Chapter 1
It was a moonless night. Not a scratch of light shone on the dark, quiet forest. A sudden screech destroyed the eerie silence that was forming as the cats went to sleep. A small siamese kitten was writhing on the ground, covered in blood. A massive white tabby stood over her, with a cruel smile on his face. He jabbed a claw into her spine, and she screeched in pain. Tears welled up in her eyes. "What have I done to you, Blizzardstar, that you do this to me?" The kitten squeaked in anguish. "You betrayed me, Featherkit. I told EVERYONE to not offer RainClan any herbs! How DARE you disobey me?" He roared. The cats of HailClan, all roused my Blizzardstar's yowling and Featherkit's screeching, gathered outside their dens, wondering what was happening. Blizzardstar jumped up onto the stump in the center of the clearing. Featherkit guessed he was going to humiliate her in front of the whole Clan, right now, in the middle of the night. Soon, she found out that her guess was correct. "HailClan!" Blizzardstar meowed. He grabbed hold of Featherkit's scruff and dragged her onto the stump. Featherkit squealed with pain, but Blizzardstar dug his teeth in harder for her to keep quiet. "This stupid fleabag," he paused, shoving the poor she cat so hard she almost fell. "This stupid fleabag was caught giving herbs to RainClan! We need what we have to survive, and I don't care if the other Clans starve! We need to survive! It's their problem if they can't fend for themselves or heal themselves!" Featherkit felt sick. "I have possibly the worst father any cat could wish for." She thought. Blizzardstar went on, ignoring the gasps of shock. "From now on, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE is to give this creature any food, water, or bedding. Featherkit bristled. Her father called her a creature! Didn't he consider her a real cat? "Fernpaw!" Blizzardstar beckoned the apprentice forward. "You will make sure she gets one shriveled, old mouse, stale water, and cold, soaking wet bedding EVERYDAY." "Yes, Blizzardstar!" The apprentice meowed confidently. Featherkit felt dread creeping along her spine.
