10-3-07

This is slightly late – I should have updated Friday or something but my computer went boom. It wouldn't boot. We're getting a laptop very soon, so let's hope that my next chapter will be posted on my brand new laptop!

Many thanks to the people who reviewed – Flamespirit, Wildtotodile, The Piglet, soraluver, Rabbitstorm, Cloudfire, Snowfur, Peachfoot, Streamheart, and Dragonheart.

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Chapter Three – Glacier Peak

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The silvery cat studied me thoughtfully. I guessed she was a female because of her voice, but how was I supposed to know with cats? And why would she let me join her cat group thing? I was just a scared little gray kitten whose fear was apparently very smelly. A thought struck me that I wasn't making a very good impression. I had to prove to these cats how badly I wanted to be accepted. Never thought I'd be saying that.

I stood on all four of my paws and looked at the silver cat, narrowing my eyes into what I hoped was a defiant expression. She must have been the leader of this group of cats. Clan, it had been called. "I would like to join your er, Clan, and have a better chance at life," I told her.

The cat twitched her whiskers. I wondered what kind of facial expression that would have been for a person's – was she annoyed, amused, or what? A feeling of frustration clutched at my paws. "Young cat, do you even know what you are saying? Do you have what it takes to train with our apprentices, to hunt in the forest, to defend your Clan with all your heart from enemies?" She shook her head and flicked her tail at the large white cat named Whitestorm. "Take her out of here."

Ears flattened, Whitestorm beckoned me with his tail, but I stood my ground. "I might not be used to this kind of lifestyle, but I'm sure I can change." Unhelpfully, I suddenly caught sight of a large pile of dead mice, birds, and other sorts of rodents. I stared at it and felt the bile rise to my mouth.

"And you look at fresh-kill like it is something disgusting," said the silver cat. I couldn't tell if she herself was disgusted.

I stared at the pile with fear filling my heart – if I was allowed to join this Clan thing, would I be able to do…that? These are cats, Cathan, I thought. Cats living in the forest. Of course they hunt live prey. And you're a cat now too, so you should get used to it. I shook my head as though trying to shake water out of it and said carefully, "I am not used to seeing prey this plentiful. Where I come from, food is hard to find."

I thought that sounded pretty convincing. When the silver cat hesitated, I hastily put in, "You might need more members for, erm, enemies." I wondered what kinds of enemies that might be, and once again I questioned what I was signing up for. "Give me a chance, please. You might regret sending me away."

I spotted Sandpaw beside another young tabby cat, who let out a hiss at my words. I wondered vaguely if I had said something offensive. I reminded myself that I was talking to a Clan leader. I wished I knew some sort of cat gesture that would make me seem respectful…

The larger silver cat studied me for a long time. I decided it was best staying quiet for a little while. At last she said, "I will see if you are worthy to be a full warrior of our Clan. You will be a ThunderClan apprentice." ThunderClan, that's right. That's what Sandpaw had called this Clan.

I nodded slowly. "Thank you so much. I won't let you down."

"Your naming ceremony will come along shortly." With that, she turned and whisked away toward the small cave in the rock, leaving me feeling stunned. Naming ceremony? Oh God, in front of all these cats? I remembered school plays I had been forced to be in as a human, and had been nervous as hell. Then I remembered that that was then, this is now – I was being stupid. Who cared if I had to be named in front of all of these cats? I told myself not to worry about it.

Sandpaw, the little orange cat, trotted over to greet me. "Congratulations," she said to me. "I'm really glad Bluestar let you join ThunderClan."

"Thanks," I replied. "I'm glad to be here."

I glanced around the clearing. I counted about twelve or so cats in the area – most were whispering to each other and staring at me. Once again I wished I was better at reading cat's expressions. Were they relieved to have another member or angry that I was an outsider?

Just then the pale tabby known as Longtail stalked up to me with his dark-furred friend behind him. I lifted my head and stared up at both of them. "ThunderClan is weakening," snarled Longtail. "Kittypets and loners being accepted into the Clan! This is becoming ridiculous. Go home."

"Don't embarrass ThunderClan," added the dark-furred cat.

"I'll show you how useless I am," I retorted, feeling better about being here after the leader had let me in. The two cats scoffed and snorted and walked away, twitching the ends of their tails.

"Longtail and Darkstripe were angry when Firepaw was brought here too," meowed Sandpaw. "They think that only cats with Clan blood can be ThunderClan warriors."

They could be right, I thought bitterly. But I said, "Well, they'll just have to wait and see that I'll do better than any Clan cat." Privately I was thinking I didn't have a clue what I was saying. I had no idea what it means to be a…warrior, it had been called. I prayed that I had what it would take. "And what's a kittypet?" I asked Sandpaw.

"A cat that lives with Twolegs," was the reply. I nodded in understanding. "Come on, I'll show you the other apprentices." She turned and trotted over to the smallest den. I followed her as quickly as I could.

