Twigfall padded wearily into her new home, her fur bristling as she crossed the border. Even though she was joining this new Clan, setting paw on their territory felt wrong-so, so wrong.

"It's alright, Twigfall. As long as you're with me, you're safe," Nighthawk mewed into her ear. She pressed as close to him as possible, letting his scent wreath around her and fill her nostrils.

Then they reached the camp. Nighthawk peered in first and then signaled for Twigfall to follow him as he squeezed through the entrance into the camp.

Gasps and hisses erupted from all around as they smelled ThunderClan scent clinging strongly to Twigfall's pelt.

"What is she doing here?"

"That cat doesn't belong here! It's ThunderClan!"

"Get her out!"

Twigfall suddenly didn't feel so good. Maybe this was the wrong thing to do. Maybe she should just go back home…

No. She'd be strong. She wanted to be here and she didn't care if every cat in the forest disagreed with her decision. At least she was still loyal to StarClan. Did they think she made the wrong choice too…?

"Nighthawk!" Blackstar stood in the middle of the clearing, his pelt bristling as his eyes flicked across Nighthawk and Twigfall's pelts. "What are you doing?"

"May I speak to you in your den?" Nighthawk didn't flinch as Blackstar let out a bought of laughter.

"As if! Now tell me, what is she doing here?" The black tom stood in front of Twigfall protectively.

"She wishes to join ShadowClan." Blackstar's eyes lit up with amusement as he breathed in the she-cat's scent.

"A ThunderClan cat? Joining ShadowClan?" Blackstar turned away and flicked his tail, signaling for Nighthawk to escort Twigfall off of their territory and back to her own Clan.

"Please, Blackstar. Give her a chance." The ShadowClan leader spun around and inspected the tabby warrior thoroughly. He made note of her missing leg, her softer pads, and the color of her pelt.

"First of all, she's missing a leg. Second, her pads are too soft for the pine needles in our territory. And look at her pelt! Do you honestly think the prey won't spot her white fur from five tail-lengths away?" Nighthawk stood his ground.

"She has worked around her missing leg and she was great hunter in her old Clan," he meowed. His voice was steady and defensive. "And in time her pads will harden."

Blackstar grew annoyed and after realizing that he would lose one of ShadowClan's strongest warriors if he didn't allow Twigfall to stay, he sighed and jumped onto the lowest bough of a pine tree that hung over the camp..

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here for a Clan meeting!" The whole of ShadowClan was already gathered, so there was no need to say the traditional gathering call. "This cat," Nighthawk nudged Twigfall forward into an empty space in front of the pine tree, "wishes to leave ThunderClan and join ShadowClan. I know this is highly frowned upon, but I've decided to give her a shot."

Annoyed and angry hisses echoed around the camp.

Blackstar didn't even end the meeting. Instead he just went to his den and disappeared inside.

"Come on," Nighthawk whispered in his mate's ear and led her into the Warrior's den. The sun was setting and soon the night would be completely upon them.

"Since it's late already, I'll let you share my nest for tonight. In the morning I'll make you one next to mine." He rearranged the bramble and moss to allow both cats to sleep in the nest.

Twigfall curled up in the nest and Nighthawk pressed in beside her. The she-cat waited until her mate's breaths grew slower and more even before she stared up at the roof of the den, praying that StarClan could still hear her thoughts to them.

Did I make a horrible mistake? My Clan loved me; I had a great future with them. But I blew it. Even if I decide to go back now, they will never trust me or see me the same. Twigfall pleaded silently with StarClan to give her answers, but deep in her heart she knew that her ancestors would leave her to find the answers herself.

She lay awake for a long time before falling asleep.

Twigfall woke in a clearing, dew glittering like stars on the grass. She looked around and saw a cat padding towards her. She recognized the gray-furred she-cat as her mother.

"Cinderheart!" She rushed forward to give the cat a lick on the ears. "I've missed you!" Her mother returned the affectionate licks and then sat down.

"Twigfall, you have left your Clan to ruins. You had a great destiny! All your life, I knew of this. Jayfeather told me what you were to be," she mewed.

"What?" Twigfall couldn't believe her ears.

"The cloud will drift away, and night will bar the bramble's path. A twig will rise to power, unless crushed by the love of a hawk." Twigfall knew she must be the twig, or she would not be hearing of the prophecy, but who were the cloud, night, bramble, and hawk?

"What in StarClan's name is that supposed to mean?" Cinderheart's eyes suddenly grew cold and urgency edged her mew.

"You must escape-" The gray she-cat's sentence was cut off my a hiss from Bluestar who had appeared across the clearing. Cinderheart gave a last look at her daughter before bounding away to join the old ThunderClan leader.

"Wait! Escape what!" Twigfall's mews faded away into emptiness as the vision of the meadow slid away.