Where am I? Casper thought as she wandered through the forest. I have been walking all morning. Where are all the other dogs that are supposed to live in this forest? Suddenly she saw a flash of orange. "Who is there?" she called out.

"What are you doing on my territory?" a voice growled.

"I need help," Casper called out not knowing if the voice was coming from in front of her or behind her.

"Go easy on her, Flameclaw. She's only a doggiepet." A gentler voice said.

A he-dog came out of the bushes followed by two she-dogs then said, "Who are you?"

"I-I'm Casper," she replied.

"What are you doing on our territory?" the he-dog continued.

"I'm lost." Casper said, tears forming in her eyes.

One of the she-dogs stepped forward. "You are making her cry, Flameclaw." The she-dog said. Then she turned to Casper and said "I'm Blackfur. This is Flameclaw, and Wolfpaw. I hope Flameclaw didn't scare you too much,"

Casper looked at Flameclaw and saw the look in his eyes change. "No, he didn't scare me that badly." She said.

"Good," Flameclaw said in a gentler voice.

Casper looked at her paws then said, "Could you help me?"

"Sure," Flameclaw said.

"I need somewhere to stay" Casper said.

"Why?" Wolfpaw asked.

"I'm expecting pups." Casper explained to the young she-dog.

"You can come to our camp," Flameclaw said.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Blackfur asked.

"Why would it not be?" Flameclaw asked.

"Stealstar might not like that," Blackfur said.

"He'll be fine with it," Flameclaw said. "Casper, follow us." And the four set off deeper into the forest.

When they got to their camp Casper was amazed at how many dogs could live together in that space and get along. Flameclaw led Casper to a rock at one end of the clearing and said to her, "this is the leader's den," then he turned to the screen of ivy and said, "Stealstar, it's Flameclaw, may I come in?"

"Yes, come in." a voice said from inside the rock. Flameclaw went through the screen of ivy and Casper caught a glimpse of a silver dog sitting inside a cave in the rock. "How is my deputy doing?" the voice that welcomed Flameclaw said.

"Fine, but I need to tell you that I brought a doggiepet to the camp" Flameclaw said.

"Well, bring this doggiepet in." the voice said.

Flameclaw poked his head through the ivy and said, "Come in," and Casper did as she was told. "Stealstar, this is Casper. Casper, this is Stealstar," Flameclaw said when Casper was completely in the cave.

The silver he-dog took one look at Casper and said, "You did the right thing. She would not have lasted much longer in the forest,"

"I knew you would be fine with it," Flameclaw said.

"Well, get Casper to the nursery," Stealstar said, dismissing Flameclaw.

"Yes, Stealstar," Flameclaw said and led Casper out of the leader's den and into another den. "This is the nursery," Flameclaw said and turned to a Black and white She-dog that was nursing five healthy pups. "This is Ravenheart and her pups, Sunpup, Treepup, Barkpup, Thistlepup, and Moonpup." He said.

"Hi," Ravenheart said. "You can lie next to me,"

"Thank you," Casper said.

"What is your name?" Ravenheart asked.

"Casper," She replied.

"Where are you from?" Ravenheart asked.

"I used to live with Twolegs," Casper said.

"I have to go," Flameclaw said. "I'll come back later to check on you." Then Flameclaw left the nursery.

"So, do you like our camp?" Ravenheart asked, but Casper was thinking about something else. "Are you okay?" Ravenheart asked when Casper didn't answer.

"Yes, I'm fine," Casper said after a while.

"Good," Ravenheart said.

"Why was Flameclaw suddenly so gentle with me?" Casper asked.

"I don't know what you are talking about," Ravenheart said.

"Out in the forest, at first Flameclaw was protective over his territory and didn't care if I was scared but then he suddenly stared speaking gently to me and he acted like he actually cared about me," Casper said.

"Usually, he is only gentle with pups, she-dogs and sick dogs," Ravenheart said. "He cares a lot about this pack, especially the queens, because without queens this pack would die out. That's probably why he was so gentle with you, because you are a queen."

