Peachfoot: Yeah, that chapter was only really the introduction. At the begining of each chapter now there's going to be a breif section like that, before the main story actually starts, and at the end there's going to be another section that co-responds to the first one.
Pebblepaw: hehehe... twotail...
Deceived: I love your username, and yes, i will update.
Cinderdreams: That was my goal!
Starfrosts' Spirit: Well, this chapter won't be as sad as the last.
I love my Uncle, he's the greatest, even with his flaws. When I'm sadder then usual he comes to comfort me, and eases my pain. He says that being a deputy isn't all about fighting and hunting or leading, it was about the Clan as well. It's funny actually; there was always something I pictured. Something I always wanted.
"Snakepaw!" My father called me. I spun around, eyes glowing from where I had been play fighting with Blackstripe. I glanced back at him, and he nodded, beaming, and letting me run off to my father. Smokestar swept me aside, to a place where Diamondshine and my siblings wouldn't see what we were talking about.
"You're going to the gathering tonight," he meowed, I brightened up even more if it was possible, I had never been to a Gathering before, but I had heard from other warriors that you would be able to meet a lot of cats there,
"And so are Silverpaw and Marshpaw." I kept my smile, while inside my spirits wilted slightly. That would mean I would have to be careful to avoid them. Like always. My father beamed proudly, "Thank you, Snakepaw. Tell Blackstripe to bring you out on a hunting patrol today." I nodded and dashed away, back to Blackstripe still smiling.
"Daughter, Son!" my father called again. I felt my insides sink again, like always, he called them Daughter and Son, but called me only Snakepaw. Silverpaw pricked up at the sound of our Fathers' voice, and nudged Marshpaw, who had been dozing, the two rushed over to him together, green eyes glowing.
I guess I must have been staring, because Blackstripe nudged me, catching my attention from where he had been dozing.
"Don't look so blue," he yawned, "You're going to the Gathering tonight, aren't you?" I nodded and he smiled, "You know your father loves you. He's just trying to protect your mother and siblings." I flicked my split tail dejectedly, Blackstripe read me like the clumsy apprentice."
"Smokestar said to take you our hunting, right?" he yawned again, flipping over, "Honestly, he's so demanding. Well then, come on, before the squirrels go to sleep." I giggled and the two of us trotted out into the forest side-by-side. On our way out though, we quickly blundered into Darkflower, a small, young black she-cat with dark brown eyes.
"Huh?" she dropped the squirrel she had been holding when she knocked into Blackstripe, "Oh, Blackstripe. I'm sorry." She quickly avoided his gaze and picked up her kill, rushing into the camp. I blinked at the awkward moment, and Blackstripe shuffled his paws, jerking his head to motion that we should still be walking.
"What was that all about?" I asked, snickering inside, do I smell the hint of… romance? Blackstripe cuffed me on the head playfully.
"I taught her a few hunting tricks," he smirked playfully, "Now she's fallen head over tail in love with me." He tried to cuff me again but I jumped away in time.
"So when're you going to have kits?" I laughed and he jumped at me, flustered in embarrassment.
"Are you mental- You don't think- She's too youn- Oh who asked you anyway?" he laughed and pinned my twin tails to the ground, and I tripped, laughing and fell into the mud, Blackstripe straitened, up, but did not take his paws off my tails, "Now, remember, our intentions were to come out here and catch prey for the Clan. That will be quite impossible if we continue this foolish laughing."
"I second that, Blackstripe." A moment later a brown and white tabby tom padded into the clearing, with Marshpaw padding up behind him. It was Brownstripe, Marshpaws' mentor and (from what I could tell) Blackstripes' biggest rival. Every cat in the Clan knew they were kithood friends, but it didn't hinder their rivalry for one second, "You'll never catch as much prey as me and my apprentice here." His eyes glittered, and I groaned.
"Oh ho? Is that a challenge I hear?" Blackstripe pricked his ears and narrowed his eyes, "First one with three squirrels back here."
"Apprentices catch two." Brownstripe grinned, they both nodded, "Deal." Blackstripe spun and waved a tail to me.
"Come on, Snakepaw, time for some tail-kicking hunting." He grinned, leading me towards the ThunderClan border, while Brownstripe marched off towards the RiverClan border. I sighed. Here we go again.
A mother who loved me, a brother and sister who looked up to me. A father who would beam down in pride at every moment he had with his family. That was what I had always wanted. I wanted the warmth of a gentle sign on my fur as i curled next to my mother or the fire of pride i would gain from my fathers praise.
But when i fell asleep at night, and drempt of Smokestar and Diamondshine and Silverpaw and Marshpaw, I saw different cats. Instead of Smokestar as my father, I would see Blackstripe, no matter how hard I tried, and when I looked towards my mother I would see Darkflowers black pelt instead of my mothers silvery glow. My brother and sister were kits i had never met before, that looked like smaller versions of Blackstripe and Darkflower. I could never see my parents as my real parents. No matter how hard i tried. Was I really rejected that much?