CHAPTER 4

               “River,” Sky said to an old white tom. “Will you tell Flame our history?”

               “Fine,” River said. “Once, there were three Packs. There were us, RedCats Pack, and TreeCats Pack. We lived beyond that wall up there, until a bunch of rogues drove us out. They eventually formed five Clans; SkyClan, ThunderClan, WindClan, RiverClan, and ShadowClan. SkyClan was driven out of their homes when the no-tails built their dens.”

               “No-tails?” I interrupted. “What are no-tails?”

               “Tall pink creatures that walk on two legs,” River answered.

               “Oh, you mean Twolegs,” I said.

               “Anyways,” the old tom continued. “They asked us to give us some of our territory. And we refused saying, ‘You once drove us out. We will do the same to you.’ They turned around and left our territory. Stay here. Don’t join SkyClan.”

               “Just tell me more about your Pack,” I meowed, shifting uncomfortably.

               “Our leader gets nine lives. The leader receives their nine lives by going to The Stream of Shining Starlight. Our ancestors are called the FreeCats Pack and they are the ones who give our leader their nine lives. Our herb cat goes to the stream to receive signs from the FreeCats,” River meowed.

               “Thanks, River,” Sky said from behind Flame. “Now, we’ll teach you to hunt.”

               “Am I the only one who slept in that cave last night?” Flame asked.

               “No, that’s where the trainees sleep. I let you sleep extra today because you looked exhausted, so that’s why no one was there when you woke up. We are training our trainees to become soldiers. I’ll be your teacher. There is Cream,” Sky said, pointing to a white tom. “He’s our Second, and he’ll become leader when I lose my final life.”

               “We’ll go on a hunting patrol with Night and Leaf, and we can take Berry with us. She’s Leaf’s trainee,” Sky meowed.

               “Night! Leaf!” Sky called. “Come with us to hunt! Leaf, could you bring Berry too?”

               “Sure,” Leaf said, trotting off.

               A few moments later, she returned with a brown and white she-cat with sparkling yellow eyes. “Hi!” Berry said happily. “You’re the new trainee, Flame, right?”

               Flame nodded. “Let’s go now! Come on, hurry up Leaf!” Berry said excitedly.

               “We’re going as fast as we’re going to go,” Leaf grumbled.

               “You’re going to love hunting!” Berry exclaimed. “Come, follow me. We can get ahead of these slow old cats.”

               Flame raced after the young trainee, ready to learn how to hunt.