New Members

Three cats were travelling through the forest, two toms and a she-cat. One of the toms, a long furred black cat with light calico and white markings, was walking farther behind them, due to a limp. The oldest of the trio, an almost white she-cat with pinkish-ginger tabby markings, was leading them across the thunderpath. No monsters were crossing, and she deemed it safe to cross. The other tom, a long furred calico and white tom, was purposely trailing behind the she-cat to help his limping brother.

The tom called up to the she-cat, "Cherry! Do you know where we're heading?"

The she-cat, now known as Cherry, looked back at her son and shook her head. "Unfortunately, Almond, I don't, but I heard from several kittypets that there was a group of cats here. They said that they were a 'Clan' of some sorts."

The limping cat glared at his mother. "How do you know they'll show hospitality towards us?"

Cherry returned the glared equally. "That's a risk I'm willing to take to keep us safe, Night, and besides. You know most of the aspects to healing wounds and diseases. Surely, they must need a healer."

The cat, now known as Night, growled at the word healer. He turned his neck to glare at his hind leg. His limping hind leg. Night remembered the day the accident happened clearly. He and Almond were just about eight moons old. They were exploring a new territory their mother had taken them to. Night's leg was caught in a beaver trap... His mother and brother had saved him, but his leg was forever crippled... It was moons before he could walk again. Night knew that he would never become a fighter, or a hunter, so he was forced to learn the way of healing. And he was very skilled at it. He wished things could change, but that chances of that happening---

Night was pulled out of his thoughts by yowling and hissing. Cherry and Almond has their backs arched and were hissing at 3 cats ahead of them. One was a black and white she-cat, who seemed by the leader, another was a brown tabby tom, and the third, who was also the smallest, was a calico she-cat. The other three were in the small posture as Cherry and Almond.

Cherry snarled, "Who are you?"

The black and white she-cat glared. "I should ask you the same thing. Why are you trespassing on RoseClan territory?"

Almond immediately dropped his hostile attitude. "So the rumors are true! There really is a Clan here! We just left a twolegplace a few sunrises away, looking for you! We were wondering if we could join you guys!"

Cherry just chuckled and sighed and nodded. "Yes, we did want to join your Clan."

The small calico blinked happily. "New members? Alright! Echostar, we have to let them join!"

The cat now known as Echostar sighed softly, "Calm down, Berrypaw." She turned to the brown tabby. "What do you think Thornstrike?"

Thornstrike eyed the three cats, and nodded. "So long as they don't flirt with Goldenheart, I'm okay."

Echostar rolled her eyes. "So where are you?"

Cherry stepped forward. "My name is Cherry, and those two are my sons, Almond and Night. Night is the one with a limp, he's a very good healer."

Berrypaw smiled. "A healer? That means Silverpaw will have a mentor! She doesn't know much about healing, and she could learn from him!"

Echostar looked at Berrypaw sternly. "Berrypaw. Settle down."

Berrypaw nodded, but her eyes still held excitement. Echostar turned back to Cherry. "You say you're willing to join RoseClan?"

Cherry and Almond nodded. Night did not.

Echostar looked at Night. "What about you?" She walked towards him. "Do you not wish to join us? You will be well cared for; as a Clan we all help each other out. And you'll helpus out. You'll be a Medicine Cat, you'll be one of the most respected cats in our Clan, and our apprentice, Silverpaw, only knows how to heal battle wounds, not sickness."

Night glared at her. "But that's all I'll do... I'll being caring for the weak and the sick."

Almond walked over to Night and stood beside Echostar, sadness in his gaze on his brother. "That's a good thing. You'll be helping cats who don't know the skills you know."

Night gave a small smile, but reluctance was in his gaze... He had still wanted to be a Warrior, like his mother and brother, and, he guessed, like Echostar and Thornstrike. He nodded.

Echostar grinned. "Excellent!" She turned to Berrypaw. "Berrypaw, go back to camp and tell Goldenheart and Silverpaw the news!"

The young calico beamed and ran off, in direction of the camp.

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"Goldenheart! Silverpaw!"

A small silver she-cat looked up from the vole she was eating, a golden tabby poked her head out of the Warriors den, a large bush seated against a boulder.

Silverpaw smiled at the sight of her best friend. "What is it, Berrypaw? Where is Echostar and Thornstrike?"

"We found three cats!"

Goldenheart tilted her head to the side. "So? Are they enemies?"

Berrypaw shook her head. "Nope! Cats who are gonna join RoseClan!"

Goldenheart sighed. "You know... A group of five cats isn't really a Clan..."

Berrypaw shrugged, "Who cares! Soon RoseClan will be a strong Clan! We'll rule the forest!"

A rustling at the camp entrance interrupted whatever Silverpaw was planning to say, but a tom's voice came in. "We already do, Berrypaw, we're the only cats in the forest... Plus with Echostar's old reputation, we won't be bothered."

Echostar's voice soon followed. "Thornstrike." It was laced with anger. "You know I hate my past... I regret those actions..." For a moment she sounded broken. All five cats were now in the camp.

Cherry padded forward towards Echostar. "Your past? What do you mean?"

Echostar didn't answer. "Goldenheart, Silverpaw, these are Almond, Cherry, and Night. Night is the one with a limp. They are the newest members of RoseClan."

Goldenheart smirked. "What about names?"

Almond looked confused. "What about names? We already have them..."

Silverpaw looked at him. "You have names, yes, but not proper Warrior names... StarClan won't accept that."

Cherry nodded, Almond smiled, and Night just scowled. Cherry and Almond were open to new things, Night was more reluctant.

Echostar smiled. "Excellent!" The black and white she-cat jumped on top of a large rock near the side of the clearing, a small tunnel next to it.

"Cherry, Almond, Night, step forward please," Echostar began, "You have been accepted as new Warriors of RoseClan, and we are thankful. Cherry, from this day forward, you shall have the new name of Cherrywind. Almond, from this day forward, you shall have the new name of Almonddash. You two shall join us among the Warrior rank. Night, from this day forward, you shall have the new name of Nightflame. Due to your unfortunate limp, you shall take the role of Medicine Cat. You shall teach the ways of healing to Silverpaw."

"Cherrywind! Almonddash! Nightflame!" Berrypaw, Silverpaw, Goldenheart, and Thornstrike called out. Almonddash grinned, along with Cherrywind; Nightflame was giving a small smile, though his eyes read bitterness... He had no wish to be a Medicine Cat.

Echostar waved her tail to silence. "Most of you are aware that we do not have a deputy, or a second-in-command as others would say. I am granting this honor upon Almonddash. He may of just entered our ranks, but I do believe he would make an honorable and trustworthy one. Almonddash," she looked down at him, "do you accept my offer?"

Almonddash couldn't believe what he was hearing. Deputy. He had only just met Echostar, and she was asking him to be deputy! Why not Goldenheart, or Thornstrike? They had known her longer, and were more experienced! Shaking eagerly, he nodded. "Y-yes, Echostar! I accepted your offer of being RoseClan's deputy."

Echostar smiled down at the tom. "Then StarClan, hear me out. I say that Almonddash is now the deputy of RoseClan."

The whole Clan (minus Echostar and Almonddash) shouted out, "Almonddash! Almonddash!"