Chapter 4-

Sagekit can't mess this up. He can't mess anything up. Ever.

The pressure is crushing. Sagekit hobbles out of the den, his leg stiff and sore, and his stomach fluttering with nerves. Cold air ruffles his pelt like he is a leaf hanging feebly to a dead oak tree. Sagekit shivers.

Snapstar wraps his white-tipped tail around Sagekit, smiling softly. The sun's warm rays shoot down to earth, sending light spread across the camp. Sagekit lets his worries fade into pure amazement, eyes wide.

The camp glows with not only sunlight, but gems encrusted in the sand. Little sprinkles of life are dotted all around. A stray moss ball here, a mouse bone there. Sagekit saw a split second of life beyond the wall before he fell, but not in all it's glory. Not all the rabbit hides, not the sun-warmed rocks a she-cat basks on, not the flower bushes cheered on by the smiling sun.

"Like it, huh?" Snapstar smiles proudly, "I made all of this. I did all of this. For my clan, so we could thrive." Sagekit nods vigorously.

"You know something?" Snapstar now looks annoyed, his tail sweeping the studs of grass, "Aloestar didn't let me name you, or even see you. Do you know how stupid it was for her to argue like a kit about your names? I was going to name you something powerful, righteous, but no. Aloestar didn't like it. She liked passive names, names weak. Sagekit's the only good one."

Sagekit feels torn between angry and irritated. The voices in his head combat each other. He just insulted your littermates. Do something! One says persistently, Say something! But there is another, whispering, mumbling, and then getting louder yet. He likes you. You've pleased him. He complimented you.

Though it whispers, it seems deafening, loud, demanding. So Sagekit flashes a big grin, tail curling. "Yeah," he says hoarsely, feeling guilt wash over his little body. His throat clamps shut as the first voice yells at him, scolding. The second voice fades into the battle that takes over his head, gone like it was only a bad influence. Maybe it was.

"This way," Snapstar orders, turning sharply. Sagekit blinks, confused, before stumbling on his aching leg. Snapstar casts him a disappointed look. "This is the nursery," the orange tabby explains, bowing his head under the mess of rock and flower bushes, "you'd go here if you were born to a queen."

"Wasn't I?" Sagekit remembers the old term from when the clans were separated, "I mean Aloestar did give birth to me, and nursed me and-" Snapstar shoots Sagekit a threatening look, like all he says is wrong.

"You were born to two rulers, not a queen," the tom corrects gruffly, "Queens are only she-cats who want to be cared for. Kits are only made to love their mothers. Not you though. Your made to lead." The words send a chill into Sagekit, who grins.

"Okay," he squeaks, prancing into the nursery.

The smells are of milk and moss, coating the den in a warm comfort. Sagekit breathes it in as if they might disappear in the next second. Instead, the aroma of kits drifts into the orange and white tabby's nostrils. The intertwined scents stay there, cramping into his nose in a steady stream.

"Ferretsqueak!" Snapstar's booming voice echos off of the stone walls, "I have a visitor."

Almost instantly, a splotchy she-cat walks briskly from a little nook in rock, blinking sleepily. Eye bags weigh down of her otherwise beautiful glinting blue eyes. Stumbling at her paws are three bodies, about Sagekit's size, yawning and whining.

"Who's Snapstar?" one all white kit asks sleepily.

"Didn't you say 'star' meant big? Like important?" another adds, blinking at Ferretsqueak through squinted eyes.

One kitten is silent, eyeing Sagekit curiously. Her blue eyes mirror her mother's deep, watery, pools. Sagekit flits his gaze across the she-cat's, thin, long body.

"We've come to meet Ivykit," Snapstar says, casting a quick look at the two toms. Ferretsqueak narrows her tired eyes.

"I think if you've come to meet a she-kit, you should take my two toms too," the queen says slowly, as if threatening something. Snapstar narrows his eyes challengingly.

"Didn't you say being a warrior doesn't suit you?" he says quietly, leaning towards the she-cat. Ivykit watches with unblinking eyes, tail bushing with worry.

"She never said that!" the she-kit chirps, bushy tail twitching. In fact, her whole pelt twitches with contempt.

Contempt. That can't be right. Snapstar is an amazing leader. Who would hate him? Perhaps the she-kit is in a bad mood. Her fur doesn't seem groomed thoroughly enough. It spikes out in all directions like a lightning bolt, ruffled with annoyance and... fear?

Snapstar turns to the kit. "Yes, she did," his slow voice fades into a growl of annoyance, tail tip flicking. Ivykit doesn't protest more, only curling her lip and leaning towards Sagekit.

"I hate you."

~~~

dont you just love it when the leader spreads propaganda to a baby? me too!

hope you enjoyed this filler chapter. more exciting things coming later!