The ginger tom managed to slip through the bramble with ease, thanks to his small body. He would be a real warrior and this was his first test. Any cat could tell from the way he was sneaking around and from the mischievous glint in his large, shining, mint green eyes that he was not supposed to be doing this. He crept low, eyes blending with the countless viridian shrubs and bushes. His tail sneaked along the floor, slick as a snake as he tries to stop it quivering from his excite ment. Just wait until they heard about such an adventure. He would show them all. Just because he was smaller than everyone else his age…He shook the negative thought from his head like a bird spreading its wings in preparation to fly. He can do this, even if no one else believes in him, he can believe in himself! Shortly after passing the great elm and yew trees he found some king of trail. It was worn, as if somecat had been using it day after day to sneak into the LakeClan terriroty. It must have been those SwiftClan scoundrels! He always heard the deputy talking about how they were stealing prey. Ever since that fire they thought they could get away with anything! Stupid Honeystar. Like she had any idea what she was doing. She probably clogged her ears full of water at the Moonpond, he concluded. Well, looks like it' up to me to solve his problem. Even without back up! He grinned to himself, the started down the path.

After a series of complicated twists and turns, the tom found his destination a shallow cave. He followed the tracks inside and when feeling confident let out a yowl of a battle cry. The only reply given, however, was a hoarse yelping, lik a dog. Huh? Yelping? The next few minutes flew by like a bluebird and soon pawsteps could be heard. A growling noise erupted, echoing throughout the cave. Then like a streak of lightning, out rolled a…fox? It looked like a fox, red fur same snout and body features yet its fur looked somewhat softer. No matter, it still towered above the tom, who was left staring at its clubbed foot. It growled down at him before it started panting happily, letting its tongue hang out. Was this a fox or a dog? No, it had to be a fox. The ginger tom laughed. It clearly had no idea what was going on, or what was about to happen. However, as he raised a paw paw to strike there was something about that oblivious innocence that broke his confidence. It started to bark something in audible and the ginger tom spoke. "Alright, alright. Chill iut. I'm Littleflame. He beamed.

"Cherr. Reetterfurame?" It repeated sloppily. "Ritterframe. Littleflame?"

"What?" Littleflame was shocked. How was this possible. "What are you?"

The fox froze, puzzled. "I…I…I Goferr. Gofer. Gopher! Yesss! Gopher!"

"Gopher? This is amazing!" Littleflame mewed with excitement. "Come on, we're going back to camp!"

"Amashing? Cahmp?" Gopher slurred whilst following. Littleflame nodded, unable to contain rising excitement.

The trip back to camp had been a long one, mainly because Littleflame wasn't sure where to go. New part of territory after all. Of course, he didn't mind. It gave him time to teach Gopher after all, who could now pronounce perfectly and for some reason could speak as well as any cat. How it had happened, Littleflame didn't know. What he did know, however, was that it was something never heard of before. Boy was he excited to show the Clan.

It was nightfall when they finally reached the bramble barrier. Voices could be hear arguing inside. "Look, Thornstar. I haven't stolen any prey and I DEFINETELY do not know where your it is. If you wish I can issue SwiftClan warriors to help you search."

"Honeystar, I trust my deputy." A voice Littleflame realised as Thornstar's mewed calmly. What was the SwiftClan leader doing in camp? Littleflame peered through the barrier to see six cats. On one side stood Thornstar, his spiky grey fur fluffed out and the medicine cat Berryburst, her neatly groomed silver fur slightly fluffed. LIonroar prowled alongside them, her ginger tail lashing. Littleflme recognised the other three from the elders' stories. Honeystar was the small golden she-cat stood in the middle of Flamefur, a ginger medicine cat and the SwiftClan deputy, Treeleaf.

"Thank you, Thornstar." Lionroar growled. "I'm sure you can understand why I am like this, Honeystar. Seeing as my one moon old kit has disappeared. Besides you have been acting differently since that fire."

Honeystar furrowed her brow. "That fire decimated my Clan and was almost 8 moons ago. I am just doing my best here, ok?"

It was at that moment that Littleflame decided to appear. "Hiya!" He beamed up at them. Gopher stood beside him, tail wagging. Lionroar's jaw dropped. Beryburst's tail shot up. Flamefur tilted her head. Honeystar's eyes widened. Treeleaf sighed. Thornstar was indifferent.

"I apologise Honeystar, for accusing you." The Lake Clan leader dipped his head respectfully.

"Huh?" The other leader blanked.

"LITTLEKIT?!" Lionroar yelled in shock. She almost leapt at him in relief but Gopher darted in front protectively. "Wah? A fox?"

"Hi mum." Littlekit smiled. "This is Gopher." He put his tail on Gopher's back. "It's okay, Gopher, chill." Gopher calmed and sat back obediently, a large smile plastered on his face.

"Littlekit," Thornstar started (mainly since the other five didn't know what to do.) "Why are you calling that Fox cub Gopher?"

"Because it's his name." Littlekit smiled, oblivious to the odd looks he was receiving. "Isn't that right Gopher?"

"I am Gopher." The red fox imitated Littlekit's smile. "Nice to meet you." The sentence was broken as he said it but made perfect sense.

"Interesting…" Treeleaf mused as Lionroar's claws slid out.

"Wait!" Berryburst mewed. "I think this is a sign from StarClan."

"You what?" Honeystar asked.

"Me too." Flamefur nodded.

"Okay then." Honeystar shrugged.

"Explain." Lionroar demanded.

"Littlekit found a fox cub that can speak and act like a cat. It was about to defend him from you, even though you meant harm. Such fate, such loyalty. We've been trying to drive out the foxes since that fire. Maybe we should embrace and…make an ally of them?" Silence. Until Gopher smiled barked and nodded…

Littleblaze always looked back at that moment when he was a kit, fondly. Gopher had been accepted. They had trained together. The Clan merged withfoxes and became known as Warriors who fought alongside foxes. Littleblaze and Gopher had been become Warriors together. When the time came, the cat and fox bond was proven to be a dangerous bond…for their enemies. When the 6 Clans had been put in peril, the two Clans – SwiftClan and LakeClan – who had accepted the foxes were the heroes, driving a legion of rogues and thugs from their territories. Littleblaze had become a trusted warrior and, when the time came, deputy of LakeClan. Gopher had become the leader of the foxes at LakeClan, who had been dubbed RedClan. Now there was a time of peace. All thanks to a chance encounter with a Star Clan gifted fox cub…