| rdfs:comment | - "Can I join WindClan?" I gulped, fearing what Ryefrost's answer might be. "Join WindClan?" She looked at me like I was crazy, then she broke out into a purr, "Yes! Well...I have to ask Dovestar first, obviously, but it's fine by me. Come on, I'll take you to camp." I followed her as she broke off into a run into the barren moorland. It was weird for me, not being in the cover of trees and brambles, but I could live. Hill after hill, we ran, and the farther we went, the more afraid I was of tripping over a rabbit-hole. "What's he doing here?" Dovestar sniffed. "Lionstar," I answered with pride.
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| abstract | - "Can I join WindClan?" I gulped, fearing what Ryefrost's answer might be. "Join WindClan?" She looked at me like I was crazy, then she broke out into a purr, "Yes! Well...I have to ask Dovestar first, obviously, but it's fine by me. Come on, I'll take you to camp." I followed her as she broke off into a run into the barren moorland. It was weird for me, not being in the cover of trees and brambles, but I could live. Hill after hill, we ran, and the farther we went, the more afraid I was of tripping over a rabbit-hole. "How much farther?" I panted, struggling to keep up with the faster WindClan warrior. "Not much," Ryefrost mewed, "See that gorse lining over there? Our camp is in a dip surrounded by the gorse." I peered into the distance, and saw gorse bushes lined in a huge circular area. The land flattened out under the moon, and the grass become taller and harder to see above. I just kept Ryefrost's tail-tip in sight and I was fine. We arrived finally, and I was dying for a rest. Regret filled me as I realized I had just abandoned everything I knew and was born in without a goodbye. What of Cherrypaw? I can't believe I allowed myself to leave my apprentice. "I smell ThunderClan!" A large dark brown-and-white tom lifted his head from where he curled up with a ginger-and-white she-cat. "It's okay, Beetlefang," Ryefrost reassured, "He's here for a reason. I'm taking him to Dovestar." A large dark blue-gray tom stopped us as we approached a large boulder. "What's he here for?" "Can I speak to Dovestar first, Blueclaw?" Ryefrost asked. Blueclaw snorted, then stepped aside to allow Ryefrost to call into the boulder. I thought she was talking to it at first, until I spied a tiny split in the middle of it where Dovestar must slip in. "Come in!" Came the reply. Ryefrost and I stepped into a small space large enough for only four cats. The floor was sandy, and it was very dark inside, I was barely able to make out Dovestar's pale-gray color. "What's he doing here?" Dovestar sniffed. "He wishes to join WindClan," Ryefrost answered. I squared my shoulders and tried to look my best to impress the WindClan leader. "What are your reasons?" Dovestar asked me. She studied me, as if trying to figure out what kind of cat I really was. Do I tell the truth? "My mother, she was cruel to me. She threatened to kill me as a kit and she still shoots me glares and never speaks to me. My former mate won't allow me to see my kits and I just can't stand it in ThunderClan anymore. No one has any respect for me, or cares about my feelings." I hoped Dovestar got that. She thought for a few moments, and we waited in silence. "Yes, you may. But you will be under watch for a moon or until I think you're worthy of being a WindClan warrior. I will have Runningfire teach you the ways of our clan." I silently celebrated, happy. "Yes, Dovestar." I dipped my head to the pale-gray she-cat, then followed Ryefrost out. "We're going to live in the same clan!" She purred happily. She pressed into me, and that was the only time I've ever felt truly loved and accepted. "Come on. WindClan cats sleep in the open, let's find a spot where the warriors haven't taken up." Ryefrost padded off, avoiding cat's tails and paws. Embarrassment flooded through me as I almost tripped over a tortoiseshell she-cat, I hope nobody was watching me. Ryefrost eventually found an empty spot near the back of camp, by a dark brown tabby tom. She curled up on the soft, springy grass. I lay down next to her, a little disturbed by the dark tabby's snoring. "That's Sparrowtalon. He's actually really cool, and funny. Lucky Firepaw, I wish he was my mentor when I was an apprentice!" Ryefrost whispered. "Who was your mentor?" I asked, curious. "Hareleap. That tawny-furred tom over there." Ryefrost pointed to the warrior with her tail-tip, "Who was yours?" "Lionstar," I answered with pride. "Wow!" Her eyes brightened with surprise, "Lucky." She looked away from me, silent, and fell asleep within heartbeats. I couldn't though. Thoughts of my kits, Cherrypaw, and all the others were still in my mind. I can't believe I never even told anyone goodbye... I thought, Oh well. They don't need me. But I will miss the forest. I closed my eyes and waited for sleep to overcome me.
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