Disclaimer: Still don't own Warriors.

A/N: Another dialogue-heavy chapter, and a long one! I know, I know. But all this will pay off. Big things are starting to happen. In this chapter, Cici will meet two cats who will be very, very important to her life (and this fanfic.)

Chapter 7. The Starving Clan

The gray tom waitin' at the ShadowClan border looks more than half dead. His matted fur hangs off a body that's nothin' but bones over sore-riddled skin.

Tangleburr's gaze darkens with pain. "We'll help you if we can," she says, flicking a nervous glance at Tigerclaw.

"Wetfoot's leading this patrol," growls a dark brown tom, probably an apprentice judgin' by his size.

"It's fine, Oakpaw. Tigerclaw can lead us," Wetfoot says. I thought warriors had more pride than this—the exiles certainly do—but then again, I know what hunger can do to pride. Sympathy for these cats wells up in me.

"My belly thinks my throat's been slashed. Are we hunting or talking?" asks a pale ginger she-cat who'd be real pretty if she wasn't so thin and sickly.

"Keep your fur on, Dawncloud," Blackfoot teases. Whatever differences drove my companions out of this clan, it's obvious they got a long history with these cats.

"Blackfoot was Dawncloud's mentor," Tangleburr whispers to me.

The whole mentor-and-apprentice business is somethin' I'm still tryin' to get my head 'round. I don't trust the idea of someone who ain't kin teachin' a kit how to get along in the world. Bone often said he was training my littermates and me for our lives in BloodClan, but that was usually just an excuse to hurt us. But watchin' Blackfoot and Dawncloud touch noses, it's obvious they genuinely like and respect one another. Tigerclaw watches the big black-and-white tom through narrowed eyes. Is he worried Blackfoot and the others will leave us and go back to ShadowClan? I wonder, my stomach tightening.

"We'll stick to the border with the wild woods. Follow me, and wait for my command to begin stalking," Tigerclaw orders, his tone brusque as ever.

"We usually scent our own prey," Oakpaw meows. I like his spirit.

"Whatever you think best, Tigerclaw," Stumpytail says, shooting a cutting look at the younger cat.

The hunt goes well. I get a shrew, and Mowgli catches a mouse and a sparrow. I ain't best pleased when a lizard gets away from me, but Blackfoot teaches me a new hunting move so it won't happen again.

The ShadowClan cats hesitate just over the rise from a hollow screened by brambles that must be their camp. "None of us have escaped the sickness," Wetfoot rasps. "If you don't want to risk infection, we understand."

The exiles tense. Everything feels like it be hangin' by a hair. Then Tigerclaw meows, "Fear won't stop us from helping cats in need", picks up a large squirrel, and leads the way into camp.

I freeze when we enter the hollow. The place reaks of sickness, bringing me back to those awful days when Mama died and there was nothin' we could do. Thin, unwashed cats with ragged pelts lie all over the place. Some of 'em don't even look like they can stand. A litter of kits could take this camp no problem.

Snag presses himself comfortingly against me and runs his tail along my spine. "This is why we're here to help, Cici," he purrs in my ear.

"I know," I say, breathing in his scent as I set down my prey.

"Dawncloud said you would hunt for us again," murmurs a cream-and-brown she-cat who looks slightly healthier than most of the others, "but we never thought you'd deliver the fresh-kill yourselves."

"We had to see how you were. Please don't send us away," Tangleburr meows. My heart twists for sympathy for my friend and pity for these sick sacks of fur.

Two toms stumble out of a deep crevice in the roots of an old oak tree. The darker one looks especially thin and ill. He sways unsteadily on his paws even as he looks up at Tigerclaw and rasps, "You did a brave thing in coming here."

Tigerclaw dips his head. "Your former clanmates could not stand by and let you starve, Nightstar. My loyalty is to them now. This is not courage; it is merely following the warrior code," he meows.

"We can hunt for ourselves," growls some other cat, his eyes glistening with fever. "These cats left our clan for a reason. Maybe we should think twice before welcoming them back."

"And who are these three?" another warrior snarls, shootin' us a venomous look. "Rogues don't belong in the forest."

"Snag, Mowgli, and Cici are all right," Tanglebur says quickly. Blackfoot and Stumpytail nod in agreement.

"We want to help," my brother says earnestly, his green eyes flashing.

"Surely, in this time of need, every set of paws is important," Tigerclaw meows, puttin' himself between us and the small knot of hostile warriors. "Snag, Mowgli, and Cici may have been born in twolegplace, but I trust them as much as I would any clanmate." Tigerclaw's words make my heart beat faster. Besides Snag, no cat outside my family has ever said they trusted me before. The information and food we occasionally shared with fellow strays ain't the same.

"These cats may have saved us from starvation," says the gray-and-white tom standin' beside ShadowClan's leader. "I don't care where they came from, and the rest of you should show some gratitude."

