(Just like the last Chapter this one was redone mostly because of the territory.)

Chapter 2

Rusty woke up in his basket and stepped out of it. He stretched out his body then padded toward the cat flap in the kitchen. He spotted Smudge in his yard and darted across the lawn to greet him.

"Why did you sleep in so late?" asked Smudge.

"I went into the forest and met up with some wild cats, they want me join their Clan." answered Rusty. Smudge looked at Rusty with wide eyes.

"Really? You have seen them? What happened?" asked Smudge who looked curious and fearful at the same time. Rusty told Smudge about his adventures in the forest and about the offer he had been given by the Clan.

"Are you really going to go?" asked Smudge quite sadly. Rusty thought for a moment before answering his friend.

"yes I'm going to go. I will learn what it means to be a real cat and to protect and serve the Clan." answered Rusty. Smudge looked down sadly with his tail drooped on the ground.

"I'll miss you Rusty". Rusty looked at his friend sadly, but knew he was going to leave.

"I'll miss you too Smudge" meowed Rusty.

Rusty was waiting in the spot where he had met the other Clan cats. A soft breeze ruffled his ginger fur. His fur shimmered in the sunlight like the blaze of a fire. The familiar scent of the Clan cats reached his nose though it was stale. Suddenly a fresher scent caught his nose and he recognized it as the scent of Finchflight. Rusty's ears rotated back and forth trying to pick up the faintest sound of pawsteps, but before he could figure out where the scent was coming from a familiar golden tabby emerged from behind a bramble bush.

"Hello Rusty have you made your decision?" asked Finchflight. Rusty gave him a curt nod.

"Yes, I've decided to join your Clan."

"Very well lets go, Goldenstar is expecting us." But before Rusty had even taken a step forward, Finchflight had grabbed his collar between his teeth and yanked it off with a snap. Finchflight placed it before Rusty who quickly buried it. Finchflight turned around and raced into the forest with Rusty pelting after him. Finchlight led him through the trees, leaping over small boulders with a swift pace. Rusty did his best to keep up with him. He weaved around a well placed boulder which Finchflight had cleared with one leap. Rusty had been in awe by the warriors ability to leap so high but remembered how powerful the tom's hind legs were and figured the jump was nothing to the golden warrior.

They continued through the trees till they reached a hill at the very top a tree was perched. The hill was covered with mossy rocks some of which were sharp, which didn't appear to slow down Finchflight who proceeded to climb with ease. Rusty struggled a little up the hill but still made it to the top without any accidents, however he was now very tired and his paws were sore. Finchflight guided him over to a small cave created by three smooth rocks that seemed to lead underneath the tree. The cave was just big enough for a cat to get into. Finchflight beckoned Rusty forward with his tail and move into the cave. Rusty followed behind him with caution as he approached the cave. The golden warriors tail had just vanished into the cave as Rusty entered. His nose was assaulted with the fresh scents of various different cats. He noticed that the cave wasn't actually a cave but a tunnel as he saw light from the other side. He emerged into the camp and looked around in awe at the many cats lying around and play fighting.

"Welcome to SkyClan Rusty" meowed Finchflight as he watched Rusty's expression with amusement. As Finchflight led Rusty further into camp, cats began to take notice of them and began to mutter to one another about who he was and where he came from. Goldenstar spotted them from her perch on a low branch on a tree on the far side of the clearing and gave Finchflight a nod before calling out to the Clan.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join underneath the High Branch for a Clan meeting" she called. Cats began to gather around her some gave Rusty curious looks.

"Cats of SkyClan we have been through our harshest leaf-bare, and while we haven't had too many losses I feel there is a need for more warriors." she paused to let her words sink in before continuing. "With that said I have brought this outsider here to join our camp." Cats immediately resumed their earlier muttering and started stealing glances at Rusty.

"Whose Clan is he from?"

"Is he a rogue or loner?"

"Goldenstar can't possibly expect him to be a warrior"

"He smells like a kittypet."

Goldenstar flicked her tail in impatience.

"ENOUGH" she growled. "Regardless of who he is or where he came from, he will train to be a warrior and that is final." With that Goldenstar jumped down from High Branch and gave each of her warriors a hard stare. Rusty eyes had widened considerably 'I best not get her angry' he thought. He saw most of the warriors had ceased their whispering and decide to listen to their leader looking at her uneasily.

"Rusty come here" she called. Rusty looked over at her nervously.

"It's okay go on" encouraged Finchflight who sat right beside him. Rusty got to his feet quickly and came to stand in front of Goldenstar.

