"What are we doing first, Leafglow?"

The white and light brown tabby leads me over to a shaded spot near a few of the dens.

"Well, as you aren't accustomed to Clan life yet, I'll show you around the camp, then we can take a tour around the territory." Leafglow waves his tail towards a covered hollow. Soft moss and bracken lined the ground, and were bushed together in bedding.

"That is the apprentice den. It is where you will be staying as an apprentice." He lifted his paw and jabbed it towards other dens, explaining where the queens, warriors, and elders slept.

"The gap under the Tree Stump is Silverstar's den, as I assume you figured out. The large hole in the tree I came out of earlier is the medicine den, which I'm sure Spiderfang mentioned.

"The fresh-kill pile, over there, is where we have our prey to eat." Leafglow nodded to the shallow dip in the ground near some bushes that was housing a few dead squirrels and mice.

"Remember this: elders, queens, and kits always eat first. Everyone else is second. We have to keep up the strength of our weaker clanmates." Leafglow said, his voice serious.

I nod, understanding. "So if I had caught that rabbit, I would put it over there?"

"Correct. Though I doubt, no offense meant, that you would've caught that rabbit. They are slippery, and Spiderfang said you were being quite loud. It was lucky Maplepaw was able to snag it."

I lower my head a bit, embarrased. "It was that bad, huh."

He chuckled. "It was decent for a kittypet," he said as we padded away from the fresh-kill pile. "Have you caught anything before?"

"Well... a few barn mice. But they were pretty easy." I admit.

Leafglow raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? How did you manage without any training?"

"Cats talk to me in dreams and give me tips." I shrug.

The older tom freezes in place and his ears perk up. He brings his head down to stare, orange eyes piercing. It seemed as if he was in a trance. "What did you say?"

I shift uncomfortably. "Cats talk to me in dreams..?"

He peered down at me for a moment longer before blinking. His eyes returned to their regular gaze, but I could tell that something was off. His body was rigid and his ears were alert, tail held low.

"So... what next?" I venture.

"Right. I'll have to show you the territory," he said; but his voice was distracted.

I follow him out of the camp, looking around at the marvelling sight of a free forest as he led me to the important landmarks and borders of RootClan territory.

•••

We got back a little before sundown. He said he wanted to show me one more place in camp.

He guided me towards a hollowed out tree. "This is the medicine den."

"That's where you were earlier, right?"

Leafglow nods. "This is probably the most important part of camp. You never know when you'll get an injury or become sick. Hollyshade-" he waves his tail at a jet black tom who was sorting herbs- "is our medicine cat. And that ginger tom-" he pointed to the smaller cat next to Hollyshade- "is Thistlepaw, the medicine cat apprentice. He's been on for a moon or so. Still young and energetic."

"And annoying at times," came a gruff voice. It was Hollyshade, who had turned his steely green eyes on us.

"I'm not annoying!" Thistlepaw said indignantly, but a cheeky grin was on his face.

I laugh, but Leafglow cuts me off. His eyes are sharp again, and I could tell he was agitated.

"That is all for today. You should get some rest. The next few days could get a bit tiring as you adjust to Clan life."

"Okay. Thanks, Leafglow."

He responded with a wan smile and waved me on. As I headed to the apprentice den, I looked back once to see Leafglow and Hollyshade talking in low voices. I stared for a moment before Hollyshade's cold eyes glanced up and met mine.

I could feel my fur standing on end and scurried away. I could still feel the medicine cat's unerving eyes burning into my back as I sped into the apprentice den, ready to go to sleep and forget all about that stare.