Rook stared down at the cat named Mintspot. She licked him lovingly on the head. He shrunk away and Horizon made a face. 
            "I think she loves you...," he muttered, slightly disgusted and very scared. 
             "Yeah..," Rook trailed off, his eyes wide. He didn't know what to do. 
             "Mintspot," Beetlejaw said calmly, trying to make Mintspot step back. "Give him some space. You don't know... We don't know if its really Stormkit." Gorsestar nodded. 
             "Troutfur, bring Mintspot to her den," he told Troutfur who nodded and walked over to Mintspot. 
             "No!" snapped Mintspot. "I'm not leaving. Beetlejaw, you know it's him. You brought him back!"
             "Yes, I know but... don't get your hopes up," Beetlejaw said calmly. 
             "Mintspot, follow me," Troutfur said, then inched toward the den wall and picked up a calming herb. "Here, eat this." Mintspot refused. 
             "I know it's him! It's finally him! Stormkit is back! And you want to drag me away!" exclaimed Mintspot, her eyes wide and her tail lashing side to side, angrily. 
             "Mintspot...," Troutfur tried to calm her down. 
              "Gorsestar, let her stay," Beetlejaw asked, his eyes pleading. Gorsestar relented. 
             "Fine," he said. "But let me do the talking," Gorsestar ordered. This time, Mintspot crouched back and let Gorsestar pad in front of Rook. 
               "Who are you?" demanded Gorsestar. 
               "Well. I'm Rook," Rook said pointedly, mostly to Mintspot. He was not Stormkit. "And this is Horizon. I came here for answers. About my family. But it's obvious to me now that you don't know them. So if you would be so kind as to escort us out of here." Rook tried to put on the best smile he could. Doestripe shot Troutfur a look. Beetlejaw studied Mintspot, to make sure she was fine. 
               "Right. Well, since you're here. We are going to get some answers and perhaps, you will have answers as well. Maybe even about your family," Gorsestar replied. 
              "I'm pretty sure you don't know them. Her name is Saffanah. And Jeremy and Diana," Rook explained. 
               "Twolegs," Doestripe muttered. 
                "He's a kittypet," huffed Troutfur. Beetlejaw glared at him, making sure Mintspot hadn't heard. 
              "Do you know who your parents are?" interrogated Gorsestar. "Your real parents that is."
              "No," replied Rook carefully. "But it doesn't matter. I don't care." 
              "Right," Gorsestar frowned, narrowing his eyes. "Do you know where you were found? How you found your Twoleg family?"
              "Twoleg? Oh humans," Rook said, nodding slowly. "I don't know. Our neighbor gave me to my family. Twoleg family."
               "Ok," Gorsestar took a deep breath then to himself, he muttered, "how are we going to do this?"
              "If I may," Troutfur interrupted. Gorsestar looked up and stepped aside. 
               "Go ahead," he nodded. 
               "Let me explain, Rook," Troutfur started, his voice calm and his posture confident. "It was a long time ago..., but it seems like yesterday. Mintspot, gave birth to two kits. It was on a stormy night, a battle of all the Clans was just ending. Mintspot gave birth to two kits, Willowpaw and Stormkit. She had given birth healthily, barely escaping a falling tree although Mintspot did not emerge unharmed. When suddenly, a Twoleg appeared. He stopped and Stormkit, was left there. The Twoleg took Stormkit. Mintspot was- and is, heartbroken. We thought he was dead. We have always thought he was dead. That we would never see him again. But it seems, that, he is not dead. That you may be the missing Stormkit." 
               "He is. He is," sobbed Mintspot. Beetlejaw comforted him, trying to keeping himself calm although emotions were flooding through, him all uncontrollable. He was as unstable as Mintspot. If this was really Stormkit, his whole world would change. Maybe Mintspot would be healed. Maybe she would become the lively, carefree cat he had known before. The cat he had fallen in love with. Rook stared at Beetlejaw and Mintspot, his supposed parents. He tried to process things. He had never known his cat family. It seemed weird that they were from a Clan. But then again, nothing was too hard to believe at that point. Rook studied Beetlejaw. He seemed sad, happy and concerned. He could see that Beetlejaw was hiding his emotions, trying to be strong for Mintspot, who was very clearly collapsing. It was obvious to Rook how much Beetlejaw loved Mintspot. It looked like Beetlejaw would do anything for Mintspot. He had stuck to her for so long when she looked so broken and frail. Like she would never be happy again. As if she were about to collapse and break right there. 
