AN: Hi people of Earth!

Snowkit is deaf. Therefore, he will not use the same terminology that normal warriors use. For instance, "Teachers" are mentors and "learners" are apprentices. The names will also be different; Brightpaw is Ginger due to her ginger patches, Deputy is Fireheart due to his rank, and Brackenfur is Brave just because Snowkit looks up to him.

Reading the Allegiance is very important as you will probably NOT be able to guess which cats are which at first glance.

ThunderClan Allegiances (according to Snowkit)

Leader (Bluestar)-blue-gray she-cat, tinged with silver around her muzzle

Deputy (Fireheart)-handsome ginger tom

Learner, Cloud (Cloudpaw)

Healer (Cinderpelt)-dark gray she-cat

Warriors:

White (Whitestorm) -big white tom

Learner, Ginger (Brightpaw)

Dark (Darkstripe)-sleek black-and-gray tabby tom

Learner, Freckles (Fernpaw)

Frost (Frostfur)-beautiful white coat and blue eyes

Brindle (Brindleface)-pretty tabby

Long Tail (Longtail)-pale tabby tom with dark black stripes

Learner, Swift (Swiftpaw)

Prey (Mousefur)-small dusky brown she-cat

Apprentice, Stripes (Thornpaw)

Brave (Brackenfur)-golden brown tabby tom

Dust (Dustpelt)-dark brown tabby tom

Learner, Ash (Ashpaw)

Sand (Sandstorm)-pale ginger she-cat

Learners:

Swift-black-and-white tom

Cloud-long-haired white tom

Ginger-she-cat, white with ginger splotches

Stripes-golden brown tabby tom

Freckles-pale gray (with darker flecks) she-cat, pale green eyes

Ash-pale gray (with darker flecks) tom, dark blue eyes

Kit-mothers:

Golden (Goldenflower)-pale ginger coat (Kits: Claws/Bramblekit and Tawny/Tawnykit)

Mom/Speckles (Speckletail)-pale tabby, the oldest kit-mother (Kit: Snowkit)

Silver (Willowpelt)-very pale gray she-cat with unusual blue eyes (Kits: Blue/Rainkit, Soot/Sootkit, Marble/Sorrelkit)

Elders:

One Eye (One-eye)-pale gray she-cat, the oldest she-cat in ThunderClan; virtually blind

Small Ears (Smallear)-gray tom with very small ears; the oldest tom in ThunderClan

Dapple (Dappletail)-once-pretty tortoiseshell she-cat with a lovely dappled coat

Prologue

Snowkit shifted in his sleep, the sun's rays pouring into the nursery, making it hard to continue resting. He blinked open his wide, blue eyes, and then closed them against the glaring light. A tired growl rumbled in his throat as he got to his paws. He stretched, and then looked over towards his mother. The speckled kit-mother looked worn and exhausted, even in her sleep.

I wish Mom could find a little peace, at least in her sleep.

As far as Snowkit could remember, his mother had been stressed, fussing over him and glaring at any cat that so much as glanced at him.

The other kits don't get fussed over nearly as much.

But for all his complaining, Snowkit could never resent his mother. She was, after all, the oldest kit-mother in the nursery, and he was her only kit. Let her fuss a little; Snowkit could handle it.

I'm her only kit. It's my job to make sure my mother feels needed.

Snowkit puffed out his chest with pride at his self-appointed job. Yes, he would take great care of his mother.

Starting now

Snowkit walked up to his sleeping mom. He pawed at her muzzle, but she only rolled over onto her other side. Snowkit huffed in annoyance, and then proceeded to attack her tail playfully. His thorn-sharp claws pricked the end of her tail. The golden kit-mother's eyes opened, surprised, and then glinted as she saw who her attacker was.

Snowkit stopped, swallowing; he was suddenly worried his mother might be angry at his antics. But her eyes shone with amusement, and she waved her tail back and forth. Snowkit let out a happy squeal as he pounced on his fluffy prey.

Snowkit scented a group of cats approaching camp. He stopped playing and left the nursery to investigate. The sun was only a few kitten-steps above the horizon, and Snowkit blinked his eyes in reaction to the dazzling dawn rays. The gorse tunnel rustled, and he jumped as he saw cats coming into camp. He flattened his fur, however, once he realized the cats were friendly. Deputy was the first cat to come into camp; his fiery pelt looked like fire in the sun. Then the brown tabby learner, Stripes, followed by Prey, Stripe's small brown teacher, came through the tunnel. A couple of cats approached Deputy. White, Cloud, and Ginger all had fresh-kill. Snowkit's mouth watered at the idea of eating prey. His mother had allowed him to try his first prey a couple of moons ago, and the earthy taste had intrigued him.

Snowkit snapped back to attention as he saw the other cats leave. Deputy looked like he was also about to leave, but was stopped by Brave. Snowkit had always liked the golden-brown tabby tom; Brave seemed to have a great deal of interest in Snowkit. Not to mention he was always working hard and helping other cats.

I wonder if he'll be my teacher.

Snowkit's mother stepped out of the nursery. She looked weary as always, but today her playfulness was masked by an air of determination.

Did I do something wrong?

Snowkit wasn't used to his mother acting so serious. She walked over to him and motioned with her tail for him to sit. Snowkit settled into the firm grass, curious as to what his mother was doing. She dropped into a crouch, her back level, and her tail slightly above the ground. She met Snowkit's eyes with an almost desperate expression.

Oh, I get it!

Snowkit got to his paws, and then crouched in a playful position. He and his mother had done this many times, as well as the other kits. His mother would crouch playfully, Snowkit would copy her, and then pounce and play-fight with his mom. But this time was different; his mother was acting so serious, and seemed disappointed when he crouched playfully.

Snowkit was acutely aware of Deputy's gaze, but when he turned to meet it, Deputy had turned back to Brave.

Why does Deputy always look at me like that? He always looks at me funny, like I've done something wrong.

Snowkit turned back to his mother and pawed at her, looking at her with bright eyes, his tail fluffed up as he anticipated playtime. His mother shook her head sadly, and then walked towards the nursery, clearly upset. Snowkit started to follow her, but held back.

Maybe I didn't play the game right.

He was distracted as a purple insect with large, beautiful wings fluttered by his nose. Snowkit shied away, and then stared after it.

It's so pretty…

Snowkit pawed at it, and squealed as it flew up just above his head. He leapt after it, pawing excitedly at the lovely violet wings. He was about to pounce when a shadow fell over the clearing.

I think we all know what happens now.

Snowkit looked up, and all he could see was a giant being coming down from the sky, and he felt talons piercing his skin at the same moment his mother and Brave leapt towards the great beast. Snowkit opened his mouth in a silent wail, and then closed his eyes against the pain. He was only vaguely aware of the two cats holding on to his predator. His mother used her free paw to repeatedly slash at the beast's face. Snowkit's sides burned as the beast suddenly released its grip, and the snowy kit fell down, down, down; the ground suddenly rushed up to meet him, and the world went black.