Hazekit awoke with a start. A bitter Leafbare breeze swirled through his fluffy white fur, making the young tom shiver. Hazekit sat up in his nest, squinting to catch a glimpse of the world outside his den. It looked as if it was a cold, snow filled day. But Hazekit couldn't wait to get up and embrace it. Before he was able to make a great escape from his nest, the tomkit felt teeth grip his scruff. A cat pulled him close to their warm body, their tongue beginning to rasp against the back of his neck. Hazekit glanced up to see the beautiful face of his mother. Eelnose's pelt appeared darker in the shade of the roof looming above their heads. Her white fur turned grey, ginger patches now a dull brown. Hazekit whined as his mother groomed him, itching to get away. This would be one of the last snowfalls of the season and he wanted to enjoy it.

Soon, Eelnose released her son with a satisfied purr and nudged him along to go outside and play with his denmates. Ecstatic, Hazekit bolted away and into the fresh air outside the den. His pelt fluffed up in reaction to the sudden chill, making the white tomkit appear twice his normal size. Proudly he trotted through the snow and across the usually sand littered clearing. His stomach growled as he moved along and his mouth watered, yearning for the sweet taste of prey. Maybe a fish or seagull would be good today. Hazekit made his way to the usual spot the fresh-kill was left in to find it almost bare. By now the dawn hunting patrol should have been back, yet the pile was severely lacking. Only a couple scrawny mice and a half-starved vole from the Forest Patch lay where the pile usually towered. Hazekit huffed, a tiny cloud of breath blowing into the wind. How was he ever going to grow big and strong if this was all that there was to eat? Not to mention the clan was starving. With another sigh, Hazekit gave up on looking for a meal in favor of spending time with his friends. Quickly he shuffled through the snow and over to where the other kits were playing. Some threw snow at one another, one was rolling in the sandy snow mix, and the rest were playing Prey Sight-No Sight. Hazekit found his way over to the other kits where he was tossed a snowball by Richfur, the clan's current Den Mother. Hazekit wasn't a big fan of the tom. His mother said he'd been a kittypet before, only joining the clan after being abandoned in the Forest Patch by his Twolegs. He would have gone to join Treeclan, if Wavestar hadn't been patrolling nearby, and spotted the pale ginger tom before he crossed the border. And now he was here raising his kits while his mate Duneshine continued preforming his warrior duties.

Richfur knew how much Hazekit loved rolling snowballs around, and despite his distaste of the tom, Hazekit gratefully accepted the queen's gift. Happily he pushed it around, making it grow bigger and bigger until it was almost his size. While he worked on his snowball, another kit came over to talk to him. Hazekit glanced over to see the spiky black cat beside him, Urchinkit.

"Wow, for once you've found something that actually looks like you," he teased. "Are you going to melt away like the snow when Newleaf comes?"

"If it means getting away from you, I just might," Hazekit growled. He didn't understand why Urchinkit liked to make fun of him for his pelt when he was in the same boat as he was. Neither tomkit had fur which was the standard for the clan. Black was a color that made it hard to blend in with anything except the shade. It would make hunting harder for Urchinkit unless he'd take the trip down to the Forest Patch. Pure white was a rare color and was hard to manage. Hazekit would have to work tirelessly just to keep his pelt clean. Both toms would also have to be more wary around Twolegs, with such odd colored coats they would be more attracted and tempted to steal them away. Though it was good to be seen as attractive by the strange creatures, it wasn't so good to be targeted by them.

Urchinkit rolled his eyes, batting at Hazekit's ears with a playful paw.

"You'd miss me too much," Urchinkit purred, smirking. Hazekit flicked a small pawful of a sand-snow mixture at him.

"Like I'd miss an annoying clump of fur like you." He mumbled. "Why don't you go play with your siblings instead of messing with me, huh? Oh yeah, that's right, they aren't here anymore! And even if they were, they'd be all the way in Mountainclan!"

Urchinkit took a step back, hurt expressed through his features. His mouth hung slightly ajar in shock and his eyes opened as wide as a full moon. After a few heartbeats his face turned, the look of pain melting away into a spiteful grimace.

"Oh yeah? Well at least I had littermates! At least I know even if they aren't here anymore, I'll never be alone. Unlike you, you unlucky one off piece of gull-dung!"

Hazekit hissed at Urchinkit, launching himself at the spiky black kitten. His insult didn't hurt, per say, as Hazekit had grown used to being viewed as unlucky. However, he wasn't going to sit by idly and let anyone say bad things about him. Hazekit had more respect for himself than that. And so, a fight broke out.

The pair tussled about in a furious pile of black and white fur, claws unsheathed. Urchinkit bit into Hazekit's forepaw, while Hazekit swiped at the other kitten's ear. Droplets of blood began to well from the fresh wound, catching on the white kitten's paw and staining it.

