“This is where your story is different from Graystripe’s,” Bramblestar told her. “He was a grown warrior when he switched Clans, not an apprentice. You chose to leave ThunderClan right before your warrior ceremony rather than become a ThunderClan warrior. Twigpaw, I want to believe that you will be loyal to ThunderClan, but I think it will be the right thing for you to complete a short apprenticeship here . . . a kind of probation, to make sure you really want to be a ThunderClan warrior.”

At first Twigpaw felt hot anger gathering in her belly. She had already completed a ThunderClan apprenticeship, and then another after she left to join SkyClan. She had assumed that Bramblestar would make her a warrior right away.

More apprentice work? she thought. I bet that no cat who ever lived has ever shifted as many ticks off the elders’ pelts!

But Twigpaw knew she had to control her anger. She was too grateful for the chance that the Clan leader was offering her, and she knew that she had no choice. Leafstar would never welcome her back.

Besides, she reflected, what’s a few more moons of apprenticeship, compared to the whole of the rest of my life in ThunderClan?

“Okay, Bramblestar,” she agreed. “It’ll be good to work with Ivypool again.” Relief was spreading through her—even if she had to be an apprentice again, at least Bramblestar wasn’t going to send her away.

“Oh, no, Ivypool can’t be your mentor,” Bramblestar meowed. “She’s in the nursery now, about to have the kits she’s expecting with Fernsong. No, I’ll have to find a different cat for you. . . .”

Twigpaw waited, her paws itching with impatience. Cherryfall might be a good mentor. Or maybe Whitewing . . .

“Yes . . .” Bramblestar let out a purr of satisfaction. “I think you’ll do very well with Sparkpelt.”

Oh, StarClan, no! Twigpaw barely stopped herself from speaking the words aloud. I know Sparkpelt doesn’t want me here. Then she realized that Bramblestar might already be testing her. “Fine,” she mewed, trying to sound enthusiastic. “I promise I’ll try my hardest.”

“Good.” Bramblestar rose to his paws and beckoned with his tail for Twigpaw to follow him out onto the Highledge and down the tumbled rocks into the camp. Most of the Clan was still waiting, and a murmur of anticipation rose from them as their leader appeared with Twigpaw behind him. They gathered around in a wide circle with Bramblestar and Twigpaw at the center; then Bramblestar called for Finpaw to join them.

“Cats of ThunderClan,” their leader began. “As you can see, Twigpaw has returned to us. I have decided that she should continue her apprenticeship here in ThunderClan.”

Glancing around, Twigpaw was relieved to see that most of her Clanmates looked happy to welcome her back, though she could see uncertainty in the eyes of some of them.

“She’ll still be an apprentice?” Dewnose muttered.