"By naming apprentices, we show that SkyClan will survive and remain strong. "called Goldenstar " From this moment on, until he has earned his warrior name, this apprentice will be known as Firepaw. I have decide that I will be your mentor and train you in the ways of our Clan" She bent down and touched noses with Firepaw whose eyes had brightened.

"Firepaw, Firepaw, Firepaw" the Clan called out. Gradually the cheering died down and cats went back to what they were doing before the newcomer came.

"Firepaw tomorrow you will come with me on a patrol so I can show you our territory. I expect you to be waiting by the entrance before dawn. Is that clear?" Firepaw gave her a nod. Satisfied Goldenstar moved to speak with Finchflight. When she had gone Firepaw looked around for Longpaw but couldn't see his tabby pelt anywhere.

"Hello Firepaw" came a voice from beside him. He turned and saw a pretty silver tabby beside him.

"Hello" he answered shyly. The silver tabby purred softly and nudged him gently in the shoulder.

"My name is Runningpaw, come with me I'll show you where the other apprentices stay." she mewled softly. Firepaw nodded to her and followed her to a large tree with large roots. A small opening came from underneath the trunk.

"This is the apprentice den I know it looks a little small but it opens up nicely inside." Runningpaw meowed. Firepaw stared in awe at the tree and gave her a nod. She twitched her whiskers in amusement.

"Follow me." She mew before moving to the entrance of the den.

Runningpaw led Firepaw underneath the tree where the inside was wider and there were two other apprentices curled up in their nest. A pale ginger tom with green eyes and beside him sat a pretty white she-cat with blue eyes. They looked up when Runningpaw and Firepaw came in. The ginger tom gave Firepaw a look of disgust.

"Well if it isn't the kittypet, thought you might have gone home to your twoleg nest." sneered the tom. Before Firepaw could retort back the white she-cat rose to her paws and turned her head to shoot the tom a fierce look.

"Lightningpaw that's no way to speak to Firepaw, he's our Clan mate now we should be welcoming him." she hissed before turning her gaze to Firepaw, her eyes softening.

"Hello Firepaw my name is Dovepaw and that grumpy lump of fur is Lightningpaw" she said with a flick of her tail.

"Hello Dovepaw its nice to meet you" Firepaw meowed. Dovepaw purred softly before moving toward the entrance to the den .

"Would you like me to show you around camp?" she asked sweetly. Firepaw nodded and followed Dovepaw back into the clearing.

"Come with me" she meowed softly before leading Firepaw to a small clearing where two rocks formed a small cave. A brown tabby she-cat sat organizing herbs on the ground. The tabby looked up and gave of them each a friendly nodded before going back to her work.

"This is the medicine cat's clearing, those two rocks form the medicine cat den." Dovepaw paused to let Firepaw take in what she was telling him. "and that's Fallowpelt our medicine cat. If you ever get sick or have an injury go to her and she'll make sure your taken care of."

"Don't forget that she also helps interpret signs from StarClan" a voice meow behind them. They spun around to see Longpaw standing behind them. Firepaw was happy to see his familiar face.

"Hi Longpaw where were you?" asked Firepaw.

"Oh I was hunting, Finchflight asked Smokecloud to show me how to properly catch mice." Longpaw meowed. "That reminds me, Dovepaw, Smokecloud wants you to go with him, Hawkwing and Grayfeather on the sunhigh patrol they are waiting for you at the entrance. Dovepaw nodded and looked sadly at Firepaw.

"Sorry I can't finish showing you around. Longpaw will you show him the rest of camp?" she asked

"Of course I will"

"Okay, well see you later Firepaw" she purred before dashing off to meet her mentor. Firepaw and Longpaw watched her go before turning to look at each other.

"Firepaw huh? Nice name it does suit you though since you pelt looks as if its made of fire." Longpaw observed "How have things been so far?"

"Well I met the other apprentices. Dovepaw and Runningpaw were nice but, Lightningpaw wasn't exactly friendly or welcoming" shrugged Firepaw.

"Of course he wasn't, your competition in his eyes." Longpaw muttered to himself.

"W-What?" asked Firepaw in confusion.

"Nothing, don't worry about him he's always grumpy and he is weary since you're an outsider. Come on I promised Dovepaw I'd show you around" meowed Longpaw before walking off. Firepaw watched him curiously before following him. As they moved a way Fallowpelt looked up from her herbs. Her eyes flickering in amusement.

(I'm stopping here for now. The next chap should be interesting because I am going to have to make up some of the territory. . . . . Maybe all of the territory and the camp. Meet more of the Clan. So what do you think?)