I know that Poinenose's kits died, but I couldn't find their names. It was, however, stated that one of Kinkfur's kits died. Since there was already a Dewpaw in ThunderClan, and since part of this story takes place in ShadowClan, I removed Dewkit in order to avoid confusion.

Again, I will admit that these first few chapters do not really portray the characters how I wished, Maplekit especially... but I can't see any way to fix it without rewriting it all and I don't want to do that. So, here you go.

Chapter 1

The ThunderClan camp was bustling with activity. Maplekit curled her tail around her paws, watching her Clanmates go about their day with wide, admiring eyes.

Warm newleaf sunshine warmed the camp, caught in the stone hollow. Maplekit had been inside the nursery for most of leaf-bare, and while she enjoyed playing with her denmates in the snow she didn't miss the cold. The sun warmed her tortoiseshell tabby pelt comfortably, with a cool breeze to chase away the lingering heat.

Her green gaze flitted across the camp. She knew the names of every cat in ThunderClan already, from apprentices to elders, and she couldn't wait to walk amongst them as an apprentice, and then a warrior.

But I have to wait a moon, she thought.

She was five moons old, the only kit of Dovewing and Bumblestripe. Maplekit spotted her parents sitting outside he warrior's den, eating fresh-kill and chatting with Ivypool, Dovewing's sister, and Toadstep, Ivypool's mate. Maplekit had heard that Ivypool would be expecting kits soon, and she would be moving into the nursery – but Ivypool was a warrior through and through, and she was doing every task she could until her move was inevitable.

Lionblaze, the proud golden tabby tom, padded out of the warrior's den. He didn't say much as he crossed the camp, but he nodded to every cat he passed, including Maplekit. Maplekit reflected on how huge he was as he padded into the nursery to check on Cinderheart and their three kits.

As fun as it was having playmates, the three tom-kits Sootkit, Rainkit, and Hollykit were a pawful to say the least. They always tended to get into the worst sort of trouble, and they always wanted to sneak out of camp. Maplekit wondered how Cinderheart and Lionblaze could stand it.

A flash of tortoiseshell padding out of the apprentice's den and a familiar scent told Maplekit that Spottedpaw had awoken. The tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat had been made an apprentice three sunrises ago, and Maplekit missed her in the nursery – they had been so close! How could they be close now that Spottedpaw was an apprentice?

Amberpaw, Dewpaw, and Snowpaw followed her out of the den. Spottedpaw and Snowpaw made for the fresh-kill pile, while Dewpaw and Amberpaw went to pester their mentors. Maplekit watched enviously as Amberpaw joined Brackenfur, Cloudtail, Brightheart, Millie, and Icecloud on a patrol. Dewpaw went with them, trailing after Millie.

Someday that will be me, Maplekit told herself.

"Hey, Maplekit!"

Maplekit pricked her ears. Spottedpaw was calling her!

She bounded over to her former denmate with enthusiasm – so much so that she forgot to watch where she was going. When she reached the fresh-kill pile, she stubbed her paw on a stiff squirrel and tripped, landing sprawled on her side.

Maplekit picked herself up, shaking out her fur, and looked up at Spottedpaw, hot with embarrassment. Spottedpaw's eyes were wide, and Snowpaw's whiskers were twitching.

"Maplekit, are you OK?" Snowpaw asked.

"I-I'm fine, thanks," Maplekit insisted. She glanced at Spottedpaw. "What's up?"

"I was just wondering if you wanted to share some fresh-kill," Spottedpaw told her. Her ears were twitching at the awkward situation. "Since I'm on den-cleaning duty today, I figured we could spend some time together."

"O-Of course!" Maplekit insisted. "I could help you, too; if you want!"

Spottedpaw blinked. "That's not necessary," she said. "Just come and share a mouse with me. We can work on your hunting crouch."

"StarClan knows she needs it," Snowpaw grumbled, "if what I've seen is true."

Spottedpaw stepped on one of his paws. Snowpaw yelped, and then grumbled as Spottedpaw's glare sent him away.

Maplekit felt a rush of pride – Spottedpaw, her best friend in all of ThunderClan, was none other than Squirrelflight and Bramblestar's daughter. The kit of the Clan leader and the Clan deputy, as her best friend! It was enough to make her tail curl with joy that a glare from Spottedpaw could send Snowpaw, an older apprentice, packing!

"Oh, just ignore him," Spottedpaw mewed. She settled down, placing the mouse between them. Maplekitsat across from her. "Snowpaw's got Cloudtail's attitude, that's for sure!"

Maplekit purred, but it died in her throat soon after. "I… am I really that bad?" she wondered quietly.

Spottedpaw blinked at her friend. "Maplekit," Spottedpaw offered, "you're doing just fine. You're still just a kit…"

"But Cinderheart's kits are a moon younger than me, and they're all really good at the hunter's crouch," Maplekit pointed out. "Hollykit's practically perfected his! I'm still all wobbly and stuff…"

"We'll work on it," Spottedpaw promised.

She took a large bite of mouse, and then pushed the remains to Maplekit. She took a small bite, savoring the flavors of the meal. She imagined herself, strong and proud, her pelt glowing in the sunshine, stalking a mouse to bring back for her Clan.

As strong and confident as she looked in her mind, Maplekit knew she wasn't that way in real life. She could fill her jaws full of prey in her dreams, but in reality she would only trip over the pile of prey that other warriors caught. Sure, she would catch one or two mice, maybe a bird or a rabbit… but her contribution to the pile would be nothing compared to the other warriors. She would just fade into the background, unnoticed and completely useless.

"Maplekit?" Spottedpaw wondered. "What's wrong?"

Maplekit sniffled. "I'll be a terrible apprentice!" she mumbled, resisting the urge to wail. "I'm five moons old and I can't even get the hunting crouch right."

"I told you we'd work on it!" Spottedpaw gasped. "You'll have a mentor to make sure all your skills are just as good as any warrior's!"

"What if I'm too much of a failure?" Maplekit asked. "What if my mentor doesn't think I'm worth teaching?"

"That's not true!" Spottedpaw insisted. "So you're a little clumsy on your paws… every cat has something they need to work through. No warrior is born perfect!"

Maplekit was silent. She felt Spottedpaw's praise warm her on the surface, but deep inside she was still conscious of her lack of confidence. She looked past her friend and towards the warrior's den. Dovewing and Bumblestripe were sharing tongues. From the twitching of her mother's ears, Maplekit knew that her mother was keeping tabs on not only her, but the entire forest. As she watched, Dovewing stood up and mewed something to her mate, padding towards Highledge.

Mama has such special powers, Maplekit thought. How can she – or any cat – be proud of someone who was born without powers like her?

A yowl echoed through the camp. Maplekit and Spottedpaw looked up from their shared meal to find that some cat was coming through the thorn barrier. The bracken and brambles twitched as Brackenfur and Amberpaw padded through. Behind them was a very young she-cat with long, pale gray fur. An unfamiliar scent wafted from her, pungent and sour.

Squirrelflight and Bramblestar came from Highledge, Dovewing just behind them. The fur on Squirrelflight's shoulders bristled, and she hissed, "ShadowClan!"