"You piece of fox-dung, stop playing with Goldenkit this instant!" Shadowkit flattened her ears, turning slowly around to see Grayfoot, Duskstripe's mate and Goldenkit's father, padding over to them. Goldenkit turned, meeting Grayfoot's gaze with an equal attitude of defiance.

Shadowkit forced herself not to flinch as Grayfoot's icy glare scorched her black fur. As his blue eyes landed on Goldenkit, he softened. "Goldenkit, come on. Duskstripe needs to wash you. Your apprentice ceremony will start any moment."

Goldenkit seemed to forget all about Shadowkit. Her amber eyes brighted, and she jumped to her paws eagerly, her tail high as she trotted after her father, not even casting a glance back at Shadowkit, who snorted incredulously.

It's her apprentice ceremony, Shadowkit thought. So does that mean it's mine, too? Shadowkit shrugged. It's not as though her life would change that much. She would just be criticized more, this time by her mentor, too.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a clan meeting!" Shadowkit lifted her head towards the Highledge to see a blue-gray tom standing on the rock, gazing down at all of ThunderClan. She flinched uncontrollably as his icy blue gaze met hers, and she tore her green eyes away to stare down, at her paws. So that's Pebblestar.

Heartbeats later, Goldenkit padded out of the nursery.

Her golden-brown fur was damp and perfectly sleek, hanging down in clumps. Shadowkit stifled a snort. According to her, Goldenkit looked better without that severe a washing. I'm glad no one's going to do that to me, Shadowkit realized. Probably the only good thing about being hated in the clan. She rolled her eyes as Goldenkit bounded towards her, amber eyes bright. "Come on, Shadowkit!"

"It's your apprentice ceremony," Shadowkit muttered.

Goldenkit shrugged. "You might be made an apprentice, too." Shadowkit let out a breath as she heard Goldenkit emphasize the word 'might'. Goldenkit frowned. "Do you not want to be made an apprentice? That's new."

"Of course not!" Shadowkit snapped, with more confidence than she felt. "I don't want another cat cursing at me all day!"

Goldenkit winced as though Shadowkit had struck her with her long claws. "I didn't mean-"

"Go on," Shadowkit mewed quietly. "Pebblestar's waiting for you." Goldenkit silently bowed her head, then turned and padded towards the Highledge, vanishing into the crowd of cats, only to reappear in the center, along with her littermates. Might as well join her, Shadowkit thought, padding after her, but she stayed at the edge of the crowd. The blue-gray tom bent his head slightly to look down at the cats.

"As you know, Duskstripe's kits have reached the age of six moons and are ready to become apprentices." Since Shadowkit had never heard him speak, Pebblestar's soft voice surprised her. "Stonekit, step forward. From this moment on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Stonepaw."

His gaze scanned the crowd, and Shadowkit realized that he was searching the gaze of the cat who was to mentor Stonepaw.

Shadowkit took a pace back, stumbling into another cat, a white she-cat whose green eyes glared down at her. "Filth," she muttered, her claws running down Shadowkit's back. "In fact, why are you even here, fox-dung?"

"Why do you care?" Shadowkit retorted coldly, to the cat she recognized as Whiteshine.

Whiteshine let out a low growl. "Get away, kit, unless you want some pretty nasty scars on your pelt." Shadowkit dropped her gaze, then slowly slunk away, padding to the other side of the crowd of cats, where she shot Whiteshine a glare.

"Yellowgaze," Pebblestar called, his voice slightly louder, "you will be mentor to Stonepaw. Pass on all you know to this young apprentice." Shadowkit watched, eyes wide, as the gray tom padded over to the golden-eyed tom, whose ragged fur looked dusty on his dark matted pelt, and touched noses with him.

Yellowgaze lifted his head. "I will do my best."

"Goldenkit, from this moment on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Goldenpaw." Shadowkit looked up again as the leader continued to speak. "Sunsong, you have proven yourself to be a brave and loyal deputy. I see the talent within Goldenpaw, so I trust that she will grow strong under your guidance."

"She will, Pebblestar," Sunsong called, then lowered her head to touch her nose to Goldenpaw's. Wow... most cats really like Goldenpaw, Shadowkit mused. So why did Goldenpaw choose to befriend me? She sighed, then pricked her ears as Pebblestar nodded and continued.

"Bluekit, from this moment onward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Bluepaw." Shadowkit watched as the small she-cat lifted her head upwards in pride. "Darkflower, she will be your first apprentice, but you are a determined and strong warrior. Pass on all you know to Bluepaw." Shadowkit blinked thoughtfully as Bluepaw touched her nose to Darkflower's.

But then, her heart seemed to freeze in her chest as Pebblestar spoke his next words. "The meeting is over."

No, it wasn't that she had wanted to become an apprentice. But Shadowkit had just wanted a chance to prove herself to the clan. She was a cat, so she should be treated equal to any other warrior! Her green gaze bore into Pebblestar's blue one, but he didn't respond, though a strange glint came into his eyes. Goldenpaw padded over to her, her pawsteps silent.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, then lowered her head and padded away.

Shadowkit turned away, feeling tears well up inside her eyes. Duskstripe padded over, her tail twitching in annoyance as Shadowkit didn't even turn to look at her as she reached her. "Shadowkit!" That was a surprise. She rarely called Shadowkit by her true name.

Shadowkit didn't respond.

Pain exploded in the back of her head, and she whipped around, her heart in her throat. Duskstripe glared at her, blood dripping from her claws. Shadowkit's eyes darkened, and her foster mother hissed. "Next time, answer me."

"What do you want, Duskstripe?" Shadowkit growled, lifting her head challengingly.

Duskstripe let out a growl. "It's bad enough that I have to keep you in the nursery for the extra moon," she retorted. So I will be an apprentice? In a moon? "Now, I want you silent for the entire moon. Silent."

Shadowkit's eyes widened. "But-"

"I said silent!" Duskstripe snapped, her claws piercing Shadowkit's flank. She didn't even flinch; she had been clawed so many times by Duskstripe. Shadowkit lowered her head. I'm not doing that, Duskstripe, and I don't care what you do. "Good. Now, go and sit on the other side of the clearing and wait until sundown. Then, you can come into the nursery."

Shadowkit nodded mutely, then turned and padded away. This is so unfair.

Fuming, she settled down at the base of a large oak, watching as Goldenpaw and Sunsong padded out of the camp, while Bluepaw, Stormpaw, Darkflower, and Yellowgaze padded out behind the nursery. Now, Shadowkit realized one thing.

She had discovered the true meaning of hate.

Shadowkit hated Duskstripe; she hated Pebblestar; she hated every cat who taunted her, day in and day out. Growling under her breath, she stared carefully at her paws. She forced a purr as she saw Goldenpaw tilt her head to one side as if asking, Are you okay? and she dipped her head to the apprentice.

Which, too, wasn't fair, because she was supposed to be an apprentice, too. So why should she treat Bluepaw or Stonepaw with respect? She was their age, as well. But she wasn't given a title, thanks to the malice of Pebblestar.

Shadowkit flicked her tail. All she'd ever wanted to do was to become a warrior, serving the clan.

But she'd been deprived of that opportunity ever since... well, ever since she'd been born. Shadowkit frowned. It was Dapplecloud's fault. If her mother had been a stronger warrior, she wouldn't have died. Shadowkit's eyes darkened further. No, it was StarClan's fault for calling Dapplecloud to join them.

Stupid StarClan. Shadowkit's forepaw kicked a pebble across the clearing.

Immediately, Shadowkit felt relieved, that she had kicked away some of her anger, some of her fear, some of her hatred.