Firepaw unsheathed her claws into the ground, growling.

Eagle stepped in front of her. Even the lion-hearted tom was shaking with uncertainty and fear.

"Where are our dens to sleep in?"

Largeclaw stared at them in mock, "Oh, of course you get the largest dens." Then his voice tightened, "You sleep in thefox den."

He turned away, stalking into the dark cave behind him.

Some ugly tabbies took them to this smelly den. Firepaw wrinkled her nose and snarled in disgust.

"Gross! We're supposed to sleep in there!"

One of the tabbies narrowed his eyes, "Yes. Unless sleeping with the rats would be better."

One of the tabbies, who was clearly spastic, said, his bony cheekbones shivering, "We hunt in the rat pit. We could hunt them." His shrill voice cracked, "We haven't eaten well since last winter." He licked his jaws.

"Shookrock, can can't eat them. They are our new..." The biggest tabby said, narrowing his eyes, "members..."

They turned out of the den.

Ember shivered,"They scare me..." She whispered and Cliff put his tail around her.

Firepaw growled and slumped to the floor.

Suddenly, she heard a slight hissing noise.

Firepaw looked around and saw two glowing, amber eyes.

She wanted to see if Cliff or Eagle were looking and she walked toward the eyes.

It was a friendly but scared scent and...it was an apprentice.


Sorry this chapter was so short, but it's going to be important later! MUAHAHAHAHA Who's the apprentice? What does Largeclaw do?

Someone's going to die in the next chapter! MUAHAHAHAHA...I feel OH SO evil. Heh heh...