PROLOGUE
"I have come to collect what is mine!" Twigpelt stood in the entrance to the Shadeclan camp. It was so dark, that he looked like a shadow of himself. Bramblestar faced him, her brown tabby fur fluffed up so she looked twice her size.
"Nothing in this camp belongs to you, Stormclan scum!" She spat in his face. "There is nothing for you to claim, go home!" Twigpelt shoved his face right into Bramblestars.
"So you think," he sneered. "But Honeywing and I know better!" Every cat turned to face Honeywing, who sat in the entrance to the nursery, with her three kits, Pondkit, Shadekit, and Pebblekit. Bramblestar headed over to her, her feet scraping the dusty ground, and rolling over pebbles.
"Honeywing, you never did tell us who the father of your kits was," Bramblestar paused. "Was it.. This cat?" She nodded towards Twigpelt. Honeywing looked to her paws.
"I can't lie to you, Bramblestar. He is.." Thistleberry snorted, and looked away. Twigpelt looked triumphant.
"She even admits it," Twigpelt jeered, his eyes glowing. "Now I will take my kits home." He moved to step into the camp, but Softpetal and Dustheart stepped in his way. Amberfang looked up from where he crouched.
"Kits arn't to be fought over like prey," He meowed, his eyes glinting in the dark. His mate, Jayleaf, licked his cheek, then looked at Twigpelt.
"The kits may be young, but they should get a say in where they live." Twigpelt's companion, Frostflower glared at her.
"They have lived their whole lives here! It would be an unfair vote!" She spat. Jayleaf was unfazed.
"You're treating them like your possessions. They have feelings, and opinions, which you can't influence." Jayleaf meowed, reasonably.
"Kits are too young to make their own choices! And when they do join us, they're young enough to adapt." Twigpelt stepped infront of Frostflower.
"I don't want to live with you!" Shadekit squeaked, "You're smelly!" Honeywing wrapped her paw around him and pulled him back into the nursery.
"Hush!"
"We'll fight for these kits if it comes to it," Twigpelt hissed, "and if they refuse to come without their mother, we'll just take her as well!" Bramblestar padded towards Twigpelt.
"Who, or what gave you the right to walk into our camp and demand that you take four cats out with you?" She hissed, "You have no right!" Bramblestars fur stuck up, and her teeth were bared. Her claws were unsheathed, and dug into the well-packed earth. "Half-clan kits go to their mothers clan!" Honeywing stumbled out of the nursery.
"Bramblestar, I don't want to cause a battle! If the kits want to stay with me, then I'll go with Twigpelt.. I don't want to be anymore trouble for you.." All the cats stared at here with confused and disbelieving looks on their faces. Honeywing shuffled her paws, clearly embarrassed by the took the chance to take control of the situation.
"You said that cats have a right to choose where they live, and Honeywing has decided! Unless you want to stand here now, and tell me that you were wrong before, she and our kits are Stormclan now." Bramblestar stood, shocked, her mouth half open. She turned away from Honeywing.
"We would have fought for you, Honeywing. But you have proved yourself unworthy," She shook her head. "Go with him, before I kill both of you." Honeywing stared at her feet. She took one shaky step forward, nudging her kits along with her.
"Honeywing? Where are we going?" Pebblekit tripped over his mother's shuffling paws as she took more steps. Honeywing didn't reply, just walked towards the gap in the rock walls. She joined Twigpelt, who took one last triumphant gaze at the Shadeclan cats, before leaving the camp, most likely never to set paw inside again.