(Cat above is Firepaw)

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Firepaw, from this moment you will be known as Fireclaw. StarClan honors your strengths and your loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

When he finished speaking Fallowstar stepped up to Fireclaw and rested his muzzle on his bowed head. Fireclaw licked his shoulder respectfully, then walked over to stand between Ashshade and Mudpelt.

"Fireclaw! Fireclaw!"

Just as he had said, Fireclaw's warrior ceremony happened first thing in the morning. Stormpaw was next Cloudpaw, who was chanting along with the rest of the clan. When the noise died down the clan dispersed, some going to congratulate the new warrior, other going to do their duties.

Fernpaw, who had been on Stormpaw's other side, races over to Fireclaw and pressed her muzzle against his. Fireclaw returned her gesture, whispered something to her, then was escorted by Brackenear and Spottedflare to the warriors' den.

Stormpaw rolled his eyes then slipped under the brambles that sheltered the apprentice den. Gray clouds moved sluggishly across the sky and he could scent rain on the breeze. Shivering, he sat down, licking one paw and rubbing it over his face. Cloudpaw joined him in the den a few heartbeats later. Stormpaw could see her lithe body shivering as well.

"A thin drizzle set in." She mewed.

"It'd be pointless for Oakflame to send out a hunting patrol." Stormpaw commented. "All the prey will be in their holes."

Cloudpaw let out a small huff of laughter then licked a paw and ran it over her muzzle. The two apprentices sat in silence for a few moments.

"So," Stormpaw meowed after a while. "What do you think of Fireclaw's name?"

Cloudpaw looked up from where she had been resting. "I like it. Fallowstar gave him a fitting name."

"What do you think yours will be?" Stormpaw asked.

Cloudpaw shrugged. "I'm not sure. I've often wondered what Fallowstar would name me."

"Rainflight and Stonehaze think I'll be named for my spots." Stormpaw mewed.

"Probably." Cloudpaw smiled. "What else would you be named for?"

Stormpaw gave a small smile then curled up in his nest and rested his head on his paws.

I don't really mind my name. What would I be honored for?

*

*

*

Stormpaw padded over to the fresh kill pile, a couple of shrews dangling from his jaw. He dropped his prey off then turned and headed for the apprentice den.

A few days had passed since Fireclaw's ceremony. Stormpaw didn't see much of him now that the ginger tom spent most of his time with warriors. When he wasn't doing that, he was off somewhere with Fernpaw.

Stormpaw rolled his eyes as he sat outside the den. He spotted Oakflame padding over to Stonehaze when suddenly Marshtail emerged into the camp. The brown and black tom's fur was sticking out and he was panting.

"Fallowstar!" He called. "Oakflame!"

Fallowstar emerged from his den and raced across the clearing with Oakflame behind him.

"What is it?" Fallowstar asked.

"It's ShadowClan." Marshtail explained. "I spotted them across our boders. I think they moved thier borders into our territory."

A growl rumbled in Fallowstar's throat. He turned back and ran up to the Highledge. "Oakflame," he called to his deputy. "Take Marshtail, Branchtail, Deerspots, Frostflower, and Stormpaw and go take care of those trespassers."

Stormpaw raced across the clearing after Oaklfame's patrol. He fell into a run beside Branchtail. The ShadowClan scent became stronger and stronger, until they reached the top of a gentle slope and spotted the patrol setting more markers in the hollow on the far side. There were four ShadowClan cats: Nettlesplash, Flarewind, Maplefrost, and Nightmoon.

"Nettlesplash!" Oakflame called to the ShadowClan deputy. "What are you doing here?" All four ShadowClan cats whipped around to face the ThunderClan patrol.

"What do you suppose we're doing?" Nettlesplash mewed insolently.

"We suppose you're trying to steal our territory," Branchtsil hissed. Stormpaw's pelt prickled. He had never seen his mentor so enraged.

"We have our territory and ShadowClan has theirs" Marshtail mewed. "Has Wolfstar forgotten that?"

"That was then," meowed Maplefrost.

"ShadowClan needs more space." Nettlesplash narrowed his eyes at Oakflame. "And ThunderClan is too weak to defend it anyway."

Stormpaw felt a growl rising in his throat. What has happened in the last moon that had made ThunderClan look weak?! Just these four wait. We'll show them just how "weak" ThunderClan is.

His claws sank into the ground. "Get out of our territory!" he snarled at Nettlesplash. Stormpaw knew this wasn't his place to speak. I should let Oakflame take care of this. He's the deputy. He flashed a glance at Branchtail. His mentor's eyes shone with pride, not anger.

Nettlesplash curled his lip. "I don't think so."

Letting out a fearsome screech, Oakflame hurled himself down into the hollow. His first rush landed him on top of Nettlesplash; his claws raked across his shoulder. He writhed under the ThunderClan deputy's weight, his eyes blazing with anger.

Stormpaw caught a glimpse of Marshtail locked in battle with Flarewind, his hind paws battering his belly, while Maplefrost and Nightmoon battled with Branchtail. Stormpaw sprang to help his mentor.

He leaped on top of Nightmoon, gripping the black tom's neck fur in his teeth. Maplefrost bit his scruff in attempt to yank him off her clanmate; Stormpaw lashed out with his hind legs to beat her off. He rolled on the ground in a tangle of fur and mingled scents, unsure which cats were his enemies and which were his clanmates.

Stormpaw managed to throw Maplefrost off him, leaving Branchtail to face Nightmoon. Before he could react, Nettlesplash lunged at Stormpaw, gripping the apprentice's scruff.

Stormpaw wiggled to get free but Neetlesplash's grip wouldn't budge. Thinking quick, Stormpaw turned and struck the ShadowClan deputy across his muzzlec cause him to stumnle back.

"Enough!" Nettlesplash yowled.

Deerspots bit down hard on Maplefrsot's ear and sprang away from her flailing paws. Frostflowers rolled away from Flarewind and came to her paws snarling. Both ShadowClan warriors turned and fled, but Nettlesplash and Nightmoon stood thier ground a few heartbeats longer.

"Don't think you've won, ThunderClan," he spat, his sides heaving. "ShadowClan will set a new border."

"Not in ThunderClan borders," Oakflame retorted. "Now get back to your own territory."

His eyes glaring hatred, Nettlesplash let out a furious hiss before turning to flee after his Clanmate with Nightmoon behind him.

When Oakflame and his patrol returned to camp after renewing the scent markers, they slipped through the thorn tunnel to find Fallowstar standing on the Highledge, with the rest of the Clan gathered below.

"Are we going to attack them?" Mudpelt called.

"Would that be wise?" Rainflight asked the brown warrior. "Are we prepared to fight?"

Oakflame shouldered his way through the clan with Whitepool beside him.

"What is your order, Fallowstar?" Oakflame asked.

"From now on," Fallowstar ordered, "all patrols should look for signs of ShadowClan warriors on our territory."

"And what if we see them trying to set new borders?" Larkwatcher called.

"Let them." Fallowstar answered.

"We're just let them set their borders in our territory?!" Blackstripe hissed. "I agree with Mudpelt. Let's attack their camp!"

Whitepool flicked the dark tom with his tail. "That is Fallowstar's order." The medicine cat mewed. "If this is what he thinks is best then you will obey him."

Blackstripe's only reply was an unintelligible low mew. Fallowstar flicked his tail to dismiss the clan. Stormpaw made his way to the apprentice den, his mind swirling.

Why would Fallowstar let ShadowClan set new brorders?