Standards

Freekit is a lean black tom with bright golden eyes. He is looking forward to becoming a warrior of ThunderClan- and then the leader, if he's lucky.  But, despite something holding him far back, there is something pushing him even further. It is Freekit's job to figure what both of these are and to use them to his advantages.

Prologue

 * A lone spirit walked in StarClan, heading towards the Stone of Rebirth.


 * "Rushclaw!" a cat called. "Wait for me, will you?"


 * Rushclaw turned to see an old friend of his, named Eaglewing. "Sure, I will, if you manage to catch me."


 * Eaglewing purred and leaped from a distance, aiming for Rushclaw. But Rushclaw dove out of the way, rolling across the soft grass to escape the fun-filled attack.


 * Eaglewing tried again, making Rushclaw annoyed. He let Eaglewing land, confused, and then he snapped, "We're going to fade if we don't hurry."


 * Eaglewing nodded and stepped back, allowing Rushclaw to stand and shake the dust off his pelt.


 * Together they raced through the forest, skidding to a halt in front of the largest stone Rushclaw had ever seen.


 * A cat slipped out from behind it. "Hello Rushclaw," it mewed in a calm, smooth tone. "Hello, Eaglewing. I've been expecting you."


 * Rushclaw glanced sideways at Eaglewing, who stared back.


 * "I see you would like to be reborn?" the strange cat asked, phrasing it as if it was a question. But it didn't give time to answer, either. "I have instructions for you to follow, and you two had better follow them carefully."


 * "What's your name?" Eaglewing's voice had fear tinged in it, as if there was something to be afraid of.


 * "Yellowfang," the cat snapped. "I was the ThunderClan medicine cat before I died, and I have chosen not to be reborn."


 * Eaglewing nodded.


 * "Both of you will put your right forepaw on top of my right forepaw, one at a time," Yellowfang instructed. "Then, you will make a choice."


 * "What kind of choice?" Rushclaw questioned.


 * She gestured to four small stones, each with a symbol on it. "You will choose what Clan you will live in," Yellowfang intoned. "The four stones represent ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, and WindClan in turn."


 * "How do we choose?" Eaglewing asked Yellowfang.


 * "You will press your right forepaw to it," Yellowfang replied. "Any more questions?"


 * "What if we do something we regret in our chosen life?" Rushclaw asked. "What if something happens that we never wanted?"


 * "Live with it," Yellowfang snapped irritably. "No more questions," she added as Eaglewing opened his mouth.


 * Eaglewing stepped forward. "I'll go first."


 * Yellowfang stretched out her right forepaw and Eaglewing put his on top.


 * Rushclaw padded forward and placed his right paw on Yellowfang's, after Eaglewing had removed his. He felt a sharp pain and pulled back.


 * Eaglewing was standing in front of the four stones when Rushclaw turned around.


 * "Should I go to WindClan again?" he asked Rushclaw softly.


 * Rushclaw shrugged and pressed his paw to the ThunderClan stone.


 * "I'm finally free," he whispered.


 * Eaglewing, the giant rock, and the four stones faded away, and the spirit knew that he would not see them again.

Two nights later...