The house cat Sammy dreams of an independent life, far from his safe home with the two-legged ones. When he meets the young tomcat Graypaw, his life changes forever. The tomcat tells tales of a clan of wild cats, of life and freedom in the forest. Sammy takes the big leap and joins the wild cats of the ThunderClan. The clan has set up its camp deep in the woods. Here, the rules are harsh: four clans fight for hunting rights, food, and territory. Little Sammy is initially regarded with suspicion, but soon he rises to become a clan cat with a new name, Firepaw.