Hailkit opened his eyes, his vision groggy. Cats whispered around him, "What's going on? Did he fall unconscious for his ceremony?" He sat up shakily, just as his father Redstar sprang down, and raked his dog-reinforced claws across his chest. Blood squirted out of his mouth as he fell back onto the ground, motionless. He felt uneasiness flashing from other cats pelts as he fell into a deep sleep. He blinked as he woke up the next day, splayed out under a dumpster. His mother, Crimsonstripe, sat near him. He looked up at her, and she murmured, "I'm sorry, Hailpaw.. your father wasn't thinking." Hailkit heard something different, instead of Hailkit, it was Hailpaw. He asked, dumbfounded, "Hailpaw??" Crimsonstripe meowed gently, "You had your ceremony while you are unconscious. Your mentor is Silvertalon." She added. Hailpaw sucked in a gasp and thought, "Silvertalon?? He's the fiercest warrior ever! Does Redstar want to k-kill me??" He shakily got to his paws, and shook out his fur. He asked, looking around for his littermates and friends, "Where is Flintk-paw, Fangpaw, and Darkpaw?" His mother replied, "Training. Silvertalon will take you out when you are ready. Now, go back to sleep. BloodClan needs you to be fit as soon as possible." With that, she slunk out from underneath the dumpster. Hailpaw woke up, feeling pretty well. He looked down at his chest, noticing the wound was healing nicely. Sliding out into the open, Hailpaw padded towards a pile of scraps. From the shadows, a cat with yellow eyes hissed, "That's mine, kit! Back off!" Hailpaw reared up in alarm, but then flattened his ears and crouched down. He mewed shakily, "Sorry!!!" He scampered off, and approached Redstar. He asked, ducking his head respectfully, "Can I share your food?" Redstar got to full height-which was large, and snarled in Hailpaw's face, "NO!! Go find your own food!" In hearing this, Flintpaw and Fangpaw hurtled over, and guided Hailpaw away from their seething father. Hailpaw stopped in surprise, and looked up at his littermates. He noticed in admiration that they were tall, and their fur was sleek. Hailpaw looked over himself, noticing he still had kit fluff, and was short. But, with disappointment he noticed their dog-claws and spiked collars. He asked, "When will I get a collar and dog-claws?" His littermates exchanged uncomfortable glances, and Fangpaw mewed harshly, "When you grow taller and get rid of that fluff. He poked a big paw into Hailpaw's side, nearly knocking him over. Hailpaw flattened his ears at his brother and hissed. Flintpaw anxiously drew Hailpaw away, and mewed, "You can share with me." Hailpaw hissed at her, anger flashing from his pelt, "No! I'll find my own food!" Hailpaw stalked away, fuming. He headed out of camp, into the Twolegplace. He spotted a Twoleg and thought, "Wow, they look funny!" He tasted the air and realized the Twoleg was disposing meat. Hailpaw crept toward, his ears flat. The Twoleg didn't notice him. As soon as it went inside it's den, Hailpaw leapt into the can and pulled out remains. He dragged them back to camp, pride brimming off his pelt.
