Ravenkit was up at dawn.

She pried herself apart from her mother's side carefully before sleepily clambering up onto her paws and arched her back into a long stretch, followed by a luxurious yawn. She stretched out her front legs, letting her little thorn-like claws unsheathe and reach out until she felt satisfied, fully awake and ready to start a fresh new day.

Silverleaf's not up yet, she thought as she glanced at her mother's silhouette. Silverleaf snored slowly and silently, her breath a comforting feeling on Ravenkit's moss-covered fur. Dewkit, snoring right beside her, always slept on his back, tilting toward their mother's belly. What a kit! she scoffed in her mind. Despite always waking up by their mother's belly, Ravenkit always chose a spot that was further away from them. In any way possible, she had to prove she was independent. Like Berrykit and Shadekit!

She turned to where the two shared a nest. Since Sagepelt didn't sleep in the nursery anymore, they slept alone and she longed to be like them. Swiftbreeze and Smokekit slept close to Silverleaf's nest, while Goldsun, the newest queen, had her own nest on the far other end of the den, where she was also found sleeping peacefully like all the others.

Ravenkit finally spotted Berrykit fast asleep on her side as she peered over Silverleaf's body, the older kit's flank peacefully rising and falling as she snored. As the black-furred kit looked around to find Shadekit as well, she realized that he was not in the nursery.

I wonder where he went off to? she wondered, turning her gaze to the den's small entrance. Pale light filtered through, allowing little warmth to wash in along with fresh a newleaf breeze. Silverleaf wouldn't like the idea of Ravenkit leaving the den, especially since she was still in trouble for the fiasco she'd caused a quarter-moon ago. But the queen was asleep and wouldn't notice Ravenkit gone.

No one can stop me!

She happily trotted out of the den, ducking below the entrance before clambering out into the clearing. As soon as she saw how empty it was, she realized that it was still very early. The only cats awake were Sharpfang, Nightrose, and Fireshade, who all sat around the leader's den speaking in hushed whispers. Rainwhisker stood guard by the rogue, who didn't seem as scary as he does when awake. She spotted Shadekit sitting a few whiskers away from the leader's den, licking his paw calmly before drawing it over his ear. She approached him gingerly so that the older cats wouldn't notice her presence.

"Shadekit!" she said. "Psst, Shadekit!"

His head whipped around at the sound of his name, and when he spotted Ravenkit, his eyes narrowed. "Oh, it's you."

"Yeah, it's me," she retorted back quickly. "Anyways, what are you doing out here alone?"

Though his gray fur was already neatly groomed, he continued to draw his tongue over his chest.

Ravenkit's nose flared. "Hey! Don't ignore me!"

He looked up. "And why do I owe you an answer, little kit?"

Her eyes widened. How dare he insult her like that? Does he think that she wants nothing more than to play like a kit? He had to understand how much older and more mature she'd become from everything she'd done. Clearing her throat, she tried to shake off the feeling of agitation and offense. "Well, yeah. We're Clanmates! And I'm just curious. What's the harm?"

"Clearly," he said, "you are."

His eyes motioned to the hole that was finally patched up and strengthened by the nursery, a mistake that Ravenkit had made so casually trying to break the warrior code. She felt heat rising to her face.

"Th-that was just a mistake!" she exclaimed in defense. "Don't tell me you've never wanted to see the forest?"

Shadekit thought for a moment, making Ravenkit's heart beat anxiously. She felt targeted by him, the embarrassment of her mistakes easily rushing back to her. Finally, he leaned closer, eyes narrowed menacingly, beckoning forward with his tail. She gulped and complied, leaning closer and tilting her ear towards him.

"Oh I've seen the forest, Ravenkit. But not like you have." The tone of his whisper made it feel like he was showing off, teasing her further. She tried to shrink back but she couldn't, now knowing that Shadekit had broken the warrior code, too, and it didn't seem like he was caught for it. "You see, only special kits get to go out into the forest with special permission. StarClan sends a dream to either the leader or deputy, telling them to bring a selected kit out into the forest."

"I-I don't understand!" she interjected, shaking her head. "How come I've never heard this before?"

