Chapter 54: The Apprentice

For six days Scorch found herself followed the same routine. She met with Sonya and Time in the morning to train her powers- in which she made moderate progress. Then hunting all afternoon with Moonfrost- they continued to grow closer, though they quickly realized the only thing they had in common was the belief that Pinefur should be driven out as soon as possible. And finally, she spent her evenings alone with Featherpaw, during which she sometimes would practice her powers and other times talk with Featherpaw about getting her back to StarClan.

Every night was the same routine as well. The dream filled her nights with its wretchedness- the fighting cats, the fog, and the pools of blood were all she saw when she closed her eyes to sleep. And every morning before dawn she followed the patrol along the WindClan border before going to meet with Sonya and Time, to make sure they made it home safely without any cat knowing of her paranoia.

It was exhaustive, but Scorch felt happy to work with her friends and following the dawn patrol put her nerves at ease. The only shadow on her days was that Boulderfall continued to avoid her. And it seemed, to her irritation, that Flameclaw was always whispering words into his ears like a snake.

The sixth day ended like all the others, Scorch and Moonfrost entered the camp together just as the cats were turning to their dens for the night's rest. "I didn't catch much today," Scorch murmured, dropping and prodding her two small pieces to contribute to the food supply.

"You really haven't gotten used to hunting in a forest yet, you need to remember that there is a lot more undergrowth here than in the pine forest," Moonfrost mewed, dropping her own large catch on the fresh-kill pile.

Scorch sighed and looked around, wondering if Boulderfall was still up. She spotted him sitting outside the warriors den, he was watching her with narrowed eyes but looked away abruptly when she met his gaze. She didn't dare approach him, not with Flameclaw stretched out on his belly right besides him.

The orange tom noticed her and smirked, mewing something to Boulderfall that she couldn't hear, and then laughing. Boulderfall didn't laugh, but he looked amused and turned toward the warrior.

Scorch's fur prickled uncomfortably and she looked at Moonfrost who had observed the two toms as well. "What am I going to say to Boulderfall to get him to be my friend again, or at least start talking to me again?" she asked, scuffling her paws on the ground.

Moonfrost shrugged, "I don't know my brother very well, but he thinks very highly of the Clan's opinions of cats. The best thing would be for you to get in the good thoughts of the Clan, not that I could be of any help with that."

Scorch sighed, "I'm trying my best with hunting, and I help the medicine-cats when I have the time. But hardly any cat will talk with me, so I don't know how to show them they can trust me."

Moonfrost shrugged again and yawned, "Well, good luck with that. I'm going to my nest, see you tomorrow, Scorch."

"Okay, good night," Scorch mewed, watching the she-cat pad toward the warriors den. Moonfrost paused besides Boulderfall and Flameclaw and snapped something at them. Flameclaw rolled his eyes and Boulderfall stared at his paws, then they both headed into the den and disappeared from her view.

With paws itching to walk over to Boulderfall, she instead searched for the gleam of silver around the camp, spotting it above her head. Featherpaw sat on one of the rocks that led up to Highledge, watching the night sky yearningly as the stars appeared one by one in the midnight blue sky.

Scorch padded to the base of the rocks and stared up at the apprentice. "Hey, do you want to talk tonight?" Scorch asked quietly, Featherpaw seemed so immersed in searching the sky that she wasn't sure if the apprentice wanted to be disturbed.

Featherpaw shook her head, then hesitated, "Scorch, I feel like I can almost read the sky," she mewed in a soft tone.

"What do you see?" Scorch asked, turning to look at the sky as well. The pale moon was waxing toward fullness and its white light illuminated the stars so that they sparkled like freshly fallen snow.

"I think I can see cats, and faces, and the future, and prophecies. But I don't understand it, I don't know what I'm seeing or how to interpret it. I feel lost when I look up there, and I wonder how I could ever join them," Featherpaw's face was drawn but her eyes were clear as she stared, captured by the radiance of the sky.

"Do you see my future?" Scorch sighed, sitting down and curling her tail over her paws. "I could use some good news about it."

