Chapter Two: A Promise Kept

Chapter Two: A Promise Kept

A brightly colored butterfly fluttered daintily to the ground and landed softly on a branch poking out from the bramble thicket that was the nursery. It was completely unaware of the two sets of eyes watching it from the depths of the thicket, one icy blue and one bright red. The eyes were focused fully on their prey. After a few heartbeats of slowly flapping its wings, the butterfly took off again. Immediately two young cats burst from the shadows of the nursery and gave chase to the startled insect.

"I've got it!" Winterkit squealed happily, leaping high into the air and just barely missing the butterfly. His excited cry turned to an annoyed grunt as Whistlekit jumped up from behind him and pushed off his back to snag the butterfly's wing on one claw. Winterkit crashed to the ground in an undignified heap while Whistlekit landed lightly on the ground, pinning down the butterfly and snarling like it was an enemy cat he held there.

"That was impressive, Whistlekit." The dark ginger tom looked up quickly at the sound of his leader's voice. Copperstar was padding towards them from across the clearing, an interested gleam in her yellow eyes. Whistlekit prodded his brother anxiously and Winterkit scrambled to his paws to face his leader. But Copperstar's eyes were fixed on Whistlekit. "An interesting tactic, the way you used your brother as a spring to get higher. You'll make a fine warrior someday.

Whistlekit glowed with the pride of being complimented by the ShadowClan leader while Winterkit burned with frustration. The two brothers had recently turned three moons old, and the whole time every cat in the Clan had been telling Whistlekit how talented he was and what a great warrior he would make, just like his father.

Just like our father. Winterkit thought mutinously. Since he knew of the prophecy, Sunstreak had also felt he might as well inform him that Barkpelt had disowned Winterkit the day his eyes opened. That explained why his father always ignored him. Every cat in the Clan, even his own father, either ignored the little white kit or treated him like an enemy. None of them seemed to notice that Winterkit was the best play-fighter in the nursery, since all his moves were taught to him personally by the deputy of the Clan. No one noticed that he had a perfect memory for all the moves Sunstreak showed him, as well as every part of the warrior code. No, whenever he won a play-fight the other kits ran crying to their mothers that Winterkit cheated, and instead of being praised like Whistlekit he was punished. Even though the hard leaf-bare had ended without ShadowClan losing any cats (though a few had been very sick), the Clan still resented poor Winterkit.

When Copperstar was out of earshot, Winterkit growled, "You would never have gotten that butterfly if it wasn't for me." The larger kit had developed a temper in the past two months, though he'd also been learning to control it. While Whistlekit agreed he was treated very unfairly, Winterkit always got punished for sticking up for himself. If he wasn't careful, Gingerheart said, Copperstar would postpone his apprentice ceremony.

But Whistlekit's eyes were sympathetic despite his brother's threatening tone. "I know, Winterkit." He encouraged gently. "Someday everyone will know that. Everyone will know you're the best warrior in all of ShadowClan."

"Not just ShadowClan!" Winterkit boasted, cheered up as always by his brother's unconditional love. "The best warrior in the whole forest!" He stood taller and puffed out his chest. He and his brother always played games where he was the greatest warrior, so great that his power was misunderstood and he formed a new Clan with Whistlekit as his deputy. "And I'm the greatest leader of the greatest Clan: WinterClan!"

Bowing his head respectfully, Whistlekit crouched low to the ground in a show of submission. "Oh great Winterstar! As unworthy as I am to be in your presence, I beg that I may please be made a warrior of WinterClan!"

"Rise, noble warrior!" Winterkit laughed. Whistlekit jumped up, suppressing giggles himself. "The only rank fit for the wonderful brother of the great Winterstar is deputy of WinterClan! From now on you will be Whistlewind, deputy of WinterClan!" Whistlekit raised his head like the sleek warrior he would one day be.

"What are you two doing?" Sunstreak had just returned from a border patrol and came over to see what his 'favorite' nephews were up to. The amiable ginger tom was always game for playing WinterClan, even though he was usually the enemy Clan in their games.