"Because you're not special," he said. "You or Dewkit aren't special. But StarClan told the leader and deputy to take me out into the forest many times. I've seen the forest as much as an apprentice can see it."

"H-how?" she exclaimed, eyes widening desperately. "How do you become a special kit? If I become one, maybe Icestar can forgive me!" And maybe I can finally see the forest! she thought.

"Shh! Keep your voice down," he hissed. "I can't tell you how. StarClan chooses on their own, you know. And clearly you won't ever be chosen. You put your brother and your Clanmates at risk. Maybe your apprenticeship ceremony will even be delayed."

Ravenkit shook her head again, this time with disbelief. "No, I'll ask Icestar how!"

As she stood up to rush to the leader's den, Shadekit ran ahead of her and blocked her path. "No, you can't tell them you know about this! It's a secret. Nobody knows about it but the leaders and deputies."

"And clearly you know," she shot back, shoving him out the way with the force of her two front paws. She surprisingly stumbled past him despite the fact that he was bigger and stronger than her, and raced as fast as she could to the leader's den. "Icestar! Icestar!"

Shadekit grabbed for her tail, but it slid through his paws as she ran away. "Come back here, Ravenkit!"

As she bolted around the den and then through the entrance, she stopped short in her tracks to see that he wasn't there. Shadekit stopped at her side at an instant as he saw that Icestar wasn't in his den as well, shoulders dropping with relief at the sight.

He must've already woken up! Ravenkit decided, turning heel and trotting through the entrance.

She was immediately stopped by a tall figure in front of her, looking down with anger. "Ravenkit, Shadekit," Sharpfang said coldly, narrowing his eyes. "What are you doing in the leader's den?"

"I-I needed to talk to my father—"

"Just because you're the leader's kit doesn't mean you can so casually do that, Ravenkit. And I'm guessing Shadekit was trying to stop you." The deputy's eyes turned to his son.

Ravenkit fumed at the deputy's bias towards his son. "That's no fair! He entered Icestar's den the same as me!" she exclaimed, but then shrunk back when Sharpfang gave her a long and hard stare.

"Go back to your mother, Ravenkit. Don't cause us trouble so early in the morning."

"But where's Icestar?" she demanded.

Sharpfang barred his teeth. "Don't be so stubborn! This is no way to talk to your deputy, Ravenkit! I ought to tell Icestar to revoke your apprenticeship ceremony, given how kit-like you are."

I'm such an idiot! she thought as she blinked back the wetness in her eyes. Every time I act on my own accordance, I mess everything up!

Trembling, she spoke up again. "But that's not fair! It's not fair at all!" Ravenkit gasped, trying her best to hold it together. "I still have three or four moons—you can't make that decision now—"

"Oh yes, yes I can," he hissed, ushering the black kit out of the leader's den. "Now go before I stick you to the apprentice duties."

Shadekit watched as she stumbled back to the nursery, his eyes cold and unfeeling. She shot him a long and hard glance, knowing well that he could have stuck up for her. But of course he didn't! Shadekit never stood up for anything in his life. He's his father's kit, all right. She's never met a bigger meanie in her life.

Unable to bring herself to the darkness of the nursery, she sat outside and slumped down. Her wounds were all healed now, but Silverleaf had been strict, especially with the rogue in their camp, and she was never allowed to play. There was nothing she could do that could pass the time, except stare at the pale sky as it slowly transitioned to pink and orange against the tree-tops. Taking a deep breath, she shut her eyes and listened to the morning birds whistle as they woke, calming her racing heart.

Her ears pricked as she heard the sounds of the warriors' voices.

"He hasn't returned, Sharpfang. And Flameheart's gone with him!" Nightrose said abruptly. "We haven't seen them since yesterday, but their scents are fresh from moon-high."

Ravenkit's eyes cracked open, and she could see them still hovering by the leader's den as they spoke. The deputy and two other warriors stood closely but not secretively. Shadekit was sitting underneath the shadow of the leader's den a few whiskers away from Sharpfang, nonchalantly licking his paw and drawing it over his ear.

She sneered. What a mouse-heart.

"I know," Sharpfang said in reply to Nightrose's concern. "Give him time. I'm sure he will return soon—"

With that, the camp entrance rustled, and in came the familiar shape of Icestar, followed closely by Flameheart. Despite supposedly being out for the night, he seemed alert and well-rested. Ravenkit couldn't help herself and burst from her spot, rushing up to her father as soon as she saw him. 

