I woke to screeches and yowls coming from outside of the camp. My siblings were already awake, watching with wide eyes at the scene unfolding. I scampered over, "What's happening?" It was Streak-kit who answered, "A battle." My ears perked, I glanced behind me with panic. Where was Meanstare, our mother? Streak-kit saw my face and scoffed meanly. "Mouse-brain, she's fighting." Frostkit purred proudly, "Father is fighting too! He's leading the attack against Ironstar."

Our father is the deputy, Bad Apple, whom I had been named after; looking like his miniature. My jaw dropped and I squeaked, "But… he's attacking his own clan?" Hellkit, my brother, grinned. "Yeah, isn't that awesome? He's so brave!" My face screwed up in horror and disgust as I stared at my siblings. They were scaring me with how intensely supportive they were of such vicious deeds. I shivered and bounded out of the den, ignoring Frostkit hiss for me to come back.

I can't believe this; surely my courageous, wonderful, admirable father would never do something so awful as try to overthrow our great leader, Ironstar? No, the others were mistaken! It was Marshclan, we were surely fighting Marshclan. I watched the whirls of fur around me, my eyes moving quickly to see who it was.

I saw Scarface and Ironstar fighting with Bad Apple and Daggerfang. She saw Jaggedscar fighting his own mate Dark Eyes; and just behind Snakepaw and Rippedbelly trying to get past Phantompaw, Raggedear, and Dreampaw. I gasped, they were right! It was a civil war! I yowled and raced back into the safety of the nursery, barreling into Redkit. The eight nursery kits watched in silence as the scene unfolded before our eyes.

Shortly after it had began, the battle of over. Bad Apple and all of his followers had been wrangled into a small circle, bleeding and weak but snarling and fearsome nonetheless. Ironstar stepped forward and glared at his deputy, "Bad Apple, I have trusted you for many moons. You could have been a strong, fierce leader had you followed the warrior code." Father snarled, his neck fur bristling. "I will still be a leader, Ironstar." Ironstar lashed his tail and silenced the dark tom. He continued, "You have betray my trust, and the trust of the clan; and Starclan. I banish you, and all those loyal to you. You have until sunset to be out of Swamclan territory, or you will pay with your lives."

Father snorted defiantly, "I don't need Starclan." He turned and began to walk over to the nursery, the clan members parted, spitting in rage but not daring to touch this evil cat. Father stuck his bloody muzzle into the nursery entrance. "Kits, come out here!" Streak-kit, Hellkit, and Frostkit ran over to Meanstare, pressing against her and purring; glad she was safe.

Father's unnerving crimson eyes met mine and he growled, "Badkit, come. We don't need this clan!" I quivered and backed up, shivering in terror beside Toadkit and Cloudeye. I would go nowhere with this monster. I mewed softly, "I don't want to leave." Fury rippled across his blazing stare and he narrowed his eyes into dangerous flints. His voice was low and menacing, "You have turned against me. You are no longer my daughter." He turned and snarled at his cats to hurry up as he led them away.

Swampclan lost many that day. Bad Apple, Meanstare, Jaggedscar, Daggerfang, Thornpaw, Snakepaw, Rippedbelly, Paintedpaw, Hellkit, Streak-kit, and Frostkit. The entire clan was shaken by my father's degree of treachery and darkness, and they will never forgive him. I look just like him. I am his daughter, I am his name; his legacy. I am my father's stain.