A/N: Here's two chapters in honor of the holiday weekend (if you're American). In my original draft this was one chapter, but I decided to split it in two. I'm still not sure I'm entirely happy with the second chapter, but I needed to have one more fluffy romantic moment before shit really gets real. As always, hope people enjoy and open to any constructive criticism.

Chapter 21. New Arrival

A frustrated hiss from Nightwhisper stops me as my paws slip onto the hardblack. "Nettlethorn, you're supposed to be markin' the border, not crossin' it."

"Sorry," I meow, stepping back and leavin' my scent.

The sun is high in the sky, but it don't provide much warmth. Wind rattles the bare branches, a sound that brings to mind the click of bones. Quit being so morbid, I tell myself.

"What can you scent, Rowanpaw?" Jaggedtooth asks his apprentice. He and Nightwhisper have stuck to me like a couple of kits to their mama since dawn, tryin' to distract me from what went down last night. I'm glad for it, I guess, but I keep seeing the pained, furious expression on Mistyfoot's face when I yelled out that she belongs in that horrible hole.

"I smell ThunderClan, bleh. The thunderpath. And oo, a mouse," Rowanpaw says.

Don't take us long to spot the mouse nibbling at a leaf a few tail-lengths from the hardblack. Jaggedtooth gestures for his apprentice to make the catch. The rest of us wait with bated breath as Rowanpaw eases into the hunter's crouch and slinks forward, carefully placing his paws so the mouse won't feel the vibrations in the ground. Something must tip the mouse off, though. Its whiskers twitch, and it darts toward the thunderpath. A few more mouse-lengths, and it'll be on ThunderClan territory.

Rowanpaw leaps forward and pins the mouse with a well-placed paw, killing it with a quick bite. "Take that, ThunderClan!" the young tom crows.

"Great catch!" Jaggedtooth purrs. "This isn't a hunting patrol, so let's eat."

"Just think," Nightwhisper says as we take our portion of the mouse, "soon this'll be you and Lightningkit. Between you and me, I think she'll be the luckiest apprentice in all the clans."

Warmth floods me from ears to tail-tip. "I hope I can do right by her."

Nightwhisper swipes his tongue around his muzzle, leans in and murmurs, "Last night… I know that was hard to watch. But all that mess is over now."

"Is it?" I whisper back.

"Course it is. ThunderClan and WindClan will be part of TigerClan, and then we'll drive that half-clan gutter slime out."

"But if we're all fixin' to be one clan, does it really matter-"

I shut up when my nostrils flood with fresh ThunderClan scent. The others smell it too. Rowanpaw's fur stands on end. We form a line just on our side of the border, ready to face down a ThunderClan patrol. Ain't the first time I done this. We'll exchange coldly polite greetings, maybe a few insults, and be on about our business.

"That don't look like no patrol," Jaggedtooth says.

My friend is right. There's just one cat walkin' toward the border like he be on a mission, a gray-and-black tabby tom. His fur is ruffled, but he stares us down like we're mud on his paws.

"I think I seen Tigerstar talkin' to him at Gatherings," I whisper to my clanmates. "Is he expectin' to meet Tigerstar here?"

A snarl rises in Jaggedtooth's throat as the ThunderClan cat actually steps over our border. "What do you think you're doing?" he demands, steppin' closer until he's a whisker's length from the stranger.

"I need to see Tigerstar," he says, bristling with self-importance.

"You got a message from Firestar?" I ask.

The ThunderClan cat unsheathes his claws and hisses, disgust twisting his features. "I don't carry messages for that kittypet, rogue," he growls.

Nightwhisper shoulder-checks the other cat. "Watch how you talk to my sister, fleabag. We're TigerClan warriors now. I think we oughtta rip your fur off and line our nests with it."

"Tigerstar won't thank you for that. He'll want to see me," the ThunderClan cat says.

"Let's just get to camp. Tigerstar will sort him out," I say.

We surround the newcomer as we escort him back to camp. I'm pleased to see his ears twitchin' nervously as we enter the hollow. No cat from another clan should be at ease on our land. Maybe he's worried about whatever he has to say to Tigerstar. The clan falls silent, every eye fixed on the visitor. I hear more than one hiss and hostile growl.

Pinekit bounces up to us, totally fearless, his sister Duskkit a pawstep behind him. Tangleburr's litter left the nursery for the first time just two days ago. "There's a new cat in our camp, and he smells weird," Pinekit squeaks.

"Yucky weird," Duskkit agrees.

