Chapter I-

The "Ugly"

Have you ever been called "Ugly"? Have you ever been told that you should be "Ashamed" of your body? Has anyone ever said you would never be "Beautiful", "Bountiful", or "Pretty"? Many have told me that. To be honest with you, I never understood how I could keep my head above water with the burning pain of torment tearing at my flesh. So I decided after I went through the torment, why not tell others my story? Why not make a story dedicated to all those out there who are being bullied? I certainly saw nothing wrong with it. I hope you enjoy my life story, even if you aren't being bullied at the moment!

It was a beautiful day in ThunderClan when I was born. I was born into fresh air, with the fragrance of flowers surrounding me. My mother was smiling down at her three kits with the happiest smile I had ever seen. My father was right beside her, smiling down so happily down at us. Until he saw me. I was the ugliest, most hideous light brown furball he had ever seen. I did not know it at the time, but I was hated. I was saw as the difference, the ugly difference between me and my sisters. Mother decided to name me Fernkit. Father begged to differ. He said that such a pretty name shouldn't be given to something so hideous as me, and rather to one of my sisters. My mother, of course, opposed the idea. She was the only kin that cared about me, and I was fine just as long as she loved me. But that began to change.

"You're so ugly!" Seedkit taunted. Poppykit snorted with laughter. Those taunts, I ignored. After so long, they stopped stinging, and just started to get plain annoying. I was fine with my littermates hating me, I was fine with my father hating me. I understood for someone as young as me that wasn't going to change. The day I became an apprentice was probably the best day I ever had since I was born.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join me beneath High Ledge!" Gorsestar roared, beckoning his clan into the clearing. Everyone knew what day it was, due to Mother's immense bragging and boasting about this day. My mother, in fact, was still bragging.

"Seedkit, come here please," Gorsestar asked my sister, the oldest of my litter. Seedkit bounced up, and anyone could tell how excited she was. This lead to many giggles in the crowd. For once, I was smiling for my sister. Then I quickly remembered how she and Poppykit treated me. I still was smiling like an idiot, for some reason. I still don't know that reason today, and my puzzle will probably be forever unsolved.

"I now name you Seedpaw. May you have good luck in your training with your mentor: Nightpelt," he told the she-kit, now old enough to be called a she-cat. Nightpelt came up and licked Seedpaw's shoulder, and she did the same. The clan rang out in chants:

"Seedpaw!"

"Seedpaw!"

"Seedpaw!" they did this numerous times, and my littermate beamed with pride as she followed her mentor down. Now it was my turn.

"Fernkit, please come forth," Gorsestar said. I quickly made sure my pelt looked decent before I made my way up to the ThunderClan leader. My green eyes were lit up with excitement.

"I now name you Fernpaw. May you as well have good luck in your training with your mentor: Nettletail," Gorsestar told me. I remember meeting Nettletail. She was as pretty as she was good at fighting. Hunting wasn't the best thing she could do, but she made me happy. And you'll see why. We both licked each other's shoulders and in that moment she said:

"I look forward to training you Fernpaw." I smiled at her words and nodded my head. Nettletail was going to be the best mentor ever, I knew that then, and I know she was now. Just then Gorsestar called for Poppykit. She bounced up the same way Seedkit did, as if she were copying her sister to get attention. I didn't blame her. It seemed that Seedkit got a lot of attention from both Mother and Father, and everyone else. Poppykit was just the follower, the cat that did everything to just be like one special cat.

"I now name you Poppypaw. May you have good luck in your training with your mentor: Jaggedfur." Poppykit looked stunned for a few moments. She wanted someone else to be her mentor, I knew it just by looking at her. I'm pretty sure everyone else could too. Her eyes were wide with shock and disgust. Jaggedfur was a very old senior warrior, so old it was surprising he wasn't in the elder's den by now. Jaggedfur was kind of like me, in a certain point of view. We both were called "ugly". While that was such a perfect moment, becoming an apprentice, my future was so much dimmer, living through countless tortures. I had no idea then, I was so innocent. I was blind from reality, the real world.

Thanks for reading Chapter I(1) of "UGLY"! Please review, follow, and favorite. Go check out my other stuff too! It's legit :)

-Toaster Stroodal