"What do you think you're doing?" Sharpfang snapped as soon as she ran past him.

But he couldn't stop her in time before she pressed herself against Icestar's chest, burying her face in his fur like a little kit would. He jumped with surprise, but didn't scold her.

"Ravenkit! What are you doing up so early?" he asked gently.

"Icestar, am I a special kit?" she mewed, softly so that Shadekit couldn't hear. She looked up at his amber eyes.

He tilted his head. "What are you talking about?"

"I-I just wanted to know." She felt embarrassed that she'd even asked.

Icestar pondered for a second before his whiskers twitched, and he drew his tongue behind her ear. "Of course you are, Ravenkit. The most special of them all."

Pleased with his answer, Ravenkit purred and pressed her nose to the warmth of his chest again before pulling away to look at Shadekit with triumphant eyes. But the older kit wasn't even watching; he had turned away and vanished behind the leader's den, probably avoiding her gaze.

"Icestar," Sharpfang said from behind Ravenkit. She whirled around and looked up at him, scared that he would tell him about revoking Ravenkit's apprenticeship ceremony. But his eyes weren't on the kit. Instead, he looked stern, observing the leader with all the seriousness one could muster. "What did you discover while out?"

Icestar shut his eyes, and Ravenkit drew in a quick breath. They were talking about warrior business in front of her!

"We found them all right," Flameheart said from behind the leader. "The rogues, I mean." He padded up to Icestar's side, eyes flicking down to Ravenkit briefly before looking back up to Sharpfang. "We're lucky we even escaped. StarClan must have been watching; CloudClan came in just at the nick of time and saved us!"

"They attacked you?" Sharpfang snarled with alarm.

Icestar solemnly nodded. "They did. There were five of them, so we ran. But they're fast, Sharpfang. Almost as fast as a moor cat, and strong too. It is as if they're warriors!"

Ravenkit pressed close to her father, imagining the horror he must have been through. After all, she'd been chased by one of those scary cats before! Her eyes landed on the rogue in the middle of the camp, and she wondered if the rest of them were like him: tattered fur, sharpened claws, and a bloodlust one could sense from a distance away. She imagined the five rogue chasing Icestar all the way to CloudClan's moors and shuddered. They could've ripped all of his nine lives away if he'd been caught!

"What else did you figure out?" Sharpfang asked. "Are they like our prisoner?"

"No," he replied instantly. "Not at all. Like warriors, I tell you. They even say they have a clan—err, a group of cats in some distant forest from here. They called themselves the forest cats."

Her fur bristled and she couldn't hold in her voice any longer. "They could start a war with us, Icestar! If we don't give them what they want, they'll be another DarkClan!"

"They were probably lying," Icestar said.

"But they smelled like a forest," Flameheart interjected quickly. "You know, when the winds come from the direction of the dawn sun. It's faint, but it's there, and these cats definitely came from there. Something brought them to us—"

"Hush, Flameheart! Not in front of my kit," Icestar snapped. He pulled apart from Ravenkit and leveled his height with her, giving her stern eyes. "Go to your mother now."

"But Icestar!"

"Go," he ordered, nosing her toward the nursery. "Something must be done about this. You're not old enough to listen."

Knowing that it was pointless to argue, she sighed and padded back to the nursery, sitting at the entrance with no enthusiasm whatsoever. Her eyes watched the camp silently as the warriors stirred to life, woken up by the warm dawn light and the chirping of the birds.

* * *

Ravenkit stubbornly sat at her spot for the whole morning, even when Silverleaf tried to convince her to join her and Dewkit inside the den for fresh-kill. She watched as Sharpfang sent out the hunting patrols and border patrols, adding more warriors than usual so as to be alert for the rogues that lurk the territories. She watched as Sweetheart scampered to and fro from the elder's den and then to the warrior's den before finally coming to the nursery to check up on the newest queen. She watched Bloodpaw clean out the bedding from his den and switch out for new ones before heading out of the camp entrance with his new mentor for training. Most importantly, she watched Shadekit. He spoke with the older cats and practiced battle moves with the young warriors as if nothing had happened in the morning.