"I can't really see anything, but I do see something happening here tomorrow. The Clan is going to change, I just don't know how," Featherpaw tilted her head, considering.

Scorch plucked at the ground, was that true or not? Was it going to be a good change or bad? Would it affect her? Endless questions with endless answers, Scorch shook her head, growing tired as the moon rose higher. "I'm going to my nest, you can join me when you're ready," Scorch mewed, heading for the apprentices den.

Curling down in her nest, she dreaded the plaguing dream and fell into a fitful doze, not quite sleeping but not fully awake. She was awakened by an icy touch on her shoulder. Scorch blinked open her eyes and looked up to see Featherpaw's glittering amber gaze.

"Scorch, get up, you need to see this," the apprentice whispered, even though no cat other than Scorch could possibly hear her.

Scorch got to her paws, stumbling a little as she found balance on her sleepy paws. "What is it?" she asked, trying not to yawn.

"Come see," Featherpaw whispered, leading her out of the apprentices den and toward the entrance. Featherpaw walked right past the guard and Scorch muttered something about needing to take a walk. The guard, Ivyfur, nodded, but looked a little hesitant to let her go by.

Out in the forest, the chill of night pressed in like the overwhelming darkness. Shadows flitted here and there and Scorch felt the fur on her spine prickle as strange forest noises echoed around her. The bark of a faraway fox made her skin crawl and she startled at the twigs she cracked underpaw.

"Where are we going?" Scorch asked, trying to peer past the glowing apprentice. But walls of undergrowth limited her vision and she had to concentrate more on where she was putting her paws to avoid tripping than what was in front of them.

Featherpaw didn't answer, just motioned for her to be quiet. The apprentice stopped at the edge of a gully and Scorch saw that a little water ran at the bottom of it. This was the border with WindClan, the territory Pinefur currently held in control.

"Why are we here?" Scorch asked, looking at Featherpaw.

"I followed the spy out of the camp and overheard his conversation with Pinefur," the apprentice mewed. Scorch's fur bushed out and she looked anxiously over her shoulder. "Don't worry," Featherpaw assured her, "The spy is already back at camp and Pinefur left as well."

"But, who is the spy?" Scorch asked anxiously, which cat is it?

Featherpaw shook her head, "I don't think I should tell you that," the apprentice mewed awkwardly. "I'm dead, so I shouldn't really be telling the living such things. But I wanted to lead you here."

"But, why? You could have just told me this back in the camp. Not that you told me much anyways," Scorch grumbled, feeling tired now that she knew she had trekked through half the forest that night for nothing.

Featherpaw looked at her silently for a long moment before whisking around and disappearing in a glimmer of starlight. Scorch scowled, the least Featherpaw could do was travel back with her! She sighed and turned to leave, but a faint scent carried on the night breeze stopped her.

She raised her nose to the wind; the scent was cat, but not Clan. A she-cat? It smelled familiar, but Scorch couldn't recognize it. Her pelt prickled, she had met lots of rogues and not many of them were fond of her. Scorch followed the scent along the gully, but it veered back into ThunderClan territory.

Her heart thudded as she saw where it was leading, she stepped into the clearing she'd seen ravaged every night for the past quarter moon. The grass glowed silver and the aspen trees that circled the clearing curled their branches up against the sky, the wood as white as bone.

"I always seem to run into you when I least expect it," a voice growled and the scent finally registered for Scorch.

Whirling around, she spotted the black she-cat stretched languorously on a white aspen branch, her amber eyes looking down at her disdainfully while she licked one of her forepaws.

"Amelia," Scorch growled, backing a safe distance away so that the she-cat couldn't pounce down upon her.

"Oh, so you do remember me! I'm touched, really, I am," the she-cat mocked her.

"What are you doing here, are you the spy?" Scorch accused.

Amelia twitched her tail, "Well, I am a spy. That was the position my father always gave me. But who, do you suppose, would I spy for now?"

"Pinefur," Scorch spat.

Amelia's feign lightheartedness melted, "The day I help that piece of crowfood is the day I die," snarled the black cat, her amber eyes bright with fury.

