Angelkit shuffled her paws as she watched her brother, Boltkit, in front of her. He was play fighting with her sister, Bluekit. A paw rested on her shoulder and Angelkit looked up to see her mother, Ashleaf. The leaf green eyes looked down at her "Why aren't you playing with your litter mates, Angelkit?"
"They said they don't want to play with me anymore, momma, because I'm dad's favorite." Angelkit wailed.
Ashleaf sighed "Bluekit! Boltkit! Come here." Ashleaf curled her tail around Angelkit.
"Why!?" Bluekit protested squirming out from under Boltkit.
"Because I said so," Ashleaf said with authority.
Boltkit turned around rolling his eyes as he saw Angelkit. The two bigger kits padded over and slumped down in front of their mother, scowling. Ashleaf lowered her head and scolded the kits "Why in the name of Starclan do you think your father, Scorchtail, is picking favorites! That is no way to treat your sister!"
Boltkit jumped to his paws and lashed his tail "It is the way we treat her and dad does pick favorites! He has always told her she'd be a great warrior one day! He never once said that to me or Bluekit!"
Bluekit fluffed out her fur "Yeah! Why should we bother playing with her if she is so great and honored already!" the last word sneered its way out of her teeth.
Angelkit shrank away into her mother's soft belly fur her eyes wide in shock at the accusations being thrown at her. Ashleaf let out a gasp "That is no way to talk about your sister! You have both crossed the line in the sand this time. In the den now, both of you!" Ashleaf watched the two kits stalk off and looked down at her "I'm sorry honey…" she whispered.
"It's okay momma….. I'm gonna go see Brightheart." Angelkits shoulders slumped as she dragged her paws over to the elders den. The sun dappled clearing was crowded with cats. Autumnpaw and Lightpaw shared a mouse together as they laughed Oakshade and his brother and sister Falconwing and Sunpool shared news of the day under the shade of the leaders cleft. Angelkit gave a sigh then turned and scrambled her way into the elders den. Sandstorm was in the far corner her flanks slowly rose and fell with every breath. Angelkit looked around the den and neither Brightheart nor Cloudtail were in there. Angelkit turned to leave not wanting to bother Sandstorm but she began to shuffle in her nest. "Angelkit what's wrong you look upset?" Sandstorm said with clear worry sparking in her voice.
Angelkit sniffled and rushed to the old warriors side just as tears over took her "My sister and Brother hate me Sandstorm! I… I" Angelkit choked "I don't… know what… I did wrong."
"Oh sweat heart." Sandstorm soothed placing a gentle paw on Angelkits back and pulling her close "I'm sure they don't hate you. Kits sometimes don't understand the meaning of hate and they take father then they mean."
Angelkit cried "But they do mean it. They said I don't need to play because I'm perfect. They said they don't like me because I'm Scorchtails favorite."
"I see what's going on there, Angelkit." Sandstorm licked her head.
"What?" Angelkit looked up at her with clouded eyes.
"They are just jealous that's all. You see they must think that Scorchtail gives you more attention than he does to them."
"But how do I fix that?" Angelkit tilted her head.
"Well Angelkit, there really isn't anything you can do about it. They are the ones who are jealous so that's for them to fix." Sandstorms gaze softened "But what I'm trying to say is they aren't really mad at you they're mad at Scorchtail. So just don't let it eat you up okay."
Angelkit smiled "Thanks Sandstorm! She rubbed her cheek across hers "This really helps!" Angelkit bounded out of the den and was blinded by sunlight and suddenly collapsed into black fur "Oof!" Angelkit hit the ground. "Hey, watch where you're going!" an irritated hiss came from Icerift whose sharp blue bore down on her.
Angelkit Scooted backwards and shook her head then looked up at Icerift "Sorry!" Angelkit said embarrassed. Icerift let out a sigh "No I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you." With that Icerift shook her head and padded away.
"It's okay Angelkit."
Angelkit spun around and looked up at Lightpaw who gave her a sympathetic. "She is still upset that's all."
"Why is she upset, Lightpaw?"
"Oh that's right, you had only just been born when it happened." Lightpaw sighed, "When you were only a few sunrises old my litter-mate then had died of sickness only me and my sister had survived…" Lightpaw trailed off.
"It's okay you don't have to tell me, Lightpaw." Angelpaw turned to pad away but Lightpaw stopped her.
"You deserve to know Angelkit, I don't want you feeling like she hates you."
"Then tell me Lightpaw." Angelkit grumbled in frustration.
"Well I wasn't awake when she passed in the night when I woke up my father, Oakshade, told us what happened and that our mother had left with her body to bury her in the forest…." Lightpaw lowered her head "She didn't come back for three more sunrises… she took it really hard and she is still mourning."
Angelkit shrugged "I get that she is mourning but it's been moons I hate to say but if she can't get over it then she shouldn't take it out on everyone else." She snapped not meaning to.
"Excuse me! I was just trying to explain to you, what's gotten into your mouth." Lightpaw turned tail and stalked away.
"Lightpaw I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" Angelkit wailed after her but Lightpaw didn't hear her. Angelkit bit her lip and ran through the light mixed sand and grass over to the nursery but stopped in front. Looking inside she saw the sleeping pelts of Bluekit and Boltkit and remembered the incident that happened earlier. They hate me; she thought and screamed inside her head. She made her way around the nursery and crawled under some loose brambles. She curled up her small body and cried into her fur as she watched Bluekit and Boltkit sleeping peacefully near Ashleafs belly through the brambles. Light turned to dark in her vision as sleep overwhelmed her.
A cold breeze blew against her back waking her up. The clearing was covered in darkness as she opened her eyes and she realized that wind was coming from behind her not in front. Angelkit swiveled her way around and through the brambles collapsing onto dirt in heartbeats. Angelkit stood up and looked around. I'm outside of camp! She smiled to herself, now she won't have to stay in the stupid clan. She could find her way out of the territory by dawn before anyone would come looking for her. She could be free of Boltkit and Bluekit and even start her own clan!
She leaped forward and slowly made her way through the forest on clumsy paws. Bird song gently made its way through the air as if they were all encouraging her to go on. She pushed past more brambles and stumbled onto the ground in front of her. She collapsed onto the ground breathing hard. She up at the sky which slowly grew lighter with every heart beat. She was never going to make it. Then she heard something no not something, someone. "What do you think you're doing out here kit!?" The voice sneered. "Running away won't solve your problems!"
Angelkit bristled "I'm not running away!" She yelled.
"Are you sure 'cause it sure looks like that."
"You don't understand no one likes me!" She wailed.
"Stop acting so pathetic! If they don't like you why are you here?" The voice challenged.
"Because I….." She trailed off.
"That's what I thought! If someone doesn't like you don't run away it shows fear! Fear is what they want, don't you ever give it to them!" The voice it sounded angry but yet it sounded like it wanted… to help her, "If someone has a jealousy for shove it their face!" the voice yelled at her.
Angelkit thought about it for a heartbeat and then looked up "Your right!" She turned tail and began to make her back to the camp. She was going to show Bluekit and Boltkit. She'd show all of them! "And I can help you with everything." The voice whispered.