A pitch-black kit with a snowy-white underbelly and a gray stripe down his back stood at the top of a hill, and took in a breath, suddenly spreading wings. They were pitch-black like his fur, and he opened his eyes, and shot off the hill. Suddenly everything faded black, and as he blinked, he saw a forest of darkness. He could barely see anything.

Suddenly light flashed in his eyes, making him gasp, and blink awake.

Oh, yes, of course, that was a dream.

He had no wings. He was standing in no night-drowned forest. He was just normal him again.

He shrugged off the dream, and walked into the camp, not bothering to stretch, or take a single look at the other kits. They were snoring in their den, and he was the only one awake at the time. He sighed, and sat to look at the stars. He knew his father wasn't there.

His father left him a long scar on his side. He was also born with a stubbed-tail, which many teased him for.

He looked at his scratches. Everyone though he was weird. He didn't talk unless needed, he hated society, he was a kit with scars. Now that? That was just plain weird.

His mother didn't like him much. No, she wasn't all, "My kit's so terrible and ugly, the worst kit ever, blah blah blah..." No, she usually just scooped him aside and seemed to pretend he wasn't her kit. The other kits just hated him, except one. She was only 2 moons. She wouldn't understand. He thought she was quite stupid, considering she didn't make fun of him. Why shouldn't anyone hate him?

All his life he wondered what his father was like. Evil, his mother said. A really, really bad cat. He apparently killed a cat of his own clan once. He was really strong, and feared.

"Ashkit! Ashkit!"

He ignored the cat calling for him.

Ashkit actually really liked his father. He admired him, thinking he was pretty amazing. He killed a cat. That's very amazing.

Ashkit wanted to be like him one day, though he didn't exactly know what he was like. Mother hated him, but he can't be that bad... right?

wrong. Ashkit didn't understand how terrible it was to kill a cat, let alone from your own clan. No, no, Ashkit thought otherwise. Only the strongest survive, right? Survival of the fittest. Cats will die under more powerful cats' claws. That's why everyone found him weird.

"Ashkit, are you okay?"

Ashkit glared at the cat interrupting his thoughts. It was the mouse-brain.

Her name was Lilykit. He scratched the ground.

"..." He didn't bother to reply.

"I heard you were going to turn into an apprentice today! You must be so excited!"

"..."

Lilykit lowered her tail. "Umm, Ashkit?"

Ashkit growled quietly.

"Please, answer me, Ashkit! You've gotta talk sometime, and-"

"Leave me alone, would you!?" He yowled at her. That was it. He snapped. That quick, yeah. I know.

You would say he had a short fuse. Yes, he was known for that. He didn't care if he hurt another cat. He could care less.

"Look. Just get out of my face! Why don't you go bother super-amazingly-strong-and-perfect-Icekit! He's clearly much better than I am!" He hissed, taking a step towards Lilykit. Her fur bristled, but she stood her ground.

Sure, Icekit was super-amazingly-strong and perfect. But Ashkit wasn't jealous, no, not at all.

...

Well, maybe a little jealous. That he had a good life so far. You'd say it's very sad that Ashkit was only a kit, and wanted to die already.

Lilypaw still stood her ground, not even flinching from Ashkit's intimidating gaze.

Oh, let's see how long she could last.

"Apprenticeship is overrated! What's so good about having to clean elder's backs, working your tail off in training, hunt for the clan, and only getting a little vole in return? What's the point?"

Lilykit's tail raised. "To become a warrior, and work hard to protect the clan! What else could you want!?" She hissed, and Ashkit smirked. She was pretty brave. Most cats avoided him. Apparently he was 'scary' when he was mad. Lilykit? She was good.

"Work for the clan, and what do you get in exchange? What's the point? Why should I? I'd rather become a ROGUE!" He hissed, taking another frightening step, until he was looking down on Lilykit.

Now she was scared. Soon, the whole clan was crowded around. Ashkit heard some of the murmurs.

"Wow... she's brave!"

"He finally snapped, eh?"

"That little disrespectful fox-heart!"

"Who does he think he is!?"

"Lightstar should just kick him out! Then maybe he'd see what it's really like!" Murmurs and yowls of agreement were heard in response to that.

Suddenly, a dark growl was heard. Lilykit's mother, Rainpelt, Leaped over and swept Lilykit back with her tail.

"Ooh, this is getting interesting!"

"Just who do you think you are!? Get away from my kit! You little fox-heart!" She yowled, and Ashkit just glared at her.

"Why should I?"

Ashkit's eyes widened in surprise as suddenly, Lilykit's mother slashed his face; with claws unsheathed, before she realized what she did.

Ashkit stared at her, dumbfounded, but then his eyes narrowed. He growled slightly, claws digging into the ground.

He lashed out at Rainpelt, who dodged and strike another slash to his side. Ashkit growled, and prepared to attack again, but suddenly-

"ENOUGH!"