Richfur came rushing over at the scent of blood. The arrival of the Den Mother, however, did not stop the young toms from fighting. Richfur tried to pry the pair apart, but found himself to be unsucessful. So, he called to Beckycreek--another of the queens--to help him. Beckycreek grabbed Hazekit by the scruff, pulling him away from Urchinkit. Richfur held back Urchinkit to prevent him from charging after Hazekit. The two kittens growled out in annoyance, glaring sharply at one another, tails wagging.

"That's enough," Richfur growled sternly. "Look at the mess you've made. There's fur everywhere. Blood on the snow. You've both injured each other, and for what?"

"He started it!" Urchinkit insisted.

"Nuh-uh! Urchinkit's the one who kept bothering me. He started the fight," Hazekit countered.

"Well he made fun of my littermates dying! And my heritage!"

"Only after you kept picking on me, you spineless jellyfish!"

"Eat dirt!"

"Go sniff your own butt!"

"Enough!" Beckycreek snapped. "We're going to have a talk with your parents about this. After you've both gone to see Curlear."

Both kits simultaneously groaned. Curlear was the clan's head medicine cat. He was probably the oddest looking creature Hazekit had ever seen. He looked like a Skin Snatcher, and he smelled bitter like herbs. Kits hated having to visit the old tom. Especially Hazekit, who'd visit the grouchy wrinkled healer often for picking fights. Still, there was no way to convince the queens that either tom was well enough to skip a checkup. Especially Urchinkit, with his nicked ear. So, both tomkits gave into the will of their superiors, marching over to the medicine den.

Curlear was already waiting outside for them. No doubt he'd heard the kittens' quarrel. Or perhaps he had scented blood. Either way he was prepared to welcome his guests in. With a sweep of his naked tail he guided the little toms in, seating them on opposite sides of the den. He worked on Urchinkit first, licking clean the wound on his ear before slathering it with a poultice.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to save this, little minnow. You're gonna have ta learn an' live without a small piece of your ear."

Urchinkit nodded in understanding, tucking his legs beneath himself as he settled into his nest.

Curlear then turned, giving his attention to Hazekit. He picked up a wad of cobwebs on his way, settling in front of the fluffy kitten. "Causing trouble again, fuzzball?"

"And what of it?" Hazekit snorted indignantly, tail lashing.

"Looks like we're gonna have ta talk to your mother again about that tongue o' yours. Perhaps this time she'll let me go through with cutting it out," Curlear joked, taking some chewed up goldenrod to smear onto Hazekit's bitten forepaw. Hazekit hissed from the sting, resisting the urge to pull away. Curlear then took some of the cobwebs and wrapped them around the bite wound, handling Hazekit's wounded limb gingerly.

"Curlear?" A voice piped from the entrance of the medicine den. Curlear turned at the sound of his name, giving his whiskers twitch. From the threshold padded a dark gray tabby mollykit. Her light gray chest looked paler within her shadow and her yellow eyes glowed with excitement. She was carrying a bundle of leaves in her jaws, setting them down as she came to stand before the healer.

"Bluesky asked me to carry these herbs in to you."

"Ah, yes. Very good. Thank you, Whisperkit. It was very kind o' you to offer my lazy apprentice some help. Perhaps I should trade him in ta mentor you instead," Curlear responded with another quip, scooping up the package to be stored away.

"It was no trouble. I like helping!" Whisperkit giggled with a head tilt. Her focus soon fell upon the little toms who had taken up residence in the den. "Hello there, Hazekit. How's it going?"

"Could've been better if that rat over there hadn't been bugging me," Hazekit murmured.

"I only teased you a little bit!" Urchinkit countered. "It's not like I was trying to be shark-hearted. Unlike you. Why do you always have to bring up my littermates? It's mean!"

"Oh Hazekit, were you making Urchinpaw feel bad about that again?" Whisperkit chided softly.

"So? He deserves it!" Hazekit defended himself, fur bristling.

"No cat deserves to be reminded of such pain. We're all bound to go through loss like that sometime," Whisperkit explained, sounding wise and a little morbid. "Besides, we're all clanmates here. We have to learn to get along. We're all Oceanclan's future."

Urchinkit snickered a little. "You sound like Wavestar."

Whisperkit dipped her head bashfully, shuffling around some of the sand beneath her paws. It was well known that Whisperkit and her littermates were the offspring of the clan leader, Wavestar. And as such, they'd all spend a lot of time with the old tom. Even moreso than they spent with their mother or her younger litter. It was evident in the mollykit's speech that he was already preparing them to lead the clan one day. But Whisperkit didn't seem thrilled about that. She loved her father, everyone knew, but her relationship with her parents was complex. She didn't like to talk about them, much less be compared to them.

"Hazekit," Eelnose, Hazekit's mother, called from outside. The white and ginger she-cat padded her way into the den, her expression cross as she met with her only son. Hazekit shrank under the queen's intense gaze, flashing her a nervous yet involuntary smile. Whisperkit stepped aside, allowing the queen to come forward to speak with her son.

"Hello, mother..!" Hazekit tried to mew innocently.

