Chapter Four

"Russetpaw!" Snowstar snapped angrily and the she-cat flinched at his voice. "You know better then to leave camp unaccompanied. Let alone follow an attack patrol into enemy territory." His yellow eyes burned into the apprentice who crouched on the ground, clearly ashamed. She slowly nodded her head. "I know, Snowstar¾ "

"No you don't!" Snowstar cut in and sat up, glaring at her like he was about to leap on her and claw her ears off. "Russetpaw, you broken too many rules! You must be punished!" He growled and Gorseclaw stared at him with wide eyes.

"For one moon you will live outside the Clan camp," Russetpaw gasped out loud in shock and tried to speak but no words came out. Gorseclaw stood to defend her but Snowstar raised his tail, stopping him. "You will live near Owl Tree and fend for yourself, no one will be allowed to help you until your one moon is up."

"But Snowstar!" Gorseclaw protested, "Russetpaw can't be alone! She was trying to get away from Willowberry whose chasing her when spotted…" Snowstar turned to him, "I have seen. But Russetpaw has to understand that breaking the warrior code will not be tolerated. She may be Flamingstar's daughter but that doesn't gave her power to rule the Clan."

Gorseclaw knew that trying to fight Snowstar was unless. When his mind was made up it was hard to change no matter what anyone said or did to him. Yet his words spoke truth, Russetpaw was always a bit bossy but had got worst since the death of her mother. "But…can't she have some of the Clan go see her?"

Snowstar stared at him, narrowing his eyes. Then he relaxed, "I guess but only family right now. Later on I might let others but not now." Russetpaw looked relived as well and sat up to face her leader, trying to look brave. "Snowstar I understanding your orders and I accept them."

The white tom nodded his head at her words. "You will leave today but after we have some ceremonies." Snowstar glanced towards Gorseclaw for a moment. "Now go for they'll be held soon. Gorseclaw go find Whitefang and tell him to come to my den."

Gorseclaw bowed his head then turned, followed by Russetpaw left Snowstar's den. Both cats when their separate ways once outside, Russetpaw wandered towards Rowanclaw, the tabby was dozing in the sunlight beside Ashface while Gorseclaw when and look inside the warriors' den.

Whitefang was curled up in a mossy nest, fast asleep. Gorseclaw padded to him and gently prodded the grey warrior with a paw until he woke up. "Gorseclaw? What is it?"

"Snowstar wants to speak with you. He's inside his den waiting." Whitefang yawned and stood, shaking his fur free of moss then walked outside. "Thank you, Gorseclaw." He mewed over his shoulder. Gorseclaw once alone when to his own nest and curled up and fell asleep. He was tired from all the stuff which happened but deep down Gorseclaw knew that it was going to get more harder.

Thickfur and the patrol came back with two RiverClan warriors as the sun was starting to set. Almost every cat wanted to know what was happening in RiverClan when they spotted the cats. Gorseclaw walked out of the den to see what was happening.

He saw that one of the RiverClan cats were Chestnutfoot but the other a beautiful white she-cat with dark blue eyes he didn't know. Snowstar soon appeared from his den and leaped up to Highrock, his voice rang. Gorseclaw moved away towards Highrock and settled down near the front and waited for the meeting to being.

"Cats of ThunderClan!" Snowstar began. "RiverClan is in dire need of help and have come to ThunderClan. Their food sources have failed them causing many problems…even death." Chestnutfoot and her fellow Clan-mate lowered their eyes in grief. "I have decided to allow RiverClan to share hunting rights with ThunderClan and offer them a place within our Clan until they are strong enough to fend for themselves."

Murmuring broke out around the clearing as Snowstar made the suggestions. Most cats agreed with him, Snowstar could see, but other looked uncertain.

Its was Thundercloud who voiced the white tom's doubts. "That's all very well, Snowstar, and I'm sorry for what they been through but don't you think allowing them inside our camp dangerous?"

More murmuring but this time it was filled with a edge of fear. "RiverClan will have a good idea of our Clan's movements and they could use it against us when they are stronger. I say sent them back home even the kits."

Willowberry leaped to her paws and faced Thundercloud. "They can't go back!" She hissed. "They'll die without any food or protection."

"Yes. Do you want ThunderClan to be known as cats who sent others to death even young kits? Even a clan watched over by StarClan?" Gorseclaw asked ignoring the shocked look on his best friend's face.

