Dognose is kitting. And screaming the camp down.

Which is why I am actually enjoying collecting moss. I couldn't stand being in the camp any longer. But unfortunately, I am carrying moss in every way possible, and there still isn't enough room for any more. So I have to go to camp. Hopefully Scarnose will volunteer to make the nests, so I can get back out.

But when I get back, the clan is silent. A bloody body is carried out of the camp. Dognose. Was there an eagle attack? But then everything click into place. Well, more of a boom crash yowl crack than a click.

I see where the blood is coming from, and my suspicions that dognose was killed by eagles are confirmed. I also realise that the deputy has died. I also realise that the obvious choice for the new deputy is the temporary deputy. AKA me.

"There you are Iceflower" Foxstar calls. "Come here." I can sense the contempt in his voice. The way he spat at the word 'Iceflower. The way he looked like he was trying to restrain himself. I pad into his den.

"What is it" I ask.

"Well, you are now deputy" Foxstar states. "We... Decided while you were gone. But if you're deputy, you need to be a warrior more often. Every second day, and every night in the warriors den. On your omega days you will still be a warrior, but you will still collect moss."

"Yes" I meow. I am ecstatic! This is so awesome! "Can I catch prey when I am collecting moss?"

"In leafbare" Foxstar answers. "But you won't be collecting moss for a while. Both dognose and Antwhisker died, leaving the kits with no mother and no name. You need to take their place. On your omega days until the kits are apprentices, you will be a queen." I wonder whether Foxstar is mad. Sometimes I think he has a twoleg's brain, mixed with some fox brain.

I leave the den, and I pad down to the nursery. Mistyheart is in there now, she came in only a few sunrises after Dognose. She hasn't kitted yet, but she will soon.

"Hi Iceflower!" Mistyheart purrs. I take a step back. Only yesterday she tore my ear for 'going too close to her perfect kits'. Gah. What nonsense. Nonsense that I will never hear again.

"Well, here is your nest" Grassfur sighs. I look at the kits. There are three kits. Two are black, like their father, and one is a very pale tabby. The black ones are male, and the little tabby is female. One of the black ones has a white foot. I slump down into the nest, and the little ones start crying for milk. Poor things. They were with dognose for such a short time... They must think I'm their mum!

"Do you still have milk?" I ask Grassfur. "They are two young to have prey, and Mistyheart's milk hasn't come yet."

"Only a little bit" Grassfur sighs. "But it should hold until Mistyheart has her kits. And they don't need a drink. They were drinking when Dognose was attacked. They can wait until tomorrow morning."

"Good" I mew. "But we still need to name the kits."

"No" Mistyheart sighs. "You are their foster mother, you are the one who needs to name them."

"I'm not sure how to name them!" I wail.

"Don't worry" Grassfur soothes. "There is always a time when kits think about other names they would want. And there is always one kit that says that he is happy with his name and would never change it. Try and make sure that your kits will be those kits."

I remember that game. But it was always sitting at the side, never suggesting anything. Omega kits are forbidden to play with the other kits. I remember that image I have been trying to forget for so long. My parents, dying. My name, changed. I know what I wanted. My original name. Fire, not ice. Heat, not cold. Love, not cruelty.

"The black tom with the white foot will be Moonkit" I meow confidently. "And the other tom will be ravenkit. The she-kit will be Firekit"

"Moonkit for his foot." Mistyheart meows. "And Ravenkit for his pelt. But why Firekit?"

"Because I still remember" I say. They both know what I mean. I still remember the night my parents died. I still remember my first name, Flamekit.