Lilykit wished she could wake up peacefully and watch the sun rise. Lilykit wished she could be free, and love the cats around her. Now it was impossible.
From the dark of the night, she had been snatched away from her beloved mother, Rosestripe. The cats that had kidnapped her were rouges, and have no law or love for her. They wanted her to be their slave.
--
"Lilykit!"
"Lilykit!"
"No!"
Rosestripe yowled at the moon, pleading Starclan to bring her daughter back to her. The young kit had been stealthily snatched away. A tortie she-cat picked Lilykit up gently by the scruff, careful not to awake her. Just as she was about to escape through a hole through the bramble barrier, a thorn had scratched Lilykit's ear and she woke up the whole clan.
By the time the clan had realized she had gone, she had gone for sure. They sat in vigil for her, although she was still alive. Lilykit didn't want to be alive.
--
"Hurry up you useless pile of dung!"
I woke from the pain on my ear.
"Mother?"
"I'm not your mother. I'm your master."
"What?"
"You may call me master."
"Why?"
"If you don't do what we say, we'll hurt you bad."
A dark ginger paw slammed onto my small head and I tasted mud. A lower voiced tom growled, "I'm the leader. I'm Fox."
The first tortie she-cat was Vixen, and another silver tom was Steel. I was named "bug". When I tried to introduce myself as Lilykit, Vixen scratched my back. Fox named me my horrible name.
My other names were "dung," "mousebrain," and "midget."
They raised me without a single nuzzle or lick of affection. I hated them. They constantly clawed me for speaking. When I was about 7 moons old, they forced me to hunt for them. I had to learn quickly, or else I would die.
I drew in scent. A mouse was in front of me a few fox lengths away. I accidentally stepped on a stick, and the mouse ran right into me. I buried it for later.
After the hunting trip, I carefully revealed 3 mice, one vole, and 2 birds. I delivered them to my three masters.
I first picked up two mice for Vixen. I slowly padded up to her with my head bowed down and placed the mice at her feet. Then, I crouched down for my daily beating. Vixen always did that and ordered me to do it every day. Vixen unsheathed a claw and sunk them deep into my shoulders. I cried out in pain.
Then, she fastened her jaws around my tail and pulled. I tried to squirm away, and she let me, spitting. Then, I took the 2 birds for Fox.
I set them at his feet and when I started to go, Fox said, "Wait."
I turned back, shuddering, and crouched down at his paws. He surveyed me for a moment and my wound on my shoulder. Then he bit down hard on my wound. I yowled and fell limp, waiting for him to let go.
When he stopped gnawing on my flesh, I scurried away with my tail in between my legs. Finally, I took the last pieces of prey and headed for Steel. I put them down in front of him and lay down in front of him, belly side up.
He shifted the prey so it was right by my belly and said, "I'm hungry today."
Then he lunged at my belly, pretending to be eating the prey. I yowled and tried to squirm away. Steel didn't let up easily. He put a paw on my cheek and one on my hindquarters and continued to bite me.
Steel finally let go and snapped at my already injured tail as I ran away. Vixen spat, "Come for my dirt."
I padded head down towards her dirt. I nosed the 3's dirt together and prepared to bury them. Fox came to me and pushed my head down into the dirt. I struggled and got a mouthful of dirt.
I heard them cackling above me, laughing at me. I started to suffocate from the stench, and Vixen bit my ear and let me up. Steel ordered me to roll in the dung, or else he would make me do it.
I obeyed, and rolled in the disgusting smell until the 3 was on the ground laughing. I took this chance to get away. I dashed into the forest. I heard them hot on my heels, but if I stop, they would kill me.