Here we go :D

Enjoy!!

Chapter One

Stormpaw was dozing inside the apprentices' den. It was late-dawn and the Clan was just starting to wake. She didn't acknowledge any of the other apprentices, knowing that they would just ignore her. It didn't bother the grey she-cat, she was used to being alone all the time. She sighed, the grief for her mentor still fresh. Owlsight was an amazing cat. He was wise and clever. He died in a battle a little less than a moon ago.

Almost one whole moon without training, Stormpaw thought bitterly. Other apprentices would think of that as paradise. For her, it was a nightmare. Of course, she still trained and exercised. . . just by herself.

Sighing again, Stormpaw rolled onto her back, staring at the roof of the den, her different colored eyes gleaming in the barley-lit den. She wondered what she would do today. She knew every last move Owlsight had taught her by heart. I guess I'll just do it again.

Getting to her paws, the apprentice shook out her pelt and gave it a thorough grooming. Her belly rumbled as she walked out of the den. Stormpaw was aware of the cat's eyes on her and she tried not to let it bother her. She was used to cats staring, mostly at her eyes. One light blue, the other darker.

She tried not to let her pelt ruffle. She gritted her teeth together as cats whispered and looked her way. I'm not a curse! Stormpaw wanted to yowl, but she knew better than that. She had said that once though, when she was a kit. Her mother, Wishflower, had just died a few days before. Stormpaw was grieving for her, and hurt that the Clan blamed her for her death.

Don't cry, Stormpaw. Don't cry, she told herself as she felt her vision blur. She had cried too many times, more than she could count. Stormpaw's belly rumbled again and jerked her back to the present. It doesn't matter anymore, it's all in the past.

There was a small mouse left on the fresh-kill pile. Picking it up, she settled down in a shady spot in front of the elders' den. The old cats were still asleep, and she could hear their snores.

Before she could lean down to take a bite of her breakfast, a paw swiped it away.

"Stormpaw."

Growling, the she-cat got to her paws. Here we go again. Stormpaw looked up and was met by a brown tabby tom with blazing amber eyes. "I was going to eat that," she growled.

The other cat snickered and dangled the mouse in front of her face mockingly.

"Oh, this little thing? You don't deserve that, murderer." The last word ended in a hiss as he swiped an unsheathed paw at her. She ducked before the blow could hit her and swiped at his flank, her claws also unsheathed.

"C'mon Stickpaw you can beat her!" another cat cheered. Suddenly, a crowd began to form and they watched the fight with a gleam in their eyes.

Her attacker, Stickpaw, yowled in fury and flipped her over, belly exposed. He sprung on top of her and raked his claws down her belly. "This," he sneered, "is revenge for all those cats you killed!" Stickpaw was still grieving for his father, Owlsight. And he was taking his anger out on her.

She screeched in pain and somehow managed to kick him off. Grunting, she got to her paws, blood dripping onto the ground.

"I didn't kill them!" She scowled angrily, which was immediately followed by angry retorts.

"Liar!"

"Don't even deny it!"

"We should just exile her once and for all!"

"Stop this at once!"

The clan went quiet as their leader strode into the middle of the crowd. "Stickpaw, go to the medicine den right now. As for you," the leader, Snowstar, turned to her, "you will be punished for your actions."

"I didn't start the fight!" Stormpaw objected, knowing no one would believe her, but she tried anyway.

Snowstar snorted in disbelief, "Stormpaw, as punishment, you will. . ." Then the white she-cat noticed the mouse, now crow-food as it was smashed. "From now on, you will hunt for yourself. Don't expect other cats to feed you anymore. What have you contributed to the Clan?" Stormpaw opened her mouth to speak, but Snowstar didn't give her a chance to get a word out. "Okay all of you, back to patrols, Rainstrike," she turned to her deputy, "I want two border patrols out by sunhigh!"

Rainstrike dipped his head and padded away, calling cats as he did so.

The crowd disappeared, leaving Stormpaw still processing what happened. She walked to the medicine den, angry with herself and the Clan.

Will they ever accept me?