The tom must be the deputy or some such, 'cause there's no more fussin' about our presence in the camp after that, at least not out loud. Some ShadowClan warrior does get up the courage to ask Tigerclaw why he left ThunderClan, and the other cats edge closer. Can't blame 'em for being suspicious. But as Tigerclaw goes on about how Fireheart's the worst thing that ever happened to the forest (way he talks, you'd think Fireheart bites the heads off newborn kits), my attention's grabbed by something else. A single ginger kit with distinctive white paws and brilliant green eyes peaks out of a hollow tree and cautiously pads toward me.

"Are you really a rogue?" she asks, gaze brimming with curiosity.

"Sure am. But that ain't a bad thing to be. Just means I was born outside the forest, that's all."

"But you don't have a clan," the kit meows in confusion. "How can you survive?"

"I got my brother and my best friend," I say, pointing to where Snag and Mowgli are passin' fresh-kill to some ShadowClan warriors. "And now I got Tigerclaw and the others. Being a rogue's way better than, say, being a dog or a twoleg."

"Have you actually seen twolegs?" the kit asks.

"Yeah, horrible pink things with no fur except on their heads. Even their kits are three times the size of any cat, and they stand up like trees. Got flat faces and huge paws that can snatch you right up," I say. The ginger-and-white kit giggles at the image, then gets grave again.

"Mommy said your friends were exiled because they helped Brokenstar hurt kits," she says with a mix of awe and fear.

I shift from paw to paw. "Well, I don't know much about that," I say awkwardly. "But I reckon my friends deserve another chance. They obviously still love this clan."

"Mommy died from eating a rat that was sick. And then Lizardkit and Redkit died too, and then my dad. He was Nightstar's deputy," the kit meows. Her eyes brim with a pain I know all too well.

"What's your name?" I ask, givin' the tiny scrap a gentle lick 'round the ears.

"Lightningkit," she tells me.

"Well, Lightningkit, my name's Cici, and I'm real sorry 'bout your family. I'm sure glad you pulled through though."

"Newtspeck says they're all watching over me from StarClan," Lightningkit says solemnly.

I still ain't sure about the whole dead-cats-in-the-sky thing, but no way I'm gonna ruin a kit's faith in her dead family. I wish I believed Mama is watchin' over us. "Absolutely. I reckon they can't wait to see you become a warrior."

"Maybe you could be a warrior too," Lightningkit meows.

"That's crazy talk," I scoff, but I'm surprised by how much I want it.

"Lightningkit!" The call comes from a spotted golden tabby queen sittin' near a bramble thicket. Wavin' her tail at me, the kit scampers over to the older she-cat, who splits a mouse between her and two slightly older kits. This must be Newtspeck, the cat who took Lightningkit in when her mama died. On the street, the little fluffball probably would've died of starvation or exposure, but here, there's always a clanmate ready to step in. How could Mama have been so wrong about the forest cats?

I join the others in helpin' out whereever we're needed. Runningnose (it turns out the gray-and-white tom is the medicine cat) enlists Mowgli and Dawncloud to gather herbs. Snag and Tigerclaw go back into the forest to bring back fresh moss. Blackfoot and I drag out the filthy, stinking bedding from the dens and replace it with clean stuff. I bring yet more moss soaked in water to cats too sick to get their own. One of these is a lean tom whose fur is probably a pale gray beneath all the filth. When I gently nudge him, his muzzle is hot and dry with fever.

"How 'bout you drink some of this nice, cool water," I murmur. "It'll make you feel better."

The tom opens his yellow eyes and blinks. "My fever dreams don't usually have pretty strangers in 'em," he croaks. "Who in StarClan's name are you? You don't smell of any clan." He laps at the moss I set beside his fresh nest.

"I'm Cici." I glance over to Blackfoot, who's talking quietly to a dark ginger she-cat. "My brother, best friend, and I joined forces with the exiles in town. When we realized how bad off y'all were, we came to help out. Tigerclaw's with us."

The sick cat blinks again. "The ThunderClan deputy? I really must be hallucinating."

That startles a genuine laugh out of me. "It's… complicated," I meow.

"I bet," the gray tom says dryly.

"You up for some fresh-kill? It'll get your strength up."

"Just a little. Don't think I can keep down much."

I come back a moment later with half a vole. The tom whose name I don't know sniffs it cautiously, then takes a small bite. I watch him like he's my own kit, lettin' out a relieved breath when he swallows.

"I'm Boulder, by the way," he tells me.

I can't keep my eyes from goin' wide. "That ain't no forest name," I say.

Boulder swallows another bite of vole and ruefully shakes his head. "No, I was born in town, just like you. My sister and I came to ShadowClan when we were just seven or eight moons old." Somethin' flickers deep in his gaze, somethin' dark and haunted. There are shadows in this cat's past too. But I ain't cruel enough to dig into 'em now, not with Boulder so sick and weak.

But another question pops out of my mouth before I can stop it. I reckon it's the simple fact of him being from the same place as me that loosens my tongue. "How has being a warrior turned out for you? Do you ever regret leavin' town?"

My pelt heats with embarrassment, and I open my muzzle to apologize for gettin' too personal. But Boulder's answer is quick and sure. "Not for one heartbeat, Cici. I'm thankful every day that ShadowClan accepted us. I'd never wanna be anywhere else."

