Chapter 1:
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Greykit tumbled over. Her mother went somewhere, but she had no clue where. She saw her mother coming back. She cocked her head as her mother came back with scratches. "Who did that?" Greykit gasped. "Your father did," her mother growled. Her mother had a silver coat and was named Silverstripe. It suited her well. Her fathers name was Nightflame, a black and grey tom. "Why does father do that? It's really mean!" Greykit stomped her foot. "Dad is really mean like every other tom around here. They treat she-cats like trash," Silverstripe hissed and lowered her head to eat a stale mouse the toms had thrown away.
"Scraps again?" Greykit sighed. The stringy food the toms managed to bring them was terrible, and it was always the same and known as, "The Bad Catch." The mouse tasted like it was over a year old. It was very stringy and stale, and very tough so it was hard to chew. But it was all the stupid toms would allow them to eat. Robinkit and Fuzzykit, Greykit's brothers, got good food. The toms called she-cats " worthless" and "weak." Which, in Greykit's opinion, wasn't fair. If the she-cats weren't there, there would be no Clan.
"Greykit, you know the toms won't allow us to eat anything else. I mean, it's not healthy, but it's something," Silverstripe sighed. Greykit nodded. Her two brothers, Fuzzykit and Robinkit, were busy eating good food. "Come and share some with us!" Robinkit called. Greykit began to pad over to them. "No, thanks! We'll get in trouble," Silverstripe meowed as she grabbed Greykit by the scruff. "Why don't you go help the other she-cats with their tasks?" she asked. Greykit nodded. "Okay," she sighed as she began to pad over to where Redpaw, Songpaw and Dawnpaw sat, organizing herbs for Poppypelt and doing outside labor.
"Can I be of help?" Greykit squeaked. She flinched when she heard a tom yell, "Worthless she-cat! Do your labor!" Dawnpaw's eyes widened. Songpaw flicked her tail. "It's okay. That happens often around here," she meowed, licking her paw. "We have to go to the elders den next... hopefully Shadepelt isn't feeling lusty," Redpaw shivered. Dawnpaw nodded. "Everything about this Clan sucks," she meowed out loud. "I mean, if it wasn't for she-cats, there would be no Clan!" Greykit nodded. "You took the words right out of my mouth!" she squeaked.
Redpaw and Songpaw glanced at each other. "It disgusts me how they treat she-cats," Redpaw mewed, sorting out herbs. Poppypelt came around the corner. "How's everything holding up?" she asked. Songpaw smiled. "Just great, Poppypelt!" she called. "Good. Keep it up!" the medicine cat mewed. When she was gone, Dawnpaw looked at Greykit and Songpaw. Redpaw too. "Poppypaw was the first she-cat to ever be something other than a Birth Cat!" she whispered. "Hey, maybe this means RainClan is finally changing?" Greykit suggested. "Maybe," Redpaw shrugged, "But I doubt it." Greykit frowned. She was hoping that the abusive and mating-addicted Clan would change and she-cats could be warriors and choose to be Birth Cats instead of having to be one.
She sighed and picked up stinky, dirty moss in her teeth and wrinkled her nose. "Do they EVER change this bedding before us?" Greykit spat out the moss. "Don't hold it like that! Put it under your chin!" Dawnpaw laughed. "And no, they don't bother changing their disgusting bedding." Greykit picked the moss up under her chin. "This must be stinking up the joint!" she put it under some dirt. "Greykit, if you can, may you please move those rocks?" Redpaw asked. "Push them into the pond." Greykit nodded.
She saw some big rocks, they felt more like boulders, under the ivy. She rolled the heavy rocks over, and with all her might, pushed them into the little pond. She still had one huge rock to take care of. "This feels like it's fifty pounds!" she growled, pushing it forcefully. Finally, it landed with a, "plop," into the water. She panted and passed out on the floor. "Redpaw, Songpaw, Dawnpaw, Greykit, thank you," Poppypelt meowed walking over. "Your welcome," all the she-cats thanked. "Be careful in the elders den," Poppypelt warned before getting back to her duties.
Greykit padded after the apprentices. "I can still help!" she meowed. Redpaw shook her head. "We don't want you to get hurt," she whispered, hackles raised. Greykit sighed. She didn't want to get hurt or mated by the elders. She had never mated before, of course, but toms were occasionally raping she-cats for pleasure or revenge. They didn't care if she-cats had kits when they WERE kits. That's how messed up RainClan was. But Greykit was going to change that. Someday, she thought.
Almost all the toms were ruthless and mean, except Icefang and Redpatch. They were abused themselves when they were about Greykit's age. She was going to at least try to prevent the elders from doing something to Redpaw, Songpaw and Dawnpaw. She looked around to make sure no one else was looking. It was clear, so she ran to the elders den. Redpaw was covering her behind with her tail. So were the other apprentices. Shadepelt was staring at them with eyes into slits as they took their stinky bedding and placed it elsewhere.
"You know..." Shadepelt began, "I've been feeling a bit lusty today... could you she-cats help me out a bit?" Redpaw gasped and shook her head. Songpaw was making her way out the den. Dawnpaw was covering her bottom and sitting down. "Hmm. Looks like I'll just have to force you," Shadepelt snickered and beckoned Blizzardfoot over. Blizzardfoot grinned and made his way over. Greykit gasped silently. She was not going to let this happen! But what can I do? I have no power to stop this. It will only get us into more trouble. She sighed and padded away. She looked back and tried to ignore the yowls of pain and laughs of evil. What sick world are we living in? Greykit thought. She saw Fuzzykit and Robinkit fighting up ahead. Flowerkit, Petalkit, Moonkit and Bluekit were there too.
It wasn't fair. Though the toms didn't act like it, Greykit knew they missed their sisters. Since she-cats couldn't be warriors and toms hardly came inside the Birth den, or the nursery. Only too see newborn toms. If there were too many she-cats in the litter, the tom could kill them if he wanted. No one really loved each other as mates, it was usually a rape or something. Greykit wasn't going to be a part of that. She wanted a mate she loved. Bluekit was nice and shy, so he probably wouldn't turn out bad. Fuzzykit and Robinkit were overnice. She was sure her brothers would always visit her. She hoped they would be named Fuzzyfur and Robinwing. Fuzzyfur was a dumb name, but it suited him.
She looked over at Bluekit happily. "Want to play with me?" she asked. Bluekit stared at her. "Sure!" he smiled. He hopped onto Greykit. Greykit shook him off and battered him playfully. "Mama, is this how to fight?" she asked. Silverstripe turned her head. "You're back! How was it?" she asked. Greykit looked at her paws and got down off Bluekit. "They got hurt by the elders," she whispered. Silverstripe gasped. "Poor dears," she shook her head. "Let me guess. It was Shadepelt who started it." Greykit nodded. "Resume your game," Silverstripe smiled before grabbing some herbs in her mouth. Greykit nodded and continued to play-fight Bluekit. Bluekit climbed on top of a small stump and jumped on Greykit. Greykit struggled underneath him. "I win!" Bluekit sang. Greykit smirked. "Not for long!" she meowed as she pushed Bluekit to the ground. "Now I won."
