CHAPTER 3

               They led me along the wall until I thought my paws were going to fall off. It was nearly sundown when they stopped and dragged a wooden Twoleg thing off to the side. It revealed a tunnel that led underground and Night crept into it. “Go on,” Leaf whispered in my ear.

               I slid down after Night, and soon my paws hit the ground. It was made of a hard stone. I couldn’t see anything in the dark. “Night! Leaf! Gray! Frost! Wind!” I called.

               I heard a thud behind me and smelled Leaf. “Shh!” she meowed. “Follow Night’s scent.”

               I pressed my nose against the ground. Night’s scent led forward for a while, and then abruptly curved to the right in a half-circle. It led left, and then right until finally I detected light ahead. I stepped into it and looked up. A huge circle in the roof way above my head let in warm sunlight. I heard the questioning meows of cats and I saw many cats lying in the sunlight. “Night, who have you brought into our camp?” a black and white she-cat who was probably Sky asked.

               “We found him on our territory, Sky,” Night answered.

               “Who are you?” Sky asked me.

               “I am Flame, and I am traveling on a long journey to find SkyClan,” I told Sky.

               “He wishes to stay with us for a few nights,” Night said.

               “Is he alone?” she asked.

               “Yes,” Night said.

               “Then he may stay,” Sky said. “Flame, welcome to the SunCats Pack.”

               “Thank you, Sky,” I said. “Where may I sleep?”

               “Come,” she said.

               Sky led me out of the sunlight and into a small cave in the wall. She gestured with her tail to a small nest filled with soft moss. “Thanks,” I meowed gratefully, stifling a yawn.

               “Rest,” Sky said. “Tomorrow, you will start your training.”