Sagekit looked around the camp as the sun was at sunhigh. The camp was large and surrounded by impenetrable hills on all sides that were covered in very thick trees. The entrance was on one side and was a small cat dug tunnel in a hole. The entrance and exit were covered in brambles. A large boulder stood across the clearing from the entrance. It was known as Chief Rock, for it was where the chief gave announcements. Behind it was a small cave where the Chief slept. To the right of it, halfway down the camp, was a large bush that served as the warriors den. In the corner of the same side was the small cave that was for the Learners. In the opposite corner of the camp on the Chief Rock's left side was the nursery, which was a small space dug into the side of the hill. The Mender's place, called the Healing Den, was not far off from it in a natural cave inside the hill. Lastly, down the same side was the elders den, which was a large, rotting log. Plants and dirt covered the camp's walls and ground. The dirtplace was just outside of camp behind the apprentices den a few fox-lengths back. The weather was cloudless and sunny, a perfect green-leaf day.

Sagekit was full of energy to play on this beautiful day. She loved her home. A light breeze ruffled her her ginger and white fur. Her very dark blue, almost purple eyes looked around in happiness. Several cats milled around the camp doing various tasks or talking.

Sage-kit was enjoying her day. Today she had turned 3 months old. Sagekit had been born on the third full moon of the year. She loved and trusted her mother Rockheart, a black and white cat with blue eyes, and her father Flowerclaw, a ginger tom who also had blue eyes. Her life was fun. She got to play with her siblings and her friend. Sagekit was used to walked on her backwards front left paw she was was born with. She could run around like any other cat. She fit in like any other cat. 

It was tradition for kits to be named after their eyes opened. She was named for her almost 0purple eyes after the purple sage flower, a plant native to only Valleyclan land. 

Her mother was ashamed for injuring her. She had jumped onto a rock that was by a stream to show to the apprentices how to do it. But the rock had been slick and she fell, injuring Sagepaw in the womb. Rockheart later said that she was told by a Starclan that the jump was safe. But her mother wasn't sure and dismissed the memory as a dream.

Today, she wanted to do something besides play with her siblings Snowkit, a white she-cat with blue eyes, and Skunk-kit, a ginger tom with blue eyes. Nor did she want to play with Badgerkit, a light orange tom, as he always made fun of her for her paw. Her sibling Snowkit was the same way. But she was good friends with Badgerkit's sibling Sunkit. Badgerkit was named for his long claws, and Sunkit for her fur. They were the offspring of Honeypelt and Goldenheart. They had been born a week after Rockheart gave birth to her. Sunkit and Badgekit were twins, both with light orange fur and green eyes.

 Sagekit and Sunkit just made good friends. They just felt connected in a way, like sisters. They acted as sisters and had lots of fun together. But today Sunkit was playing with Badgerkit. Sagekit decided to go to the elder's den.

The clan elders were the she-cat Sandclaw, a former Mender,  and Stonestar, a retired chief. They had fallen in love and decided to retire so they could have kits. Stonestar's last mate had broken up with him long ago for a reason she didn't know about. But he needed love, and Sandclaw had given it to him. But they sadly never had any kits. They both didn't like her, it seemed half the clan didn't, and she didn't know why.

She always thought she was stared at for her odd appearance. But Rockheart, her mother, told her to ignore it and that she as normal. She would tell her why when she became an apprentice. Among the cold people she knew were included Sunkit's parents and sibling, but Sunkit was nice to her. The other half was nice to her. It wasn't being mean and nice that was the difference, some were just friendly and open, and others were cold and harsh. It seemed as if there were two divisions in the clan. But she didn't care. She always enjoyed being a pest towards the elders and liked their stories.

Stonestar saw her coming and let out a grunt of annoyance. "Sandclaw, it"s THAT disgusting one again. How I wish her parents would just keep her away from us.Horrible parents, not treating their kits to respect the elders and cats' privacy!"

