It wasn't the sheer amount of cats that impressed Robinear. No, it was how normal they seemed, how reminiscent the rebellion's headquarters reminded her of the FloraClan.

Well, with one notable exception-- the absence of ranks.

She could tell even from here. It was the way they carried themselves-- no cat's head was ducked, no shoulders were slumped, and every cat was getting their own prey from the prey pile without protest.

From besider her, Robinear could hear Thrushnose exhale in shock at the sight before her, and was faintly aware of herself copying her. But she barely paid it notice; she was too busy drinking in the sight with her eyes, the scene so familiar yet alien.

Volethroat suddenly seemed to decide that they'd been standing there long enough, and headed down to the entrance. Robinear and Thrushnose hesitated, watching Volethroat speaking to the guards stationed at either side of the entrance before they padded toward him.

"--new recruits," Volethroat was saying. "Usual protocol-- get someone to notify Lightning."

One of the guards, a brown tabby, nodded stiffly. "Yes, Volethroat," he need in a tone so serious it almost sounded fake. The other guard, a she-cat, darted away from the entrance toward a den in the camp a little faster than seemed necessary.

Volethroat sighed. "Frog, you know I can't help it! I lived in FloraClan for far too long."

The tabby, Frog, snorted. "You can say that again."

Robinear blinked and looked between the two toms. Both were now bristling, their fur on end and claws unsheathed as they stared each other down.

"Look, just let us through," cut in Amber.

Frog turned to Amber with his nose wrinkled in a sort of distaste. "And why should I listen to you, lovesick little rogue who forgot where she came from?"

Now Amber was bristling. "Frog, get out of the way. Now."

Frog sniffed, but moved slightly aside. "Some sister you are," he muttered, loud enough for Amber to hear.

Amber was the first to dart through the entrance, glaring angrily in Frog's direction after she got through. Volethroat was out almost right after, and Robinear and Thrushnose continued, slower and confused as to what they'd seen.

Volethroat and Amber's paws slapped the ground harshly, their fur on end as they stalked away from the entrance.

"What was that?" hissed Thrushnose as soon as they were out of earshot.

Amber sighed. "My stupid brother doesn't trust the Clan cats."

Robinear blinked. "Oh...I see..." She glanced back at the brown tabby.

Volethroat coughed, and they all turned to him. "We should probably speak to Frost."

Amber groaned. "Frost?"

"He is second in command," pointed out Volethroat.

"What's so bad about that?" mewed Thrushnose. Robinear nodded, seconding the question.

Volethroat just sighed. "You'll see."

Robinear blinked, but followed after the grey she-cat and brown tabby as they walked toward a den. She suddenly felt Thrushnose's tail twine with hers, and accepted it gratefully.

Amber glanced back at them and suddenly hissed, "Stop that!"

Robinear blinked but obeyed, moons of taking orders from other drilled into her head. Thrushnose,though, was not so quick to obey. "Why?" she insisted.

Amber glanced nervously at the den before them. "Frost...well I don't think he'll like it."

Thrushnose bristled, her white fur bushing up slightly. "Why should I give a rat's tail of what he thinks? He's not the leader!"

Volethroat sighed. "He's the only leader you'll see for a while. You can't meet Lightning until you've earned the Fire's trust." He then turned and rapped his tail sharply against the side of the entrance.

A voice sounded from within-- higher than Robinear would have expected, but low enough to pass for a full-grown tom. "Come in."

Thrushnose absently tried to twine her tail with Robinear again, but she quickly whipped it out of the white she-cat's grip. Thrushnose looked offended for a moment before she made eye contact with Robinear, who gestured toward the ginger tom sitting in the center of the den, tail curled neatly around his paws. "Volethroat, Amber, you may leave," he mewed curtly.

The two cats did so quickly moving so fast Robinear could only see them as blurs of brown and grey.

"The new recruits, I presume?" Frost needed, his mew cold. For a moment, Robinear had wondered why his name was Frost, but now it was all too clear.