The den was made of ferns, leaves, bushes, mainly anything that was near. Inside were five large spots of moss that I guessed was what the cats slept on. Two cats were inside the den – the brown tabby I had seen before and a smaller black cat with a white dash on his chest.

"Firepaw and Graypaw are out with Redtail on a training assessment," meowed Sandpaw. "This is Dustpaw and Ravenpaw."

I nodded and said, "Why do all your names end in 'paw'?" It seemed really weird. As if that was the weirdest thing going on here…

The brown tabby named Dustpaw twitched his ears. "Because we're apprentices," he snapped. "Once we become warriors, then we'll get our full names."

I ignored Dustpaw's irritable tone and said, "What exactly does a warrior do?"

"Get killed in battles or fall into waterfalls," muttered the black cat named Ravenpaw.

"Ravenpaw!" exclaimed Sandpaw. "That's not what –"

A sudden cry sounded from outside the den – I recognized that voice, it was the leader. I fought to remember her name. It came to me after a few seconds – Bluestar. The leader of ThunderClan was Bluestar, I had to remember that. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey join me beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting."

Sandpaw flicked her tail over my shoulder. "Come on," she said to me. "It's your naming ceremony!"

"What do I do?" I asked, feeling suddenly nervous again as we walked toward the large rock beside Bluestar's den, which she was sitting upon. I didn't want to mess up.

"When she calls your name, just go up there and sit beside her. She should name a mentor for you too – I wonder who you'll get."

"Mentor?" I said, feeling suddenly excited. I glanced around the rows of cats who were giving me odd looks. Which one of them would be my mentor? "Does Bluestar take apprentices?"

"Yes, but she already has one. So does Redtail – that's our deputy. All of the senior warriors have apprentices too – the choice is limited, you know." Sandpaw twitched her ears.

An excited feeling gripping my heart, I looked up at Bluestar, sitting strong and calm upon the large rock, waiting for the rest of the cats to join the group. I wished she could be my mentor – I knew I'd learn everything from her. At last, Bluestar meowed, "ThunderClan, the threat from RiverClan grows stronger every day. I have decided to allow a spirited young cat to join our Clan."

To my horror, howls of outrage erupted from the cats, filling the forest with angry voices.

"Another one?!"

"How many outsiders will ThunderClan take?"

"StarClan forbid a loner!"

Bluestar waited calmly for silence. "I understand your fears. If this loner proves to be incapable, she will be banished." The air seemed to vanish from my lungs. Don't be incapable, then, I thought nervously. I could hear my heart pounding. I watched as Bluestar beckoned me with her tail. Feeling as though my legs were made of lead, I stumbled toward her on my brand new four paws.

I nearly slid off the Highrock when I jumped upon it – hoping I didn't look stupid, I hastily sat beside Bluestar and she continued the ceremony. "May StarClan see and approve my decision to allow this newcomer to join ThunderClan."

What the bloody hell is StarClan? I wondered vaguely. The cats stared up at me with uncertainty in their eyes and I was once again reminded that I had to prove myself worthy. I held my head high and tried not to look as scared as I really was.

Bluestar turned to face me, murmuring words only I could hear. "You eyes look like glaciers on a mountain's peak," she whispered. Raising her voice, she continued, "From this day forward, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Glacierpaw, in honor of your beautiful blue eyes."

Glacierpaw! My heart glowed at my new name. I repeated it over and over in my head. It was a great name. It was then, suddenly, that I realized I had gone though this before – I had heard these words in my head once before. But that was impossible – I must have been imagining it. I glanced down at the cats, hoping they were feeling better about me, and saw that three more had arrived – a many-colored cat with a fluffy orange tail, a smaller gray cat, and a dark orange cat sitting next to it.

I froze suddenly, staring at the ginger cat with disbelief clutching at my paws. Oh, God, it couldn't be – could it? Was…was that Rusty? He had run away from home not long ago – was this where he had ended up? Relief washed over me – at least I knew he was safe, but would he know that I was his old master?

"Glacierpaw," Bluestar hissed suddenly. I jerked my head back to her and gave myself a quick shake. I guessed I had been staring at Rusty while Bluestar waited to continue my ceremony. "Glacierpaw, you will need a mentor to show you the ways of a Clan cat." Excitement filled my heart again – I was finally going to meet my mentor. "You mentor will be Darkstripe."

All of the hope and elatedness in my heart vanished suddenly like water down a drain as the black cat who had insulted me earlier stared at Bluestar with a mixture of horror and humiliation. Clearly he didn't want to be my mentor at all. I bowed my head and twitched my ears awkwardly – Bluestar must have known that this cat named Darkstripe would object – why would she choose him to mentor me? Did she want me to learn the ways of Clanlife as quickly as possible so she assigned me a difficult mentor?

