A/N: Wow, sorry for such a long update! School has been kicking my butt! Haha well, here's Chapter Two! I hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter Two

The crisp, warm air of summer warmed the rock terrain in the RockClan camp. Her orange and black meshed fur was warmed by the sun's bright rays as she basked on a rock with Rabbittail and Splashkit. Cactuskit's spiky fur ruffled as a warm breeze swept through the camp clearing. Cactuskit narrowed her eyes when she saw Hareleap come out of the nursery with her three kits, Briarkit, Alderkit, Thistlekit. Cactuskit saw that Thistlekit's fur was almost as spiky as hers, but his was long and ginger. Alderkit was a dark brown tabby tom and Briarkit was almost an exact replica of Hareleap, minus her warm green eyes.

Ever since the day her Clan outcasted at her, she's avoided everyone's contact, except for Rabbittail and occasionally Splashkit. Cactuskit flicked her unusually long tail and flicked her emerald gaze toward the apprentices den. Ivy stretched up the flat rock that laid on top of a large boulder. One day, I'll prove everyone wrong! I'll be the best warrior RockClan has ever seen, she thought briefly before she felt Rabbittail stir beside her. "You two go back to the nursery where Silverdream can keep an eye on you. I'm going to join a patrol along the twoleg border." she purred as she licked each kit in between the ears before she padded off to join Gorseclaw, Silverdreams mate, and Robinwing and her apprentice, Hawkpaw.

Cactuskit felt the eyes of Hawkpaw, ever since Darkpaw had been spending more time with her, Hawkpaw had grown angry. Cactuskit flicked her ears irritably and began to pad away toward the nursery where Silverdream sat. The beautiful silver she-cat saw just outside the den, rubbing her back against the ivy that stretches up the walls. Her large swollen belly suggested that Cactuskit and her sister would have even more denmates. Briarkit, Alderkit, and Thistlekit were three moons younger than Cactuskit and Splashkit, making them the eldest of the kits. In just one moon, Cactuskit and Splashkit would join the other apprentices in their den. Her fur quivered with anxiousness and happiness when the thought entered her mind. She turned to enter the den, but was spit at by Silverdream. Cactuskit was use to this reaction from her clanmates, but simply flicked her long tail toward the queen.

When she settled into her cozy moss nest, she wrapped her tail around her paws and over her nose. Her prickly fur brushed against her nose, causing her to sneeze. Slowly, but easily, she fell into a deep sleep.

Her eyes snapped open to see a dark grey tom with green eyes standing in front of her. Compared to her puny size, he stretched above her defiantly with nothing reflecting in his gaze. "Greetings, young Cactuskit." he boomed.

Cactuskit widened her gaze and looked around. Where was she? Tall trees stretched above her head and stars gleamed in the purple and navy blue meshed sky. The air was warm and welcoming. She felt...safe and relaxed. She stared up at the dark grey tom and asked, "How did you know my name? And who are you?"

The toms green eyes gleamed. "It's not important who I am, but who you are." he rumbled as he flicked his grey tail.

Cactuskit cocked her head and murmured, "Well that doesn't help me."

"Your clanmates don't respect you, right?" he asked with his green gaze burning into her pelt.

"R-right." she stammered. How did he know so much about her?

The tom rose to his large paws and meowed, "Then you must prove to them who you are. Show them you are a cat, just like they are."

"Well, I'm obviously a cat." Cactuskit shrugged.

The tom snorted. "Back in my day, she-cats weren't respected for their abilities. They were used for hunting and making sure the Clan remained large, nothing else."

Cactuskit's fur bristled. "Well that's not fair!" she hissed irritably.

The tom nodded gravely, "One cat made a name for she-cats. A cat with fur that burned with the sun. The days of she-cat slavery are coming back to the Clans. A cat with thorns must stand up for whats right and must make sure time doesn't repeat itself."

Cactuskit shook her head at all the information that was fed to her. "What are you talking about?" she meowed slowly to the tom.

"My name is Boulder, I am the founder of RockClan. I will visit you often, now, go back to your Clan. Soon, you will start your training." the grey tom meowed as his grey-starry pelt began to vanish.

Cactuskit was left alone with her spiky black and ginger meshed fur on end. Soon, she was engulfed by darkness.

She sleepily opened her eyes to see Splashkit's blue eyes glittered at her. "What, Splashkit?" she mumbled.

"Let's go exploring! Rabbittail is still out! We should track her and show all the warriors how great our skills are!" she yowled.

Cactuskit covered her ears with her paws. "All the warriors will know our plans now since you just yowled them at the top of your lungs." she grumbled.

Splashkit's black tail drooped. "Oh.." she whispered.

Cactuskit rolled her eyes. "Come on, if we're quiet, we may be able to get away." she whispered

Splashkit's tail rose again, but it soon dropped when a sudden shriek sounded off the rock walls. Cactuskit leaped to her paws and bounded out of the nursery with her tail high. She starred into the clearing as two warriors and an apprentice filed in. On the back of Gorseclaw was the limp body of a light brown she-cat. Cactuskit's fur rose when she recognized Rabbittail. She felt Splashkit stiffen beside her as they laid their mother on the ground. Together, they bounded up to their motionless mother. Cactuskit looked up at Gorseclaw and croaked, "What happened?"

"A bear attacked us while we were patrolling. Rabbittail saved Hawkpaw's life, she died a true warrior's death." Robinwing answered for him when he shivered and rolled his eyes.

Cactuskit felt her blood run cold when a warrior in the back growled, "One she-cat lost isn't as big of a deal as one tom lost. She-cats are weak as the toms remain strong."

Cactuskit focused her gaze and made out the black and brown stripped pelt of the tom who sneered at her moons ago. Hollowbranch.

A/N: Again, sorry for such a long update, but school has been kicking my butt! Haha so expect an update every few days! Thanks for all the reviews but keep reviewing!

Also, if you love my three stories about RockClan, OceanClan, and TreeClan you'll LOVE Dawn of the Great Lake Clans! Wanna know why? 'Cause it's about THESE Clans! So go check it out and REVIEW!

So you know what I do right? REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! Thanks! :)

-Nightwish