Chapter One

New Clanmates

Northern Russian Forest

In a small Russian Forest, there live six Clans of Warrior cats.

They have a Leader, a Deputy, and a Medicine Cat to look after them.

Currently, the CloudClan Leader is talking to her Clanmates from the Highrock that is above the clearing of the camp.

"Lightwing tells me that there is a small group of HouseCats wondering around the forest in search of a new home. I want a group of Warriors to go and study them and then report back to me immediately," said Nightstar. With that, Nightstar returns to her den. Lightwing begins to organize the patrol.

"Tornclaw, Cloudfur, and Silverstream, you three will go and check it out. Take your Apprentices with you."

"Finally, a chance to prove myself as a true Warrior!" said Lightpaw.

"Maybe we can become Warriors finally!" said Nightpaw.

"Yes, our time has come!" said Onyxpaw. The three Apprentices follow their Mentors out of the camp and to the clearing where Lightwing spotted the group of HouseCats.

Forest Clearing

"Lightpaw, can you smell any cats?" asked Tornclaw. Nightpaw draws the air over her scent glands.

"I smell milk, they have a Queen with them, and there are four cats in total in the group."

"Very good, Nightpaw!" praised Cloudfur. Nightpaw purrs gently at the remark. The patrol moves closer to the cats, which are lying in the small clearing ahead. Tornclaw and Cloudfur charge into the clearing.

"Be careful you two, remember they have a Queen with them!" warned Silverstream. The two toms stop in front of the group fur on end. The group protects their Queen. The ginger tom growls at Cloudfur and Tornclaw.

"What are you doing here?" asked the reddish ginger tom. Lightpaw's fur is standing on end.

"This is our territory and you're invading it!"

"B-but we need to find a safe place for Crystal to have her Kits," said the white tom. Nightpaw seems deeply puzzled by Sage's statement.

"Why?" There is a sad look on the misty-blue she-cat's face.

"Because the Humans will take her Kits away from her once, they are old enough to leave their mother's side. They did that to me once before."

"I need a safe place soon, because I am going to have my Kits!" shouted the bluish-white Queen.

"Nightpaw, go find Topazshine and tell her that she is needed." Nightpaw charges back to the camp.

CloudClan Camp

Medicine Cat's Den

Nightpaw makes her way to Topazshine's den to relay her Mentor's request. "Topazshine, you need to come quickly!"

"Why do you need me so urgently?"

"Did Cloudfur start an un-needed fight again?" asked the Medicine Cat Apprentice. Nightpaw shakes her head.

"No, one of the she-cats is expecting a litter of Kits."

"Tigerpaw, go with Nightpaw and help the patrol escort the group to camp." The two Apprentices charge off. Topazshine pads into the camp clearing.

Camp Clearing

"Lightwing, are you using Moonpaw now?"

"Do you need her for something?"

"Yes." Lightwing beckons Moonpaw with a flick of his tail. Moonpaw goes over to Lightwing.

"Go and see what Topazshine needs you to do." Moonpaw makes her way over to Topazshine.

"Moonpaw, go and tell Nightstar that I am bringing the HouseCats to the camp, because they have a Queen with them." Moonpaw dips her head and then goes to Nightstar's den.

Nightstar's Den

"Nightstar?"

"Enter, Moonpaw." Moonpaw enters the den and sees Cinderpelt sitting next to Nightstar's nest.

"What do you need, Moonpaw?" asked Cinderpelt.

"Nightpaw's patrol found out that the HouseCats have a Queen with them. Topazshine has invited them to stay in the camp so that the Kits are born in safety."

"That's fine," said Nightstar. Moonpaw notices the two bundles of fur squirming by Nightstar's belly.

"You have Kits!"

"Yes, they were born early this morning."

"That's why you didn't set up the patrol yourself!" Cloudfur's patrol returns with the four HouseCats.

"Cinderpelt, go and help them settle in," said Nightstar. Cinderpelt dips his head and leaves the den. Moonpaw follows her Mentor.

Nursery

"Shorttail is there any room for one more Queen?" asked Lightwing.

"She can have my nest."

"Dustpelt, Duskpelt, and Diamondclaw, can you train these three how to fight?" asked Cinderpelt. Duskpelt pads over to Blue.

"What's your name?"

"My name is Blue. Will you be training me how to fight?" Duskpelt nods his head. Red pads over to Diamondclaw.

"My name is Red, are you going to be training me?" Diamondclaw nods his head.

"Then that just leaves me. My name is Sage and you must be Dustpelt."

"Let's go and start your training." The six cats leave the camp and head for the Training Hollow.

"Crystal, follow me into the Nursery. Shorttail, go back to your nest. There is an empty one," said Topazshine.

"That is okay. My Kits are old enough to become Apprentices," said Shorttail. Nightstar is standing outside her den.

"Shorttail, leave your Kits with Tigerpaw for a moment and come to my den please." Nightstar goes back inside the den. Shorttail does as instructed.

Nightstar's Den

"What do you need, Nightstar?" asked Shorttail.

"I know you are ready to leave the Nursery, but I have a favor to ask of you."

"And what may that be?" Nightstar lifts her tail gently, revealing the two Kits.

"I need you to look after my Kits until they are old enough to become Apprentices."

"Did you pick names for them already?"

"The gray she-Kit is Heatherkit and the black tom Kit is Crowkit." Shorttail nods her head in understanding.

"I will raise them as my own." Shorttail picks up the two Kits gently by their scruffs, and then she makes her way back to the Nursery and lies in her nest once more.

Nursery

"Topaz, my Kits have been born safe and healthy thanks to your generosity," purred Crystal.

"Have you thought of names for them yet?" asked the Medicine Cat.

"Yes. The gray she-cat is Hazel, the cream-colored tom is Berry, the ginger she-cat is Leaf, and the brown she-cat is Minnow."

"Um… Crystal, in a Clan, we d names a bit differently."

"How so?" asked the new mother.

"Well Kits have '-kit' at the end of their names, Apprentices have '-paw', Warriors have a second part to their name to their names as do Medicine Cats, Elders, and Queens, and Leaders have '-star' at the end of their names."

"But you don't have a second part to your name."

"I do, but it's easier for others to call me 'Topaz'."

"What is your real name?"

"My name is Topazshine."

"That's a pretty name and it fits your ginger fur perfectly."

"Thank you, Crystal." Topazshine looks at Shorttail, who is currently nursing the two tiny Kits in her nest. "Shorttail, where did those two Kits come from?" Shorttail starts cleaning Crowkit's back and tail with gentle strokes of her tongue and she answers around his fur.

"These are Nightstar's Kits, but she asked me to nurse and look after them until they are old enough to become Apprentices."

"I see."

"Topazshine, Shorttail's Kits are ready to become Apprentices and Nightpaw, Lightpaw, and Onyxpaw are ready to become Warriors," said Tigerpaw.