Elkkit’s paws touched cold earth outside, so different in contrast to the warmth of the nursery. His flank twitched as he got used to the cold leafbare air. Unlike his father, he had shorter fur, not as well suited for the climate. He blinked hard, gazing outside at the large camp nestled in the forest. Many cats were outside, busy apprentices dropping off prey they had caught, warriors stretching and making their rounds.
The leaders son, despite warnings from his mother, had decided to leave the nursery a bit prematurely. The kit looked around for dark spots in which he could walk along, out of sight. His mother was napping, and now was the perfect time to explore. He bounded across the camp quickly and hid behind the elders den, which was mostly empty. He crouched, whiskers twitching as he prepared to fling his little body across the camp again to the medicine cats den, where he planned to stalk them and watch in fascination as they performed the alleged magic of healing. But before he could, he felt the tell-tale signs of a cat behind him.