Six moons later, I was in the nursery, playing with my friend Stormykit. Stormykit looked weird. Her face was half-black, and half-orange tabby. And her eyes were different colors too. She didn't have very good vision though. Shee was born shortly after me.
" Purekit! Play with me! maybe we can ask Doveswift and my mom Cherrytip if we can explore the camp!"
Stormykit's mom was tabby, like the other side of her face.
Stormykit and I were good friends. My dad didn't really know we were friends, but my mom was okay with it. I was scared when my dad found out he would ban us from seeing each other, because Stormykit wasn't tainted or anything, she's just misunderstood.
"I can't, Stormykit, I have my ceremony today!" I purred proudly. Suddenly, I heard my father meows echoing through the nursery.
"All cats worthy may meet me on the High Oak!"
"Come on, Stormykit!" I squealed excitedly, "watch my ceremony!" I pushed her playfully.
We strode across the room and to the High Oak, tails touching, heads held high.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Purekit, you have reached the age of six moons. I deem you Pure. You have the opportunity to become an honored warrior, the opportunity to climb to greatness. Your mentor will be Brokenclaw. I hope Brokenclaw passes on all his valued knowledge and skill to you.
Until you become a warrior, you will be known as... Purepaw!"
I smiled as I touched noses with my father.
The crowd of cats were breaking apart, heading to their different duties in the clan. I hopped off the High Oak.
"But wait!" my father said, smiling weirdly, "We have one more ceremony to attend to today."
"He must mean you!" I half-whispered to Stormykit excitedly.
"May Stormykit please come up to the High Oak?"
Stormykit padded up to the High Oak, jumping nervously.
"Stormykit, you have reached the age of six moons... But before we get to that, let's talk about something else.
Did your mother ever tell you who your father was?"
Stormykit gulped nervously, then shook her head.
"No, of course she didn't. That murderous, traitorous she-cat! She was mates with a Tainted." Gasps echoed through the camp.
"That black cat was a retched, Tainted, corrupted tom! I quickly disposed of him, though." I didn't know what that meant, unless... I didn't know what it meant. My dad wouldn't do something like that, right?
"You are going to be an example to everyone. That this is what happens to cats who don't follow the rules" He took Stormykit, and held her by the head, showing her half-faces to every cat.
"Now, what about you? Are you Tainted or Pure?" He paused dramatically, eyes gleaming horribly. "Imagine a river. Half of it's water are Pure, half of it Tainted. The taintedness spreads like a disease, and soon, the whole river is Tainted. That is what will happen to you, my friend. You are tainted. Your mentor will be Greyfur. Serve the Pure well, unless you want to face the consequences... Until you become a warrior, you shall be known as...
Taintedpaw."
"Now, may Purepaw and Cherrytip please come to my den?"