Spark looked around, all her senses on highest alert, as she prowled the streets of Twolegplace. It had been seven moons since her birth and her family's death.

She gritted her teeth as the rat she had been chasing eluded her. Again. It ducked under a low fence and she thrust her head through, spitting, as it raced free.

Spark growled, taking her head out. She licked a cut on her leg. It was throbbing, but not the worst pain she'd felt before. The worst pain was Fire dying.

She shivered as she thought of that moment. It had been horrible, even though she had been very young.

Spark's ears twitched and she spun around just to see something move in the shadowy depths of the forest. She stared into the dark trees that blotted out the sun. Spark was sure something had moved.

Interested, she started forward to move into the trees when two cats appeared from behind the trunks, where they had been waiting.

"Go away, kittypet!" the brown she-cat growled, thrusting her muzzle into Spark's face.

"We don't usually attack kittypets," the black she-cat said calmly. "But if you try to come in further, we will chase you out."

Spark looked the forest cats into the eye calmly. Growing up on the streets of Twolegplace, she had heard of the vicious forest cats that hunted for real prey and defended their borders very carefully.

"One," Spark said logically. "I'm not a kittypet. Two, I'm not even in your territory. I was just moving towards it. Who knows what I was doing?"

The brown cat looked stumped. "Sorry," she muttered.

The black she-cat flicked her tail and both cats disappeared into the trees.

The forest seemed like a mysterious and strong place. Spark wished dearly that she could join them but she, a street cat, could not match the powerful forest cats.

A bush behind her rustled and she looked around to see a thickset, brown tom with white patches and amber eyes.

"Who're you?" Spark demanded, fluffing out her fur.

"I'm Claw," the tom drawled proudly. "And I want to extend you an invitation. I haven't met many she-cats who can scare away the forest cats."

Spark let her guard down slightly and glared at him. "I don't team up with anyone!" she hissed.

"I bring a peace offering," Claw smirked, stepping to the side, revealing a squirrel.

Spark's belly grumbled and she glanced at the food. It smelled delicious. "Fine, just this once," she huffed.

Claw panted happily and trotted to her side, bringing the squirrel with him. Spark bit into the warm body. It was freshly killed. Within moments, Spark had devoured the squirrel. It had been one of the best prey creatures she had tasted, following a large rabbit that a patrol of forest cats hadn't managed to catch.

Claw purred, suddenly nuzzling up to her side. Spark stiffened, unused to being cared for. It felt good.

Spark relaxed, letting the brown tom lick and groom her fur. It was good to have a friend.

12 moons later...

Spark leaned into a brick wall, sighing. She hadn't seen Claw in over three moons. They had become firm friends, yet in the last couple moons they hadn't met.

Spark growled, unhappy with herself. She didn't let herself realize it, but she missed Claw. He had become a partner, a huntmate, a friend. The stupid cat. He had betrayed her. He was a traitor.

She kicked the wall angrily, glaring up at the human house. Stupid humans. They had all the ever needed without sparing anything for the street cats. The forest, like usual, caught her eye. It was still too formidable to approach, yet interesting. Stupid forest cats. They didn't spare anything either.

"Whatcha doing?"

Spark couldn't believe what she was hearing. Slowly, she turned around.

"You stupid tom!" she cried, throwing herself into him. "I thought you were captured or killed!"

Indeed, Claw had snuck up on her.

"Three moons!" she raged at him. "Three moons and you just return like that? I should attack you right on the spot!"

She was still in denial that she loved Claw. It was too early.

"I have an offer for you..." Claw said in a monotone voice.

"You're not Claw," Spark spat at him. "My Claw doesn't do that!"

Too late, she realized she'd said my. Embarrassed, she turned her head away.

"A tom wants you to join his Clan." Claw told her in the same voice.

"Clan?" Spark tilted her head.

Wasn't that what the forest cats called themselves? Perhaps Claw had remembered after all. Perhaps he had remembered her interest in them.

She agreed a little hesitantly. Spark followed Claw to a clearing where she was introduced to her leader and two other cats, Nettle and Razor.

After some arguing, Spark slept with Nettle for the night. Sleepily, she wondered what Clan life was about.

I'm truly going to know now. I'll never have to suffer again, and I'll never fear again.

Spark woke the next morning at Demonclaw's yowl. She rolled out of her nest, yawning. It was barely dawn, she realized.

Spark padded outside to see Demonclaw already perched on a high rock with Nettle, Razor and Claw sitting before him.

"You're late," Demonclaw hissed at her.

Spark shrugged, choosing a warm spot in the sun. She twitched her ears and flicked her tail, signalling she was ready. Demonclaw growled lowly before starting.

"Our most important goal for the next few sunrises is to recruit members. Anyone you know that wants to join will be fine, as long as they swear loyalty to me. I will also be introducing Trusted Warriors. As you know, this Clan is called RevengeClan. You must become a Trusted Warrior to be able to have revenge." Demonclaw drawled, pacing on the rock.

Spark perked up. Revenge did sound sweet...

Over the next few days, Spark strived her hardest to earn the rank of Trusted Warrior. She brought back the most prey when she went hunting, tore the most kittypet pelts when she was on guard duty and brought back the most members when she was tasked with recruitment. She had found Ruthless, a black she-cat, Bloodmoon, an orange-red tabby tom and Water That Trickles Off Cliff.

While Ruthless and Bloodmoon both opted as normal warriors, Water had chosen to become their first medicine cat. She had a knowledge of herbs that was unheard of and Spark was greatly impressed.

"Let all cats gather here!" Demonclaw's yowl made her fur bristle and spark in excitement.

Spark followed Dark, one of Claw's recruits, to the perch where Demonclaw sat, his bright eyes surveying the cats below him. Nettle had recruited Leaf In The Wind before she had died from a fox's claws. Dark had killed the fox.

"We have enough cats," he rumbled softly, pride in his voice. "And now, I will appoint some Trusted Warriors."

Will it be me?

Spark hoped that he would pick her. The black tom was strong, even though he was missing one of his eyes. She slid a sideways glance at Dark. Spark admired Dark for his intelligence and cunning. He had cornered a fox and tore it into pieces before she could send for help.

Secretly, she fancied him, and hoped he fancied her.

He doesn't.

Spark told herself firmly. I've seen the way he looks at her. He won't like me.

"Our first Trusted Warrior is Claw!" Demonclaw roared.

Of course. Spark thought bitterly. Demonclaw's favourite.

"Our second Trusted Warrior is Ruthless!" her leader continued.

Soon, Bloodmoon and Razor had also been gifted the role of Trusted Warrior.

What about me? I helped bring Bloodmoon and Ruthless into the Clan. I also brought our medicine cat, who saved lives!

"There are only going to be five today, and our last Trusted Warrior is Spark!"

Spark shook her head, in denial. What?

Dark looked at her for the first time since he came, respect in his eyes.

Maybe I can have a future with him.

Then he looked away towards her.

Spark's fur fluffed out angrily and she held her breath until she could get herself under control.

For Dark's love for Leaf was clear in his eyes.