Disclaimer: I don't own the Warriors series!
Title: A Brittle New Path
Summary: Ollie, a disgraced ShadowClan cat, finds himself deep in ThunderClan territory when he saves a queen and her kits by accident. But with war on the horizon, can he find his place in the Clan? A lover, not a fighter, he's always had trouble understanding the more violent attitudes of his Clanmates, and his training as a ShadowClan warrior has only made him more wary. It won't be an easy road.
...
ShadowClan alliances ahead;
Leader; Crowstar- black tom
Deputy; Firenose- ginger tom with green eyes.
Warriors;
Bloodclaw- Black tom with blue eyes, covered with scars.
Toothsnag- white tom with black spots, jagged bottom right tooth that sticks out of mouth.
Queens;
Unknown she-cat; Brittlekit (short and stocky gray tom), Bigkit (black and gray she-cat)
Moltedwing; Ratkit (white she-cat with black paws)
Elders;
Coldwind- black tom with icy blue eyes.
Moltedwing- black she-cat with brown stripes and a white muzzle
...
Brittlekit had heard the story many times before. How his sister, Bigkit, had come first, followed immediately after him. His mother had bared her teeth at the sight of him, shocked by his small and broad stature.
"He looks so... brittle." She'd said. "Especially next to his sister."
Not long after that they were both given to Moltedwing, an elder who'd recently given birth to Ratkit, and their mother left them. Brittlekit had never been told her name; she'd asked that no one ever mention it again. He didn't even know if she was ShadowClan or not.
No! He shook the thought away. I'm a ShadowClan cat, through and through.
"Here you go, Coldwind." He set down a vole, pleased he'd been able to carry it all the way here from the fresh-kill pile, despite it being around his size. "Your favorite."
"Hmph." The old tom sniffed. He'd always been a cranky one. "Don't act like you were the one who caught it, you cheeky kit."
"Hush." Moltedwing purred. "Thank you, Brittlekit."
He blinked at her owlishly. "Want me to check you for ticks?"
"Brittlekit, you're not a 'paw!" She chided him playfully, planting a lick between his ears. "Why don't you go play with the other kits?"
"But I want to take care of you!" He replied. "It makes me feel good, and I like the stories you tell."
"You'll take care of us once you're in training." The elder gently nudged him into the clearing. "Go have some fun."
Brittlekit shook his pelt out. He immediately felt out of place. He'd always preferred cleaning nests and entertaining the elders over talking to the warriors and sharpening his claws. He hoped that would change as he got older; he knew his Clanmates would see it as a fear of fighting, and he'd hate to be thought of as a coward.
He felt teeth tug on his ear. Bigkit- so much bigger than him, even though she was only a few moments older- stared at him brightly. "About time! Wanna play moss ball?"
"I guess." He shrugged self-consciously, fully aware of the fact that he wasn't nearly as interested in playing as his sister. "As long as we don't get in anyone's way."
Bigkit playfully pounced on him. "Honestly, Brittlekit! You worry too much."
Every cat seemed to think that. He twitched his whiskers, eyes widening. "I forgot to get Moltedwing a piece of prey!" He scrambled out of his sister's grip and pushing himself to his paws, scampering across the clearing. "Start without me!"
Ratkit shook her head. She'd been patiently watching them rough house. "Silly Brittlekit." She murmured. "He takes care of everybody but himself."
Brittlekit raced towards the fresh-kill pile, heart thudding in his chest. I hope Moltedwing won't be too mad at me for forgetting! She was gonna tell me an awesome story about a fox later!
"Brittlekit!?"
He stopped, ears pricked. The sound was coming from the warrior's den Shouldn't they all be patroling and hunting by now? He hesitantly crept forward.
"Of all the kits- why Brittlekit? He doesn't have a dangerous bone in his body!"
Bloodclaw. He'd never really gotten to talk to the warrior before, but he knew his signature angry snarl. The cat didn't have patience for anyone or anything.
"That's exactly why." The other voice insisted. Brittlekit easily recognized the voice of Crowstar's deputy, Firenose. "He needs to learn to tap into his more feral instincts."
"He's soft." Bloodclaw snapped. He sounded disgusted by the mere thought of him. "He's practically a kittypet!"
"Don't say that!" Firenose hissed. "We both know it's more complicated than mere softness."
There was a long pause. Bloodclaw spoke. "You're sure... Ratkit or Bigkit-"
"No." Firenose answered gently. "He needs someone who'll teach him how to sharpen his claws. Who better than you?"
Bloodclaw's gonna be my mentor! He thought, stumbling away, eyes unfocused. But I don't wanna be a fighter. Can't I just stay a kit, instead?
"Hey, Bigkit."
Bigkit moaned and rolled over, kicking him in the face with her back paw. Brittlekit pulled himself closer, so they were nose to nose.
"Bigkit?"
She blinked the sleep out of her eyes and glared at him. "What?"
"I'm useful, right?" Bloodclaw and Firenose's words still rang in his ears. "I'm not soft, am I?"
"You're a real terror to ticks and fleas, alright." She purred, stretching.
Brittlekit felt a pang in his belly. "I'm still a warrior, though, right?"
Bigkit sat up, a surprisingly amount of clarity in her eyes. "No, Brittlekit, you're not. You're a lover."
"But I need to be a warrior!" He squeaked. "I'll never be of any use to ShadowClan if I'm not a warrior!"
"Not useful?" Moltedwing asked. They both jumped, unaware she was awake. "My kit, you're more useful then you know. I can't remember a time I was so well cared for. Warriors scorn the idea of taking care of elders once they receive their name; you, a kit, jump at the chance. Any Clan would be proud to have a cat like you."
She tugged the three kits closer, wrapping her tail around them. "Now, get some sleep."
Brittlekit laid his head on his paws, wide awake. You may think so, but Bloodclaw doesn't, and he's going to be my mentor.
Author's Note: This story is gonna shoot back and forth from the past to the present; everything having to do with Brittle-whatever is the past. =)
Basically a backstory for one of my characters from 'Little Pawsteps And Lion Roars', but don't worry. This won't draw on any of the other story, as it's a prequel. Also, it won't affect your viewing of the story (other than totally spoiling his warrior names), as he's not a main character.
Don't like don't read! No flames! Review!
-Mandaree1