"Intruder!" Winterkit bared his teeth and fluffed out his thin pelt in mock anger. "WinterClan, attack!" He sprang forward, Whistlekit close behind, and jumped on top of Sunstreak. The older cat let out a terrified caterwaul and fell to the ground under the weight of the two kits. He swatted at them with sheathed paws, but could not dislodge his attackers. After a few minutes of play-fighting, Sunstreak crouched before his two great adversaries, ears flat against his head and tail curled under him.

"WinterClan has defeated me!" The tabby tom wailed dramatically, stumbling to one side as if he were wounded. "Please, Winterstar, have mercy on this worthless warrior and take me into your Clan!"

Winterkit and Whistlekit exchanged a knowing glance, as if they were really deciding on the fate of a defenseless enemy. Finally the white kit faced his opponent and meowed clearly, "Because WinterClan is a merciful Clan we will take you in and help you grow strong again. But you must be a loyal warrior of WinterClan! Abandon your old ties and swear your allegiance to WinterClan!"

"What in the name of StarClan do you think you're doing?" Winterkit whirled around to meet the furious yellow eyes of Flickertail, a huge tom. His muzzle was an inch from Winterkit's face, his whiskers brushing across the kit's nose and making him want to sneeze. Flickertail had his teeth bared in a snarl, a growl rising in his throat and his tail twitching angrily. Then again, he was always angry and his tail always twitched, even when he slept. "You little traitor. How dare you treat the Clan deputy with such disrespect?"

Sunstreak stepped between Winterkit and the big warrior, a warning flashing in his deep golden eyes. "Peace, Flickertail." His voice was soft but menacing. "We were only playing. Every kit plays games where they are leader of their own Clan. It is not unusual." Winterkit's skin crawled under his thin pelt. He knew Sunstreak was trying to convince Flickertail that Winterkit was just like any other kit, but Winterkit knew his Clan would never see it that way. Whatever some other kit did, if he copied them he would be punished and called disloyal.

Spitting defiance, Flickertail turned away and stalked across the clearing to where his mate, Birdcall and a few other warriors were sitting by the fresh-kill pile. Flickertail said a few hushed words to them, and they all turned and glared at Sunstreak and Winterkit. The white tom kit shrank back and hid himself behind his uncle, wanting to get away from their angry stares.

"That was ridiculous." Whistlekit snarled, showing his fangs to the warriors. But seeing him, their gazes softened and they laughed good-humoredly. No doubt this only showed what a fearsome warrior Whistlekit would be one day. Had Winterkit challenged them like that, he would have been accused of disrespecting his elders. "Flickertail had no right to talk to you like that, Winterkit. Copperstar should know about this."

Sunstreak shook his head sadly. "There is nothing Copperstar can do about it." He sighed, suddenly looking aged beyond his years. "She can't tell her warriors how to feel or what to think. You must prove yourself to them through your own actions, Winterkit."

Prove myself to them? Winterkit thought hopelessly. How can I do that when they won't even give me a chance? Everyday the warriors found some excuse to chew him out and give him some sort of punishment. The apprentices always excluded him from games when they came to show the kits a few moves, and still always called him 'Redeye'. Even his own father didn't trust him! How could Winterkit ever prove himself to a Clan who didn't even want him here?

The two kits bid farewell to their uncle and returned to the nursery. Winterkit kept his tail and head low, trying to look submissive as he passed by a patrol of warriors preparing to leave. Swampleg and Birdcall growled just loud enough for him to hear, and Barkpelt ignored him completely. But one cat, an apprentice called Foxpaw, cast him and his brother a friendly look. "Hey Winterkit, Whistlekit!" She hissed when her mentor's back was turned. "I've got duties today, but tonight is the Gathering! If you want, I'll tell you guys all about it tomorrow."

