Born Broken

Chapter 6

Stormpaw tripped a bit as she walked forward towards the clearing. A pair of amber eyes gazed at her from the clearing.

"Stormkit." She recognized Thunderheart's voice. He was hunched over a black body, and she realized that he was sitting vigil for Sparrowmoon. "Heatherstar's not here. The ceremony was delayed until tomorrow." Grief dripped into his voice as he spoke.

"I'm sorry you had to wait for me," the dark gray kit apologized. "And I'm sorry about Sparrowmoon."

He narrowed his eyes in anger. "You are the one who should be dead, not him! He died to save you. You would be dead if it weren't for him. I wish he hadn't!" Stormkit felt guilty. At the same time, a spark of anger formed in her mind. Shouldn't he be glad that his kit had survived?

"At least he died a warrior's death." She bravely mewed.

"A warrior's death? A warrior's death?" He screeched. "Saving a pathetic kit like you? Everyone knows you were destined to die early!"

Stormkit began to back away. Thunderheart unsheathed his claws, and stepped forward. "Don't hurt me...." She squeaked.

His eyes glinted with maliciousness."And why shouldn't I?"

"I'm your kit!" She whimpered.

"With three other kits." He scoffed, laying a claw over her neck. "You're pitiful, really. I should've killed you moons ago."

"You—you wanted me to die?" A wave of horror and shock washed over her.

"Yes! And now, finally, you will. Never gonna live to be an apprentice, are ya?" He sneered. Thunderheart swiped his claws across Stormkit's muzzle. "See you in StarClan..."

Fear rushed into her, and she closed her eyes.

"Thunderheart!"

Heatherstar's voice rang around the hollow. Stormkit looked up, and saw the moonhigh patrol returning, with Heatherstar in the lead.

"Y-yes, Heatherstar?"

"Are you trying to hurt Stormkit?" Her voice blazed with anger.

"Hurt her? More like kill her!" Thunderheart snarled. "She doesn't deserve to live!"

"Traitor!" Featherfall spat.

"Heatherstar, we must exile him!" A blue gray she cat worriedly meowed to the leader. "We can't live with a traitor in our midst!"

"Don't worry, I will, Rainsong." Heatherstar exchanged glances with her. "Thunderheart must be punished!" Her voice raised to a yowl. At that point, cats were already pouring out of the dens.

"A traitor?"

"Who would have known!"

"He's just like his father, Eaglescratch!"

"Silence!" Heatherstar raised her voice above the others. "It is true, Thunderheart is a traitor! He has tried to kill young Stormkit." Thunderheart let out a furious hiss, his eyes filled with hatred and rage. Springing away from Stormkit, he began to attack his clanmates, but alone was easily overpowered. The warriors dragged him towards the front, in front of Heatherstar.

Her gaze was cold. "Thunderheart, you have tried to kill a kit, and must be punished. I exile you from this Clan. If any of our warriors see you on ThunderClan territory after sunhigh tomorrow, they have my permission to kill you."

He hissed defiantly as his former clanmates herded him towards the entrance. "This is not the last you'll see of me, ThunderClan. Especially you, Stormkit."

So what do you think? Was an exile too much of a punishment, especially if he didn't even kill Stormkit? I may or may may not reveal who he did  kill in one of the next few chapters... So just keep waiting. I will (eventually) publish Chapter 7. The wifi sucks where I am 😒