"No he-dog has ever cared about me that much," Casper said.

"If you do join this pack, every dog will care about you like you are there sister," Ravenheart said.

Then Stealstar's voice came from the main clearing. "Let every dog able their catch their own prey join here for a pack meeting," he called.

"That is the call for a pack meeting," Ravenheart said. "We better get out there."

"Okay," Casper said followed Ravenheart out of the nursery.

Casper noticed that Flameclaw was the only dog sitting at the foot of the giant rock that Stealstar was standing on. "Flameclaw has brought a doggiepet into our camp," Stealstar began and he was cut off by yowls. Casper could only hear a few or the yowls clearly.

"Doggiepets don't belong in our camp,"

"Throw it out,"

"Kill it,"

Stealstar growled and the whole clearing was silent. "Whether she stays or not is a decision that will be made between me and her," Stealstar said. "I have decided that if she wants to stay, she can. I think you would want to be kind to her because, if you are she might let her pups stay in the pack after they are born."

"Why is Flameclaw the only one sitting at that huge rock?" Casper asked Ravenheart.

"Because he is the deputy and that giant rock is the Highstone," Ravenheart said.

"Okay," Casper said.

"You can go back to your dens now" Stealstar said and leaped off the Highstone.

The next dawn, while Flameclaw was out on patrol, Casper woke to a sharp pain in her belly. "Ravenheart," Casper whispered and Ravenheart looked up from her pups.

"What?" Ravenheart asked.

"I think they are coming," Casper said.

Ravenheart jumped up and ran out of the nursery. She came back moments later with a black she-dog behind her. "This is Blacktooth, our medicine dog." Ravenheart said. "She will help you get through this."

"Okay," Casper said.

"Just breath," Blacktooth instructed and laid her paw on Casper's belly. "The first one is almost here," Blacktooth said, trying to sooth her. Then the first pup was born followed by three others. "You have two sons and two daughters." Blacktooth said.

"What are you going to name them?" Ravenheart asked.

Casper looked down at her pups and said, "The gray one will be Smokepup, The black and white one will be Stormpup, The orange one will be Flamepup, and the white one will be Cloudpup."

"Those are wonderful names," Ravenheart said.

"Thank you," Casper said.

"She needs to sleep," Blacktooth said and Ravenheart and her pups left the nursery. Casper fell asleep as soon as they were in the main clearing.

Casper woke to a Flameclaw watching her and her pups. "What are you doing here?" She asked him.

"When I got back, Blacktooth told me that you had your pups and I wanted to see how you were doing," Flameclaw said. "I brought you something to eat,"

"Thank you," Casper said and began eating the animal that Flameclaw had brought her.

When she finished she talked with Flameclaw until Stealstar came in. "Casper," Stealstar said, "Do you want to join the pack?"

"Yes," Casper said. "I would love to join your pack."

"Flameclaw, would you like to be her mentor?" Stealstar asked.

"Yes," Flameclaw replied quickly.

"Okay," Stealstar said, "this sundown, then?"

"That is fine with me" Casper said.

"Me, too," Flameclaw said.

"All right, your ceremony will be this sundown," Stealstar said and left.

That sundown Stealstar leaped onto the Highstone and yowled, "Let all dogs able to catch their own prey join here for a pack meeting," and all attention was on him. "This sundown we are honoring Casper," He continued, "Step forward please." he said and Casper did as she was told. "Flameclaw, are you ready for an apprentice?" Stealstar asked.

"Yes," Flameclaw said.

"Do you promise to train you apprentice to the best of your ability?" Stealstar asked.

"I promise," Flameclaw said.

"Casper, do you promise to listen to you mentor and do everything he tells you to?" Stealstar asked her.

"I promise," Casper said.

"Then in the presence of Skypack, I lift up this doggiepet as an Eaglepack apprentice. Casper from this day forth you will be known as Snowpaw, until you earn your warrior name." Stealstar said. "May Skypack light your path."

The whole pack, Except for Blackclaw, chanted, "Snowpaw, Snowpaw," over and over again, to show their excitement.