"Then what are you doing here?" Scorch asked in hostility.

"I'm observing. With Nightwing dead and NightClan dismantled, I have nothing else to do but sleep, eat, and observe," Amelia yawned, her tail waving below the branch.

"You don't hold any grudges you want to get revenge on?" Scorch mewed suspiciously.

Amelia rolled her eyes, "Granted that I'm not very fond of you, or any cat else for that matter, I think I'm getting more enjoyment out of watching you suffer amongst your so-called 'allies' than if I simply killed you."

Scorch scowled, "If you're doing such a great job observing, then who is the spy for Pinefur?" she demanded.

"Oh, I've seen him several times, the sneaky weasel. He's not a bad spy, but he could try to be a little bit more discreet. Being followed by a kit, and not even noticing! I never would have had that happen to me. But why should I tell you? I'm simply observing, I'm not going to interfere," Amelia mewed.

"And will this observing be put to an end if I tell the Clan that you're sneaking around?" Scorch challenged.

"Darling, you could try. But I doubt your friends would even take you seriously. They'd probably just think that you were seeing ghosts in the shadows," Amelia snickered. "But if you're so desperate for information, you should know that for the past seven nights Pinefur's cats have been scouting around here. And the spy relayed something about patrol schedules for this upcoming morning. I wonder what they are planning?" Amelia laughed and rolled on her back, kicking her legs up to the sky, "You can't imagine how much I love being a free cat! Enjoying all the stupid follies of you Clan cats. Now I can really see why my father wanted to destroy you all. You play the same game and chase your tails just to see who the first is to fall down."

Scorch glowered at the she-cat as she muffled her laughter and stood up. "Now, Scorch, I trust that you can be a good little kitty and in return for the information I just gave you, keep your trap shut about my existence? If you do not, who knows, I may just end my grudge against you once and for all."

Scorch shivered as Amelia leaped away, disappearing in the tree tops and leaving her alone. She was sure of it now, the attack here would take place this morning, why else would Featherpaw lead her here? If she hurried, she could get back to camp before the dawn patrol left.

She hurried over the forest floor, tripping and stumbling in the shadows that loomed out of nowhere. She hissed as a thorn scratched her cheek and veered away just to trip over a log. Scrambling on, she ducked beneath a gorse bush and found her way back to the trail which was mostly clear of hazards.

Worries filled her mind like dark storm clouds. Would she make it in time? She picked up her speed. Would they believe her again? She slowed down. Would cats die in the fight? She moved faster. Could she trust what Amelia had told her? She almost halted.

Panting, she realized she was betting her whole reputation on the words of a murderess who seemed to live in the lies she told. But this corresponds with my dream, except, there is no fog tonight. Doubt pressed in on her, she doubted the Clans would forgive another one of her mistakes. Boulderfall, for sure, wouldn't. Her heart felt like a deadweight in her chest.

She looked up at the stars, twinkling in the gaps between the trees. Featherpaw led me here, and I'm certain she's being guided by something... My dreams are being guided as well. I told Moonfrost I don't care what happens to me as long as the Clans end up safe and free, and I meant that. So if I get humiliated and driven out, if I lose all my friends in the Clan, if they gossip behind my back, as long as they're safe and healthy, I do not care.

Scorch bounded along the path with new strength, almost not feeling the twigs that lashed her legs and the thorns that scratched her skin. The moon was setting as she entered the camp. Ivyfur was leaving her post for the warriors den, yawning and dragging her paws behind her.

The dawn patrol didn't go out yet, right? She hadn't seen them, but as she drew in the scents at the tunnel, she found several cats had recently passed by. Uneasiness crawled under her pelt as she spotted Sunstorm stretching beside the warriors den, shaking his large head as he threw off slumber.

Would he heed her a second time? Or would he send her back to her den. Hesitation weighed on her, even if she was right, no cat would know that she could have done something to prevent the fight. Why should she go through all this to help cats that were trying to bring her down? She spotted Moonfrost emerging from the warriors den, looking up at the sky that was turning pale gray as dawn neared.

