"Your new name will be Dawnflower.  Your rank will be fighting guardian." Cats gasped around them, and people shuffled away to reveal Tsunamipelt in the back, his eyes gleaming in subtle shock.   A fighting guardian is a special role!  I might be special that means!  Is that why Snowfin tested me?  To see if I would follow her orders?

Time slowed down, and it seemed as if Dawnflower couldn't hear anymore, she was so shocked.

"If there's a Dawnflower still in there, it would be nice if she replied to me, " Snowfin said, her voice filled with humor.  

"I-I'm sorry, snowfin, " she mumbled.  "Wh-what did you say?"

"I acknowledged you, and I also said you would train in private.  No cat must know how your training is.  Unless you want to report being hurt too many times during it."

"O-oh, ok Snowfin, " Dawnflower said, studying her claws. Snowfin swiftly nodded, then spoke up again.

"Littleflower put your paws forward." She did.

" I have spoken to the prophet, and he says your name shall be Opalflower.   Your rank will be decorator, " Snowfin called.

"And your trainer will be Flyingfeather.  Teach her well.  Cheetaflower put your paws forward." Cheetahflower put her paws forward.

"I have spoken to the prophet, and your new name will be Sleekflower.  Your rank will be the messenger.  Your trainer will be Laurelfoot."

"Water'ripple has stepped down as the second leader, which means she will be kicked out of the clan due to being too old to help, " Snowfin announced plainly. To Dawnflower, it seemed fair.

"It also means that our most loyal, brute, and our least hesitant guard to kill will be the new second leader," Snowfin rumbled.  Volefang padded to the front, his eyes gleaming.

"That would be me, Snowfin, " Volefang said to Snowfin, meeting her dark gaze.

"Then why the powers of the leader, I call Volefang to be the new second leader.  He will serve our clan with strength!  He will not hesitate to kill!  For honor!"

"For honor, " the clan roared.  Snowfin looked down at them with a wide smile, then flicked her tail as to dismiss the clan.

"Meeting to an end.  All the hunters, go out and hunt, " she commanded, leaping down from her spot on the branch mound.  Tsunamipelt padded to her.

"You coming, trainee?  Or are you going to stand like a mouse all day?

"Oh!  Ok!  Sorry!". Dawnflower said, uneasy.  Tsunamipelt let out a laugh.

"Come with me to my den, " he said, pointing outside of camp with his tail.

Outside of camp?  Dawnflower though, blinking.  Dawnflower padded to his side, trying to keep his pace.  The trees fluttered in the soft wind, almost like a flickering flame.

Tsunamipelt stopped, leaving Dawnflower still walking.  She halted, then padded back to Tsunamipelt.  She looked around her, and all she saw was trees, grass, leaves and some vines.  Tsunamipelt swished his tail on the vines, uncovering an in-ground cave.  She gasped as Tsunamipelt leaped into it.  Dawnflower let a small bit of reluctance, she padded into the cave after him.

"So, this is your home?"

"Yep.  It has to be secret."

"Why?"

"People might kill us.  We can inflate people easily.  And, the leader takes our word against anyone else's."

"What?  But we don't need power!"

"We keep the clan safe, " Tsunamipelt explained.

"Oh." Dawnflower started.  "But, can't we already safe?"

"Enough with the questions.  Let me show you around."

"Ok.  But-" she snapped her jaws closed.

"This is where I keep all my counting."

"Countings?"

"This small leaf represents you.  You're in a giant pile with other leaves. I marked you with a small claw"

" What's the pile for?"

"You're in the good pile.  It means you aren't bad."

"Oh...  Is anyone bad?"

"Yeah.  I can't tell you yet, though.  You must keep all of this a secret.  Promise by your life you will, " Tsunamipelt commanded.

"I promise, " she vowed.  

"Good.  Now, over there is where I keep all the prey.  Soon, you can pick some prey to eat.  There will be no eating with others."

"Why not?". Dawnflower asked boldly.

" It's the rules, " Tsunamipelt insisted, whipping around to look at her.  He glared slightly, meeting her gaze.  Dawnflower shrugged it off.  Rules were rules.  Right?

"Okay, so next, ill show you the sleeping area, " Tsunamipelt said, ignoring the topic.  He led them to a separate cave that was connected to the other cave.  There, a nest lay in the side of the cave, along with a half-eaten mouse.

Dawnflower licked her chops, glancing at the scrawny half-eaten mouse.

"No eating yet.  You can eat later. For now, gather some moss and make yourself a moss bed."

"Ok... I guess I will.  Am I allowed to talk to anybody, or ask for help gathering moss?"

"I guess, but don't let them come anywhere close to the den... Okay?"

"Okay.  I'll be back soon, " she murmured, swishing her tail and padding away.

She padded to the camp, then looked for Starlingclaw.  She silently prayed to the dead spirits that he was still in camp.  She spotted his white and black spotted fur among the branches of his den.  

Good.

"Sparrowclaw, will you come and gather moss with me?"

"No-  I mean...  I would love to, your honor, " her mumbled, dipping his head to her.  Dawnflower put her paw below his chin and forced him back up.

"I'm your litter-mate.  I don't want you bowing to me." She told him, glancing at his sky blue eyes.

"Yes, your honor-"

"Call me Dawnflower, " she hissed softly.

"Okay, Dawnflower... " her littermate said awkwardly.  Dawnflower led the way to the stream, then sniffed the air.  

"Dawnflower, we shouldn't be here!" Sparrowclaw said, his eyes wide with fear.

"Why not?"

"Look around us, " he whispered.  Dawnflower did, and to her shock, cats had gathered around them in a group, hissing and baring their teeth.  But, Dawnflower didn't know who any of them were.

"Who are they...?"

"I don't know, Dawnflower!"

"We are the cats of the grasses!  We live nearby, and you are in our land!" The smallest cat hissed.  Now to think about, they were all pretty small.

"I'm... Dawnflower... I am a cat of the forest, " she said, looking around her at the snarling cats.  A shadow crept in the forest, making her tail twitch.  Suddenly, the forest seemed to come alive.

"Cats of grasses!  You are in the cats of the territory of the hills!"