             "Rook?" Horizon's small voice came from behind. Rook turned around to see Horizon huddled in the corner, eyes wide with fear. 
              "They're not going to hurt us," Rook assured Horizon. He was sure of that now. If they were his long lost Clan and his long lost parents were there in front of them, they were not going to be hurt. "Don't worry." Horizon nodded feebly. 
            "So..., what do you want me to say?" asked Rook. "That I'm Stormkit?"
            "I'm sorry. But we're not sure he is Stormkit," Doestripe pointed out. "He could be anybody." 
            "No. That's my son! That's Stormkit! Why won't anybody listen to me?" wailed Mintspot. 
             "Mintspot. It's ok. I'm listening. I know. I know it's hard for you," Beetlejaw whispered. 
            "No! Nobody understands! The pain I'm in!" yelled Mintspot. Rook stared at Mintspot then at Beetlejaw. He understood then that Beetlejaw did understand. Beetlejaw understood more than Mintspot would ever know. Because although it seemed like Mintspot was the saddest, frailest and most distressed, Beetlejaw was worst off. He was just as broken. He needed somebody, but he had nobody because he was already helping a broken somebody. 
             "I just- Mintspot..., I know I shouldn't be saying this..., it's none of my business but..., Beetlejaw does understand. I know I'm an outsider but it seems very clear to me that Beetlejaw understanda the most and perhaps..., he's the one suffering the most. He doesn't show it because he wants to help you. And that means that nobody is helping him...," Rook said softly. He felt a connection to Beetlejaw. Beetlejaw smiled a little. Mintspot looked up and frowned. She knew this was Stormkit. But what did he know about Beetlejaw and her?
             "Stormkit...," uttered Mintspot. Gorsestar interrupted the awkward silence that followed. 
             "Alright. We are going to find away to determine if you really are missing Stormkit. In the meanwhile, we will show you around. You may sleep in the apprentice den, understood?" Gorsestar started listing out commands. "You and Horizon are to be under supervision at all times." 
             "Beetlejaw, can you bring them to the apprentice den and introduce them please?" Gorsestar said politely although it was an order. "Doestripe, Troutfur and I need to talk. And Mintspot, I'm very happy if this really is Stormkit. The Clan will rejoice. But for now, go get some rest." Mintspot managed a nod. 
             "Follow me," Beetlejaw flicked his tail and supported Mintspot as they padded out of the medicine den. Mintspot stared at Rook with such love it made him uncomfortable. 
             "I know you're my Stormkit," whispered Mintspot. 
             "Mintspot. Go rest. Do you want me to come with you?" Beetlejaw asked. Mintspot thought for a while. 
             "I'll be fine," she said then added in a small, kinder voice, "Thank you." Beetlejaw smiled back. He watched her leave. Cats gathered around, staring at Rook and Horizon, muttering and gossiping. 
              "Follow me. Move out of the way!" called Beetlejaw. He led Rook and Horizon to a den entrance. "This is the apprentice den." They entered. Inside, a sweet looking she-cat sat next to a light brown tabby. 
             "Willowpaw, Acornpaw, this is... Rook, and Horizon," introduced Beetlejaw. Willowpaw's eyes landed on Rook and he frowned. It was as if she was evaluating him. 
             "Hi," Acornpaw said flatly. 
               "He's going to be staying her tonight. Why don't you show him around camp? Or just, talk to him. Accompany him," Beetlejaw said then trotted away, leaving Rook, Horizon, Willowpaw and Acornpaw alone. 
              "They're saying that you're Stormkit," said Willowpaw. 
              "I heard," Rook said, making a face. He wanted to get out of this crazy camp. Horizon trembled behind Rook, regretting every decision which had led to this. 
               "Well, are you?" asked Acornpaw. 
              "I don't know. I mean, no. I'm not. Of course not," Rook dismissed the thought. It was crazy. These cats were crazy. The faster they would get out the better. Maybe they should try and escape now. But Willowpaw's eyes were trained on him. He didn't know what she was thinking but it made him uncomfortable. 
               "You can have these nests," Acornpaw said finally, shooting a look at Willowpaw he mumbled softly, "Are you alright?" Willowpaw nodded in reply and her eyes slowly tore away from Rook. She whispered something in Acornpaw's ears. 
              "Right," he whispered back. "Go ahead." Willowpaw stood up and padded out of the den while Acornpaw smiled at Horizon and Rook. It was obvious that it was a forced smile. 
             "Well. How are you?" Acornpaw blurted, trying to distract them. 
             "I'm feeling faint," mumbled Horizon in a shaky voice. Then he fainted.