Mink would follow Dancer back to camp, a mouthful of moss as she would place it down at the group who had stayed behind. "In a few days,we go into the mountains." She would hear Minnow say, speaking to the group as she would glance to River. She would say nothing, and would take some moss to share a nest with her brother.

Taking a good amount of moss, she would make a nest for her and her kits. Mink would beckon them over once she laid down, a smile on her face as the kits would not complain or protest. She would assume they had already eaten, and she could just hunt for something in the morning as a quick snack. "What is our story momma?" Gorse would chirp, staring at her mother with wide eyes. "Is about the groups?" Her brother would say, nuzzling into her frame as Mink would begin.

"Yes, you're right my little Thunder." Mink would begin, clearing her throat to make sure she would speak clearly. "The four groups were named RiverClan, WindClan, ShadowClan and ThunderClan." Seeing Thunder's excitement at ThunderClan, he would dip his head repeatedly for her to hurry up. "RiverClan was... well, they could swim. And they ate fish."

At the mention of fish, her kits tongues would stick out in disgust. Although they did not say anything, Mink would smile and carry on. "WindClan was the swiftest and agile Clan, they could outrun a rabbit!" The mother would purr, patting Thunder on his head with her soft paw. Soon, patting Gorse's head. "ShadowClan were cats who... used the shadows, and they were masters of stealth." Mink sighed and brought her kits closer to her with her tail. "...and ThunderClan, brave and loyal cats who protected one another."

Thunder would place his paws on his shoulder, his tongue sticking out partially. "Tell us more momma!" Gorse's head would bob as she would snuggle up against her fur, a yawn escaping her pelt. She didn't seem that interested, but she was listening at least. "Each Clan had a leader, who was in charge of the Clans and everyone looked up to them. The leader would pick a deputy, and they would have a medicine cat who would heal the Clan and provide guidance."

Mink would nudge Thunder off of her side, and smile. "And there were warriors... cats who hunted and defended the Clan, sometimes even attacked other Clans. And they listened to the leader and deputy. And then apprentices, they were cats who were six moons training to be warriors. They had mentors who taught them how to hunt and fight."

She was cut off by her kits, Gorse pushing herself onto her paws and almost bouncing. "We're six moons, right momma? Can we be apprentices?" Thunder and Gorse would say, eyes pleading. "I'll ask Lion to mentor me!" Gorse would squeak, Mink would hear the sound of a cat hissing for them to shut up. She would flatten her ears. "Quieter kits," Mink would sooth them into lowering their tones. "And I'll ask Minnow, I deserve the best mentor." Gorse would squint, now upset she hadn't thought of Minnow.

"Okay my kits..." Mink would purr, bringing them closer to her. "Then you shall be known as..." Trailing off she felt something come to her, but what? What would you call a young cat training? Her ears would buzz, and soon it came to her.

A paw. They needed to learn how to walk, to crouch, to hunt and fight. "You shall be known as Gorsepaw and Thunderpaw." She would purr, "Now sleep. And I'll ask Minnow and Lion about mentoring you."

The family would fall asleep, with hope in their dreams.

She would awake from her sleep, no dreams. Nothing, just a normal sleep. She felt better, and like she was a normal cat. However, her kits were talking to Minnow and Lion. Soon, seeing that their mother was awake the 'apprentices' would bounce over to her. "Momma!" Thunderpaw would chirp, tail lashing happily. "They said yes! They'll teach us how to hunt and fight!"

Gorsepaw would soon turn around, her tail basically wagging as she would gesture the two over. "We need food," Minnow would say with a smile. Maybe she thought the new names were a game? She would sigh, but nod her head. "We'll be staying here for one more night. River and Forest are scouting a head for any familiar sights." The silver tabby would flick her tail. "Come on Thunderpaw."

Lion would slip beside her, Minnow would distract the two younger cats for them to talk. "What's with the strange names, Mink?" She would chuckle, shoving her side in a friendly gesture. "Are you playing a game with them? Should I call you Minkpaw?" The mother would become flustered at the name, viciously shaking her head. "No...! It's. I'll explain on the way, please focus on Gorsepaw's training."

