A/N: This chapter is really more of a prologue. Just be aware that the rest of the story takes place long after this.

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Something rustled in the dark. The large brown cat who sat secretly in wait angled his ears towards the sound, straining his night vision to see what was making the noise. After a moment of rustling, another cat, this one a red-brown, almost ginger color, emerged, holding a tiny kitten in his paws.

The first cat stood up and silently padded up to him. "Is that the one?" he whispered, gesturing towards the kitten.

"Of course it's the one!" the red-brown cat snapped. "Why else would I have come all this way with it?"

Surprised by the visitor's sudden ferocity, the patchy brown tom jumped back.

The other cat sighed. "Sorry. I'm just a little frustrated. The little scrap's been mewling the whole way here. Just take it!" He shoved the kitten forward. Startled, it looked at the russet-furred tom, then up at the first cat.

The latter slowly began to reach out. But when his paws were merely a whisker away, he hesitated. "A-are you sure about this, brother?"

The visitor looked at him. "Yes, I'm sure, Deuteronomy. One kitten is enough for me. And –" he nodded towards his tiny son – "this one wasn't really turning out the way I'd planned. Doesn't have the right stuff in him, I guess. For the last time, just take him!" He ended with a snarl.

Deuteronomy blinked and hesitated a moment longer. Then, gently, he scooped the kit out of his brother's outstretched paws. "I respect your decision," he finally said. "I will care for this kitten as if he was my own." He glanced around. "But I really should be getting back. As Jellicle Protector, this is the last thing I should be doing right now. Father'll have my rear if he knew where I was! And, well . . . my mate just recently found out she's expecting kittens, and I don't like to leave her much . . ."

"Congratulations," the russet cat murmured. "I know what it's like to be a first-time father. Been there myself. But the second time . . ." he poked the kit as he trailed off. "Look, just raise him well." There was a short pause before he inquired, "Hey, have you thought about what you're going to tell the others?"

He nodded. "In the morning, I'll just tell everyone that I was patrolling the area and found him. He didn't have any scent I could recognize and it didn't seem like a trap, so I took him in out of pity. And I will raise him as my son."

"Yeah, that'll work." The russet cat smiled. "I should be going too. Guess I'll see you . . . eventually." He turned and slowly began to head out.

"Okay," Deuteronomy called after his brother. "And don't worry, I'll take excellent care of the kitten! I'll make him everything you would have wanted him to be!"

After the russet cat disappeared, he stared after him for a minute. Then he looked down at the kitten. He was a pale silver color with bold black stripes that looked as though they had been painted on with ink. Sensing the gaze upon him, the kitten looked up at Deuteronomy with innocent brown eyes. They both held each other's gaze for a long moment, and he could see the trust and hope in the kit's eyes, almost as if he knew what was going on. My father's abandoned me, he seemed to be saying, and I've hardly opened my eyes! Now I'm so lost and confused . . . will you protect me? "Mew?" he squeaked, as if voicing his thoughts.

The big tom blinked. Behind the kit's eyes, he could see fire: burning fire, signifying a strong spirit and will to live, of ferocity and loyalty . . . but the fire had two sides. Aside from the beauty and natural draw of the heat and warmth that would provide protection, the fire was also a symbol of danger and destruction, threatening to burn and destroy anything in its path. There was more to this kitten than its innocent exterior. Underneath the loyalty and spirit, there was an ominous thirst for violence, for fighting and bloodshed . . .

Deuteronomy shook his head to clear it. He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them again. The fire was gone, leaving behind nothing more than an innocent, abandoned kit. "Yes," he vowed softly, "I will protect you. You will grow into a fine young tom under my watch. I'll be the father you never had."