What is going on here?" A voice meowed behind the orange cat, menacing and firm.
The orange cat turned to see a magnificent blue-grey she-cat majestically through a clump if ferns. I hissed in spite. She was blessed by Cat angels, I knew it.
The blue-grey cat's ears flicked towards my position. I grew very still. They flicked towards Greypaw.
"Bluestar!" Greypaw meowed and crouched down. The orange kitten did the same.
Another cat, a handsome golden tabby followed where Bluestar came out of the ferns.
"You shouldn't be so near Twoleg place, Greypaw" growled the golden tabby menacingly, narrowing his sparkling green eyes.
"I know Lionheart, I'm sorry." Greypaw whimpered, looking down at his paws.
The orange cat copied him and crouched even lower to the forest floor, his ears twitching nervously.
"Who is this?" Bluestar asked, her eyes narrowing on the orange cat. The orange cat flinched.
"He's no threat" meowed Greypaw quickly. "He's not another clan warrior, just a Twoleg pet from beyond our territory."
Greypaw then whispered something to the orange cat.
"Thank you for the introduction, Greypaw" meowed Lionheart coolly.
Bluestar was still starring at the orange cat. "You fight well for a Twoleg pet," Bluestar meowed. The orange cat and Greypaw exchanged confused glances. "We have been watching you" Bluestar went on, like if she had read their thoughts." We wondered how you would do with an intruder, Greypaw. You attacked him bravely.
Greypaw looked pleased at the complement.
"Sit up, both of you!" Bluestar ordered, looking a the orange cat. "You too Kittypet."
The orange cat sat up immediately.
"You reacted we'll to the attack. Greypaw is stronger than you, but you used you wits to defend yourself. I've not seen a kittypet do that before." Bluestar praised. The orange cat nodded his thanks.
"I have wondered how you would preform out here, beyond the Twoleg place. We pratrol this border frequently, so I have often seen you sitting on your boundary, stareinf out into the forest. And now, at last, you have dared to place your paws here."Bluestar said thoughtfully. "You do seem to have a natural hunting ability. Sharp eyes. You would of caught that mouse if you had not hesitated that long."
"R-really?" The orange cat stammered.
Lionheart spoke now. His meow was respectful but insistent. "Bluestar, this is a kittypet. He should not be hunting in Thunderclan territory. Send him home to his twolegs"
"Send me home?" The orange cat meowed impatiently. "But I've only come to hunt for a mouse or two. I'm sure that there is enough to go around."
Bluestar'a gaze snapped back to the orange kittypet. Her blue eyes showed a inner fury, flames licking her eyes.
"There's never enough to go around!" She spat venomously. "If you didn't live such a soft overfed life you would know that!"
Both warriors loomed over the orange cat. I got ready to spring, my muscles tensed and my claws out.
"Well?" Hissed Bluestar, her face not even a mouse-length from the orange cat.
"I am no threat to your clan" whimpered the orange cat, his ears flattening and his body crouching.
"You are a threat to our clan when you take our food." Yowled Bluestar. "You have plenty of food in your Twoleg nest already. You come here only to hunt for sport. But we hunt to survive."
The orange cat sat up, stopped trembling, and straightened his ears. "I had not thought of it that way before. I am sorry. I will not hunt here again." He meowed solemnly.
Bluestar let her hackles fall and Lionheart stepped back.
"You are an unusual kittypet, Rusty." She meowed curious. Greypaw breathed a sigh of relief.
Very quietly Rusty the orange cat asked, "Is survival here really so hard?"
"Our territory covers only part of the forest," answered Bluestar. "We compete with other Clans for what we have. And this year, late Newleaf means prey is scarce."
"Is your clan very big?" Asked Rusty, his eyes wide.
"Big enough" replied Bluestar. "Our territory can support us, but there is no prey left over."
"Are you all warriors then?" Rusty meowed curiously.
"Some are warriors. Some are too old or too busy caring for kits to hunt." Lionheart answered.
"And you all live and share prey together?" Rusty said in awe.
Bluestar looked at Lionheart. She returned her gaze to Rusty. "Perhaps you would like to learn these things for yourself. Would you like to join Thunderclan?"
Rusty looked surprised at the offer.
"If you did, you would train with Greypaw to become a warrior." Bluestar continued.
"But Kittypets can't become Warriors!" Greypaw interrupted. "They don't have warrior blood!"
A sad look flashed in Bluestar's eyes. "Warrior blood." She echoed with a sigh. "Too much of that has been spilled lately."
Bluestar fell silent.
"There is no guarantee that you would become a full warrior. Bluestar is only offering you training. It might prove too difficult for you. After all, you are used to a comfortable life."
Rusty swung his head around to face the golden tabby. "Why give me the chance then?" He meowed.
"You are right to question our motives, young one. The fact is, Thunderclan needs more warriors." Bluestar answered.
"Understand Bluestar does not make this offer lightly." Warned Lionheart. "If you wish to train with us, we will have to take you into our Clan. You must either live with us and respect our ways, or return to your Twoleg place and never come back. You cannot live with a paw in each world."
Rusty's fur ruffled in the wind.
"Are you wondering if it's worth giving up your comfortable kittypet life? But do you realize the price you will pay for your warmth and food?" Bluestar meowed gently.
Rusty looked at her, puzzled. I almost snorted in amusement.
"I can tell you are still a tom, despite the Twoleg stench that clings to your fur." Bluestar added, her voice turning grave.
"What do you mean, still a tom?" Rusty questioned.
"You haven't been taken by the twolegs to see the Cutter. You would be very different then. Not so keen to fight a Clan cat, I suspect!" Bluestar meowed gravely, her voice dropping. "The clan may not be able to offer you such easy food or warmth" continued Bluestar. "In the season of leaf-bare, the nights in the forest can be cruel. The Clan will demand great loyalty and hard work. You will be expected to protect the Clan with your life if necessary. And there are many mouths to feed. But the rewards are great. You will remain a tom. You will be trained in the ways of the wild. You will learn what it is to be a real cat. The strength and the fellowship of the Clan will be with you always, even when you hunt alone."
A few seconds passed as Rusty thought about the offer.
"Come, Bluestar, let's not waste any more time here. We must be ready to join the other patrol at Moonhigh. Tigerclaw will wonder what has become of us." Lionheart meowed, flicking his tail expectantly.
"Wait!" Rusty mewed. "Can I think about your offer?"
Bluestar looked at him for a long moment then nodded. "Lionheart will be here tomorrow at sunhigh." Bluestar told him. "Give him your answer then."
Bluestar murmured a signal, and the three cats disappeared into the undergrowth.
Rusty turned around towards his home, his fur prickling in the light wind. I faded into the shadows and followed the Clan cats.