"You've got that right. He smells weird because he's from ThunderClan," Rowanpaw explains, puffing out his chest with self-importance.

Tangleburr hurries out of the nursery and wraps her tail around the kits, ushering them away. Blackfoot is headin' straight for us, and the rest of the clan parts for the deputy.

"Darkstripe," he says, dipping his head in a cordial greeting that seems out of place for an intruder. "What brings you to our camp so soon after our last meeting?"

"I've left ThunderClan," Darkstripe announces to shocked gasps from pretty much every cat in camp. "I want to join ShadowClan. I've been a loyal friend and ally to Tigerstar. He's the only leader worth following in this forest."

"You didn't think that when you stayed in ThunderClan after Bluestar exiled Tigerstar," Stumpytail says.

"Don't think you're better than us just because you've known Tigerstar longer," Tangleburr adds.

"He could be another ThunderClan spy!" yowls Newtspeck from where she's crouched at the nursery entrance with her tail wrapped protectively around Lightningkit.

"Darkstripe's not a spy, Newtspeck. He's helped Tigerstar in the past. We'll discuss this in his den," Blackfoot says, gesturing for the ThunderClan warrior to follow him. As Darkstripe disappears into the hole in the oak tree's roots, he throws one last sneer over his shoulder.

"He rubs my fur the wrong way," I meow.

Jaggedtooth shrugs. "ThunderClan is led by a soft kittypet. I don't blame him for leaving."

"ThunderClan losing a warrior can only be good for us," Russetfur adds.

But Cedarpaw looks put out. "I was hoping we'd get to fight a real ThunderClan cat," he says.

"You'll get your chance soon enough," his mentor assures him, flicking his ears with her tail.

"Maybe we'll get to learn all of ThunderClan's secrets!" Oakfur enthuses.

"Or he could go back to Firestar and spill all of ours," Deerfoot growls. "I know he helped Tigerstar before, but even Tigerstar can be wrong."

Unfortunately for the dark brown senior warrior, Tigerstar comes out of his den at that point, with Blackfoot and Darkstripe behind him. I notice with a small tingle of satisfaction that Blackfoot can't quite hide his distaste and distrust for the new cat, although I'm sure he'll support Darkstripe for Tigerstar's sake.

"Are you questioning my judgment, Deerfoot?" our leader demands, springing onto Clanrock and glowering down at us.

Deerfoot's amber gaze flicks anxiously to our leader, then to me. No doubt he's rememberin' my punishment for disagreeing. "No, Tigerstar, I'm sorry," he meows, lowering himself to his belly.

Tigerstar watches him for a few heartbeats, clearly enjoying the other tom's anxiety. Then he nods, and Deerfoot raises himself into a crouch. Ain't no need to call a clan meeting, 'cause we all here. Tigerstar beckons Darkstripe to the base of Clanrock.

"Darkstripe, do you renounce all loyalty to ThunderClan? Do you truly wish to join TigerClan forever, to defend this clan even at the cost of your life?"

"Yes, I do," the other cat says, his fur fluffing with pride.

"Very well. You have failed me in the past. I trust you won't do so again."

"Of course not, Tigerstar," Darkstripe says eagerly.

"Reminds me of when Tigerstar found us in twolegplace after we attacked ThunderClan. Maybe this Darkstripe deserves another chance too," says Nightwhisper.

"The rest of you will treat Darkstripe as a clanmate. He's one of us now," Tigerstar says, raking his gaze over us. A few low murmurs rise from the clan, but Frogtail and Russetfur make room for the dark warrior between them.

"We have another matter to take care of, a personal favorite of mine. Getting young cats started on the path to becoming warriors is one of the most important tasks of TigerClan. Lightningkit, please step forward," Tigerstar says.

Lightningkit weaves her way through the crowd until she's standing just below Tigerstar, green eyes shining and tail stickin' straight up. This is it! My paws quiver with excitement. It's all I can do to keep from purring. I tense my muscles, ready to spring to my feet as soon as Tigerstar calls me.

"For the past six moons, your clan has cared for you. Now, it's time for you to begin what I hope will be many seasons of service to TigerClan. From this moment until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Lightningpaw."

"Lightningpaw!" I start the chant, and Newtspeck and her foster brothers quickly pick it up. Before long, the new apprentice's name rings off the pines. I can barely breathe when the cheering dies down. Pretty soon, I'll be showing Lightningpaw around our territory. And then what? Should I hocus on hunting moves or battle training first?