Thundercloud looked away but didn't answer. Snowstar looked over at the Clan before speaking. "I know many don't agree with my decision but RiverClan does need our help and if it's the will of StarClan that we help them…we must."

Mews of agreements came slowly but once Snowstar was sure that everyone was alright with the choices he turned to the RiverClan cats. "Welcome to ThunderClan."

Chestnutfoot and her friend nodded their heads to him, their eyes shining with happiness. "There are two ceremonies to make today, "Snowstar meowed and turned to Whitefang who sat next to his son, Silverstripe. He got up and moved to the base of Highrock.

"Whitefang, you have served ThunderClan for many moons, longer then any cat known." Snowstar meowed as he looked down at his once former mentor. "But that time is up and a new one will take it's place. Whitefang, is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go join the elders?"

Whitefang looked to him and meowed steadily. "It is."

"Then your Clan honours you and all the service you have given us. I call upon StarClan to give you many seasons of rest." Snowstar leaped down and rested his head on Whitefang's head. The new elders gave him a respectful lick on his shoulder then moved away to sit with the other elders.

"Whitefang! Whitefang!" The Clan chanted happily for Whitefang who was well-liked by many, Silverstripe walked over to his father pressed against him purring.

Gorseclaw looked away sharply when he heard his name being called, he got up and walked to the base of Highrock. "Frogkit," The black and white tom had appeared from nowhere and was now sitting beside Gorseclaw. " As I said before you are nearly seven moons old and its time for your training to begin as a warrior."

Snowstar gazed down at the tom. "From this day forward until he has earned his warrior name, this apprentice will be called Frogpaw."

He looked to Gorseclaw and meowed, "Gorseclaw you'll being Frogpaw's training. You have shown great courage in battle and loyalty to your Clan and the Code. I hope you pass on these skills to Frogpaw."

Gorseclaw, pride swelling his chest, nodded and replied. "I'll do my best, Snowstar."

He stood up and gently touched noses with his new apprentice then moved away. "Frogpaw! Frogpaw!" The cats chanted but no one was louder then Willowberry.

Snowstar's expression then suddenly changed and Gorseclaw knew why almost at once. Russetpaw without be told walked over to Highrock and sat down, waiting for her punishment.

"Russetpaw because you have broken the warrior code more then once and disobey orders sent out by your Clan leader, mentor, or any other cat higher in rank you are be forced to live outside the Clan for one moon."

Gasps from the gathered cats rang out along with yowls of protests. But Snowstar ignored them and continued on, "You will live at Owl Tree and hunt for your food and defend yourself from any predators until your time is up. If any cat from the Clan helps you in any way you will stay for another moon. Do you understand?"

Russetpaw nodded her head slowly in agreement but didn't make no move to defend herself. Stormtail her mentor was clearly shocked by the harshest of her punishment. He moved to her side and pressed his muzzle to her and purred, trying to comfort Russetpaw.

Snowstar looked away from her and flicked his tail to dismiss her, "You may leave after saying your goodbyes'." he meowed and leaped down. The cats gathered around Russetpaw and mewed a few words then moved away. Stormtail and Rowanclaw stayed by her side even as she walked towards the tunnel. They stopped just a few mouse lengths and watched her disappeared, swallowed up in the darkness.

The day was dieing and soon stars began to appear. Gorseclaw decided to say a few words to Whitefang and Frogpaw before heading to his nest for a good nights sleep. As he walked towards the elder he saw that the RiverClan cats were there too.

"Chestnutfoot, how are you?" The dark brown she-cat turned, her eyes shined when she saw him. "I'm fine now. I don't feel so hungry. Have you met my friend?"

The white she-cat turned her head away when Gorseclaw tried to look at her face, "Her name is Morninglily, she's awful shy when meeting others."

"Someone so pretty should be so shy." A smooth voice cut in and the cats turned to see Whiteclaw. The long haired white tom limped over to join them, he was still young but almost fatal accident on the Thunderpath had left him with only three legs and his brother, Silvertooth dead.

Morninglily moved to hid behind Chestnutfoot. "Oh come now! Don't be so shy. Their only commenting on how nice you look, you should be happy!"

Whiteclaw purred at the she-cat outgoing personality. "So Gorseclaw what do think about staying with RiverClan for a few moons? Hope you don't mind getting too wet."

Gorseclaw looked to him, confused and surprised. "What? Staying with RiverClan?"