Chapter Two
Moonpaw grappled with a piece of moss, her tail lashing as dust settled on her pelt. Moonpaw lashed out with her forepaws, and the old, dry piece of moss crumbled to dust.
Moonpaw sighed as her plaything crumpled and then sat up, extremely bored. Cinderblaze had gone out on a hunting patrol with Mistcloud, Slatefur, and Rainpaw.
Sunpaw was sharing tongues with Flowerpaw while shooting hostile glances towards Moonpaw.
Moonpaw tried to imagine herself in her sister's paws, and wondered how it was to be beloved by every cat and to have lots of friends.
Moonpaw leapt her her paws as her mentor entered camp, dragging a fat carp. Moonpaw darted towards him and almost crashed into Rainpaw, who was padding through the reeds with a water vole.
"Watch it, ugly!" he hissed, leaping out of the way.
Moonpaw lashed her tail in frustration as she felt her eyes water reactively.
Don't cry!
Slatefur curled his lip as he laid a tail on Rainpaw's arching spine.
"Yes, Moonpaw, please watch where you're going. Lucky though, ugliness isn't contagious," he hissed contemptuously.
Moonpaw stared at him, shocked, and eyes watering more still.
"Come over here, Moonpaw," said Cinderblaze curtly.
Moonpaw glared over her shoulder at Rainpaw, who bared his fangs triumphantly. Slatefur sneered.
Moonpaw followed Cinderblaze to a quiet corner of camp, her head low, Slatefur's jibe still ringing painfully in her ears..
"Moonpaw, ignore them."
Moonpaw ducked her head.
Easy for you to say. Everyone likes you.
"They're jealous."
Of what? Being ugly?
"You can fight better than the rest of them combined."
Like that'll help me. I'm still scrawny and small and too scared to fight in real battles.
"I'm proud of you."
I wouldn't be proud of me if I were you.
"Just be yourself, Moonpaw."
Moonpaw looked up, her eyes still watering and on the verge of tears.
"B-be myself?" she whispered. "But myself is horrible! I hate myself!"
Cinderblaze swept his tail lightly over Moonpaw's ears.
"Don't say that." he chided, "I don't hate you. And I bet Owlpelt, Mothdust, and Finchtail don't hate you either."
My mentor and the three elders. Yay.
"Are you going to say anything?" Cinderblaze mewed gently. "Is there anything you wish to tell me?"
Moonpaw shook her head; she would keep all of her secrets to herself.
"Well… be ready at sunhigh for a training session." Cinderblaze mewed, getting up and stalking away.
Moonpaw stood up after a few heartbeats and looked around. She spotted a willow hanging over the reed wall surrounding camp and decided to spend the rest of her morning there.
Moonpaw shoved her way through the reeds and quickly scaled the willow, taking cover in the frost-tipped branches. She watched Rainpaw with narrowed eyes, noticing how the new sun glinted off of his dark, rich, brown pelt.
How his blue eyes flashed and danced as he mingled with warriors, kits, and apprentices alike. He was to gentle and playful when with the kits, but respectful and serious when talking to warriors.
Moonpaw knew that Rainpaw was a good cat deep down inside… so why did he treat her like filth? Like she was so much lower than him, stupid and worthless and ugly forevermore?
Moonpaw wanted to yowl with frustration, but she knew that she would only draw negative and unwanted attention.
So instead, she contented herself with daydreaming a fantasy in which every cat liked her and treated her normally, and she hung out in a big group, laughing and talking with every cat, especially Rainpaw…
Moonpaw was so focused on a life inside her own mind that she didn't notice the four shadowy figured creeping towards her. Only too late did she realize that Sunpaw and Snowpaw were right behind her, and then she was falling... falling…
...and then she hit the ground.
Moonpaw cried out in pain as she crumpled onto the frozen earth, and as quick as a flash, Rainpaw was standing over her, his eyes smoldering.
Moonpaw recovered quickly, snarled, and flashed out a paw, ripping through Rainpaw's flesh.
Rainpaw cried out in shock and tumbled off her. Moonpaw staggered upwards, her foreleg screaming in agony, but found herself surrounded by the four apprentices. Rainpaw was up again, and he didn't look happy.
"So, Moonpaw." Sunpaw sauntered towards her. "Where'd you fall from?"
"Your worst nightmare," Moonpaw hissed before launching herself onto her sister.
Moonpaw raked her claws across her sister's ginger fur, and felt fur rip and flesh split. Something heavy sank its claws into her pelt and tried to drag her off, but Moonpaw easily hooked her back claws into its stomach and tore down. The cat howled in agony and released its grip.
Sunpaw scratched feebly at Moonpaw, her claws getting caught in Moonpaw's downy ashen fur. Moonpaw snarled in disgust as she bit down on Sunpaw's shoulder, and she felt her teeth sink in deep, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth.
"Stop!" a cat yowled. "You're killing her!"
"Like she wasn't killing me all these past moons of my life!" Moonpaw shrieked, her dark hazel eyes wide with pain and rage.
Something dark slammed into her, carrying Moonpaw off of her paws and grinding her into the dust. She smelled Rainpaw.
"Get off!" she growled, trying to wriggle her way out from under him.
"No." he said. "I will not let you get out and kill Sunpaw, Uglypaw."
"Let me go, I promise I won't fight anymore!" Moonpaw said, her fur burning as she twisted in discomfort.
Ugh, stupid Rainpaw! He's too close to me!
"No. I don't trust you!"
Moonpaw flattened her ears.
I guess I wouldn't trust me either.
Moonpaw stopped moving and instead tried to start breathing. Her lungs were filled with dusty air and the overpowering scent of Rainpaw. She started choking on his thick fur.
"R-Rainp-paw!" Moonpaw choked out, starting to twitch. "I-I can't b-breathe!"
"Oh! Sorry!" Rainpaw practically flew off of Moonpaw, his eyes wild with — was it really? — fear.
"Moonpaw — er, — Uglypaw! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" he repeated as she retched into the dust, coaxing her lungs to accept the clean, fresh air.
After a minute, Moonpaw coughed out an "I'm fine" and Rainpaw moved away, looking embarrassed. After a few seconds, he turned around and bounded out of sight.
Moonpaw curled up on the spot, exhausted, while grown cats rushed around her like fish in a stream. Not a single one paid attention her as they flocked Sunpaw, mewing fearfully.
Moonpaw heard Cloudheart as she rushed past Moonpaw, totally ignoring her daughter.
"Is my precious Sunpaw going to be okay?! I hope she doesn't have any scars! Oh, my poor kit's good looks may be ruined!"
The only cat that paid Moonpaw attention was Creekstar.
"Come." she said, her eyes as cold and unforgiving as a watersnake's.
Moonpaw staggered up and swallowed fearfully, and then stumbled after her leader, her heart pounding painfully in chest.
