Thin walked back into the thicket, the other cats trailing behind her. She jumped onto the branch. "Everyone gather beneath the branch that I don't know what to call yet!"
Thin's group gathered beneath the branch. "The three groups have decided we need to name our groups. Fade and Wind have gone to ask their groups about names. I have called us together for the same reason. We need to choose a name for our group."
"What about Thicket?" Wave suggested.
"Thicket Berries?" asked White.
"Maybe the Thicket group," Pine said helpfully.
"Or Forest Berry," Maple said.
Thin nodded. "I've decided a name. Our name will be..." She paused for effect. "...Thicket Group."
The cats below her cheered. "Thicket Group!"
Thin smiled and said, "Pine also believes that Storm-flight is ready to be a true fighter. Storm-flight, step up."
Storm-flight stepped forward.
"Storm-flight, you've been trained to hunt and fight and have grown to be a true cat. You are ready to be a fighter. I, leader of this new group, welcome you as a true cat and fighter of Thicket Group." Thin jumped down from the branch and touched her nose to his. She was kind of making it up as she went. "Storm-flight, as leader of this group I welcome you to Thicket Group as a true cat and the very first fighter to be made. You will defend the group with your life and hunt with the other fighters like a true cat." Thin finished and lifted her head.
Storm-flight dipped his head. "Thank you, Thin-tail."
Thin jumped back onto the branch. "I will now give you a new nickname as Storm is already one of our cats. From now on, your nickname will be Silver. If you have problems I will gladly change it."
"I do not," Silver said.
"Then everyone is dismissed as there is nothing more to address."
Thin leaped off the branch.
***
"Hey, Thin- I mean, Thin-tail," Wave said, walking into the leader's hole.
"Hello, Wave," Thin said.
"I just wanted to congradulate you on becoming the new- and first- leader of Thicket Group."
"Thank you."
"I'm sure you'll be a great leader. You made up that whole thing with Stor- Silver, didn't you?"
Thin laughed. "That I did."
"It was great." Wave sat next to her. "Why are you down here alone?"
"I'm just a little tired. White can handle things."
"She can. But you've been sleeping a lot lately. Come out, maybe we can go scout or something. If that's ok I mean."
"Sure," Thin said. "We should send out scouting groups regularly."
Wave dipped his head, trying to hide his excitement. "Ok Thin. I mean Thin-tail. Tell me when you're ready."
"I just have to talk to White about it and then we can go."
Wave lit up with excitement.
Thin got up and walked with Wave to White. "If you haven't sent out a scouting group then me and Wave will go scout along the border with Fade's group."
"I sent out a after mid-day one but not a sunset group yet."
"Then me and Wave will go scout. You, as co-leader, are in charge while I'm away."
"Of course," she said, dipping her head respectfully.
Wave followed Thin to the entrance of the thicket.
***
Not much happened. But as they walked to the thicket they caught the scent of Fade's clan on Thicket Group territory. Thin growled softly. As they went back to camp they began to hear yowling and hissing.
It sounded like fighting. From inside the thicket.
Thin rushed to the entrance with Wave close behind her. She burst into the camp to see Fade's group attacking Thicket Group. Thin hissed. "Stop!" she yowled. "Don't fight!"
Fade hissed as some of her fighters hesitated, allowing Cloud to pin one down. "Don't listen to her!" Fade jumped off of Silver and ran towards Thin. She jumped at Thin and Thin dodged. Her claws were sheathed. Fighting wasn't the way to solve any problem. Especially, when it made Fade's group more in trouble then they already wete.
"Fighting isn't a solution!" Thin said as Fade leaped at her again.
Thin dodged as Fade yowled, "Your cats attacked first!"
"Thicket Group, back off!" Thin called. The group obeyed but furious fighters just attacked them again.
"You were in our camp!" Silver hissed.
"We were here to discuss the group names with your leader!"
Thin hissed and jumped on the branch. "Cats of both Fade's group and mine, this seems to have been a misunderstanding. My fighter attacked thinking the camp was being threatened when Fade, all you wanted to do was talk to me though I was away at the time," Thin yowled for the whole of both groups to hear. "Now, Fade, if everything is settled down now, you may come with me to my hole to discuss things with me.
The cat hissed. "All I wanted to say was that my group is now Stream Group and Wind's group is now Clear Group. Come on, Stream Group!" Fade walked out the entrance.
Thin jumped down from the branch. She saw Cloud laying in the middle of the thicket, not moving. She ran over to him, Chestnut was already there.
"It's fine, Thin-tail," Chestnut said. "He's still breathing but he won't move. Silver, help me get him to the healing hole."
Chestnut and Silver dragged Cloud to the healing hole. Thin realized with horror that her dream came true and Cloud really might be unconscious... Forever.