CHAPTER 1

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Milky, pale dawn light crept through the canopy of needle-like fir leaves in slants of near-white yellow. The undergrowth and forest floor was still dark, not yet lit by sunlight.

"All cats old enough to hunt their own prey, gather around to hear my words!" A loud voice cut through the chilly air. It originated from a large, thick-furred white cat, perched on a low boulder.

Within moments, the cats scattered around her camp turned their heads and formed a wide semi-circle around the powerful she-cat. Once everyone had been settled, Froststar began the meeting.

"Thundertooth, Sprucefoot and I have decided to go on a patrol and locate the cat who has been scented in our territory for the past moon. Sunstorm shall be in charge while I am gone. If we have not returned by sundown, send a search patrol." Froststar concluded with a flick of her tail.

A shiver passed down one cat's spine. His name was Mousepelt. The thought of a search patrol sent for the leader and deputy scared him.

As Froststar leapt down, Sprucefoot coming to her side, Thundertooth took a few minutes to assign the day's patrols.

Mousepelt ignored most of her words, until he heard his own name be called.

"Blossomtoe, Mousepelt, Hawkbite, Freckleface!" As the deputy called for them, all four cats padded up. "I want you four to go on a hunting patrol. Hawkbite," the tabby perked up at the mention of his name, "I want you in lead."

The patrol nodded and went in a group to camp entrance, shaking the last bits of sleepiness away before setting off.

Mousepelt drew in deep gulps of air as they left camp. His gaze scanned the prickly tree branches and undergrowth fondly. Something about his home always soothed him.

The patrol soon went down a path in the firs, and Mousepelt twitched his whiskers when he realized Hawkbite was leading them to the DewClan border.

"Hawkbite," he spoke up, the patrol leader turning to face him. "Why are we here? We're hunting, not refreshing the scent border."

"I'm well aware of that, Mousepelt." Hawkbite met his gaze calmly, then explained, "That strange cat hasn't been scented here. I don't wish to disturb Froststar's patrol."

That silenced Mousepelt, and they continued on, skirting a large thorn thicket before settling between two pine trees, where the grass grew thick.

"Everyone, split up. Meet back here once you're done hunting." Hawkbite instructed. The others nodded and all padded in separate directions, the patrol leader going away a few moments later.

Mousepelt perked his ears and parted his jaws as he crept along, slowing his pawsteps. For a while he could only smell the border only a few tail-lengths away, but then caught scent of something else; squirrel.

Dropping into a low crouch, he stalked under a bush, spotting the fluffy-tailed gray critter sitting near a tree trunk. It was occupied by a nut it had clutched between its front paws.

After a short check of the wind direction, Mousepelt crept up on it, only half a tail-length away when he sprang up from the grass and caught the squirrel between his claws.

Immediately he ducked his head and sank his fangs into its throat, twisting his jaws to snap the prey's neck. Satisfaction seeped through his bones at the crack.

Rising back up with the squirrel dangling from his jaws, Mousepelt continued through the undergrowth, burying his catch beside a fallen tree. He continued to try and hunt, but after a while without any new scents, he gave up and fetched the squirrel before returning to the meeting spot.

When he got there, Hawkbite and Freckleface had already seated themselves, and trilled when Mousepelt joined them. Hawkbite had two plump mice at his paws, and Freckleface had caught a blackbird.

"I swear to StarClan, Blossomtoe better have caught a deer to be this late." Hawkbite grumbled after a few moments of waiting.

After a while of silence, said cat slid from the bushes, hurrying up to the others. But, to their disappointment, Blossomtoe only had a shrew between his jaws.

"A shrew? You kept us all waiting for a scrawny, miserable shrew?" Hawkbite spat, rising to his paws.

"I had to trek half-way across the forest to catch this!" Blossomtoe retorted, dropping his tiny catch and raising his chin.

"Then you're more miserable than the shrew!" Hawkbite bristled. Blossomtoe growled in response, the two looking ready to rip each other's pelt off.

"Hawkbite, the prey's not running well today." Freckleface stepped up, standing between them to try and ease the tension.

But Hawkbite just snarled, "Freckleface, he caught a shrew! Even on the wettest days I've got better!"

Freckleface was about to reply when Oakpelt came crashing through the undergrowth, his pelt a mess and his breaths coming in rapid pants.

"You have to get back to camp, now! Froststar's patrol got back!" He hollered, large ears pressed back. The cats of the patrol grabbed their prey, even Blossomtoe's miserable shrew, and followed him back to camp quickly.

Upon returning, they found Froststar sitting on Callstone, a plump white tomcat next to her. Mousepelt's jaw nearly fell off when he saw a blue vine wrapped around the tom's throat. He's a... kittypet?

They deposited their prey in the freshkill-pile, then joined everyone else. Seeing the last cats had gathered, Froststar raised her tail to quiet her Clan's whispering and began to speak.

"Cats of MossClan, this is Samwise." She laid her fluffy tail on his back while addressing him. "He ran from his twolegs, and wishes to join our Clan."

Instantly, the Clan erupted into outraged yowling.

"He's a kittypet!"

"Kittypets have no right to walk alongside pure-blooded warriors!"

"Look at that collar!"

Mousepelt soon joined in on the protesting, fur spiking up. Has Froststar gone insane? The cats' voices soon drown each other out, just becoming a mesh of rage and caterwauling.

"Silence!" Froststar rose to her paws and yowled, hushing MossClan in moments. Even Mousepelt fell silent. Once the camp was quiet once more, she sat again and continued.

"We will welcome Samwise into our Clan like he is a littermate. I will give him a true warrior name to he-"

"Actually, I would like my name to stay Samwise." The plump tom interrupted, voice smooth and kind. Mousepelt scoffed angrily. How could this cat cut off a leader during a Clan meeting?

Froststar appeared shocked for a moment, then went on, "Very well. May StarClan welcome Samwise as a warrior of MossClan!" She rose to her paws again and raised her muzzle to the sky, hollering his name through the air. But nobody joined in, leaving her voice single and clear.

Mousepelt narrowed his eyes and fixed Samwise with a harsh glare.

Froststar jumped down, her and Thundertooth padding behind her den to speak in private about who knows what.

Samwise hopped down as well, striding through the gathered Clan with a wide smile. He was met by low growls and more glares, but it didn't faze the kittypet.

The Clan watched angrily as Samwise plucked the squirrel Mousepelt had caught from the freshkill-pile, flopping down next to the warriors' den with a content purr.

Mousepelt hissed crossly. How could this stupid kittypet just take the prey I worked hard to catch without putting any effort in whatsoever?

However, he didn't voice his opinion, instead just pushing past his Clanmates and exiting camp to go for a walk.

Though that idiotic pet doesn't deserve to be here, I'll leave him be for now. I don't dare go against Froststar's wishes.

- - -

aha, chapter one, finally! i apologize for the long wait. this chapter probably is terrible, as i finished it at 2am, but whatever.

~ sleepy