Winterkit's ears perked up and he felt Whistlekit stiffen with excitement next to him. A Gathering! Gatherings were when all four Clans met in peace to discuss the happenings of the forests. Generally they went well and not much was said, only new births, apprentices or warriors, but sometimes arguments would break out over stolen prey or recent battles. Just the thought of one made Winterkit's short fur stand on end. "Please do, Foxpaw!" He replied in a soft whisper, trying to be respectful even though he was sure Foxpaw didn't think badly of him. Still, she was the eldest apprentice, and was know for having quite a temper. "We'd love to hear about it." Whistlekit nodded excitedly.

An amused glimmer came over Foxpaw's beautiful amber eyes. "Don't worry. I won't forget."

"Foxpaw! Get a move on!" Birdcall yowled for her apprentice as the patrol pelted out of camp. The ginger she-cat gave Winterkit one last warm look before speeding off after the patrol.

Suddenly Winterkit felt light-hearted and happy for the first time in two moons. He raced back to the nursery on winged paws, where he accidently crashed into Bushykit upon entering.

"Watch where you're going, Demonkit!" Bushykit jeered, shaking dust from his fluffy pelt. He was the largest kit in the nursery with an ego to match. He mercilessly picked on Winterkit, calling him names like 'Demonkit' and pushing him around. Winterkit had long since given up fighting back, since standing up for himself only got him into trouble. However, Whistlekit usually wasn't there to back him up.

"Don't call him that, Bushykit." The small dark tom growled, unsheathing his claws. "Winterkit's told me that you treat him very unfairly. I want you to leave my brother alone."

Bushykit drew back a bit as if stunned. Like most of the Clan, he had respect for Whistlekit. But with his sisters watching and cheering him on now, the shaggy kit couldn't exactly back down that easily. "What are you going to do if I don't?" He challenged, drawing himself up to full height. Bushykit was much larger and stronger than Whistlekit, being a whole moon older.

Whistlekit held the older kit's gaze for a moment longer before whisking away and padding silently over to his nest on the other side of the nursery. A rather quiet cat, Whistlekit often ended conversations abruptly when he felt no more was needed to be said. Winterkit glanced at Bushykit and muttered a quiet "Sorry" before scampering over to join his brother.

"That's right, Demonkit." Bushykit taunted. "Run off and hide behind your brother. He won't be there to protect you forever!" Seedkit and Kernelkit snickered behind him, spitting bad names at Winterkit as well.

"Demonkit!" Seedkit hissed meanly.

"Redeyes! No one wants you here!" Kernelkit added. The three siblings cackled and tossed balls of moss at the younger white kit. Winterkit cringed and looked away but stayed silent. Though he wanted so much to sink his claws into Bushykit's long coat, Winterkit restrained himself. Getting into a fight with his denmates would not earn respect from the Clan, no matter how well he fought.

"What's the matter, little demon?" Bushykit guffawed loudly, looking back at his sisters for support. "Are you too afraid to use your demon powers on us? You're just a big kittypet!"

A snarl exploded from Winterkit suddenly and he cried, "Why can't you just leave me the hell alone?!" Without thinking about what he was doing, Winterkit lunged forward and lashed out with both front paws. "What did I ever do to you?!" His unsheathed claws caught Bushykit across the muzzle, slicing his nose open and knocking him to the ground. Seedkit's and Kernelkit's laughed turned to shrieks of rage as they unsheathed their claws, ready to defend their brother. But Bushykit flicked his tail, a sign telling them to stand down. He stood and faced Winterkit.

"So the demon shows his true colors!" Bushykit spat at Winterkit's feet, who flinched and hissed at him. "Let's see what you've got, kitty! I can take you myself." The larger kit reared back on his hind legs, claws sliding out of their sheaths. He brought his claws down on Winterkit's head and stars exploded in the white kit's vision.

Winterkit squealed and rolled over, kicking out with his hind legs and slamming them into Bushykit's chest. Winded, Bushykit stumbled back and Winterkit jumped on top of him. The two rolled over and over, each trying to overpower the other. Somehow Winterkit came out on top. He pinned the older kit down and dragged his hind claws through Bushykit's belly fur.

