Into the Wild/Chapter 3

==Chapter description==
:Rusty is dreaming of hunting a mouse again, as he has many nights prior. Rusty wakes up, crawls out of his nest, and takes a drink from his water bowl and thinks about whether or not he could leave his kittypet life behind. He goes out into the garden, where he meets Smudge. Smudge asks about the forest, and Rusty tells him that he met some wild cats there. Smudge is shocked, and even more so when Rusty tells him that he has been asked to join the Clan. Rusty then tells Smudge that he is going to accept. Smudge tries to dissuade Rusty from joining the Clan, but to no avail. The two then spend their last morning together remembering their past.
:Rusty then goes to meet Lionheart. Lionheart asks Rusty if he is alone; Rusty realizes that Graypaw and Bluestar are not with him. Lionheart then introduces another wild cat who comes into sight, Whitestorm. Rusty fears that it might be a trap, but then realizes that the two cats are honest. Lionheart leads the way back to camp; at one point they cross a stream, something Rusty has never done before. As they get close to the camp, Whitestorm tells Rusty to scent the air. Rusty smells lots of cats, to which Lionheart tells him that soon he will be able to name all the scents. As they enter camp, Rusty notices lots of cats sharing tongues. Lionheart also points out the nursery, where the queens and their kits live. He also tells Rusty that the most important thing to learn about living in the Clan is that loyalty to the Clan is very important.
:Bluestar then approaches them, purring that Rusty has joined them. Whitestorm replies that Lionheart was convinced that he was not going to join ThunderClan. Bluestar asks Whitestorm what he thinks of Rusty, and the large white tom explains that despite Rusty's size, he kept up on the journey to ThunderClan's camp very well. She then goes to announce his arrival to the Clan. Bluestar tells her Clan that he has come to be an apprentice, and the Clan shout out, wondering where he is from. One cat yowls out that Rusty is a kittypet, and that he should not be allowed to be a Clan cat. Lionheart identifies the tabby as Longtail. Longtail challenges Rusty, shouting that his bell would attract attention. Rusty unexpectedly attacks Longtail, and the two fight, giving Rusty the chance to defend his honor against the Clan cats. Longtail tries to strangle Rusty with his collar, but the collar snaps, ending the fight. Bluestar jumps down from the Highrock, announcing that Rusty has lost his collar and will become an apprentice. She tells him that he has fought well, and then announces to the Clan that he will now be called Firepaw because of his fiery-colored pelt.
:Graypaw then comes up to greet Firepaw, telling him that he fought well, and spoiled Longtail's good looks. Firepaw replies that he put off a good fight and the Clan calls his name. Graypaw says that Longtail probably headed to Spottedleaf's den when Firepaw asks, explaining that she is their medicine cat. He is cut off as Darkstripe approaches, who scornfully says that Firepaw was lucky and calls him a kittypet. Graypaw says that Darkstripe is neither young or pretty, but before Firepaw can agree, Smallear lets out a warning yowl and soon after, Ravenpaw comes barreling into the camp, staggering on his paws. Graypaw explains that Ravenpaw is Tigerclaw's apprentice and that they went on a mission to RiverClan. Ravenpaw scrambles up to the Highrock and announces that Redtail is dead.
==Characters==
===Major===
*Rusty/Firepaw
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Important events==
===Deaths===
*Redtail
===Ceremonies===
==Errors==
*Spottedleaf is mentioned as young and pretty, while Darkstripe is not young; however, she is older than Darkstripe.
==Trivia==
*This chapter aligns with part one of The Prophecies Begin, volume 1.
==Notes and references==
de:In die Wildnis/Kapitel 3es:En territorio salvaje/Capítulo 3fr:Retour à l’état sauvage/Chapitre 3nl:De wildernis in/Hoofdstuk 3
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:Into the Wild
Category:The Prophecies Begin arc