My mother always thought that I developed...a bit slower than the others. My brother opened his eyes a week after he was born and I was three weeks late. My mother begged me to open my eyes, to see the world. I could sense the overwhelming anxiety in her voice, she was always the one who thought and worried more than the rest. One of the elders then told me, that reality is cruelty, so why should I open my eyes? I asked my mother, and she just stoned there for awhile before padding away. From then on, she wasn't as protective as before. She let me try out different things that my brother was not allowed to, like how to swim, how to climb, how to dig holes. I decided that I should be kind once, and open my eyes for her.

My father was different. He told us different stories, like why birds could fly and how the clans came to be. He told me that I was named Snowkit, partly because of my white pelt and because he and my mother hoped that I will grow up staying pure like the snow, not tainted by the world's ugly truth. Firekit was named Firekit, for my father hoped that he will burn like a fire, giving his best at everything. Then I asked him, why was Bluekit named Bluekit, he told me he didn't know, and I should ask her mother instead. I replied that perhaps Bluekit was named Bluekit, just because her pelt is blue-gray, but my father scolded me for thinking that way. He said that parents don't name their kits for no reason. Every name carries hope.

One day, Firekit came running towards me, saying that the sun turned white. I was always told that the sun is orange and yellowish, how could it be snow white? I finally had the urge to open my eyes and when I did, the first cat I saw was my father, then the sun in the sky.

My father had ginger fur so bright that it could compete with the sun. He had light blue eyes that will make you feel lost whenever you stare into them. Then I saw my mother. She had white fur like me, only that her pelt was covered with lots of black patches. There was traces of amazement in her eyes as she looked into my eyes. My brother has ginger fur like my father, just that it was lighter and not as bright.

There was another cat in this place. My mother said that she is her best friend, and I must respect her at all times. This cat allowed no nonsense and required respect from the kits at all times. With such a strict mother, I don't know why is there a cheeky daughter. Bluekit is playful and daring. She tried everything that we dared her to. We would dare her to eat leaves, sneak into the Warriors' den. Then our dares got bigger. We dared her to put fire ants in the leader's nest, we dared her to mess up the medicine cat's stacks of herbs. She was a true devil. She did everything and escaped almost all the punishments. However, Dewdrop seemed to know everything. Each dare came with a scolding from Dewdrop.

When we grew up, Firekit became Firefoot, I was Snowstep and Bluekit was Blueleaf. We never forgot one another. Our relationship grew deeper each day, but everyone should know, that all relationships are fragile, and no matter how deep they are, they will be broken some day. I just hope that day will not come so soon.

Firefoot ended up in the Elder's den when he was only fifteen moons old. He should be hunting, fighting, contributing to the clan, but instead, he was moping around, unable to do anything. Blueleaf had a lot of toms padding after her, but she stayed by my brother's side. Everyone wondered why, but I knew the reason. It was partly due to guilt, and also...true love.

One day, I brought a toad to my brother. "Your eyes are amber," he laughed. "Amber eyes like mother's!" I did not know what to reply. He stopped laughing abruptly, putting his head on his paws. The den was silent for awhile.

"Firefoot, why did we end up like this?" I asked, my heart aching.

We had a conversation, sharing each other's thoughts. I thought it was father's fault, but Firefoot thought it was the whole clan's fault, especially mother's. It was everyone's fault that his legs are broken, my life was messed up and Blueleaf had to take care of a useless mate. I wanted to stop, but Firefoot wanted me to continue.

"I am beginning to forget what happened..."

"That's good, bad memories are meant to be forgot."

"I don't want to forget... I want to remember them..."

I was confused for awhile, before understanding what my brother meant.

"Tell me now, how it all started."

"It all started when RiverClan declared war on us..."

ShadowClan

Leader - Nightstar

(Pure black tom with an unusually long, thin tail.)

Deputy - Pineclaw

(Mottled brown she-cat with leafy green eyes.)

Medicine Cat - Yarrowpelt

(Yellowish gray tom with dark amber eyes.)

Warriors -

Sandheart (Sandy-colored she-cat with creamy-white paws.)

Pebblestream (Pale gray tabby she-cat with a white tail-tip.)

Tigerfang (Ginger tom with darker stripes and light blue eyes.)

Blizzardwing (Pure white she-cat with dark blue eyes.)

Blackstorm (Black tom with white under-belly and paws.)

Torntail (Mottled gray she-cat with a torn tail.)

Queens -

Patchwhisker (White she-cat with black patches and black paws.)

Dewdrop (Blue-gray she-cat with a short bushy tail.)

Kits -

Firekit (Light ginger tabby tom with white paws.) Mother: Patchwhisker

Snowkit (Snow white she-kit with warm amber eyes.) Mother: Patchwhisker

Bluekit (Blue-gray she-kit with a messy pelt.) Mother: Dewdrop

Apprentices -

Willowpaw (Long-furred blue-gray she-cat with yellow eyes.) Mentor: Tigerfang

Beetlepaw (Black tom with emerald green eyes.) Mentor: Pineclaw

Elders -

Flowerstep (Creamy white she-cat with brown patches.)

Lionleap (Golden brown tom with a white chest.)

I hope that you took time to read the allegiances, because every cat listed plays a role in this story. This story is about Snowstep, her family and most importantly, her abusive father. Snowstep will have to make a lot of decisions in her life, and all these decisions will have consequences. This is my first story, so please review!