She couldn't forget about how mean he'd been to her, and what he said about special kits and how she could never be one.

Icestar says I'm one, so he can't say anything to beat that! she thought.

But even so, she still felt worry that she wasn't adequate enough to be just about anything. After all, she'd never seen Shadekit or Berrykit scolded as much as she was scolded. Plus, the warriors didn't look at them as if they were trouble-makers. But she'd seen how they looked at her, especially after the mess she'd caused.

Why am I such a trouble-maker? she thought with annoyance at herself. Even I don't know!

By sunhigh, the sky started to dim as clouds stretched across the sky. She could faintly smell the rain that would soon come. Cats poured in from the entrance, some with fresh-kill and others back from battle-training. A sense of urgency rippled through the Clan, as if something would soon happen. Suddenly alert, Ravenkit stood and watched intently. Her eyes searched around for the gathering cats until she finally spotted her father making his way to the leader's den. A sudden figure blocked her sight from him. She looked up to see Skypelt.

"You've been sitting here for the entire morning," he said, balancing on his three good paws. The fourth paw was wrapped in pieces tree bark and cobwebs.

"Yeah, well, there's not much to do," Ravenkit mumbled, looking down to her paws. "I'm always in trouble. And everyone thinks I'm a nuisance anyway so it doesn't matter where I am, as long as I'm not causing trouble, I guess."

Skypelt's eyes glinted with sympathy. "Don't be like that. I haven't seen a kit as determined as you since Icestar was a kit."

"Was he a trouble-maker like me?" she inquired, pricking her ears even though she already knew the answer.

Skypelt sat down, as if thinking. "Well . . . no. But he was emotional. Uncontrollable sometimes, especially when he was an apprentice. You'd never seen such a rebellious apprentice back in those days. But even though he was so undisciplined at times, always going off on his own, he was the most diligent MoonClan cat I'd ever seen." He paused. "You're a lot like him, Ravenkit."

"I am?" Her eyes lit up.

"You're your father's daughter for sure," he meowed with a purr.

She beamed up at him, her ill mood suddenly revived. But before she could respond, Icestar's voice boomed around the clearing.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, join beneath the Moonrock to hear my words!" he announced, standing up tall upon his den. She'd forgotten that he was climbing up it. He must have been watching the Clan before calling them out.

Skypelt's eyes grew knowingly dim at Icestar's announcement. "You'd better join Dewkit in the nursery."

"Why?" Ravenkit asked, as she watched the warriors and Bloodpaw gather in the clearing.

"This is no meeting for a kit," he murmured.

"Do you know what's going on?" she asked, suddenly curious.

He met her eyes but didn't say anything. She took that as a yes and watched as the crowd assembled into their places. Flameheart and Amberwind sat by Sharpfang and Sagepelt towards the Moonrock, while Rainwhisker, Nightrose and Fireshade made their way toward the fresh-kill pile. Lilyclaw, Squirreltail and Petalwing made their way toward the middle, while Blacksun, Stonetooth, Crowflight and Rosepetal gathered toward the back of the clearing, behind Redsky and Shiningmoon. Silverleaf sat by the medicine den with Sweetheart. Dawnstripe and Volefur, although hard to spot, were sitting by the rogue prisoner with menacing looks in their eyes as they watched him. Bloodpaw's fur was bristling with excitement.

"What's going on?" she whispered to herself. The grim feeling was heavier than before. Petalwing was shifting in her spot with discomfort while others seemed just as excited as Bloodpaw.

"I gather you all together to announce the fate of our rogue prisoner!" Icestar said once everybody had settled down. "As some of you may know, we have drawn to the conclusion that this rogue has every intention to bring harm to our Clanmates, and had even revealed no information of his whereabouts or comrades to us. Not even his name we know!"

Murmuring rose about among the Clan. Ravenkit pricked her ears to listen, but it felt like too many cats were speaking at once.

"Silence!" Sharpfang called. "Listen to what our leader has to say!"

