Warriors: What Is There To Do?

Chapter 3- Am I Good Enough?

Splitkit was sitting in the Nursery, her head under her paws, which were covering her ears. Right outside were her mother and father, who were arguing because Skyheart had gone to Glowstar about giving her up without telling Strongsoul first.

"What, so you're saying that you want her to stay here, without a mentor, forever?" Her mother had never sounded this angry before, and her father wasn't helping. Splitkit just wanted to go out there and tell her parents that she was sorry that she looked the way she did, but she had done that once before, around three moons ago. They had been fighting because Skyheart didn't want to feed Splitkit her milk anymore, but Strongsoul didn't want her to because then he would have to bring fish home for Splitkit, too.

"Leaf-fall is coming quickly," her father had argued, "and we can't give fish to a cat that won't ever repay us! It's like giving our food to the owls, because we want to."

Splitkit had scampered out of the nest to tell her parents it was okay, that she would clean the elders' pelts or help with the reeds for the nests, but all she had gotten as a reply was a sharp cuff to the head.

"Get back in the Nursery, Splitkit! Nobody wants to look at you right now," her mother had turned very bitter, after that. From what Splitkit had gathered, her mother had been one of the prettiest cats in the clan, and one of the nicest, too.

But, of course, no cat had told her for certain, she only learned through the cracks in the reeds.

The sky was changing from blue to purples and pinks, the air humid and little breeze to offer relief from the bugs that nipped and bit at their fur. Splitkit was nervous. Technically, she was supposed to be made an apprentice tomorrow, but everyone in the clan, including her, knew that wasn't going to happen. Who in Starclan would take her to their clan, if Riverclan didn't want to? She was mentally preparing herself for the life of the kittypet, of the horrible stories she had heard about how they went to someplace called a 'cutter' and never came back the same. She didn't want that life! She wanted to be a warrior, and fight for her clan.

"Splitkit, it's about time to leave," Glowstar called from the entrance to the den, not looking at her, per usual, and giving her a wide girth as she padded towards the fresh-kill pile for her last fish. She was halfway there when Batwing, the clan snot nose, blocked her path.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Uh, grabbing a fish?" Batwing was pretty small for a warrior, and Splitkit had heard she was big for her age, but there was still a huge difference.

"After tonight, you won't even be Riverclan. Besides, what had you done to earn that last fish?" Splitkit had to hold back her words of anger. She was never allowed to earn anything! She had asked Glowstar countless times if there was anything she could help with, but she was always just told to stay away from everyone.

Glaring at Batwing, she padded away from the juicy looking fish and padded towards Glowstar, who apparently had been watching the whole thing. Great leader, she was.

As they were walking out of the clearing, Splitkit noticed that neither her mother nor father was going to the Gathering. She guessed neither one of them cared about her enough to know her fate.

This was her first time out of the territory, but she didn't bother to look around. This wouldn't be her territory, and she had never really cared to look around in the first place. They passed countless small streams, leaping over them in huge bounds that left Splitkit panting and with a wet hind leg. She was in the back of the group, of course, but no one even looked back at her. If she wanted to, she could just walk away right now, but all that would do is make her look like a fish-brain. She didn't know which way was the edge of their territory, or where she could hide without being found. Probably nowhere, but she was too smart to do that. Best thing she could do for herself right now was follow along and be quiet.

They finally reached the end of the Riverclan territory, crossing scent markers onto what she was pretty sure was Windclan's territory, because the trees faded into grassy waves that glimmered in the last of the sun's rays.

On the horizon she could see the four huge oak trees that must be Fourtrees, and her paws felt even heavier. She was so tired... she still had to go that far?! Splitkit knew better than to ask any cat ahead of her for help, or at least for a conversation to distract her, but she had never been in a conversation before, just heard them. She doesn't think she had even spoken to a cat of her own will, not counting her parents.

The Fourtrees grew closer and closer and she grew more and more worried. Would any clan take her in? She knew better, but she couldn't help but hope. That was okay to do, right?

Glowstar stood off to the side as Riverclan ran into the shallow dip that held too many cats to count. Beckoning Splitkit with her white tail, she followed the leader to behind the four oaks, where three other cats sat, watching their progress to where they sat.

"Who is this?" a black tom asked, cocking his head at Glowstar.

"This is Splitkit. Riverclan has come to a decision to offer her to the clans, to trade for land or herbs."

Splitkit's fur prickled with shame. She struggled not to let her tail creep behind her legs and her head duck, but it was too hard to do. The black tom that had spoken a few moments before looked away.

The other two cats, however, stared. From their scents, Splitkit guessed that the ginger tom was from Windclan, and the russet she-cat from Shadowclan, which left the black tom to Thunderclan.

The Windclan tom looked away after a few more moments, but the Shadowclan she-cat kept on looking.

"Glowstar, I think that cat will do best with the two-legs. She doesn't look like a clan cat. Are you sure one of your cats didn't find her?" that was the black tom. Splitkit couldn't help but duck her head in shame. If Thunderclan, the kindest of all the clans, didn't want her, than she was a lost cause.

Glowstar sighed. "Yes, I know, but I thought Starclan might feel better if we gave her a chance of finding another clan before giving her to the kittypets in the morning. Thank you for your time," her leader said, pulling Splitkit away towards the front of the trees.

"No, wait. Let me talk to the kit in private?" Splitkit's head spun around quicker than a paw could swipe. The Shadowclan leader had asked that? Maybe they were just going to ask her for information so they could ambush Riverclan.

Splitkit was just about bitter enough about the clan to tell, if she was asked.