Kyoya awoke in the Dark Forest. He sat up and waited for Tigerstar to show up. It wasn't long before the scared tabby appeared. "Good. You came. Let's go." He led Kyoya through the trees to a clearing. Many cats were waiting there.

"Shouldn't they be training?" Kyoya asked.

"For today, they're all here to meet you. After all, I'm one of the leaders here," Tigerstar explained. He led Kyoya up to a group of cats sitting a little further away. "These are some of the Dark Forest warriors that are dead. There's Brokenstar, Mapleshade, Shredtail, Thistleclaw, Snowtuft and Hawkfrost." Turning to the Dark Forest warriors, he added, "This is my apprentice, Lionpaw."

"Lionpaw? That's not what ThunderClan calls him," Mapleshade growled, seeming a little irritated.

"Here he shall be known as Lionpaw until he becomes a warrior," Tigerstar explained. Hawkfrost dipped his head in greeting to Kyoya, and Kyoya did the same to him. Tigerstar then led him over to another smaller group of cats. Kyoya noticed that Ivypool was among them.

"These cats are the ones who have been training in the Dark Forest and have made it to warrior status," Tigerstar explained. "One day, you will be apart of this group. There's Ivypool from ThunderClan, Applefur from ShadowClan, Breezepelt from WindClan and Beetlewhisker from RiverClan." Kyoya dipped his head to them and followed Tigerstar to the last group. "These cats are the apprentices that are training here. Right now you are part of this group, but hopefully you'll make it to warrior status soon. This group consists of Blossomfall, Birchfall, and Mousewhisker from ThunderClan, Redwillow and Tigerheart from ShadowClan, Hollowflight and Minnowtail from RiverClan, and Sunstrike and Furzepelt from WindClan. Remember them, because they are your allies now."

Kyoya nodded and dipped his head to them, joining their group. Tigerstar then adressed all the cats. "Lionpaw will now be participating in our training as my apprentice. We are to make him strong enough so he will be known as the strongest amongst his friends, and be able to beat his rival at anything."

"Aren't we missing someone?" Hawkfrost asked, standing up to face his father. "I heard that Thistleclaw got a new apprentice too."

Tigerstar looked at Thistleclaw. "Well, where is your new apprentice?"

"On his way. He'll be here shortly," Thistleclaw assured them. Just as he said that rustling sounded behind them Every cat looked to see a black tom with white patches emerge out of the bushes.

"Sorry I'm late!" the cat apologized. Kyoya blinked with shock, realizing who it was.

"Masemune? What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Oh! Hi Kyoya. And it's not Masemune. It's Strikepaw," Masemune replied. "Thistleclaw promised to train me so everybody might actually pay me some heed."

Kyoya grunted, showing he understood. "So, what are you doing here?" Masemune asked.

"Training, same as you, and it's not Kyoya here. It's Lionpaw," Kyoya growled.

"There he is," Thistleclaw meowed. "I can introduce him later. Continue, Tigerstar."

Tigerstar nodded. "What we want to do is become the strongest for the Clans sake. Tensions are high in the Clans and they need cats who will be able to work together and ignore Clan boundaries when it matters most. With as many cats as we have here, I know we can pull it off, and hopefully the tensions between the Clans will disappear. Until then, we ask that you train hard for the Clans sake. And don't tell anyone that you train here. It's our secret."

The cats yowled their agreement. Tigerstar smiled with pleasure. "Good. Now go and rest. Training resumes tomorrow for some of you and begins for two of you." He dismissed them with a flick of his tail, and the Clan cats disappeared into the trees, each seperating into their own Clan. Soon, they all began to wake up. Kyoya smiled as he did. I will become the strongest!