Eelnose simply shook her head at him with disappointment, giving her attention to Curlear. "I'm sorry that Hazekit's given you more work to do, Curlear."

The furless tom gave Eelnose a glance over his shoulder while he examined the herb bundle Bluesky had gathered. "What work? The tom's only doing his job. Kits cause mischief. And I've been a medicine cat long enough ta know this sort of fighting is inevitable between the young scraps. As you clanborns say, fighting is a show o' strength. You should be proud of your son for havin' such spirit."

"I would be if he were attacking enemies instead of allies. Silverpelt knows we've had enough infighting in the past. I won't allow that to follow Oceanclan's future as well." The ginger and white molly responded seriously.

"Aye, but he'll be clawing at the other clans soon enough I'm sure. For now perhaps it might be best ta try and curve that mouth o' his. That's what keeps gettin' him in trouble."

Eelnose let out a thoughtful hum. "Noted. Thank you, Curlear. Is he fit enough to leave the medicine den?"

"Hm? Oh yes, of course. Just make sure that forepaw o' his stays covered for the rest of the day."

"I will," agreed the queen, turning to grab Hazekit by the scruff. Hazekit let out a whine as he was lifted from his nest. The attention his denmates fell upon him as he was carried away. Whisperkit watched on with pity, while Urchinkit looked delighted seeing Hazekit getting in trouble. Hazekit looked away, shame prickling his pelt. He was so embarrassed. Stupid furballs. Stop staring at me like that!

Eelnose carried her son out of the medicine den, across camp, and into the abandoned car which made up the nursery. The long deceased monster was devoid of all other cats at this time, with the exception of Beckycreek's young litter. It would seem Eelnose was left on kitsitting duty, and she was dragging Hazekit along as punishment. Hazekit resisted the urge to groan as his mother placed him into their shared nest.

"Motherrr, you embarrassed me in front of my denmates!" He complained, ears lowered.

Eelnose lashed her tail. "As if it's not embarrassing having a son who makes trouble for everyone in the clan?"

Hazekit winced at the she-cat's words. "I did what I thought was right! You've always told me halfclanners and outsiders are beneath us. I was only trying to remind Urchinkit of his place."

"By fighting your clanmate and making a fool of us both?" Eelnose prompted.

"I didn't mean to..." Hazekit muttered, lowering his head.

Eelnose shook her head slowly, wrapping her body around Hazekit's as she got more comfortable in their nest. "My son, you must learn to coincide with all those who live amongst Oceanclan. Though we are different, we are still a clan. Despite how lowly some among us might be." The ginger and white molly rasped her tongue between the young tom's ears as she continued. "We shouldn't use our words or fight in order to prove to others what they are. In due time all cats show their true selves. But awareness is required in order for one's true self to be recognized."

"What does that mean?" Hazekit asked.

"It means that you must be aware of the nature of the cats you surround yourself with. Its wise to be wary of some. But their alliance is better than making an enemy of them. Even if you don't like who they are or where they come from," elaborated Eelnose.

"But how can we trust them? How can we rely on fat lazy kittypets or sneaky rouges the way we can other Oceanclan cats? Even halfclanners can't be relied on with their split loyalties." Hazekit was sure of the words he spoke. They were ones told to him by his only ally in the world-- his mother. Eelnose was an honest cat. And surely she would understand where he was coming from.

"Everyone has their own skill set that you can rely on. Kittypets can be lazy, but they are persuasive, especially towards Twolegs. Rouges may be sneaky, but they can utilize that ability and make great allies in wartime. And halfclan cats bring with them the strengths and skills from their second clan. You must learn to work with what other cats can provide and worry about their drawbacks later."

Hazekit sighed, resting his chin on his paws. "You're so wise, mother."

"That I am. I've lived many seasons. My experiences have made me as intelligent as I am." Eelnose chuckled.

"Do you think I can become as great as you someday?" Hazekit looked up at his mother with hopeful eyes. Eelnose was a powerful warrior. She survived apprenticeship under Pebblestar The Manevolent's rule, being the last of her class left alive at the end of the tyrannical leader's reign. She was given her warrior's name at only nine moons old, for her tracking abilities and strength in battle. Even now as a senior warrior she was highly respected and sought after by Wavestar for strategizing. She was a cat Oceanclan could be proud of. Hazekit hoped that one day he could be regarded in the same way.

"I think you will be as great as you can be. It's up to you decide your limits," Eelnose answered simply, nuzzling Hazekit's cheek. That wasn't exactly the response the little tom was looking for. But he knew that he wouldn't be able to push more on the matter. Eelnose had stated her opinion; she wouldn't change it. Hazekit needed to be content with what he had. Sighing once more, Hazekit allowed his eyes to flutter shut, lids heavy with fatigue. Between the fight with Urchinkit and not eating, the little tom found himself growning tired. And with nothing else to do while on punishment for the rest of the day, Hazekit decided this was a good time for a nap.