Robinear forced herself to nod when she noticed that Thrushnose was glaring too hard at the tom in question to bother. "Y-yes, sir."

Frost exhaled sharply, as if irritated at her response, but gestured for the two of them to sit down. "Names?" he asked when they had settled.

"Robinear," the silver tabby introduced. When her companion made no move to speak, Robinear awkwardly added, "and this is Thrushnose."

Frost nodded once curtly. "And have you formally left FloraClan?"

Robinear paused and shook her head. "No, sir. I-- my kit is still there, and I think my sister is cutting me some slack after Yellowkit's death--"

Frost's eyes narrowed. "So you're not willing to leave your Clan to dedicate yourself to the Fire?"

Robinear hissed quietly bit didn't protest. Thrushnose, though, finally spoke up. "Do you have kits, sir?" She practically spat the title at him. "If you don't, I doubt you can understand losing one, and you underestimate a mother's dedication to her kits!"

Frost hissed, long and loud. "My mother ditched me without a second thought-- motherly attachment is merely an excuse for selfishness!" He whipped around to glare at the cowering silver tabby. "Cowards and selfish cats are not welcome here. Get out, you piece of-- of crowfood!"

"Take that back!" spat Thrushnose.

Robinear shivered, glancing between the two irate cats uneasily. "Uh...s-sorry sir...p-please leave Thrushnose alone..."

Frost purred, malice tinting it so that it sounded almost mad. "After what she said, defending you, her--?" Here he paused, glancing between the two she-cats suspiciously. "You're mates, aren't you."

It was hardly a question, but Robinear still felt the urge to nod.

Frost dropped his gaze. "Get out of my sight."

Robinear tilted her head slightly in confusion. "What?"

"What if we don't want to?" challenged Thrushnose. Robinear winced and pulled on Thrushnose's tail slightly, hoping to get her to stop. Thankfully, the white she-cat obliged.

Frost's claws suddenly clacked against the stone floor of the den. "Get out before I lose control and send you to the life beyond, you infuriating pair of she-cats!" His mew was practically a yowl by then, and Robinear had a feeling that the cats outside could hear him quite clearly.

Robinear glanced at Thrushnose, seeing a defiance present in her gaze that was absent from her own. She tugged on Thrushnose's tail slightly leading her out of the den as fast as possible, then sitting down and breathing heavily the instant they were far away enough.

Amber and Volethroat were at their sides almost immediately, concern crossing their features. They didn't even have to ask the question before Robinear answered: "It went really badly."

Amber winced, and Volethroat lowered his head. "Of course," he mewed. "I shouldn't have been surprised, after what Greyfur said about Thrushnose."

Robinear's ears pricked. "Greyfur is here?" He and Fawnfur had defected officially from FloraClan half a moon ago, and she hadn't seen her littermate since.

Volethroat nodded. "Yes. But...well, I think you should go back to your Clan. Greyfur and Fawnfur are on a walk right now, and I doubt your sister can shelter you much longer."

Robinear nodded. "Right. We'll...we'll come back when we can."

Amber nodded. "Please do. Um, would you like us to escort you back to the entrance?"

Thrushnose shook her head. "We can manage your ridiculous brother by ourselves." She began walking toward the entrance, Robinear right on her tail.

"Goodbye," Robinear called back. She ducked between the guards, Frog sending a heated glare at her as she left.

Her claws unsheathed, then, finally releasing the anger she'd trapped inside.

This is for Yellowkit, not for me, she reminded herself. Be strong, endure the mockery.

They were nearly back at the border, now, and Robinear sent one last glance back at the Fire's camp.

But is the rebellion really much better than FloraClan?

Wow, I know that this hasn't been updated for quite some time. But here you go! You can see I gave up on chapter titles, though.

Any thoughts/first impressions of the Fire? What do you think of Frog, Frost, and how Robinear and Thrush are treated?

Hope you enjoyed this chapter :)

~Ember