You Will Never Be One of Us

Shrikepaw was ready for her warrior ceremony already. She couldn't stop thinking about her mother, and her words at the moonstone. It had been hard to see her again, if only because she knew she would soon once more lose her. Just like Sorrelpaw, the apprentice that the rogue that lay in their very camp had murdered. Her mother had told her to let go of some of the things that so bothered her, but this was one that she couldn't. It wasn't right. Slipping from the apprentice den, she fixed a glare on the tom that was leeching off of their leafbare resources.

Smoke was resting in his little area when he felt someone staring at him. He looked up to see a black and white apprentice glaring at him. He didn’t know the cat so wondered why the said cat hated him so bad. Smoke sat up and stared back at the apprentice but not a glare but rather curiosity.

Shrikepaw's fur fluffed up at his stare, taking it as a challenge. How dare he? This was her home, and for her to feel unsafe in it at all times was unacceptable. Why Silverstar was even giving him the chance after what he'd done, she'd never understand.

"You act like you have the right to look at me like an equal, rogue." She spat, padding a bit closer.

Smoke was confused but stopped looking at the apprentice anyway. He could hear her coming closer but he stayed knowing if he ran it would show that he was weak. He wasn’t weak but if he started to fight an apprentice then he would surely get in trouble. He hoped lilypaw would still be his friend if he got kicked out or killed.

Shrikepaw's tail lashed in anger. She was so mad that their lives were being interrupted by the rogue's presence, but what made her even more angry was that she was completely helpless. If she did anything, she'd likely not get her warrior name for moons, and she'd been waiting long enough.

"None of us did anything to you. I don't feel sorry for you. I feel sorry for us, that we have to house you and wait for you to kill more of us."

Smoke looked up with sad eyes and kept opening his mouth but no sound came out. “I won’t, I never meant to kill that cat.” he said quietly and full of sadness.

Shrikepaw closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. He didn't realize that that made it worse, did he?

"And what happens when you don't mean to kill the rest of us?"

Smoke stayed silent as the question confused him. Why would he kill someone else, he would lose everything including lilypaw, and well his life. He looked at the apprentice not knowing what to do.

"I just don't understand how you can say you can't control it but now that we're letting you eat our prey, we're supposed to be believe you're safe." I don't buy it.

“I won’t eat then.” He said still not knowing why the apprentice hated him so much. He barely got any food anyway so he could last without eating if it would make the clan not hate him.

Frustrated but bound by loyalty to her leader, Shrikepaw let out a loud huff and spun around to walk away. She headed for the entrance to camp. She needed to go for a walk and maybe climb some trees to cool off and clear her mind.