Warriors: A Twisted Path

Prologue + Chapter 1

"Are you sure he's the one?"
A gray tabby slid out from the dark undergrowth, his red eyes glowing as he met the other tom's gaze.
"Of course!" The gray tabby spat, unsheathing his long, sharp claws.
The other tom, a dark tabby, didn't flinch as he replied. "But he's Tigerstar's son!"
The gray tabby hissed. "I know that, you fool! He has greatness within him, and if we get him on our side, we can use that to our advantage!"
The dark tabby nodded, his green eyes narrowing. "Yes, it would be useful to have someone close to Tigerstar and Blackstar on our side. Do you think he will join us?"
"When the time comes, yes. He has a weakness, and we need to use it against him." The other tabby replied. "You have never failed me, Darkwillow, and I'm trusting you to be able to get Brokenkit to join us."
Darkwillow stared at the tom, a smirk creeping onto his face as he answered. "I will not disappoint you, Nightscar."

~

Chapter 1

Brokenkit padded out of the nursery, his eyes shining with excitement. This was one of the few times he got to go outside, and he wanted to show everyone that he was brave just like his father, Tigerstar.
Brokenkit looked around the camp in amazement, seeing his clanmates chattering and sharing prey. Some cats looked over to him, smiling. Since he was the leader's son, he was well respected in his clan. Though the apprentice's looked at him as if he was a cat from a different clan, especially Thistlepaw.
Brokenkit met the tom's gaze until the apprentice turned back to his denmates, and they talked with their heads close together. He didn't exactly like Thistlepaw, but he did his best to ignore him.
He looked at the Highstone as his friend, Acornkit, walked to his side. Brokenkit nodded in greeting to his friend before they padded to the clearing together.
"How is the young warrior today?"
Brokenkit spun around to see a ragged gray she-cat behind him, and he smiled as the blue eyes gazed down at him.
"Oh, hi Ashpelt! I'm doing quite well! How are you?" Brokenkit asked the elder. Acornkit sat down and looked expectingly at the old she-cat.
"I'm good, thanks for asking." Ashpelt mewed peacefully. She turned to the nursery and grinned as the rest of the kits walked out.
Boulderkit was in the front, his head and tail held high, Honeykit at his side. Brokenkit's sister, Dovekit, was behind them.
Brokenkit rolled his eyes as he saw Boulderkit. I can't believe any cat could like that mousebrained fox.
Brokenkit waited to see if Dizzykit would come out of the den next. He smiled once the white and silver splotched tabby nervously padded outside of the nursery.
The young kits gathered in front of Ashpelt. Boulderkit whispered something in Honeykit's ear, quickly glancing at Dizzykit. They both laughed and Dizzykit looked away.
Brokenkit's fur bristled but he looked at Ashpelt as she spoke and soon forgot about Boulderkit.
"What story would you like to hear?" The elder asked.
"Can you tell us about Blackstar?" Brokenkit begged, barely remembering how his father's mother visited when he and Dovekit were just born.
"Blackstar is the leader of WindClan. She was born in ShadowClan but was chased out." Ashpelt explained. She stopped talking and immediately dipped her head as Tigerstar walked over to them.
"Blackstar should be here soon to visit you." Tigerstar said to Brokenkit and Dovekit, giving each kit a lick between their ears.
Dovekit shifted her paws nervously. "What if she doesn't like me?"
"Of course she'll like you." Tigerstar assured her.
"Yes, of course I like you."
Brokenkit turned around and jumped to his paws. Standing behind them was a black tabby, her yellow eyes shining brightly in the sunlight.
"Blackstar, you're here." Tigerstar said joyfully. "Come see how much the kits have grown since the last time you saw them."
Hazelfur, Brokenkit's mother, had come over and was standing at Tigerstar's side.
"Hi!" Brokenkit greeted with excitement.
"Hello Brokenkit." Blackstar purred softly. "You've grown so much that you could be a warrior already!"
