A/N: Jani, meet ThunderClan. ThunderClan, meet Jani

ThunderClan

"Quickly with those cobwebs Jaypaw!"

Jaypaw. I feel like that name sounds familiar.

"Okay Leafpool," called a grumpy voice.

Leafpool. I think I know that name too. Strange, I've told them my name, they've told me mine, but how is I feel like I already know?

Leafpool smiled a warmly at me. "Violet, I'm going to put some medicine on you cuts. It's going to sting, but it's the only way to help them heal."

I nodded. Bracing myself, I sucked in my breath. Cool liquid poured into my cut. I gritted my teeth.

"Well no one told you to go climbing on rocks," the tom named Jaypaw snapped.

I narrowed my eyes I him. "Well I'm sorry if I couldn't see that clear because it's dark out! Don't you have those moments too?"

Leafpool went still. She looked at me for a moment, then over to Jaypaw.

Jawpaw's face was emotionless. "Yes actually," he said. "Considering I'm blind and all."

I gasped and my eyes widened. "Oh my . . . I'm so sorry!"

He didn't even let me finished. Walking out of the den, he called over his shoulders. "Loners! They'll never change!"

I could feel Leafpool's gaze on me, but I was only looking down at my paws. "Wow, I'm a jackass."

Leafpool put a sympathizing tail on my shoulder. "I'm not really sure what that is, but don't get too hard on yourself. How could you know?"

"Still," I sighed. "I shouldn't have snapped like that."

Leafpool wiped something around my cuts. I tried to stand up but I still didn't have too much strength left. My legs trembled, and I felt myself crashing, but Leafpool caught me just in time.

"I think it would be better if you just stay here for a while," she suggested.

I shook my head. "No, I can't. I need to talk to Firestar."

Leafpool just sort of looked at me for a second. "Stay here. I'll go get him." She was hesitant for a second and left. Soon she came back with Firestar behind her. "She wants to talk to you." She left, taking one last glance at me.

Firestar's eyes looked exhausted, like my papa's did after a hard day of work. My God, what are my parents' doing right now? Freaking out? Yep. Goanna punish my ass off tomorrow morning? Probably. How I was to possible sneak off as a cat every night?

Once we were alone I looked up at Firestar. "Yes Violet?" he asked.

I shifted my paws uncomfortably. This was an extremely awkward moment. What words could I possibly use to sum up my problem here?

"Firestar, do you believe in more powerful forces than that of nature and ourselves?"

I wished I had taken a picture of it. Firestar did the best WTF face I have ever seen. It was beautiful. That look of pure confusion mixed in with a hint of what is this girl talking about. It's like that awkward moment when a cat-What the hell am I doing? I have to start explaining myself.

"I'm not sure I understand," Firestar said, in an extremely confused tone.

I sighed. "To make a longer story short, I wasn't always this why."

"What do you mean 'this way'?"

Damn! I was backed into a corner. What on earth was I goanna say to him? Oh yeah, what I mean is that I a human a few hours back, but some crazy witch turned me into a cat and told me to come here for help. That would just be fabulous.

Before I could talk, Firestar talked for me. "A loner?"

That'll do. "Uh . . . yeah! A loner, that's I mean. Uh huh, I'm-I'm a loner one-hundred percent."

Firestar nodded. "Okay, so you were saying before."

And again, I sighed. "Well, I got into some trouble, that's how I became a loner. And, I've heard that maybe you guys can offer me some help."

Firestar sat down. His tail wiggled behind him, like he was thinking. "I think there is help we can offer." His gaze turned friendly. "Would you like to join ThunderClan?"

I looked at him. He was serious. I'm not sure why, but I felt honored. Why? I hardly even know this world, and I'm not even a real cat! But I saw that look in his eyes. His face might've looked exhausted, but his eyes were bright with interest. He had a look in his eye that I never once received from my parents.

"Firestar I would be honored to join."

He smiled. "Great! First we'll-"

"But there's a catch," I interrupted.

"Oh." He nodded his head. "Very well. I'm listening."

I sucked in my breath and spoke really fast. "-"

"Whoa now!" Firestar lifted up his paw.

I panted. "Yeah, I'm really sorry; it's so-um-weird."

"Now, explain to me-slowly-what the problem is?" Firestar asked me.

"You remember how I mentioned more powerful forces?"

He nodded.

"Well, that's sort of the reason why I can't fully stay in your clan. Night's the only time I can come here."

Firestar stood up. He started padding around me. I tensed up a little. He was probably looking for hint of something that would make this all make more sense.

"If, you don't mind me asking, what is it exactly that keeps you from coming here during the day?" he asked.

