"Did you want me to change? Well I changed for good And I want you to know. That you'll always get your way I wanted to say..." - Shiver, Coldplay

CHAPTER ONE

The warmth of newleaf brought a fresh breath of life to the forest. Birdsong filled the air. Prey scurried about in the undergrowth, searching for food or mates. It was a peaceful time in the forest. Life couldn't be better for the Clan as they itched to stretch out their legs and patrol the borders. With such a difficult leafbare life had finally started looking up when the snow started melting.

Honeykit brushed her muzzle forward, expecting to feel the warmth of her mother's belly. She blinked her eyes open when she realized that mother wasn't in the nursery. She looked around and saw that her siblings were gone as well. Honeykit sat back and looked down at her paws, wondering if it was better to stay in the nursery or venture outside. She had never gone outside without mother watching closely. Mother always watched her kits, ever since father had died.

"It's okay, you're mother just went to get some fresh-kill." Honeykit looked at the speaker, and turned to see Whiteberry looking down at her sympathetically. "You're... Honeykit, right?" Honeykit just nodded in response. Whiteberry looked startled when she saw something in Honeykit's eyes. But the moment didn't last long as she swept her tail around her kits. "Why don't you join me, at least until your mother gets back."

For a moment Honeykit was tempted to stay where she was. But the temptation of warmth was almost too much. She glanced over her shoulder warily before trotting over to Whiteberry on unsteady paws. It was still difficult getting used to walking. At four moons old she should be able to move around with ease like her brothers. But something had happened that made her 'develop' slower, as her mother had tried explaining. Honeykit didn't know what that meant, but she knew it couldn't be anything good.

"There we go," Whiteberry purred as Honeykit tumbled into her nest. Shadowkit let out a squeal as Honeykit almost bumped into him. She wanted to apologize, but Whiteberry stopped her. "It wasn't your fault... you'll just have to be a little more careful," Whiteberry reassured her.

Honeykit nodded and thought about the way her mother had left her to go out with Sunkit and Scorchkit. They were the same age, and yet mother seemed to let them go out more than her. Honeykit sighed at the thought and wondered if there was something wrong with her. Maybe that was why mother didn't want to see her.

"Why doesn't mother like me?" she finally asked out loud. Whiteberry stared at her as if she was shocked by such a question. It took a moment for her to answer.

"Your mother doesn't hate you," Whiteberry replied. "I think... you just remind her so much of your father. She still misses him."

"Oh." Honeykit looked down at her paws, suddenly feeling ashamed of thinking such thoughts. Of course her mother loved her. Sagewind loved them all. "Can you tell me a story about him? About what he was like?" she suddenly asked. Whiteberry looked at her in shock once again before taking a deep breath.

"Your father was very brave," she began. "He fought in many battles and came back victorious. But there was one battle that he could not win... and he paid the price for that mistake. He loved you very much, and gave his life to protect you."

Honeykit found herself picturing what her father might look like. She had faint memories of his appearance. A ginger and white pelt. Warm green eyes looking back at her with love. She remembered the way her mother used to look at her that way. What had changed?

"What do you think are you doing?" Honeykit's eyes widened at the sound of mother's voice. Sagewind stood at the entrance of the nursery, with Sunkit and Scorchkit at her paws. "I didn't ask for you to leave the nest," she scolded.

"I did." Anger sounded in Whiteberry's voice. "She's old enough to go outside with her brothers."

She didn't miss the exchange between Whiteberry and Sagewind. Spottedmist was outside the nursery, since her kits were almost six moons old. Honeykit was thankful for that. She wasn't sure what had happened to make them dislike one another so much.

"She is also weaker than her brothers," Sagewind snapped. "She doesn't leave the nursery unless I say so."

With that being said, Sagewind left the nursery and guided Sunkit and Scorchkit away. Honeykit looked down at her paws shamefully. Her own mother wanted nothing to do with her. She glanced uncertainly at Whiteberry, but the white she-cat was still glaring after Sagewind.

"Let all cats old enough gather around the leader's rock for a Clan meeting!" Honeykit's ears pricked forward when she heard Tinystar's voice. She had met Tinystar once when her eyes had first opened. The leader seemed fair and kind.

"I want to see the ceremony!" Honeykit squealed.

She ignored Whiteberry's protest and struggled to climb out of the nursery. It took a few heartbeats, but Honeykit managed to find her way out of the nest and towards the nursery entrance. She blinked a few times against the harsh sunlight that greeted her.

"By naming apprentices we show that the Clan will remain strong..." Honeykit tried standing on her hind paws to see. She squealed once again and tumbled forward, bumping into Spottedmist in the process.

"Watch what your doing, kit," Spottedmist hissed.

"But I want to see the ceremony!" Honeykit insisted.

"You aren't an apprentice, or a warrior, so back off." Honeykit's ears flattened with annoyance when she saw her mother sitting outside along with Sunkit and Scorchkit. Why were they allowed to see the ceremony while she wasn't? None of it made any sense.

"Don't mind them," Whiteberry murmured, catching what Spottedmist had told her. Honeykit glanced at Whiteberry nervously. "Spottedmist is just worried about her kits becoming apprentices. It won't be long before you join them."

Honeykit stifled a purr of excitement at the thought. She couldn't wait to explore the camp and see the territory for the first time. Her mother didn't let her out of the nursery often enough. Soon she would prove that mother was wrong about her. That she was stronger than she looked.

She tumbled into mother's nest and curled up as sleep suddenly took over. Maybe tomorrow she could slip out of the nursery unnoticed. Mother wouldn't mind too much. Either way, Honeykit wasn't going to let her mother slow her down.


AN: These first couple of chapters will be shorter, but I plan on making them longer as time goes on. And wow, five reviews already! You guys really are amazing :)

HalfSun - Thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying it so much :)

ThePaintedKittyKat - Thanks!

Cloudjumper Kat - Thanks, I'll be sure to put in Spiderfrost. And I could always use more OCs, they are appreciated and will be added in :)

badguthrie - Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it so far :) Hopefully it will be as good as I Promise...

Flamepelt the Cat - Me too!