"Oh, so they're playing along with some story you told them?"

"Yeah. I mean, the system the Clans had seem more advanced."

Lion would smile as the group came to a halt, nudging her gently. "You should tell Minnow about that then, the names are pretty fancy." She would saunter forward happily, placing her tail on Gorsepaw's nose. "Come on, let's show you the hunter's crouch."

Minnow and Lion would show the apprentices how to hunt, by pouncing on leaves and correcting their posture. Mink would watch with great interest, however soon catching the sight of fur. Splashed with black and ginger, did the others not notice this? She would have to investigate her sighting. "I think I saw a bird, I'm going to go stalk it." The trio would nod their heads, carrying on training.

Mink would follow the scent, it did not carry the smell of the forest. But the city. Her blood almost turned to ice as she would see the cat, playing with a stick. She was small, yet with a good build. "Who are you?" Mink would say, catching her breath. She had a certain smell to her, not just the city. Although she couldn't place her paw on it, perhaps she was part of Rook's gang? How had she got so far? Another runaway perhaps?

"I am a shadow." Her lips would form a grin as she would crane her head over towards the mother. The black she-cat with splashes of orange and some white on her would approach. "I know what you intend to do," the Shadow would say and prod at her chest. "StarClan, right? Blah, blah, blah." How had she known? Was she another cat to follow along with this?

"Did Bluestar speak with you?"

"No. That doesn't matter who spoke to me, I'm important. You're important too. But I can't tell you oh no no, he said that'd be bad news."

Mink would growl, lashing her tail as the cat would back away. "I've been watching your group, you've done well introducing your kits to the Clans. I suppose the rest will follow now that I'm here." She would say, sniffing the air. "I'm Shadow, by the way. Your friends are coming." She would soon turn around, ears perking at the sound of paw steps. There they were, the silver tabby and cream she-cat in the lead with her kits behind her.

Minnow and Lion would instantly become aggressive, tail high in the air with a faint hiss. Her kits would do the same, and Minnow would ask. "What are you doing with a stranger, Mink?" She would have to come up with something, she couldn't have another cat with the same duty die. That'd be bad. Very bad. "I want to join you." Shadow would smile, nodding her head. "I was just speaking to Mink about your group."

"Is that true?"

She would nod her head. "She has much information to share." She could almost sense the curiosity, and glance to Lion. "She can stay with us for now, but one wrog step and she's crowfood."

The group, and the new cat would return to camp full of questions from the others. Gorsepaw had caught her first piece of prey, Thunderpaw still needed to improve. Although they had hunted after meeting Shadow, and they had brought back enough for the group to eat. "Who is that?" "Is she friendly?" "Can we trust her?" Questions came flooding, Mink's ears almost hurt after hearing all of them repeat the same question.

"My name is Shadow. I am here to show you a new way of life." River and Forest would shoulder through the crowd with unease, Dancer following after as their ears perked. "What?" The group would ask, different questions coming forward as Shadow would wait for it to die down. "Seeing the newly appointed Thunderpaw and Gorsepaw, why don't we do the same? Live as the cats in their stories."

How did she know? Why? That seemed... creepy, and a bit surreal. Snowy would be the first to respond. "It's just a kits tale, we could never live like that."

"We could!" Thunderpaw would say, stomping his paw on the ground. "It would be easy, we just need a leader and a deputy!"

Mink with hesitance, would have to agree with her kit. It was sort of her dreadful duty, as much as she didn't want too talk about this anymore. Clearly, Minnow didn't want to discuss this matter anymore either. She would shoulder past Shadow and hiss in her ear. "No more of this, Shadow!" Minnow would soon enough take charge of the entire thing, "We shall speak about your idea... tomorrow morning," Minnow would lower her voice and shoo everyone to their nests for the night. Mink would take her kits to the nest they shared, and they would eat and fall asleep with gentle thoughts.