Swans are supposed to be elegant and beautiful, graceful creatures of the water. Swanpath has always felt like more of an ugly duckling. Awkward, without composure, graceless. She supposes her parents have a certain irony about them when it comes to picking names- her sister, apprentice medicine cat, is no bright spark. Sleetclaw, an average and ordinary tom, has never assuaged her self-doubts. That only enforces her beliefs. He's not allowed to love her, but he can at least tell her she's beautiful, right? Swans are beautiful and sleek; she grows thinner and weaker with every litter she births, and she comes to realise that yes, she is no swan; she's just a mess.