Rook stared up at the vast sky. It was completely clear with bright stars dotting the dark carpet of night. The air was cool and a small breeze blew. It was warmer than most nights. Horizon was curled up under the tree a few meters away, sleeping soundly. Rook shuddered at the thought of Don, dead and limp. Horizon and Rook had dug up a hole in the dirt and buried Don after sharing a few words about him. Rook had seen it in the human movies although he had never thought he would have to do it himself. Beyond the tree where Horizon rested was the forest, darker and more dangerous than ever. Rook almost didn't want to go in there anymore. Don was dead. Dead. He was never coming back. Rook couldn't wrap his mind around what had happened. The fact that Don was never going to come back. Don wasn't going to ever crack another joke again because, all the jokes Don had said about dying soon, had finally come through. The thought sent shivers down Rook's spine. Rook didn't want to enter the daunting forest, leaving Don behind. He rolled onto his stomach and stared at the peaceful shape of Horizon sleeping. Rook didn't hate Horizon, he was glad that Horizon was there. At least he had a bit of company, to share the sadness with, even if Horizon was sleeping peacefully as if no worries plagued his mind. Rook sighed and curled up on the spot. He closed his eyes and tried to fight off reality. 

Rook blinked his eyes open to see Horizon's foot in front of him. 
           "You awake?" asked Horizon softly. 
            "I am now," Rook mumbled, yawning. He stretched and blinked as bright sunlight filtered into his eyes. 
             "I didn't know if I should wake you. You seemed so peaceful. But dawn passed like three hours ago," Horizon said. "Also here. I hunted." Horizon dropped a mouse at Rook's feet. Rook hadn't known Horizon knew how to hunt, assuming that he was a pet and had never had the need to know. 
              "Oh. Thanks," Rook said. 
             "No problem," shrugged Horizon. "I'm sorry. About Don. I really am."
              "It's ok," Rook replied. "It's not your fault." 
              "Yeah. Well, are you going to the forest?" asked Horizon. 
              "I don't know," Rook frowned. "I don't think I want to anymore." He found himself shivering, not because of the chill of the morning. 
              "Oh. I'll stay with you longer here if you want. To mourn for Don," Horizon suggested. 
               "I don't think I want to go to the forest anymore like ever," Rook explained. "I think I want to just go back. I won't find my family. They gave me away. Maybe they'll come and visit me. But I don't want to continue this- this impossible hunt to find them. In the end, they left me. It was their choice. They left me. I shouldn't cross the world to find them." 
                 "Why not? if you love them, you should," Horizon said, tilting his head to study Rook. "You know, if there's something that I've learnt about humans, it's that their lives are complicated. Like way more complicated than our lives will ever be. And sometimes they make huge mistakes. Like leaving you."
                 "I guess," Rook frowned, unconvinced. 
                 "Are you sure you don't want to go the forest?" asked Horizon. "You came all the way here. Don't you want to explore the world? See more than any other cat has ever seen?"
                "I don't know. I do. I mean it sounds nice. But I just want to be with my family, more than anything," Rook sighed.
                  "I for one, want to travel the whole world. Or as much as I can. I'll come with you. To find your family. If you want me to. It'll be an adventure together," Horizon suggested. 
                  "I- thanks. That's nice of you," Rook said, looking up and meeting Horizon's eyes. Horizon reminded Rook a bit of Domino, just more gentler and with a more calm aura about him. 
                 "You know what, Don wouldn't want me to just give up. He'd want me to go on. After all, that's why he jumped on that dog. To let us carry on," Rook decided. "Let's go." Horizon smiled. 
                 "I knew you were brave!" he exclaimed. Together, they marched towards the looming forest, leaving behind the tree and Don, buried underneath it. As they reached the edge of the forest and Rook took his first step in, the strong scent of pine and something else invaded Rook's nose. 
                 "What's that smell?" asked Rook. 
                 "I don't know," Horizon said, wrinkling his nose. "Smells really strong. Like cats."
                 "Yeah. A lot of cats. Not very friendly at that," Rook nodded. Clan cats. Definitely Clan cats. 
                "What if they attack us?" Rook asked the question they were both thinking. 
                "I don't know," Horizon said. They had padded further into the forest. Pine trees were everywhere, tall and dark, blocking most sunlight from coming in. Birds called but beside that and the shuffle of Rook and Horizon's steps, there was nothing. Suddenly, something flashed in Rook's vision. He swivelled around. Nothing. Horizon looked at him. 
                 "What's wrong?" asked Horizon nervously. 
                 "I thought I saw something, it's probably nothing," Rook shrugged it off but the feeling of unease remained. They stopped talking from then on, making sure to be very quiet. They could feel the threat hanging over them. Just as they thought they were safe, a cat appeared in front of them. This cat was like no other cat Rook had ever seen before. This cat was completely white with one red ear. Her eyes were deep and piercing and her body rippled with muscles. She was dangerous. Rook could feel it in her stance, in the way she glared at them. Her tail was long and it twitched slightly. She stood there, strong, eyes glued to them. Horizon shuffled closer to Rook, his eyes wide with fear. 
                   "H-hello," stammered Rook. The she-cat locked her eyes onto him and sunlight caught her sharp claws. The she-cat snarled, revealing sharp fangs. Rook was sure she would not hesitate to use them. 
                   "Hello there," the she cat said finally, her voice ringing loud and clear in the vast forest. "And who are you?"
                 "I- I'm Rook," Rook managed to utter. "And this-this is H-Horizon." 
                  "What are you doing here?" asked the she cat, padding closer, her steps slow and deliberate, like a predator. "You do know where you are, don't you?"
                 "N-no we're sorry. We didn't mean to intrude. See, we're um, new here. We just wanted to meet the Clans. We- we'll be on our way now," Rook tried to explain without letting his voice shake with fear. 
                  "Oh meet the Clans," the she cat smiled. "Well, why don't I introduce you. My name is Soulstorm." The name seemed just as dangerous and powerful as her. "And this, is ShadowClan."