Lionkit woke to the sound of a thin wail, coming from the other side of the nursery.

He opened his eyes sleepily to Shadetail hushing Darkkit. Darkkit was the only surviving kit of Moonheart's litter, and Shadetail agreed to take care of her. She was a dark gray tabby she-kit, with unopened eyes.

"Oh Darkkit, what will I do with you?" Shadetail purred, wrapping her tail around Darkkit as if her own.

Pain scorched Lionkit, and he turned away, a breeze ruffling his fur as it entered the den.

"Oh I hope Skystar gets someone to patch these holes in the walls up. It's getting colder every night." Shadetail muttered, flinching against the wind.

Lionkit figured that he won't be able to go back to sleep. He turned to face his mother.

"Shadetail, can I play outside later?" He meowed quietly, not wanting to surprise the she cat.

She turned her head and looked him up and down. "No. You don't deserve it." She snapped before turning to lap at Darkkit's fur.

Lionkit's shoulders sagged, before he lit up again. Shadetail wouldn't even notice if he did go play outside later on. He could sneak out!

Suddenly excited, he sat up and groomed himself.

Just then, the scent of an approaching cat entered the den, and Quailflight padded in, a happy look in her eyes.

"What? Did Moonheart rise from the dead?" Shadetail muttered sarcastically, wondering what the medicine cat was excited about. It seemed hard to be happy so soon after death.

"No, but Kestreltooth has found out she is pregnant!" She purred, beginning to form a large nest, using Lionkit's new nest's moss!

"But that is my nest-" Lionkit protest until Shadetail glared at him. 

"Sleep on the floor!" She hissed, before turning to look at Darkkit with adoring amber eyes.

Lionkit snorted and stormed out the den.

"Come back here, Lionkit!" Shadetail ordered, an edge to her meow.

No. He thought to himself, wishing he could shout right back at her. 

"See? I told you he takes off his father!" He heard Shadetail ramble on about the rogue.

Lionkit sat outside the nursery, looking around. He noticed Skystar head towards the nursery, an angry look in her eyes.

He heard them arguing inside.

"We don't talk about Patchfeather!" Skystar hissed. She was one of his victims, when he tried to kill her.

"He still exists! He is somewhere out there, and even if he is dead, we still have Lionkit as his presence instead!" Shadetail retorted, calming down Darkkit who was mewling.

"I'm tired of the way you treat Lionkit! You have passed on the attitude to the whole Clan! Did you see how Antpaw reacted to him? He is usually a quiet, kind apprentice! I don't like this behaviour!" Skystar growled, and Lionpaw flinched as the she cats argued.

"I don't  care! Lionkit deserves it! I can see his traits coming on! You know what? Kestreltooth csn take care of Darkkit! Im leaving the nursery!" Shadetail yowled.

Some cats in the clearing turned around in surprise, and Shadetail stomped out of the nursery, out of camp. Skystar followed out, padding towards Lionkit with a sympathetic look in her eyes.

She sat down next to him, wrapping her fluffy tail around her paws.

"Your nearly six moons now, aren't you? You have probably heard Shadetail is leaving the nursery. Im sorry, Lionkit," she meowed, looking him right in the eye.

Lionkit nodded, his gaze not straying from hers.

"You might as well become an apprentice now." She sighed, padding away. "Your ceremony will be tomorrow!" She called over her shoulder.

Lionkit's heart skipped a beat.

Me? An apprentice? Is there any cat in the Clan who actually likes me, and be willing to mentor me? Thoughts raced through his mind, he didn't even notice Rosepaw sit down in front of him.

"Hey Lionkit. I heard you were becoming an apprentice. I'm sorry about Shadetail." She meowed coolly before standing up and turning away.

"What is it like to be a medicine cat?" He asked curiously.

Rosepaw bristled. "Your not planning to steal my mentor, are you? Just because your becoming an apprentice doesn't mean you get to do what you want!" She hissed, and walked away angrily.

"What? Of course not!" Lionkit protested, thought she was already gone. He sighed.

Why does everyone change moods so quickly?