(Picture: Stormkit)

She crouched her silver tipped ears twitched to listen to the sounds of the forest. The tree above her blocked at the sun casting an eerie glow on the camp. But it was a flash of ginger fur that caught her attention. Stormkit shot out from her hiding place and knocked over Mousekit. The ginger tomkit looked surprised as Stormkit pinned him down triumphantly.

"Well done," Rockwillow purred passing them.

Stormkit felt a swell of pride. Her Father was the deputy! Out of the corner of her eye Stormkit saw Firekit narrow her eyes and retreat into the bramble thicket that was the nursery. Stormkit's heart sank. She knew why Firekit looked at her like that. It was because no one knew who her Mother was. She knew that Nettlewhiskers, who got his warrior name a quarter moon ago whispered that Stormkit's Mother was a kittypet.

Stormkit fluffed out her dark grey and silver fur suddenly feeling cold in the leaf-bare winds. Rockwillow was already gone, talking to Oakclaw.

"I'm hungry," Mousekit meowed. "Maybe Ashtail will let us try a squirrel this time,"

Stormkit rolled her eyes. "There's no squirrel on the fresh-kill pile mouse-brain,"

Mousekit puffed out his chest. "Oakclaw will catch one!"

Whiskers twitching in amusement Stormkit followed him into the nursery where Ashtail lay, her black fur damp from a recent grooming and golden eyes filled with love. The love wasn't for Stormkit though. It was for Firekit and Mousekit. Ashtail spotted Stormkit and weariness entered her golden gaze.

"Hi Stormkit," the black queen meowed.

"Hi," Stormkit responded looking at her paws.

She wished she had a Mother that loved her instead of Ashtail who acted like she was an outcast. She knew they would deny it if she asked but Stormkit knew her clan wished she wasn't here.