Sandclaw agreed. "I know, my love. I truly despise her and the rest of the terrible of this clan. Those who don't serve the clan equally as the hard working warriors. They are a lazy bunch. Those who are nice towards them are just as weak, letting friendliness towards them waste valuable time. Being nice is important, but there is a fine difference between doing it in your spare time and working time. They are not as good as us top ones, or as the unskilled. They waste time, but not enough to work hard nor not too little to be unkilled. Sagekit willl be an unskilled one"

Sagekit walked up to the two elders and started to converse with them. "Hello Stonestar, and Sandclaw. Such grumpy lovebirds! Any stories you have for me today?"

Sandclaw, already pestered, decided to try to get Sagekit to go away. "Stop bothering us! Hasn't your mother told you to respect your elders? You're bothering us! So that means you're disrespecting us!"

"It's not my fault you're old, grumpy elders!," Sagekit argued back, "You just sit and talk all day! Why not have someone else to talk to?"

Stonestar jumped in on the conversation. "It's about time your mother told you something! Half of us don't like you because you will be unskilled! Your deformity will cause you to work less, which is unfair to those who work hard for the clan. You are less worthy of the better life, so you don't deserve it. So how about you leave is alone and go work on your warrior skills"

Sagekit was confused. How did her deformity make her unworthy? She could walk as well as anyone else! Her mother had said others didn't like her for reasons other than her appearance. Had her mother lied? If so, why had she? Sagekit didn't know what to say to Stonestar.

Sandclaw also criticized Sagekit. "Don't try to do anything to change how the clan works! You could be killed for being a traitor then! Stonestar had to kill his own daughter for doing the same. You wouldn't want to be killed either! So leave us alone! Don't bother telling your mother. She'll just think you're a cloud-sized liar!"

Sagekit ran off, listening to the elders. She was afraid to tell her mother, for it seemed her mother had lied to her, Surely Rockheart would do as the elders had said. Were they really right about how she would be and who she was? She slowed to a stop as she reached the nursery. A sudden surge of determination and anger filled her. No! I will not let them deem who I will be! I will decide my own destiny! I will be just as good as the best warrior in the clan, if not better. I will train myself to be great. No one will stand in my path! I will not tell anything of this to my lying mother. She will only stand in the way! At least I still have a father to trust!

Badgerkit came out of the nursey and saw her. The two stopped in front of each other. "Hello there, Flowerface! I see you're back to see your back to whine to your mother of how hard it is to walk!"

Sagekit, swung out her twisted paw, hitting Badgerkit in the face with a furious force. Badgerkit skidded a few feet away, squealing loudly in pain. "Leave be alone, you fox-hearted meanie! Stop pestering me all the time! My paw is very useful, as you can clearly feel!" Rockheart and Honeypelt came out of the nursery to see what had happened. 

"Mom, Sagekit battered me in the face!" wailed a pained Badgerkit who was struggling to get up with a heaving breath.

Honeypelt became mad at Rockheart and Sagekit. "Don't you touch my Badgerkit, you mouse-dung! And Rockheart, keep your children under control or else they'll go around hitting the clan!"

"Badgerkit, go to the Healing Den to check for injuries," Rockheart ordered. Badgerkit limped away as Rockheart continued to speak."Sagekit, don't hit anyone! Control yourself! Go the Healing Den to help your aunt Birchleaf treat him and apologize!"

Sagekit rolled her eyes and ran off to the Healing Den as the two mothers began to bicker about mother raise their children. She heard Rockheart saying something about how kits should not be insulting each other. She quickly went out of earshot as she reached the nursery. What a boring job. It all just plants, mushed plants, juiced plants that they shove in and rub all over you! I would hate to be The Mender! Why did she have to apologize to Badgerkit? He deserved to be finally be hit for so mean to her!

Across the camp, Stonestar saw the fight between the kits as well and thought that it only showed that she was an unworthy cat for being so mean. He suddenly had the idea on how to ruin her life ensure her unworthiness, as she was already on her way there.

"Sandclaw, I have idea. How about we have Birchstar apprentice Sagekit to Goldenheart, the meanest mentor to the unworthy ones there is in the clan."

"Sounds like an interesting idea, my love. Let's go talk to Birchstar about it." Sandclaw was on board with Birchstar's idea. The two stalked off towards the Chief's Den, confident that they're plan would work.