"Clan mates! We won!" I opened my eyes. I was a bit upset, I'd had a dream of my apprentice ceremony. Then I realized that the ambush patrol was back. I sprinted over, to where cats were gathering, listening to the battle.

"And so I clawed his ear and I said, Take that! So then I turned and there was this huge tom who was like Oh no, and he totally ran away, so then I saw Harefrost and I tripped him and he ran and-" Bluerose was chatting about the battle. I strained my ears to listen. Maybe I'd pick up some battle strategies. I went to sit by Honeywind. Immediately, she hissed," Eww! Get away from me Uglykit!"

Am I really that ugly?

I was used to insults, but this stung. I flattened my ears. Why were cats so mean? What had I done? I wasn't looking, and I stumbled into a ginger and white pelt. Tears started to form in my eyes, but then I realized I'd run into my sister. She laughed, "Crybaby!" I was furious. I really was tired of being treated like filth. I guess I just snapped. I turned to my sister and screeched all of the anger inside me. "I'm NOT filth! I'm a normal cat! Can't I have some respect!? Why d-" I was cut off. A black paw was covering my mouth.

Darkfeather! She looked down at me. Kit, "Keep your mouth shut! They'll torment you more!"

How dare she!?

But I knew the wise old cat was right. I ducked my head in shame. "You are correct…" I started. But Leafkit yowled in laughter, she happily sprinted to the other apprentices to share the new story. I locked around. Relived, I realized that no cat had heard me. Darkfeather had saved me from certain humiliation. The chatter began to die down, and most cats were now at the fresh-kill pile. I looked at each cat, and with a breath of relief, I realized Tansygaze had tended to most wounds. The clan was happy. I breathed out.

Then my gaze caught a grey coat. Applestar was right be Highrock. What's happening?

"Let all the cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here for a clan meeting!" His loud voice boomed over the crowd. Every cat abandoned their prey. Curiosity was getting the best of me, and I raced over. Every cat was already there. I turned. Except my mother, and Leafkit. I scanned the camp, and my eyes laid on my mother, by the nursery. She was grooming Leafkit. A jolt passed over me.

My apprentice ceremony!