Shadestorm woke with a start as Fang, next to her, let out a yowl.

"What's wrong?" She hissed, claws extending, ready for a fight. 

"I-nothing," Fang said. "Just a weird dream."

"Tell me about it," Shadestorm insisted.

"Well...okay. Basically, I was in a pine forest. Two cats came down-they called themselves Shadowstar and Blackstar-and then we were on a cliff looking down over a bunch of trees, a river, some hills, and some muddy, watery places. And they showed me a bunch of cats fighting and told me that the Clans had to stay peaceful. And then I woke up."

"I had the same dream!" Shadestorm meowed. "Except, instead of Shadowstar and Blackstar, I had Thunderstar and Firestar."

"Those are other cats?" 

"Yes. Now, come ON!"

The first stop they made was at Drift's den. She hissed when she saw Fang.

"What's wrong?" Shadestorm asked, trying to calm the terrified she-cat.

"He has a bit of a reputation."

"In my defense," Fang said, "I never actually hurt anyone unless I have to."

"No," Drift admitted, "But you cheat, lie, steal, and intimidate cats until you get your way."

Fang dipped his head. "That I do."

"Such a ShadowClan cat," Shadestorm muttered. "Okay, Fang, you may come with us if you promise not to do any of that." 

"Deal," Fang said. "And I'll share prey."

"Good," Shadestorm said. "Is that okay with you, Drift?" 

"I guess," the smaller cat mewed, pawing the ground.

"Alright," Shadestorm announced. "We still have two more cats to pick up."

Ripple was sitting beside her fence, washing her golden-brown fur.

"We're working with her?" Fang hissed disbelievingly.

"Yes," Shadestorm said, "And she's not the only kittypet we'll be working with. Show some respect."

Fang took a step back. "Fine! Fine."

Shadestorm turned back to Ripple. "You ready?"

"Yep!" Ripple announced, standing up and falling in beside Drift, who looked surprised but happy at this turn of events.

"I had the weirdest dream last night," Ripple chattered. "I was in a marsh, and then these cats- Riverstar and Mistystar- showed me the coolest place and then about a million cats were sitting together and watching a white cat with stripes and a white cat with black paws fight this gray cat, and so I was like, 'that's what the Clans do for fun?' and they were all 'No, young one. This must never happen again.' and then I woke up."

"Yeah, I had that same dream! Except I was on a moor and my cats were Windstar and Onestar," Drift added.

"We're here," Shadestorm announced, leaping over the fence. The others followed.

Flap was in the backyard. "Hi," He said. "You're ready? Ripple! You're coming too?"

"Uh-huh!" Ripple said proudly. "I'm gonna be a Clan cat!"

"Uh, this is wonderful and all," Fang said. "But we have to get going.

The five cats walking in silence until they reached the edge of Twolegplace.

"Stop here," Shadestorm instructed, leaping onto a rock. "This journey is going to be dangerous, difficult, and... some of us might even die. We'll have to avoid Twolegs- Housefolk- and foxes, badgers, anything that might hurt us. We're going to hunt for our own food and share it with the group. We'll be eating mice, lizards, fish, rabbits, not kittypet food. If anyone wants to back out, speak now."

Nobody said anything.

"Well, if you're sure... you have to follow these rules. 

Defend all the Clans, even with your life. Your first loyalty is to your Clan, but all cats who follow the warrior code are your allies. Each Clan must ensure that no other Clan falls. Nevertheless, each Clan is proud and independent, with traditions that must always be respected. 

An honorable warrior does not need to kill other cats to win their battles, unless they are outside the code, or it is necessary for self-defense. 

Elders, queens, sick or injured cats and kits must be fed before apprentices and warriors. Unless they have permission, apprentices may not eat until they have hunted to feed the elders. 

A Gathering of all four Clans is held at the full moon during a truce that lasts for the night. 

No warrior can neglect a kit in pain or danger, even if the kit is from a different Clan. 

A kit must be at least six moons old to become an apprentice. 

The deputy will become Clan leader when the leader dies, retires, or is exiled. 

After the death, retirement, promotion (to a leader status), or exile of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh. 

Prey is killed only to be eaten. Give thanks to StarClan for its life. 

Newly appointed warriors will keep a silent vigil for one night after receiving their warrior name. 

A cat cannot be made deputy without having mentored at least one apprentice.

A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet. 

Boundaries must be checked and marked daily. Challenge all trespassing cats—but a warrior must always remember that all cats follow the warrior code. 

If you think you can do all of that, you can come."

"Wow," Ripple said, "That's a lot! But, I can remember it."

"Me too," Fang meowed.

"Same here," Drift agreed.

"Yeah," Flap said.

"Okay," Shadestorm said. "I'm going to change your names now. You all need Clan names."

All four cats sat in a line facing Shadestorm. 

"Ripple, Fang, and Drift. You have joined this journey despite knowing you might get hurt, and StarClan honors that. However, you have no knowledge of how to hunt the wild, nor how to fight. Therefore, I cannot give you warrior names.

"However, you will learn. Until you earn your Warrior names, you shall be known as Dawnpaw, Driftpaw, and Nightpaw."

"Dawnpaw! Driftpaw! Nightpaw!" Flap called enthusiastically.

"Flap, step forward."

Flap fell silent and stood.

"You were a Clan cat before the Great Storm."

Flap nodded, and the Dawnpaw gasped. 

"However, StarClan has told me that you never earned your warrior name... Birchpaw."

Flap's face lit up. "It's been a long time since anyone called me by that name."

Shadestorm took a deep breath. "I call on my warrior ancestors in StarClan to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn. Birchpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to defend your Clan with your life?"

"I do."

"Birchpaw, from this moment on, you shall be known as Birchbranch. StarClan honors your patience and generosity."

Dawnpaw, Driftpaw, and Nightpaw all called out, "Birchbranch! Birchbranch!"

Shadestorm leaped down. "And now, we must continue our journey."