Scorch stiffened, she'd recognized one of the scents in the tunnel as Applefang, who was Boulderfall's and Moonfrost's mother. She couldn't risk them losing their mother as well as their father, she didn't want to see them sad.

Forcing herself forward, she confronted Sunstorm. "Yes, Scorch?" he asked, trying to look patient though his tail twitched.

"This time I'm certain that the patrol is going to be attacked," she announced, forcing herself to lift her gaze to Sunstorm's. She flinched at the wide green eyes, but met his gaze once more, staring at him steadily.

"Did you have another dream?" Sunstorm asked, his tone was light- he wasn't taking her seriously yet.

Scorch hesitated, she hadn't had that dream tonight- this time, she had another source. She shook her head, "I've had it several times, but tonight I found out that the spy told Pinefur about patrol schedules for the morning and were scouting out a good place for an ambush."

Sunstorm's gaze sharpened with interest and he leaned forward, "Do you know who the spy is?"

Scorch shook her head.

Sunstorm slumped back, disappointed. "Then how do you know this if you didn't actually see the spy. Perhaps the spy met with Pinefur, but how do you know what they said? And I haven't had any reports of any Pinefur's cats leaving scents on our side of the border."

Scorch shuffled her paws, she could not say anything about Amelia, she had promised after all. And she didn't really want ThunderClan to know that she trusted the word of a murderess, they would think her crazy for sure. "A StarClan cat told me," she muttered. It was half true, Featherpaw was- as far as theses cats were concerned- a StarClan cat.

Sunstorm hesitated, giving her a perplexed look as he wondered whether to believe her or not. "Surely you aren't going to take her seriously again," Flameclaw's spiteful growl sounded as he padded out of the warriors den, sending her a glare hotter than ever before. Scorch took a step back from him, feeling intense frustration and fear churning within him. It seemed he was already in a bad mood this morning, it would be harder than usual to get along with him.

"Why not? Boulderfall talks as if she has a connection with StarClan," Moonfrost defended her, facing Flameclaw's anger with an icy demeanor.

"Nonsense, she's not a Clan cat! How could she have any connection with StarClan? If they were going to warn us, they would have told the medicine-cats. She's just making it up to get attention," Flameclaw turned his glare back on her.

"As far as I'm concerned, StarClan can choose whomever they like to share with! And any cat could see this is the last thing she wants to be doing," Moonfrost mewed, giving her a swift glance. Their voices had been rising and a few cats came out of their dens to see what the ruckus was.

"Calm down," Sunstorm stepped in between the two cats and gave them each a stern look. "Fighting between us isn't going to solve anything." He turned toward her, "Scorch, are you without a doubt sure that the patrol is in danger?"

Scorch stared at him, misery surging all around her. She wasn't absolutely confident, but they wouldn't accept anything less. "I am."

"And you are willing to take responsibility for your mistake again, correct?" Sunstorm's tone was gentle and his eyes softened as he met her gaze. He didn't seem to like putting so much responsibility on a young cat, but he had to do so, to content the Clan.

"I am!" her voice was nearly a pitiful wail. She only wanted all the eyes on her to disappear, but they stuck to her, burning her with their sneers and their pity.

Sunstorm nodded, "If you are so sure, then we have no choice but to put our trust in you. I want a fighting patrol to go meet up with the dawn patrol. Any volunteers?"

There were some murmurs but no cat stepped forward, even Moonfrost seemed to be waiting for a cat to first raise their voice. "I will." Scorch whirled around, her gloomy desperation evaporating as Boulderfall pushed his way through the cats to stand beside her.

Flameclaw looked at him with disbelief, then shrugged, giving a long sigh and letting out all his anger with it. "I guess I have nothing better to do," he mewed, stepping over to Boulderfall's other side. Moonfrost silently joined them, standing beside her.

More cats joined them; Wispheart and Gorsepaw, Frostshine and Jumpblaze, Jet and even Wing joined the patrol. "It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to flex my claws," the black she-cat commented, stretching her legs one by one.

