Chapter 3: Haters Gonna Hate

Stormkit sighed as Shadekit shot her a glare from the elder's den. He had been punished and had to take care of the elders for a two moons. One moon in and he was still as hotheaded as always. Flarekit, was still panicked with fear that Shadekit and Stormkit were ghosts and Stormkit was apparently 'crazy' so Shadekit was the only one who was punished. This had brought their temporary truce to an end, sadly.

Stormkit padded up to Shadekit and smiled. "Do you need any help?" she asked.

The other kit just hissed and continued to make the moss nest. Stormkit blinked from hurt and walked away. She went to the fresh-kill pile, picked up a mouse, and nibbled on it half-heartedly. She heard a hiss and looked behind her.

Flarekit stood there next to Blackflower with wide panicked eyes. "Ghost!" she wheezed.

Shadekit, who finished making the elder's nest, snarled at Stormkit. "It's all you fault! If you never wanted to go to the river, she wouldn't be like this!"

Stormkit recoiled from the harsh words and barely held back a whimper. "I'm sorry," she apolagized and reached out with her tail to touch Flarekit's shoulder, but the kit shrank back with fright.

"It's not entirely your fault," Blackflower mewed slowly, as if Stormkit would have a hard time understanding her. "He shouldn't have took you to the river."

Stormkit growled at the medicine cat with frustration. "I'm not stupid! I just hit my head in the river!"

Shadekit rolled his eyes and Blackflower winced visibly. Flarekit took a step back and let out a whimper. "The ghosts... They're back to haunt me. And they're mad!"

"No, don't worry, sister," Shadekit purred. "We're alive and we're ok."

"They sound so genuine!" Flarekit gasped. "They're so..." She reached out with a paw as if about to touch her brother, but pulled it away three claw-lengths away from him.

Stormkit crept out of the den to give them some space. Blackflower followed her hesitantly, but sighed and turned around when Flarekit cried, "No! Don't leave me with the ghosts!"

Stormkit padded over to her father who was eating a mouse. "Yes, Stormkit?" he asked with the same insulting voice.

Her eyes lit up with ferocity and she hissed. "Why does everyone thing I'm stupid? That I can't understand what they are saying?" she snarled. "I was going to ask if I could have a punishment to make it up to Shadekit, but no! Only a crazy cat would ask for a punishment."

Stormkit gave out one last hiss before stomping away, leaving a shocked Foxtooth with a mouse tail hanging from his mouth. "Uh..." He glanced around and saw Darkstar. She offered him a small smiled before padding back to her den.

The kit headed back to the den to meet Shadekit. "I was going to help you clean the elder's den this afternoon, but because of Foxtooth I won't."

"Fine!" Shadekit spat, hatred burning in his eyes. "I didn't want you to anyway.

Stormkit shot him a glare before storming (no pun intended) away, muttering incoherently. She hissed and laid down in the middle of camp near Snowfeather who slowly backed up uncomfortably.

Snowfeather seemed to gather up her courage before speaking. "What's wrong?"

"Everyone thinks I'm crazy and stupid now," she sighed.

The white she-cat smiled slightly. "Not everyone," she assured the kit. "Not me." Snowfeather crept closer and when Stormkit didn't object, laid down.

Stormkit continued. "They always talk slowly like I can't understand them and I wasn't even punished even though it was my fault that we were washed down the river. I even made Flarekit think her own brother was a ghost," she muttered sadly.

Snowfeather opened her mouth to reassure her, but realized that all the kit said were true. "I can't argue with that, but try to look on the bright side!"

"What bright side?" she muttered, bitterness dripping off of her voice.

"Well... You're becoming an apprentice tomorrow!"

"What?"

The warrior blinked. "I assumed you knew?"

"But I'm still five moons and... and crazy! Remember?" she murmured.

"Obviously Darkstar doesn't think you are, otherwise you wouldn't even be out here without a guard or something," Snowfeather shrugged.

"Are Flarekit and Shadekit becoming apprentices too?" she questioned hopefully.

Stowfeather's eyes darkened. "Shadekit is still under punishment and Flarekit is... well, you know."

"Shadekit is older than me," she gasped as realization hit her. Jealousy would only fuel his rage and make him even harder to cope with, if that was possible. "How will he feel?"

"Everyone knows how he'll feel," the white she-cat grumbled softly. "It might be good for Flarekit, though..." She trailed off thoughtfully.

"How?"

Snowfeather seemed to snap back from her thoughts before answering. "If she sees so many cats interacting with you, she might believe you're alive."

"Interesting theory," Stormkit purred. "Who do you think my mentor will be?"

"I don't know..." Snowfeather answered. "Burnclaw has Crowpaw and Creamtail has Smokepaw so it can't be them."

"I hope its you," the kit insisted. "You're the only one who doesn't think I'm crazy."

"You haven't talked to anyone besides the two kits, Foxtooth, Blackflower, and Darkstar," she shot back.

"Good point," she grudgingly admitted. "But still. Every other cat has probably spread gossip that I was so everyone must think that I'm actually crazy so they wouldn't want to mentor me..."

Snowfeather hesitantly nodded in agreement. "That's true as well, but that won't matter. Darkstar has decided it and the leader's word is law," she meowed firmly. She glanced to the side as Foxtooth's voice rung through the clearing. "I think I'll go on a patrol."

Stormkit waved her tail goodbye as the warrior stood up and padded towards the deputy. She sighed and padded to the medicine den where Shadekit greeted her with a hiss. "What are you doing here?"

"I-I thought you might want some help," she explained. "Do you know?"

"Know what?" he asked. Part of his venom was replaced by curiosity.

"Never mind," she hastily mewed. "You'll find out tomorrow."

"Whatever," he growled. Shadekit picked up the bundle of moss soaked in mouse bile and headed towards the nursery. She paused a second before running after him.

When they reached the elder's den he set the moss down and snarled at her, "Why are you following me?"

"I just thought... That I could help," she blinked, eyes full of hurt.

Shadekit did not waver as he responded. "Then stop helping! You're just getting in the way."

"Get in here and start killing these fleas!" the elder yowled.

"Patience, fleabag," Shadekit muttered under his breath.

"Be nice," she warned him. "Rainpelt has served the clan for many moons..."

Shadekit sniffed indignantly and carried the mouse bile in. She could hear a crunch as Shadekit killed a plump flea between his teeth. She felt a presence approaching her and she turned around to see Snowfeather.

"I thought you had a patrol," she mewed, sounding surprised.

"It was full," Snowfeather purred. "I got there a second too late and Willowsong took the last spot."

Stormkit let out a sad chuckle and the humor died from Snowfeather's eyes. "What's wrong, little one?"

Stormkit's eyes widened from surprise, "Little one? Where'd you get that?"

"It just seemed like the right thing to say!" the warrior replied with a worried expression. "I'm sorry."

"No, don't be sorry," Stormkit mewed reassuringly.

"I'm still waiting for an answer," Snowfeather teased.

"Oh, uh. Shadekit is being mean again," she explained. "Nothing big."

"Well, haters gonna hate, little one."

Author's Note: I know... Boring chapter... Oh, well. Uh, pretty much same as always. Thanks to everyone who reviewed/favorited/followed/voted on my poll! Vote on my poll (on my profile) and check out my other story too (also on my profile). Review please! They are my motivation! 3

Um... Random Fact Time? Ok, then!

Shadekit was supposed to be Shadowkit, but then I was like that's too cliché so I changed it :) heh heh

Coco out! ~