Skypelt pressed to Ravenkit as to prepare her for what Icestar was planning to say. She watched him anxiously, unable to tear her eyes off his powerful figure. Everything about him seemed powerful, from the battle scars that decorated his pelt, to the wisdom in his amber eyes, to even the mere tear on his ear that made him easy to tell apart from the other cats. He stood tall and unaffected despite having all eyes on him. No, she could not even take her own eyes off of him.

"We all know that the rogue has long overdone his stay here in our camp, and we also know that releasing him back into the forest can only lead him back for more trouble," the leader said. "After much consideration, we have finally come to a decision about the fate of this intruder. By the paws of MoonClan, he won't see another shed of daylight again—he will be executed!"

Executed. It is a word Ravenkit had never heard before, but she knew well what it meant.

"You don't have to stay here," Skypelt murmured. She'd almost forgotten he was standing next to her. "You don't have to watch. Go join Dewkit in the nursery, Ravenkit. Please."

Ravenkit caught Shadekit watching the scene unfold from another corner of the camp. If he could watch this, she could too. She puffed out her chest and stood taller, so as to not seem kit-like, before looking up at Skypelt. "I won't go."

With a sigh, Skypelt turned and looked back at Icestar.

"In accordance to the Warrior Code," Icestar continued, "as our enemy is outside the code and poses a threat to our Clan, he will die by my claws. Any MoonClan cat who objects to this decision may speak up. Otherwise, I will carry out with it."

His eyes scanned the clearing briefly. For a moment, their eyes met, and Icestar looked almost sorry that Ravenkit was there. But his eyes passed over her as he continued to look around the clearing. Petalwing shifted in her spot, but she didn't say anything. A few other cats murmured to each other abruptly before going silent again. Once no cat objectified, Icestar dipped his head to the Clan and leaped off the Moonrock, landing gracefully on his paws. He padded over to where Dawnstripe and Volefur stood guard by the rogue, who was laying on the ground silently.

Ravenkit drew in a deep breath and watched as her father stared over the rogue.

"Do you still wish to remain silent, rogue, or will you at least tell us your name?"

"My name," the rogue said. "My name."

She'd never heard a cat so raspy in her life. His voice was worse than it was before, obvious from the lack of food and water. She felt pity for him, and almost called out to Icestar and objectified to him herself . . . but she knew better than to do that so she remained in her spot and watched anxiously.

"What is your name, rogue?" Icestar pressed, taking a step closer.

The whole Clan watched in silence.

"My name . . . It hasn't been uttered in so long." The rogue paused, and slowly rose to his paws. He seemed weaker than ever. Even Ravenkit could beat him in a fight if she tried. "My name does not deserve to be uttered on the tongue of a murderer . . ." The rogue broke out laughing and gave Icestar a long and steady glance. "Go on, leader. Take my blood. I'm waiting."

"You were on the verge of murdering my own kits," Icestar hissed in response. "If you hadn't been stopped in time, you would have died by MoonClan's paws the day you showed your face in this camp!"

The rogue continued to laugh. "Tasty kits they seemed . . . Quite a pity I couldn't taste their blood!"

Ravenkit's fur bristled and she pressed close to Skypelt. Icestar swung his paw over the rogue's nose without warning, creating a slash mark underneath his left eye. The rogue winced but didn't yell out in pain.

"Is that all you've got?" the rogue demanded as blood trickled down his nose.

"Before I kill you," Icestar hissed, "I'm offering you one last chance. Tell me where you come from and why you are here now, or this will be the last breath you will ever take!"

"You know where I come from, Clan-kitty! You will not hear a word from me . . ." The rogue's eyes shone with excitement. "Kill me now! I dare you!"

Without another moment to spare, Icestar released his whole strength on the rogue, barreling him to the ground with a growl of rage. From her line of sight, she could see nothing more but the dull eyes of the rogue as he collapsed on the ground—the aftermath of Icestar's killing move. She couldn't tear her eyes off of the rogue as the light left his eyes. His mouth was opened wide as if he was taking his last breath; but there was no trace of fear or remorse in his expression. There was nothing but genuine excitement that seemed to have been his last feeling before death.

A/N: thank you as usual for the patience :) I want to find more time to write, but junior year of high school is literally so demanding >.< To those who keep on reading, I truly appreciate it! Please let me know if there were any mistakes and as usual I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Lemme know what you think :D