"What do you mean, he has to come into the camp?" Swiftpaw asked.
"He has to rest his paw, and, as it's going to rain soon, that shouldn't be out here. It might be different if we were short of prey, but it's only early leaf-fall, so that isn't an issue." Tideheart responded.
"But, what will we say to the Clan about him staying?" Swiftpaw asked. "Won't they be suspiscious of him?"
"Aren't they suspicious to all strangers? I'll explain the situation to Cinderstar. Under the circumstances, she won't say that he has to leave. As for what we'll say tgo the clan, we'll just tell them that you found himin the forest, hurt. He isn't really much of a threat. He's no older than you are."
"Hey!" Swiftpaw said. "I would, too be a threat."
"I'm sure you would be, but I doubt that you could stage an attack on our clan. Plus, Will isn't trained, so he'd be less of a threat than you." Tideheart turned and started toward the camp.
Swiftpaw looked at Will, a mischievious gleam in her eyes. She motioned with her tail for him to pounce on Tideheart. Will nodded, and the two of them leaped, landing on top of the gray she-cat and knocking her to the ground.
"Victory!" Swiftpaw said as she got off of the medicine cat. "See how much of a threat we'd be?"
Tideheart got to her feet. "I can picture it now. Swiftpaw and Will, taking down all of ThunderClan." She said sarcasticly.
The three of them proceeded into camp, where they were met with whispers and growls. Foxleap stepped in front of them. "Who is that?" He asked.
"That's Will." Swiftpaw said. "He's staying here." She said.
"Why should he stay here?" Foxleap asked.
"He's hurt! Tideheart says he needs to rest. Right, Tideheart?" Swiftpaw asked. The gray medicine cat was gone, though.
"Where did she go?" Will asked.
Then Cinderstar came out of her den, followed by Tideheart. She didn't have to call the clan together, as they were already assembled, so she immediately began. "As most of you have noticed, there is a strange cat in our midst."
Will flattened his ears at the way she worded it.
"His name is Will. He will be staying with us, as he has a broken leg that he needs to rest." Cinderstar said.
The camp went into an outrage. "He could be a threat!" One cat yowled. "We can't have another mouth to feed!" Came another.
"Your fears are not well-founded. He is barely old enough to be an apprentice! I'd like to see the day that an apprentice stages an attack against one of the Clans. It's only leaf-fall. We can spare the fresh-kill. Will is staying." She said, ending the meeting.
Swiftpaw turned to Will. "I guess that decides it, then." She said.