I bit my lip and looked back at my paws. "Please," I said, "try to understand. If I told you, you would think I'm crazy. Please, can I just come here at night? I promise not cause trouble. I'll be helpful, useful, seriously if you need any help, I'll be there!-if it's at night."

I think I just blew my chance. Oh wonderful. Firestar was looking at me like "say what?". No way was he goanna let me in the clan now. What was thinking? Asking to come only at night, come on! Only an idiot would allow someone to-

"Okay."

My heart leaped! Oh my God, how lucky was I? He was actually goanna let me do it. I don't believe it.

I stood up, slowly, ignoring the various pains in my body. Then, I don't why, but I bowed my head a little. "Thank you so much Firestar! I'm very grateful for you kindness and generosity. You won't be disappointed, I promise."

Firestar smiled. "A young, eager cat like you, I'm sure I won't. But there still is a problem."

A knot formed in my stomach. Frowning I asked, "And what might that be?"

"Your mentor."

"My what?"

"Your mentor. The cat that will train you to be a warrior."

"A cat that will what me into a who?"

Firestar sighed. "We have a lot of work to do with you." He started padding out of the den. "Be right back."

That knot in my stomach was growing tighter and tighter by the second. Was I right by doing this? I mean all I needed to was become fully human again, not much more. Had the witch tricked me? Oh that . . . word that rhymes with witch! She probably did! She's probably looking in her cauldron right now and laughing about it right now.

Firestar walked back in the den with a muscular looking brown cat with tiger-like stripes, similar to what I had, and amber eyes. Hang on, this looked like the cat I saw that day to the mall. But he didn't look at beat up. Could he . . . . Nah!

"Violet, this is Brambleclaw." Firestar tilted his head to the brown tom. Brambleclaw nodded his head to me, and I did the same. "Hey."

"Hey," he said.

"Um Brambleclaw," Firestar said. "Violet's in need of a mentor-"

Brambleclaw lifted his paw. "Say no more Firestar. I would happy to take her as my apprentice."

Firestar shifted his paws uncomfortably. "Um, see that's where we hit an issue. You see, she can only come to the clan at night."

Brambleclaw looked at Firestar then at me weirdly. "But why can't she-"

"It's complicated," Firestar and I said at the same time.

Brambleclaw eyed Firestar. "So . . . I would have to train her . . . . at night?"

Firestar nodded. "That's the deal. In return . . . well . . . she'll sort of be our slave."

Brambleclaw sat down. He began looking around the den, looking at everything but us. Finally, with a sigh, he nodded.

I smiled a stupid Barbie doll smile. "Thank you Brambleclaw! I assure you, you won't be disappointed!"

Brambleclaw let out another sigh. "I should hope not."

I was practically skipping along the lake border. Firestar said tomorrow he would announce me to the clan, assign me to Brambleclaw, and then the fun would start. And now I was just skipping merrily along the banks of the lake. Since it was so late, I figured I start to head home. I bid my good-byes to Firestar and Brambleclaw, gave them my thanks, and was on my way.

God, I felt so proud of myself! I don't know why, but I did. Now I was humming this tune in my head as I walked in ThunderClan territory heading back home. My spirit was soaring. Nothing could possibly bring it down!

Suddenly, the fur on my neck rose. This strange feeling overcame me, like there were eyes on me. I turned around and almost fell into the lake. There was a frickin cat just staring at me! Talk about creep! He was-Wait, this cat looked way too familiar. I was having a strange sense of déjà.

"Brambleclaw?"

The cat just sat there.

"Did you want something? Because I have to get going."

The cat laughed. "Yes and no."

Whoa! Okay that was defiantly not Brambleclaw! This cat's voice was way too deep to be Brambleclaw. This guy sounded like Darth Vader but without the whole breathing thing. I slowly began to back away from him, but he jumped in front of me, blocking me escape.

He smiled a smile of white fangs. "Hm. I don't know why they picked up. But I'll have fun finding out."

I tumbled backwards, scared out of my mind. "Okay! Who the hell are you?"

But as quickly as I asked, that's how quickly he disappeared. What? How?

I got up. Looking around, I began running. No, forget running, sprinting. My legs were hurting but I just did not care. This night was getting too weird for me. I had to get up. I sprinted pass the other territory, passed David's ranch, through the town, right up to my doorstep. Just in time too. The sun slowly rose over the horizon.

As soon as it's rays touched me, glowing white swirls circled around me. I could feel myself grow taller. Then they disappeared. When I looked in the window on my front door, I saw a girl with a brown oval face, with long black hair, two skinny arms and hands, along with two feet, and muddy clothes.

I knew that girl was me. Strange though. At first glance, I hardly recognized her.