"Nightwhisper, you're a promising young warrior who shows great skill, and your dedication to TigerClan has never wavered. I trust you to pass on all you know to this apprentice," Tigerstar says.

For a heartbeat, my brother is frozen, just as taken aback as I am. He's barely shown any interest in Lightningpaw. Just a little while ago, he said she'd be lucky to have me as her mentor.

"Sometime today would be nice," Tigerstar growls.

Nightwhisper gets to his paws, flashin' me a silent apology with his green eyes. "I'm honored, Tigerstar, and I'll do my best," he says, going up to Lightningpaw and touching noses with her.

That should be me, I think resentfully. Disappointment fills my throat like bitter mouse bile. Tigerstar has jumped down from Clanrock without me noticing. The rest of the cats are getting up to congratulate the new mentor and apprentice. I oughtta do the same. It ain't Nightwhisper or Lightningpaw's fault. I can't let my hurt ruin this for them.

"Did you really think I would choose you, Nettlethorn?" Tigerstar sneers. "You may have helped catch that half-clan spy, but I still have my doubts about you."

"What am I supposed to have done now?" I ask.

"You could barely bring yourself to look at the prisoners last night. You're ashamed of the part you played in their situation. You're still too soft."

"I'll do whatever you say," I meow steadily. "How I feel about it's my own business."

Tigerstar's whiskers twitch. "Words are easy. You'll have a chance to prove yourself soon. When Flintfang and Wolfstep come back in a couple of days, you'll be taking their place in the island camp, guarding the prisoners."

"Okay," I meow, ignoring the squeeze in my stomach.

As Tigerstar walks away to join Blackfoot, I pad over to Nightwhisper and Lightningpaw. "Congratulations, you two," I purr, twining my tail with my littermate's. "Lightningpaw, you're gonna learn so much from him."

"I can't wait to learn all the things!" Lightningpaw exclaims. Her enthusiasm makes my feigned happiness real for a few heartbeats.

Nightwhisper licks my cheek and says too quietly for any other cat to hear, "I'm sorry, Nettlethorn. I'm sure your turn will come with one of Tangleburr or Darkflower's kits."

I lick his shoulder, then head for the fresh-kill pile. Ratscar's on guard there, makin' sure no cat who ain't allowed to eat takes anything. When he gives me the nod, I select a tiny shrew and crouch down to eat it a few mouse-lengths from Darkstripe and Oakfur. TigerClan's newest warrior has got his chest puffed out and is holdin' forth to any cat who will listen. I reckon this is normal behavior for him.

"ThunderClan was going to the foxes long before Tigerstar left," Darkstripe be tellin' Oakfur. "To tell the truth, I should have left with him. I'm just glad he's forgiven my lapse in judgment. Bluestar was a pathetic leader, willing to take in any kittypet with a sob story. Diluting the pure blood that StarClan passed down to us has made ThunderClan weak, unworthy of being a real clan."

My temper, already stretched to its limit after the apprentice ceremony, snaps like a rotten twig. Tossin' what's left of my shrew aside, I get right up in Darkstripe's face and demand, "You think Jaggedtooth, Nightwhisper, and I ain't just as good as you? What about Boulder and Russetfur?"

For a heartbeat, Darkstripe's eyes widen. I guess he wasn't expectin' to be snarled at right after Tigerstar accepted him into the clan. I know it ain't right, takin' my anger at Tigerstar out on this cat I don't know. But his arrogance makes my pelt itch like ants be crawlin' through it. And beneath my anger, a lurking fear that more of my clanmates privately agree with Darkstripe and don't think any cat who ain't forestborn belongs here.

"I wasn't even talking to you," Darkstripe growls. "Besides, you were a rogue. At least rogues have some self-respect, unlike kittypets."

"My mama was a kittypet for most of her life," I shoot back. "My brothers and I were born in a twoleg den. You got a problem with that?"

"I don't have to justify myself to you," Darkstripe sneers, his tail bushing.

"Ain't worth talkin' to you anyway," I mutter, hurrying for the camp entrance. A few cats call out to me, but I ignore them. See how they like it for a change.

As soon as I get into the woods, I start runnin'. I don't want to feel any of the hurt and anger and fear that's bubblin' up inside me, so I put everything into my paws. I run until my muscles begin to ache, glad for the pain 'cause it's easier to bear than the other dog shit. But I don't know where I can run to that's far enough away. Used to be I felt safe and wanted in ShadowClan. Even last night, I convinced myself I could feel like that again. But I sense a shadow loomin' over all of us, the evil Mama warned me about. It's very close now.