I really like this story, so I decided to write a new chapter!
. . .
Featherkit decided that she liked WindClan's camp.
It wasn't as overbearing or stuffy as ThunderClan's camp. Actually, now that she thought about it, WindClan was more open, more wild, more free.
Featherkit didn't want to know what would happen if it had been RiverClan or ShadowClan who had found her.
She had heard that the cats of RiverClan were overbearing and very self-centered- probably because they enjoyed collecting shiny things and valued perfection greatly. Featherkit also knew that weakness wasn't tolerated in the ranks of Rowanstar's Clan.
And as for ShadowClan...
Featherkit had heard her Mother, Snowfall, sneer about how the Clan was a bunch of despicable mousehearts and how they didn't deserve a place in the forest.
Featherkit had frowned, thinking, But there's always been four Clans in the forest! What would happen if ShadowClan was somehow driven out?
Featherkit hadn't known then, and she still didn't know to this day.
"So," Darkpaw mewed, running the tip of his tail along her flank. "How do you like WindClan? I know it might not be much to you, but it's home."
"I love it," Featherkit purred, and she meant it.
It was bigger and more spacious than ThunderClan's camp, which meant more space to run around and play.
Back in ThunderClan, Snowfall had confined her to the nursery for hours on end, not allowing her to go out and stretch her legs in fear that Featherkit would somehow embarrass her.
"You really mean it?" Darkpaw looked perplexed, and he shifted uncomfortably. "I mean, it may not be ThunderClan..."
"And that's why I like it," Featherkit replied shortly. "Because it isn't ThunderClan."
Darkpaw smiled softly, and Featherkit decided that he looked better with such a pleasing smile on his face.
Cloudstorm suddenly glanced back at them. "Come on, Featherkit," he ordered gruffly. "I'll take you to Morningstar's den."
Featherkit glanced back at Darkpaw, and when the grey-furred apprentice only gave her what she hoped was an encouraging grin, she reluctantly followed after the WindClan deputy.
Cloudstorm came to a stop just outside a den bigger than the others, and he motioned curtly with his tail. "Morningstar," he called in his rough voice, yellow eyes glimmering brightly in the darkness. "I need to speak with you."
Not a moment later, a sandy coloured she-cat appeared at the entrance, her fur sticking up and a distinctly ruffled and annoyed look on her pretty face. "What is it, Cloudstorm? And it had better be important. I was in the middle of a well earned rest, for StarClan's sake!"
Featherkit flinched, she had been the cause for WindClan's leader waking up?
Cloudstorm glanced toward her, and he surprised her when he pressed against her reassuringly. "Morningstar's not usually like this," he explained lowly. "This is only her being very sleep deprived."
"And for a good reason, too!" Morningstar snapped, her amber eyes flashing.
Cloudstorm looked up at his leader, a slight grin tugging at his stern face. But, oddly enough, he didn't comment as Featherkit had expected him to.
"And who is this?" the WindClan leader's eyes drifted down to her small frame that was completely dwarfed by Cloudstorm's bigger body.
"This is Featherkit," the WindClan deputy replied somehwat gruffly. "She seeks shelter for the night."
At Morningstar's questioning look, Cloudstorm trudged on, "Darkpaw found her out on the Moors," he clarified. "Claimed that she ran away from her Clan."
"Oh?" Morningstar's attention returned to Featherkit, who instinctively shied away. "And what Clan were you from, little one?"
Featherkit shifted uncomfortably. "ThunderClan," she murmured.
"Why did you run away?" the WindClan leader pressed, looking vastly interested.
"Because-" Featherkit broke off, glancing down at her deformed limbs with disdain. "Because of these."
"You are returning tomorrow?" Morningstar suddenly asked.
Featherkit nodded reluctantly. What did she expect, anyway? An offer to join WindClan?
"Very well," Morningstar mewed, lashing her tail. "You may stay here for the night. Cloudstorm, take her to the nursery, if you would so please? I really need to get some more sleep."
The WindClan deputy nodded, beckoning Featherkit to follow with his tail.
Blinking away tears of gratitude, she followed on after him.
"Hey," she said, struggling to keep up with his long strides. "Who are the queens in the nursery, Cloudstorm?"
The gruff warrior didn't even look at her as he began to speak. "There's only two queens in the nursery: Larkwing and Ambershine. And between them, there's three kits."
His mouth abruptly snapped shut, and he nodded towards where an opening lay.
Featherkit hesitated, then offered him what she hoped was a shy smile. "I guess I'll, uh, see you tomorrow, then?"
He nodded curtly, and Featherkit squeezed through the opening.
Two queens were gossiping in the corner, three kits nestled against them.
They looked up when she entered, and they looked perplexed.
Finally, one, a pretty cream she-cat spoke, "Who are you?" she mewed, nestling her single kit closer to her belly protectively.
Featherkit understood why they were wary. "I'm Featherkit," she murmured. "Morningstar's letting me stay the night before I have to go back."
"Go back where?" the other queen said, and she was pale-grey with pale green eyes.
Featherkit shifted uncomfortably, and she muttered, "ThunderClan."
And as if protecting herself, Featherkit nestled her twisted paws close to her, tucking them under her chin as she curled up in the far corner.
"Please don't bother me," Featherkit pleaded. "I promise I'll be gone before you wale up. It'll be like I wasn't even here."
And as she slept, it was to the lingering disappoint that she would have to return to her birth Clan eventually.
She wasn't happy.
But, then again, when had others ever cared about that?