The camp was not what Flamekit had expected. There were a bunch of smaller dens fit for one cat, and a prey pile stood in the center of the small clearing. There was a tall rock, and the huge leader's den made Flamekit jealous. Cats paced, their tails drooping, in the clearing.

"Silentwing!"Gloomystar called. An owl glided over.

"Yes, my lord?" it asked, bowing. Flamekit whimpered and huddled behind Gloomystar.

"Flamekit, meet Silentwing, one of my advisors," Gloomystar growled. "You can come out now. Silentwing will lead you to your den. I will appoint you a guard to guard you in the night."Gloomystar called out another owl's name. "Stealthfeather! You will be Flamekit's bodyguard."

"Yes!" another owl flew over. Flamekit had an urge to run away. RUNAWAY!! The voice screamed in his mind. NO! He returned and followed Silentwing, Gloomystar and Stealthfeather. They twisted and turned between other small dens and came to a stop at a den. 

"Try it out!" Gloomystar nudged him in gently. Flamekit looked around, wide-eyed. There was a tiny pool of water at the edge of the den, and a clean, warm nest in the middle. He curled up in the nest. 

It was nearly night. The cats were ushered back to their dens in a flurry of feathers by their bodyguards, and the owls stood bravely outside the dens to fend off anything that wanted to come close. 

Flamekit woke up with a clear mind. A wing had shaken him awake, and the scary image of the owl bodyguard appeared before his eyes. When Flamekit went outside, Gloomystar raised his tail to stop him. "When are you going to reach six moons of age?"He asked briskly.

"I-uh-I reached five moons of age. " Flamekit squeaked, shrinking beneath his pelt. 

"Wait till you're six. For now, I want you to go to Shadowfoot and see what you can do for her."Gloomystar hissed. "If you don't go, I'll ask Silentwing to eat you!"

"Eek! Okay!" Flamekit gasped, tripping over his own paws as he tried to run. 

"You're going the wrong way!" Stealthfeather called after him. "Follow me!"

"Yes, yes, yes, yes!!" Flamekit pelted behind him, swerving to avoid crashing into Gloomystar. 

Is this a place of torture? Flamekit yowled silently as he ran. Whatever place this is, I don't trust it!

I wanna get out of here!