Bluestar whispered in my ear. "Touch noses with your new mentor to accept him."

Accept him? Like hell I'd accept him as my fricking mentor. I didn't want to appear disobidient, so I hastily clampered down from the Highrock and trotted over to the dark tabby I recognized as Darkstripe. I hesitated before approaching him – would he flat-out refuse? But the black cat bowed his head and I rushed forward to touch my nose to his. It was kind of weird – like we were kissing. Uncomfortable thoughts drifted into my mind. I broke the moment immediately and looked back over at Rusty. The orange cat was watching me with what I guessed was a curious expression – he gave no sign that he recognized me, but then again, who would.

I looked back at Darkstripe, who was still numb with shock. "Er…what will we be doing first?" I asked awkwardly, remembering this was the cat who had called me useless not long ago.

Darkstripe avoided my gaze and mumbled something like, "Exploring the territory." With that he turned around and headed toward what I guessed was the warriors' den.

My heart began to pound. My mentor seemed to be embarrassed he had received one of the outsiders of the Clan as an apprentice. The other warriors would probably tease him. Well, I thought huffily, turning to stalk towards the apprentices' den, I'll have to show him just how good I can be…that's all. I'll make sure that Darkstripe doesn't regret me being his apprentice at all.

I flinched as Rusty padded up to me. "Hello," he said. "I'm Firepaw. You must be Glacierpaw."

I stared at him. Firepaw! I thought. What an incredible name. "Er…that's right," I replied. This was too bizarre – this was the same cat who had comforted me whenever my uncle attacked me, who slept on my pillow at night… "Who is your mentor?"

"Bluestar," he answered proudly. "I'm sorry you got a fleabag like Darkstripe for a mentor."

So Bluestar doesn't think that badly about outsiders after all if she's willing to take one as an apprentice, I thought. Then why did she give me Darkstripe? Did she really think I would be that disobedient?

"Where will I sleep?" I asked Firepaw.

He let out a purr – it was the same purr that he used when he leapt onto my bed to comfort me on my uncle's behavior. "With the rest of the apprentices, in the apprentices' den. You'll have to make your own bed, but it's really comfortable. I'll help you."

We walked back to the familiar apprentices' den where Sandpaw, Ravenpaw, and Dustpaw were already waiting. Sandpaw and Ravenpaw greeted me warmly, but Dustpaw turned away and muttered about outsiders and loners. Anxiety filled my stomach as I turned toward Firepaw and asked about a bed.

"You just rip off the moss, like this…" Bringing out his claws, he shredded the curly green stuff off of a nearby rock and set it on the leafy ground in clumps.

I stepped forward. I hadn't used my claws since my escape from my uncle. Bunching my paw together slightly, I was amazed as they popped out, and retracted as I relaxed. Sandpaw purred.

"Never seen your claws before?" she asked, watching me closely.

"No," I replied, too quickly. "Er – I mean, I just miss them, is all…" To cover up my error, I hastily padded over to Firepaw and helped rip the moss off of the rock to make my bed. I pushed it together with my nose and stared down at it when it was finished – it didn't look especially comfortable; I missed my warm, soft bed back home, but I couldn't exactly use that right now. With a huge yawn, I suddenly realized how tired I was. Running across the black cat's territory seemed ages ago. Without waiting for anyone to say good-night, I curled up into a furry gray ball and was soon fast asleep.

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Yay, third chapter done. I chose Darkstripe as Glacierpaw's mentor, because let's face it, Darkstripe might seem like the bad-guy follower type, but really, he's got a sensitive side that just wants a pony. Let's all be nice to Darkstripe.

Also, I would really appreciate it if someone would come up with a different way to post this story's title - I really don't like the X's in front and behind 'rewritten.' Any suggestions are welcome.

In the next chapter, expect these questions: Will Glacierpaw tell Firepaw that she is his owner? Will Darkstripe accept Glacierpaw as his apprentice without complaint? What exactly is the threat from RiverClan? And will I ever shut up? Hope to see you on chapter four, people!

However, first, a quick word from the author. As some of you may have noticed, I got a flame for my original TTW fic from – you guessed it – Fanned Chocolate. Well, I'm a little pissed off about this, because honestly, I was only 13 when I wrote it. I'm not saying it's a wonderful fic either, it lacks detail and sense, but really, I bet the asshole didn't even read the fic to be able to judge it, even though the review was on chapter 9. I hate how he uses so many cuss words in his reviews – heh, not that I use any – but come on, some people just don't care what kind of content they post as long as they're part of this wonderful site…so they're probably all pretty young. Jerkhead.

So I ask everyone here to block this Fanned Chocolate bastard from flaming anyone. He'll probably get a new account once we've all blocked him, but we'll continue to block him, right guys?! So all of you, log in and enter your block list and type in Fanned Chocolate or his user code or whatever it is…right after you review, of course. XD