Speck blinked and then got up and padded to the entrance of the camp. Cottontail and Snartalon another cat blocked her way from leaving. Snartalon growled,
"Where do you think you're going?''
"I'm going elsewhere, why?'' Speck replied simply.
"You're not going any where; you're our new leader,'' the other cat, a she-cat. Speck sat and put on her most confused face possible. Cottontail sighed but explained that when a strange cat kills the leader they automatically become leader. Speck interrupted to say,
"But I didn't kill him! All I did was wound him so he won't terrify any other cats, ya'll did nothing and he almost murdered you on the spot." The other cats seemed surprise and suddenly became gentle,
"Sorry, young one; we didn't know. But since he's not going to be leader any more that means you have to join our clan, you'll become an apprentice. The deputy will become the new leader, he's much nicer." Speck mowed a thank you and Shredear showed her to the trainees den. Speck found a moss bed and instantly fell asleep.
She dreamed of on pleasant things…. She was back at her old home, nice and plump with the mouse she had just caught and was being stroked by her girl. The wind howled outside the teepee but inside they were safe, for a while, then she was thrashed about in the storm. But this time it didn't drop her, it kept beating and whipping her small gray body about…….
"Speck, Speck, Speck! Wake up! Your naming ceremony is about to begin," Shredear prodded her awake. She jump to her paws and started to groom herself. It was early morning. Gee, I slept a long time, she thought. They made their way to the big oak tree where a tawny tom sat on a low branch. Shredear whispered to her,
"That's the new leader of Forrest Clan. His name is Smokemoon." Speck nodded and went over to the bottom of the tree. Smokemoon jumped lightly down, his muscles flexing. He was all tawny, light tan and his nose and end of tail was brown. He flicked his tail to a small branch saying,
"That's where you'll sit and when they all begin to chant you new name,'' his gaze fell on the gathering clan cats, "You will jump up to my branch and touch noses with me. Then you will be given an mentor and you will be one of us. Is it true you are one with Shredear?" Speck nodded and Smokemoon sighed. He dismissed her to the lower branch and it began.