"There, go and make sure the patrol is alright. If you see any of Pinefur's cats, you know what to do," Sunstorm mewed, then he signaled to Redleap. The WindClan she-cat padded forward slowly, wondering if she should obey a ThunderClan cat. "If you can, I would like you to go with them. If there are too many enemy warriors, I want you to come back to get reinforcements. They say you're the fastest in WindClan, and in all the Clans, can you do that?" Sunstorm asked the young warrior. Redleap nodded, her orange eyes brightening at the praise.

"Alright, let's move," Boulderfall mewed, leading the patrol out. Scorch stayed by his side, wishing to show him how happy she was that he believed in her, but he kept his eyes fixed firmly up ahead.

As they pounded through the forest, the light began to change. Fog rolled in through the trees from the direction of the lake, turning the forest thick and white around them. Bouldefall continued forward without hesitation and the cats all fell in behind him, as he held his head with an authority that seemed natural to him.

Scorch watched him closely as they raced through the forest. He had changed since they'd come to ThunderClan. He was no longer impatient and didn't lash out at his Clan-mates like he had to the ShadowClan and RiverClan cats. Though, he still seems as prickly to me as ever, she huffed.

But the way he moved, like he owned this forest, and the way he looked back at the cats, with pride and responsibility lighting up his gaze. It reminded her of Sunstar, it reminded her of a leader. Could Boulderfall become a leader someday? She wondered if he wanted to. He had always talked about ThunderClan as his family and home, and had been so anxious to save it.

Glancing at the other cats, they seemed content to follow Boulderfall and Flameclaw watched him with eyes full of admiration. He really acts like Boulderfall is his entire world. Is that why he seems determined to turn the Clan against me? He doesn't want me to distract Boulderfall?

Scorch shook her head, she couldn't tell what Flameclaw wanted, and she wasn't sure she wanted too. But she wasn't going to let him ruin their friendship, no matter what. Boulderfall led them toward the clearing that Scorch had led him to a quarter moon ago on that unfortunate morning.

Scorch felt a shiver, not yet sure if she wanted to hear the cries of battle or not. Boulderfall slowed as they neared, the fog was even thicker and muffled the sound as if they were surrounded by feathers. The ground was slick, wet from the heavy fog and the chill of a light drizzle misted in the air.

Scorch nearly jumped out of her skin as a shriek tore through the quiet. She exchanged an alarmed glance with Boulderfall and the patrol bounded forward, no longer grumbling about how early it was. They raced toward the clearing where Scorch's nightmares had occurred over and over again, the shrieks piercing higher and a chorus of cries stunning the morning.

They veered off the trail and pushed their way through the ferns and long grass to enter the clearing. The battle raged, the dawn patrol hopelessly outnumbered by Pinefur's cats. Boulderfall let out a fearsome battle cry and leaped into the fray.

Scorch joined him, heart thudding in her chest as she saw scarlet drops flying against the foggy background. It was just like her nightmare, but worse, because she could feel the noise and chaos making her insides tremble. She darted in between the warring cats, skidding and slipping, wondering where to start.

Her paws slipped on the slick grass and she careened into a wall of brown fur. The scent told her it was an enemy cat, though the snarl and flashing claws on her ears could have told her that as well. The tom's blue eyes focused on her and a growl rumbled in his throat as he lunged for her, his darker brown ears pinned against his head.

Scorch slipped on to her side as she dodged his lunge and scurried back to her paws, just escaping his claws as he pounced. She spun around to face him and reared upon her hind legs, slashing her claws across his muzzle twice and skipping out of reach as he swung a paw at her.

Looking around, she saw that the two sides were about equally numbered. But they weren't all equally matched, her stomach churned as she saw Gorsepaw cowering at the mercy of a bright gold she-cat with white paws that were stained crimson from the repeated blows she struck at his kit-like face.

Abandoning her own opponent, Scorch dashed over to where the apprentice had been cornered against an aspen tree, the same one Amelia had been sitting upon. With as deep a snarl as she could muster, Scorch leaped onto the she-cat's back, burying her teeth in the scruff and dragging her claws over the golden back.

