Chapter 35: Thanks For The Memories

Bramblestar sighed as he looked at his wonderful creation. Cat wasn't supposed to turn out this way. He was supposed to be perfect. A perfect murderer. Someone who always knew who needed to die. But they ruined him. They took away the thing that would make him better than everyone else. They took everything away from him, besides his absolute hatred for everything.

Then an interesting sight caught Bramblestar's eye. He absolutely hated the kit he had practically raised. No trace of caring whatsoever. Maybe this new release on Cat's state of mind was good. No love. No friendships. No kindness. He would be invincible. Now Bramblestar was glad he had water in his cage. He could summon an image of his beloved psychopath anytime he wanted.

Wonderful. It seems my plan is still in action...

Bramblestar laughed. He laughed like he had never laughed before. It wouldn't be long before the guards came to make sure he wasn't digging to escape. It wouldn't be long at all... And that just made him laugh more.

Cat will be the demon. Yet he will also be the angel. He will be the one to save the Clans, and then destroy them. It will all be a part of a lovely little circle. There won't be a place for the Clans to gather. No place for evil to rise. No...scratch that...Bramblestar's perspective had changed. The good had caused this sudden change in his beautiful rein. Now it was time for evil to run loose among the lake.

Let them live, Cat, and rebel against the good in your cold little heart. Be like Scourge. Be like Tigerstar. Be like Hawkfrost. Be a murderer. Kill every good thing that you come across. Make your maker proud.

He coughed. Blood now littered the stone. Bramblestar smiled, his laughter gone. He enjoyed seeing the blood. It reminded him of the fight between Tigerstar and Scourge. Nine lives with one attack.

Make your maker proud...

I can scent many new things. It's all a blur. I can't remember anything after Opin sent me and Joann hunting. I know it's been moons since then. I'm so much taller, I can actually use my nose to get around, and I can feel the knowledge I've obtained in the back of my mind. I just don't remember any of it.

And then there's this kit that keeps following me. He keeps calling me 'Darkpaw'. It's definitely the weirdest name I've ever heard. I must look a lot like this 'Darkpaw' or this stupid kit wouldn't be following me.

"I need your help! Everyone thinks you've just run away! They think you've just ran off to the Dark Forest where you belong!" He is so very annoying, "I want to prove to them that you've changed!"

I must get him off my back. Whatever happened to me before is definitely never going to happen again. I would never be friends with such a pitiful kit.

"Please, Darkpaw! Why aren't you listening to me? ShadowClan needs you!"

For some reason, the word 'ShadowClan' made me feel...sad... It wasn't very logical. I had never heard of the term before while I was with Opin. Maybe I had learned it in the time period of my memory loss. Suddenly, names(?) popped up in my mind. There was Nettlepaw, Hollystar, Sunwind, Darkfang, Fogstep, Blaze, Badgerpaw, Redflame, Pinefrost, Shadefeather, Lilypool Cloudbreeze, Terror, Stormkit and Nightpaw. For some reason, all of these names had a meaning. Especially the Nightpaw, Terror, and Stormkit ones. I don't know why, but I now feel the need to follow this disgusting kit creature to wherever he wants me to go.

I looked back at him. His ginger fur was ruffled in anger. I could see black spots on his flank, and a few markings on his face and muzzle. His tail was almost completely black, and there were tiny black patches on his paws. His eyes were green. They looked...determined. Not something you usually see on a kit's face. All kits do is whine. All their eyes look like is sadness.

"Do you know what happened to me?" I asked him.

He stared at me, eyes narrowed, "I don't know." He mewed, a strange confidence radiating from him, "All I know is that you've been gone for three days, no one in ShadowClan really cares to find you, and your eyes went from amber to blue...and white."

I growled when he hesitated at my eye color. I growled when he mentioned my eyes. I hated my eyes. They were so...weird. I wanted to be normal.

"You say 'ShadowClan' needs me, and then you say they don't care to find where I've gone. Why?"

The kit gulped at my stare, but still no fear came from him. Strange. I've always scared Joann into doing what I want... "H-Hollystar says that you've simply run away. That you're done with dealing with the Clans. That you only joined us because you wanted help with controlling your anger. I don't believe that for a heartbeat. I know how much you loved being in ShadowClan." I growled at him, though he ignored my anger and continued, "I know how much ShadowClan changed you.

I studied him. There was kindness in his eyes. I had never seen such kindness before.

"I'll tell you what, kit." I smirked, and his expression brightened, "If my memory comes back, then maybe I'll join you." I growled menacingly, causing the disgusting creature to back up in a small moment of fear, "For now, as hard as it may be for you to abandon me. Leave. Go away. I hate kits. All their good for is causing trouble. I suggest you go back to your loving and caring mother before I shred you to pieces."

His eyes widened with every word. I could tell I hurt him. A quarter of me was happy. Another quarter was strangely sad. And the rest of me wanted to rip my throat out for saying that. Whatever happened to me must have included this strange kit. I must've...trusted...him. How could I have trusted a kit?

"I-I..." He stammered, but I could sense no fear. What was with him? His whole body gave off the image of fear. But his scent...his scent was full of happiness. A hint of sadness and anger, "I...I thought you were different..." I saw his eyes watering. Wonderful. His true kit-like colors were about to emerge, "I thought if I found you, they couldn't be mad at you. I thought...I thought that you would remember me...Who knew three days could change so much..." It was all anger now, "You're a sick bastard who should've never joined ShadowClan! I wish I didn't know you! I hate you!"

Tears. Tears again. Tears of emotion. Tears of anger. Tears that should never have been shed because of me.

Stormkit walked away. Tears ran down his cheeks. I wanted to comfort him. Why do I want to comfort him?

He stopped and looked over his shoulder, "You were good once. You helped others once." He glared at me, "You cared once." And he then he ran.

I didn't know what to do. I could make out bits and pieces of what happened. There were fights and deaths. So many deaths. There was Opin and Joann, there was that dream where I first saw my eyes change. There was Fogstep who did something to change my eyes back to amber. There was Nettlepaw, who was too cheery for her own good, and Nightpaw who couldn't laugh or smile. There was Sunwind who was shrouded in mystery. Hollystar, who was always 'busy' with something so she couldn't train me...I had enough training.

I remembered bits and pieces, then I remembered everything. There was Shadefeather, who gave birth to five kits. Stormkit was my favorite of those five. I was the only cat who really cared about him. We had everything in common. He was hated by his mother. I don't know why. Probably she had me name him because she needed someone to hate. But how could she chose to hate her own kit?

"I still do care, Stormkit..." It was only a whisper, but I could sense a wave of joy in the air. He had heard me. He was happy...but he wasn't going to be happy for much longer. I hate to hurt him...but...he has to understand being that no one really cares...

I can't go home just yet.

AND THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED BECAUSE OF STORMKIT'S WONDERFULLY COURAGEOUS COURAGE! I commend your courage, Stormkit. Not just anyone can make it past Cat alive.

-Moon