Before I can think of a response, Runningnose bustles in with his jaws full of herbs. "Come, it's time we left," Tigerclaw's commanding meow rings across the camp.

I stand up. "Gotta go. Hopefully we'll be back soon," I tell Boulder.

"I'd like that," he says softly. "And next time, you can tell me how you and my former clanmates came to be runnin' 'round with Tigerclaw of all cats." I tell myself not to read too much into the first part of his statement.

Out in the clearing, Blackfoot nuzzles a tortoiseshell she-cat and a gray tom I'm pretty sure are his littermates, then pads to Tigerclaw's side. Tangleburr and Stumpytail hesitate for the briefest moment, then follow their former deputy.

"Bye, Cici," Lightningkit calls as I leave ShadowClan's camp.

My paws are lighter than air as we walk back to the hollow tree, despite the horrific suffering we just saw. For the first time in moons, my life has purpose beyond our survival. "I'll catch every piece of prey in the forest if that's what it takes to get ShadowClan well," I promise Blackfoot. He blinks at me gratefully.

The next morning, Tigerclaw orders me to hunt with him while Blackfoot leads the others in yet more battle practice. It's weird to be full all the time, a feeling I know Snag and Mowgli both share. It's also weird being alone with Tigerclaw. I wish somebody else was out here with us. For awhile, Tigerclaw don't say nothin'. He brings down a squirrel with a single massive leap, then buries it in a shallow hole. Apparently, warriors ain't allowed to eat until they've caught prey to feed their clanmates. This carin' for others is my favorite part of the warrior code. When I catch a blackbird a few moments later, I follow Tigerclaw's example and bury it.

"Excellent, Cici. You hunt as if you've lived in the forest all your life," Tigerclaw purrs, his amber eyes shining with pride. "I knew from the first moment I saw you three that you could make good warriors, with some training and discipline. You confronted me as a team, and you were courageous. I thought I misjudged you when you fled the battle, but I hope you'll keep proving my first assessment right."

Somethin' warm and soft expands in my chest. I ain't used to praise, and almost against my will, I've come to want the dark tabby's approval. "Thanks. I feel like I been here a lot longer than I have," I say.

"You did well yesterday, helping ShadowClan. I never would've guessed you could be so… sentimental," Tigerclaw says.

"Mama always said we should help weaker cats whenever we can. Besides, my friends care about 'em."

Tigerclaw nods. "That attitude shows you have the instincts of a true warrior. When we return to the ShadowClan camp later today, I want you to keep befriending that kit," he says.

"Huh?" I ask stupidly.

Tigerclaw's whiskers twitch. "If you gain the kit's trust, ShadowClan will grow to trust you as well. That will be important for you and your companions in the days ahead."

"Course I will, but how come Lightningkit's important?" I ask.

Tigerclaw flicks his tail at me. "We'll see where the wind blows, Cici. Just keep doing what you're doing. But never, ever forget that your first loyalty must be to me. A true warrior always serves her leadou first."

Some last barrier of resistance gives way inside me, and I meow, "I'm sorry, Tigerclaw. After the life I've lived, it ain't easy for me to trust any cat. And Mama… well, she said forest cats were vicious and dangerous. I reckon she or some cat close to her had a bad run-in with a warrior." I stop for a heartbeat, 'cause I swear I see amusement in Tigerclaw's amber gaze, in the eyes that are the exact shape and color of mine. But then I make myself finish. "But I reckon I was wrong about you. The way you're helpin' ShadowClan, if that's what being a warrior's about, I'm in."

Tigerclaw fixes me with a dark, piercing look. What is he thinking? His expression is completely unreadable. Have I said somethin' wrong?

But then he meows, "I trust you too, Cici. You and Mowgli and Snag. The others... I trust and value them too, of course, but I worry about their attachment to the ShadowClan cats."

"But we're helpin' ShadowClan," I point out. "And it's natural for 'em to worry about their kin and friends. Any cat would." This makes me wonder who Tigerclaw left behind in ThunderClan. Did he have siblings there, close friends, a mate and kits?

"Of course," Tigerclaw says quickly, "but our friends are no longer ShadowClan warriors. They need to remember that they follow me now. A warrior can't serve two leaders. If you ever saw or heard any of them behaving suspiciously, you would tell me, wouldn't you? I hope I can count on you and your companions."

My fur bristles in shock and fear. "You want me to spy on our friends?" I demand.

"Not at all. I just want you to help your friends stay on the right path. It's for their own good, Cici. I don't want them getting hurt," the dark tabby says. Comes to the same thing though, don't it? Mama's sardonic voice speaks up in my head.

I ain't mouse-brained enough to say no outright. "I guess," I say, not meetin' his hot amber gaze.

I remember Mowgli sayin' how followin' Tigerclaw's the best way to survive. Ain't that the only thing that matters? But still, the thought of snitchin' on anyone to Tigerclaw makes me feel dirty somehow. I hope I'll never have to make that choice. All in all, I'm relieved when we get back to the hollow tree and the others with our prey.