The black cat leaped from the other bank, his claws outstretched, his eyes flashing. Larkpaw shrieked, her heart pumping, and scrambled back, but she was too late. The huge warrior landed with a thud…right next to her. Larkpaw blinked, her muscles tensed, and looked down at the cat. His claws had sunk not into her pelt, but into the neck of a tiny mouse.
"Good afternoon!" meowed the warrior, smiling at her, and bowing his head.
Larkpaw was stunned. "Y-you just tried to k-kill me!" she stammered, her eyes wide with fear. The black cat looked taken a-back.
"I did nothing of the sort! I was only warning you to move; because I had scented this little treat and was worried it might get away if I did not leap immediately. I would never!" yowled the cat indignantly, licking his paw in a very stately manner. Larkpaw relaxed, but she didn't take her eyes off of the cat.
"By the way, my name is Blackclaw of RiverClan. What's yours?" asked the tom kindly, blinking his yellow eyes.
"I'm Larkpaw of FireClan. But what's River-"
"Blackclaw! Did you catch the mouse – oh!" A smaller brown cat had come bounding up from the rocks, and he stopped short when he caught sight of Larkpaw.
"Who is this?" the cat asked, staring at Larkpaw.
"This is my apprentice, Volepaw." Said Blackclaw to Larkpaw, ignoring Volepaw. "He's come hunting with us. What did you say, though? FireClan?" Asked Blackclaw, his eyes suddenly suspicious.
"Oh, I was just saying that I came from the-"
"Ahem! Blackclaw! I asked you a question!" It was Volepaw. Larkpaw looked over at the apprentice disdainfully, already beginning to loathe his annoying, demanding voice. She didn't know how Blackclaw could put up with it.
"Larkpaw. From…FireClan? Really, where is that?" Blackclaw asked, taking a step closer. But Larkpaw had no time to answer, because four other cats came leaping up from the other side of the mountain, and they, too, halted sharply when they saw Larkpaw.
"Who is this?" one of them snarled, whipping around to face Blackclaw.
"Her name is Larkpaw." Blackclaw was beginning to get slightly exasperated. "She's from…" Blackclaw turned to Larkpaw.
"Oh, I'm from Fire-" She was cut off.
"Why are you speaking to her? She doesn't smell like one of us!" the cat hissed, lashing its tail.
"I know, Leopardstar, we just met, right here. She was drinking, and I said hello, so-"
"I don't care!" snapped Leopardstar roughly, and Blackclaw clamped his jaw shut.
"Where have you come from? Are you an enemy? Do you live in these mountains? Speak, cat!" Leopardstar pelted poor Larkpaw with questions, none of which she had any chance to answer. Finally, after Leopardstar was beginning to yell, Larkpaw howled, "MY NAME IS LARKPAW!" and everyone fell silent instantaneously.
"You didn't have to shout so loud." Muttered Volepaw haughtily, twitching his tail. Larkpaw shot him a dark glare, and the other apprentice only curled his lip and hissed quietly at her. Larkpaw turned away, annoyed.
"Well, Larkpaw, what are you doing here?" asked another of the cats.
"Well…um…actually, I'm running away." Answered Larkpaw sheepishly, suddenly realizing how foolish it sounded.
"Ah, I see." Said the last cat, who had a bright orange pelt. "Running away, may I ask, from whom?"
Larkpaw shuffled her paws. "My father."
The cat nodded, and nudged the ginger-furred cat next to him.
"Tragic, indeed." He said. "I am Firestar of ThunderClan, and this is my daughter, Squirrelpaw." The she-cat that he indicated dipped her head, and smiled at Larkpaw.
"And this is Rainwhisker, another of our warriors." Squirrelpaw nodded towards the gray tom who had asked first what she was doing.
"Pleased to meet you," murmured Larkpaw shyly, keeping her eyes on the ground.
"This is foolishness!" snarled Leopardstar suddenly. "We still don't know if she is our enemy or our friend! This little kitten could be a spy, for all we know!" Leopardstar spat contemptuously. Larkpaw blinked and shrunk down a bit, staring at Leopardstar's paws.
"Oh come now, Leopardstar. Let's take her back to the cave and talk to her, then Stoneteller can decide. He must know more about the cats of this area," said Firestar cajolingly, shooting Larkpaw a quick, sympathetic glance.
"Very well. But don't blame me if she murders your kits in the night." With that, Leopardstar stalked off, beckoning her warriors to follow.
"I apologize. Leopardstar just doesn't like to take chances. Mistyfoot, Stonefur, and Graystripe really threw her off!" whispered Blackclaw to her as he passed. Larkpaw didn't know who Mistyfoot, Stonefur or Graystripe were, but she was thankful for the kind words.
"Don't mind her. She's a stuck up old bag of fleas if you ask me!" meowed Squirrelpaw shortly.
"We didn't ask you, Squirrelpaw," retorted Rainwhisker.
"Mouse-brain!" Squirrelpaw hissed back.
"Stop," meowed Firestar irritably, flicking his ear. "Larkpaw, come along. We'll introduce you to Stoneteller."
Larkpaw stayed where she was.
"Come on, Larkpaw! The cave is this way!" said Squirrelpaw, beckoning her.
"I already know Stoneteller. I don't need to be acquainted with him. I've been to the cave; I know which direction it is. I'm not going to follow you." Larkpaw's eyes became narrowed again, and she began to tense once more.
Firestar paused, his paw in mid-air. He was looking at Larkpaw, his expression one of deep thought.
"Where are you from, anyway?" he asked finally.
"FireClan. In the valley, by the lake," said Larkpaw, glad for a chance to finally spit it out.
Squirrelpaw and Rainwhisker jolted to a halt, their eyes becoming wide with fear and surprise. Larkpaw hissed with annoyance.
"What?" she snarled.
"The valley?" asked Firestar hoarsely, his fur beginning to bristle.
"Yes, the valley!" Larkpaw growled back, her hackles rising as well.
"Then we're not the only ones…Stoneteller lied!" hissed Squirrelpaw, throwing her head up to the sky and howling to the clouds.