Challenge: One Word

Word Count (no word limit): 1148

Rating: T, just to be safe; mention of death

Rebellion

"Come on, Snowkit!"

A small white she-kit swiftly waddled over to two other kits her age. "I'm coming," she puffed.

The two kits waiting for her were Splashkit and Whitekit— her brothers.

When the kitten made it over to her brothers, she stood there for a bit puffing frantically. "Why-Why are we d-doing this an-anyway?" she asked. "We're not al-allowed out of camp. We're only four moons old."

"You're just scared that we're going to get caught," Splashkit—the bigger of the siblings— teased. He licked his grey and white flecked pelt with his tongue. "We'll only get caught if you say something to Minnowstar or Cloudberry." He glared at his sister. "You wouldn't do that would you?"

"N-N-No," Snowkit stuttered. She glanced over at Whitekit for help or support. He sat there expressionless. "I-I promise..."

"Good."

The three kits stumbled out of the camp entrance.

Snowkit looked at the forest. It was so big and bright. Maybe rebelling against the rules wasn't such a bad thing... What was the worst that could happen?

A beetle flittered past her and she playfully swiped at it. "This is so fun," she purred in delight.

"See," Splashkit purred. "There was no need to be a scaredy-mouse. This is amazing!"

Snowkit looked at her paws. "But what if we get caught by the dawn patrol or those rogues Minnowstar has talked about...? What will happen to us?"

She saw Whitekit's eyes widen with fear. "I-I need to use the dirtplace," he mewed.

"No you don't, you coward!" Splashkit snarled. "You just don't want to be caught! You're just a little scaredy-mouse!"

"At least I'll be a scaredy-mouse that'll be safe in my nest while you two are looking for trouble!" Whitekit retorted. He thrashed his tail in anger and stormed back towards the camp. "And if you two 'rebels' are smart, you'll follow me!" he added.

Whimpering, Snowkit watched her brother storm back to camp. "M-Maybe we should go back too. I mean, we're breaking the rules and I don't want to wait even more moons for my apprenticeship."

"Fine!" Splashkit snapped. "But I'm not going to go!" He sat down with a huff and glanced up at Snowkit. "Do you want to just be known as that she-cat who died after a boring life? Don't you want to rebel against the rules for just one moment so you can go down in history as the cat who didn't die a sad, lonely, bored elder who never did anything interesting, but instead, a hero?"

He stamped his foot against the dusty ground. "Well, I don't want to live a boring life!" he growled. "You can go follow Whitekit if you want, but if you do, I'll never talk to you again!"

"N-No..." Snowkit trembled. "I-I'll stay with you. I-I do want to be a rebel."

Satisfied, Splashkit padded off and Snowkit bounded after him. The camp became further and further away.

After a few minutes of exploring, the two kits stopped and sat down. They had never done this much exercise!

"M-Maybe we should go back..." Snowkit asked tensely. "I'm hungry and I want to tell Whitekit about what he missed." She hoped that it would be a good enough excuse to convince Splashkit to go back. She was scared without her mother!

"Um... yeah," Splashkit answered distantly. "I'm starting to get a little sca—hungry myself. Let's go..."

"Aw, don't leave so soon, kits." an ominous purr came from the bushes and a large grey tom emerged. "We haven't even gotten to know each other."

Snowkit let out a squeak and jumped. "Who are you?" she asked. "I've never seen you in camp before. Are you part of the dawn patrol? Are we going to get in trouble? Do you think—?"

Her questions were interrupted by Splashkit's yowl. "Run you mouse-brain!" The tom-kit bolted away, leaving Snowkit alone.

She leaned closer to the tom, noticing that he smelled like smoke, ash and... Another scent she couldn't quite work out. "He just doesn't want to get in trouble. I won't get in trouble will I? I didn't want to escape from camp, but he forced me. Please don't make my father push my apprenticeship back mister... mister... What is your name? I'm Snowkit!"

"My name is Tornado," the grey tom answered.

"Tornado?" she asked. "That's a funny name. It doesn't sound like a Clan name—." Her eyes widened. "I-I-I h-have to go now. Bye-bye!"

She turned around and bolted. Now she knew what the third scent of the rogue was...

Suddenly claws pierced the skin on her back and she fell to floor on her face. The taste of blood filled her mouth. "You can't get away from me that easily," Tornado hissed in her ear.

"Please! Please don't!" she cried. "I'm sorry!"

Those were the last things she ever said. Teeth sank into the back of her neck and everything went dark.

... Yes, she knew what the third scent from the rogue was...

The third scent lingering was the scent of death...

.

"Do you, Whitepaw promise to uphold the Warrior Code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Minnowstar yowled. The light grey tom's eyes sparkled with pride.

Whitepaw lifted his head proudly. "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name," he purred. "My son, from this moment you will be known as Whiteheart. StarClan honours your dedication to your training and we welcome you as a full warrior of our great Clan."

"Whiteheart! Splashfoot! Whiteheart! Splashfoot!" the Clan cheered.

From StarClan, a tiny white kit cheered alongside them. For the new warriors. For her brothers.

The cats started to disperse but Minnowstar called them back. He was not finished.

"As you all know," he meowed sadly. "I also had a daughter. She was killed by a rogue many moons ago. Snowkit was innocent and loving and did not deserve to die so suddenly."

Snowkit looked down at Splashfoot. His head was down in shame.

"I believe that she would have made an excellent warrior and I would have named her Snowstream for her caring and loving nature and how her enthusiasm kept the Clan alive just like how the stream keeps us alive," he continued. He let out a sigh, then lifted his head towards the sky. "Snowstream! Snowstream!"

"Snowstream! Snowstream!" the Clan cheered.

'Snowstream,' she thought to herself, 'what a pretty name...'

Wistfully, Snowkit thought to the day she had died. She wished that she had not died so soon. She had missed out on so much. She always wished that she had done something else that day. Then maybe, she would not have been killed.

If only she had not listened to Splashkit. If only she had listened to Whitekit instead and followed him.

If only she had not rebelled...