The she-cat screeched and bucked. Scorch lost her grip and hit the earth, stunned for a moment. The she-cat took the opportunity to press her bloody- but sheathed- paws against her throat. The enemy's amber eyes burned and Scorch gasped, choking and spluttering under the pressure to her throat.

Scorch wriggled, but couldn't get loose, and she could see that Gorsepaw was now facing the opponent she had deserted. Scowling up at the she-cat, Scorch gathered her back legs and pushed upward, moving the she-cat enough to dislodge her hold on her throat and surge upward, slamming into the she-cat's chin with the top of her head.

The gold cat stumbled backward, blood trickling out of her mouth and her eyes became cloudy with pain. Scorch seized her chance and leaped at the she-cat, grabbing the she-cat's head between her two paws and twisting around, pulling the cat to the ground. Then Scorch jumped on the exposed belly, scoring long gouges in the tender flesh.

The she-cat screeched as her fur turned from gold to maroon. Scorch's breathing grew heavy and she realized that the she-cat's flailing attempts to throw her off had left her with crimson spots as well, the pain stung and burned, but she clawed until the she-cat's strength had weakened. Then she drove her opponent off, sending her stumbling and crying, toward the border.

Turning back to the battle, she saw that it was coming to its conclusion. The final fights being decided. Wing was helping Gorsepaw finish her former opponent, one of them scratching at his muzzle while the other dove for his paws. Flameclaw was sending off a snarling enemy tom cat with a couple whacks at the retreating feline.

Boulderfall had a tortoiseshell she-cat beneath his claws, she struggled and spat, but he looked down at her with a look so icy it rivaled his sister's piercing gaze. He gave her a sharp bite to the shoulder and let her run away, yowling, into the bushes. Pinefur's other cats struggled away from their tormentors and followed her, disappearing in a trail of bloody pawprints.

Scorch sighed and sat down, feeling drained after the fury of the battle. Moonfrost padded up to her as the Clan cats gathered themselves together. "Are you okay? It looks like you've got a few nasty cuts there," the gray she-cat mewed, looking over her pelt, her eyes sparkling. Scorch thought she'd never seen Moonfrost look so excited except for after the battle that had driven Pinefur from ThunderClan.

"I'm fine," Scorch answered, shaking her pelt and getting to her paws, swaying slightly as cold numbed her legs. "What about you?" Scorch looked over Moonfrost, seeing she was missing only a couple pawfulls of fur and one bite on her tail that already had stopped bleeding. Looking around, every cat seemed capable to hold their own weight, though Frostshine was holding a bleeding paw off the ground.

"Let's get back to camp," Boulderfall's commanding voice rose over the excited murmurings of the battlefield.

Scorch saw Applefang pad up to her son, her one good eye glowing with warmth. "Thank you for rescuing us, we would have been in trouble if you hadn't shown up," the she-cat dipped her head and the others in her patrol nodded as well.

"Thank Scorch," Boulderfall mewed, "She's the one who foretold this and got us to come."

Scorch's fur grew uncomfortable as all the gazes in the clearing turned toward her. But it wasn't a bad feeling this time, admiration and thanks lit the eyes upon her. She raised her head to meet Boulderfall's gaze, it was warm and friendly, more so than ever before and her chest filled with happiness.

...

The trip back to camp was gleeful as the Clan cats celebrated their victory over Pinefur. Scorch was right in the middle of it, cats praising her and complementing her intuitiveness- such a different tone than she had been given for the past moon.

Scorch escaped attention for a little while when they returned to camp. The news of the battle and victory were quickly spread through the Clan, but the cats who had participated in the fighting were ushered to the medicine-cat den.

"So, have you had enough excitement for one day?" Willowleaf asked, pressing some herbs over her wounds.

Scorch sighed, "Yeah, I'm exhausted now," she mewed, yawning.

"Well, I doubt you'll be able to rest right away. The Clan seems to have completely reversed their opinion on you," the WindClan cat snorted. "Shows how fickle rumors are, huh?"