Brokenkit puffed out his chest. "I know." He noticed Dizzykit smiling before he added, "Dizzykit could be a warrior too. Same with Dovekit and Acornkit."
Boulderkit snorted, and he glanced at Dizzykit. "Her? A warrior? She would be crow-food even before a battle begins."
Dizzykit lowered her head and Brokenkit stood in front of Boulderkit, snarling. "It's not like you would be any better! I bet Dizzykit will be a great warrior, unlike you! You're all bark but no bite!"
Boulderkit stepped forward but Tigerstar put his tail in front of the kit to stop him. "That's enough," Tigerstar looked at Brokenkit. "Both of you."
Brokenkit sat down, looking away in frustration.
Blackstar was already gone. She was talking to Ashpelt in front of the elders den.
Boulderkit padded off, Honeykit and Dovekit following. Dizzykit stayed where she was, sighing.
Acornkit stood next to Brokenkit. "I'm going to play with the other kits, want to join me?"
Brokenkit shook his head, looking at Dizzykit. "Maybe later."
"Suit yourself." Acornkit shrugged and raced after the others.
Brokenkit watched him go before walking over to Dizzykit, his green eyes sparkling. He couldn't help but feel like it was unfair about the way Boulderkit and Honeykit were treating her.
"Want to play with me?" He asked.
Hope flickered across Dizzykit's eyes and she instantly nodded. "Yes! How about hide and seek?"
Brokenkit nodded back. "You hide and I'll seek."
Brokenkit turned around and closed his eyes as he heard Dizzykit's paw steps fade away.
A few moments later, Brokenkit opened his eyes and sniffed the air. He followed Dizzykit's scent trail, stopping as he approached a rock at the edge of the camp.
He walked behind the rock and smiled as he spotted a silver tuft of fur poking out from behind a bush. He pounced on Dizzykit, yowling with triumph. "Found you!"
Dizzykit squeaked in surprise before saying, "That was quick!"
Brokenkit nodded, getting off of her.
They both padded back to the clearing together. Dizzykit grinned, glancing at Brokenkit before she cuffed his ears and easily pinned him down.
"That's for pinning me down earlier." She said. Brokenkit growled playfully and they began to play fight. Suddenly, he heard two laughs, and he looked up.
Brokenkit silently hissed as he noticed Boulderkit and Honeykit standing there in front of them, their whiskers twitching with amusement.
Boulderkit looked both Brokenkit and Dizzykit up and down, smirking. "Looks like Dizzykit has finally found a friend. Bet you won't have your friend for long once he realizes how weak you really are."
Brokenkit stood in front of Dizzykit, unsheathing his claws, and lashing his tail. "Leave her alone."
"Make me." Boulderkit challenged.
Brokenkit lunged at Boulderkit, roughly pinning him down. Brokenkit dug his claws into the other kit's pelt, drawing a little blood.
"Let me go!" Boulderkit hissed, struggling beneath him.
"Not until you say sorry to Dizzykit." Brokenkit growled.
"No!" Boulderkit growled back.
"What's going on?" Brokenkit recognized Tigerstar's voice and he immediately got off of Boulderkit.
"This crazy cat," Boulderkit flicked his tail towards Brokenkit. "Attacked me."
"I attacked you because you were being mean to Dizzykit! I wasn't even trying to hurt you anyways." Brokenkit retorted, lifting his head up.
"Well, I better not see it again or both of you will spend the rest of the day in the elders den, getting the ticks off of the elders." Tigerstar growled, his eyes showing he was disappointed. He walked away, shaking his head.
Boulderkit glanced at Brokenkit then walked past Dizzykit, giving her a hard shove as he passed by.
Honeykit followed Boulderkit, wrinkling her nose with disgust as she looked Dizzykit. Dizzykit looked down, her tail drooping.
"Thanks for helping." Dizzykit sighed, glancing at Brokenkit. "But they will just tease me again."
"Then I will defend you again." Brokenkit promised, his head and tail held high.
Dizzykit's face brightened, and she smiled with gratitude. "I don't know why you would do that, but thank you."
Brokenkit smiled back. "Because it's the right thing to do."