Suddenly a large amber paw knocked Winterkit away from Bushykit. Winterkit skidded across the ground, but before he could right himself Gingerheart snatched him up by the scruff and threw him down in his nest. The white tom kit stared up at his mother in terror, as she thrust her snarling muzzle into his face. "I leave you be for just a few minutes and look at the trouble you get into!" The ginger queen scolded harshly. "The Clan is right not to trust you!"

"M-Mother!" Winterkit gasped, trying to squirm away from her accusing gaze. "I am the victim of more torment than any cat in the Clan! I shouldn't have to suffer the hate of the entire Clan simply because my eyes are red!" His voice gained in strength as he repeated the words that Whistlekit had told him so many times. And for once, he really believed those words. Finally he was telling someone who mistrusted him how he really felt.

A glimmer of respect came across Gingerheart's amber eyes, but it lasted only a heartbeat. Fury replaced it, and she drew back a bit as if stung, her fur bristling. "And you think you deserve some sort of special treatment because of your abnormalities?!" She hissed through gritted teeth. Winterkit's eyes widened in alarm and he shook his head, but Gingerheart continued, "You are a disgrace to ShadowClan. I have tried hard the past three moons to keep you safe and quiet, and I will not have you causing trouble under my jurisdiction! Now apologize!"

Shrinking away from his mother in fear, Winterkit muttered a quick apology to Bushykit before slinking away to curl up in his corner of the den, farthest away from the cats who tormented him. Satisfied cackles rose from the throats of Bushykit and his sisters. Winterkit shot them a glance, but looked away at the contempt burning in their eyes. "Not so tough now that mommy's here, huh Demonkit?" Winterkit didn't look around again, determined not to enrage his mother anymore. Gingerheart didn't leap to his defense, and he didn't expect her to.

A moment later, Bushykit's jeers were broken off by a shriek, which was also quickly silenced. An eerie gurgling sound filled the air for a moment, followed by complete silence. Winterkit looked around slowly, dreading what he might see. Bushykit was lying on the floor of the den, his eyes glazed and sightless. His throat was torn and blood still gushed from the wound, though its owner was already dead. Standing proudly in the pooling blood was none other than Whistlekit, who had been quiet for the duration of the fight. Without a word he lifted one paw to his blood-stained muzzle and began to lick the sticky liquid from his pads. All eyes were fixed, horrified, on the small kit who had just killed his denmate.

The silence was unbroken for a stretch of time that seemed to last a lifetime, at the same time no more than a heartbeat. Finally Whistlekit turned his cold blue eyes onto Winterkit. They were dark and expressionless, as if killing Bushykit had meant nothing to him. Winterkit felt trapped in his brother's gaze, for the first time afraid of the depth behind Whistlekit's eyes. It was as if Whistlekit could look right through him.

"I told you, Brother, I'll never let anyone treat you unfairly, whether they be an enemy or from our own Clan." The small dark ginger tom repeated his words of two moons ago, when Winterkit had first become aware of his oddity. Whistlekit swiped a pink tongue around his thin, bloody muzzle, as if he'd just had a juicy piece of fresh-kill. His blue eyes bored into Winterkit with such strong emotion that he'd never seen in any cat. "That is a promise I plan to keep."

--

Ah, brotherly love. That tender closeness that anyone with a brother feels. Except most people don't kill for it. Well, Whistlekit isn't most people, apparently. Oh dear. The INSANITY.

Alright not really.

Anyway, I can't say for sure when I'll have the next chapter up, what with finals starting this week. Surprisingly, I'm not too stressed out about them. I'm pretty confident in my memory, even for things we learned at the beginning of the year. So the next chapter may or may not be up this week.

We'll see how things work out. .

Will Winterkit be blamed for Bushykit's death? Is Whistlekit heading down a dark, dangerous road? Will Gingerheart and Barkpelt ever learn to love their son? If I get a lot of reviews here, you may find out very soon!

PLEASE review. I love hearing what people think of my stories.