Scorch purred, the dark cloud that had always been forced over her in the Clan had vaporized like fog in the sun. Although she was a little overwhelmed by all the attention, at least the murmurs about forcing her out had disappeared. And with this attack by Pinefur, it may be the perfect time to encourage them to drive him out since it is clear he won't go away on his own.

Scorch thanked the medicine-cats for their help when they'd finished her wounds and padded out of the cool den, blinking against the sunlight that shone down warmly on her face, lighting up the retreating fog. Looking around, she could see the warriors showing off their battle scars and sharing their tales of glory with the Clan-mates that had stayed behind.

She purred at how easily they were able to forget the horror of the battle, she could still feel the last tremors of it in her belly. "Scorch!" she looked up at Boulderfall's voice.

He bounded up to her and looked down at her, his face was anxious and his eyes were apologetic. He looked exactly like how she'd known him in the pine forest. "I- I wanted to apologize for leaving you on your own for a while. I shouldn't have left you so quickly," he mewed, dropping his head almost to the ground.

Scorch hesitated, this was her chance to take back her friend. But something held her back, did she really want him to be her friend if she had to be in the good graces of the Clan for them to be together? A friend is a friend, no matter what. Besides, she couldn't deny how happy she was to simply talk to him again. "There's nothing to apologize for. You were under a lot of pressure and I made things harder for you. A little space was just fine for a little bit, but I hope you won't do that to me again," she purred.

Boulderfall lifted his head, blue eyes glowing with relief, "Thank you, I won't do it again. I promise."

Scorch purred and brushed along his side, "I missed my best friend."

Boulderfall hesitated, staring down at her thoughtfully. "I did too," he mewed, decidedly. "But can I ask you one thing?"

Scorch nodded.

"Can you not get in a fight with Flameclaw? He doesn't like you, and you don't like him. I understand, but he's still my friend. So, can you two at least leave each other alone? I'm going to ask him to do that as well," he looked down at her, a frown in his blue eyes.

Scorch shrugged, though it vexed her slightly to not have Boulderfall take her side. "If he doesn't bother me, I'll leave him alone," she promised.

Boulderfall purred in thanks and together they strolled around the clearing, stopping to talk with the other warriors about the fight. Scorch turned her head as she saw a flash of gold and silver. Sunstorm and Skypool were climbing the rocks to Highledge and they stood together, calling the Clans to gather beneath them.

"What is this about?" Scorch whispered in Boulderfall's ear as they sat down in the crowd.

He shrugged, "I don't know, maybe they decided something about Pinefur?"

"ThunderClan," Skypool mewed, "At this time, we have decided to formerly welcome a cat into the Clan. One who, more than any other, deserves such a status for saving the lives of several Clan cats today."

Scorch and Boulderfall exchanged a glance. What was she saying?

"Scorch," Skypool looked down on her, "Would you join ThunderClan?"

Scorch stared up at the medicine-cat, wide-eyed. Confusion and turmoil wrestled inside her. She wanted to help the Clans, not join them. She wanted to be with her friends, not leave them. She wanted to see her parents, not abandon them. She wanted to love, not be alone.

But right now, this was the place she had chosen to live. This was the home she had chosen to protect, and the friends and family she had chosen to love. She made her decision and raised her head, "I would." Boulderfall purred loudly beside her and cheers went up around the clearing. It seemed every cat was ready to welcome her.

Skypool nodded, looking down on her gently, "Scorch, from this moment on you will be known as-"

"Wait," Scorch stood up. Skypool looked at her, startled, and a hush fell over the cats. "I like my name the way it is. It's the name my parents gave me, and it is the last thing I have left of them."

Cats murmured, but no cat seemed to object and Skypool nodded again. "For now, at least, you can keep your name. But you will be given apprenticeship status since you are so young. Your mentor will be Boulderfall."

Scorch nearly jumped with delight as she turned to her friend. The young warrior purred and touched her nose, "I'll make you the best warrior in the Clan," he promised.

"Not if I do the same for you," she answered with a purr. The Clan was full of cheers of congratulations as Boulderfall and Scorch stared at each other, happiness and warmth filling the air around them that had been so cold and bleak. It was good to be friends again.