At first, Stormkit thought it was a joke. After all, surely his friends and family wanted to cheer him up. While including the whole clan seemed a little over the top, he was fine with this development. Then came the confusion. Why was everyone looking at him as if he had something on his face? He was sure it was clean.

Later, he would look back on that thought as the most ironic happening in history.

Afterwards, when he was gestured to look at his reflection, his doubts and fears deepened. Surely this was just a joke?

That glance told him the truth, though.

In an instant, he dissappeared into his own mind. No, the monster in the water did. It became disoriented as Stormkit's vision blurred. Surely they were trying to trick him... But how? No one except StarClan themselves could transfix that clear of an image.

In another fraction of a second, his heart filled with hope. Perhaps it was, indeed, from StarClan. Perhaps it was a sign. Perhaps he was to be the golden child once more. This was surely what they were waiting for. Maybe Riverstar himself had been guiding the kit, and the other cats simply thought he was acting wiser than his age. Chancing another glance, he cringed.

The monster was hideous. It had a mangled, twisted face, with a crooked jaw—

Yes, he would must definitely laugh at that description.

—worse, still, it seemed as horrified at him as he was at it. It's eyes, the only part that seemed to make it out of the unspoken ordeal, were as wide as his. Stormkit felt himself grow slightly angry. It had no right to mock him like this! He bared his tiny teeth, shocked when the creature under the water did too.

There was no doubt in his mind. This mangled thing was replicating his movements to anger him! Stormkit then cleared that thought. No, that wasn't it. Perhaps this was just a strange coincidence.

Then again, Stormkit's surroundings seemed to match the inhuman (or should I say, incat) creature's perfectly. He'd never directly use both of them in the same sentence. Something with that appearance was to be avoided like the plague. Or, at least that what Mother said. This creature looked like it had the plague. Serveral times, at that.

Stormkit reached forward, bravely. With an outstretched claw, he touched the water gently. When he drew it back, he and the monster had a look of blank shock.

If this was his reflection, he wanted it shattered.