father, she couldn't help but be excited about learning all about the Clans. "Thank you," she mewed politely, dipping her head towards Thornstar. She saw Patch copy her movement but he still remained silent, as usual.

"Pinepaw," Thornstar suddenly said, turning to the brown tabby tom. "You will be in charge of showing Shell and Patch around camp. Once you have done that give them something from the fresh-kill pile. Do you understand?"

Pinepaw's green eyes narrowed but he nodded. "Yes, Thornstar," he mumbled.

"Alright then, get to it." The black she-cat stood then turned around and disappeared behind the large boulder, Lionclaw following after her.