Rebels

Prologue

She grinned giddily. Today, she was going to receive her set and name. She looked to her left and spotted a black cat. He sat nervously—twitching his paws and checking his pile. To her right was a white cat. This cats pile was perfectly put together, as if just looking nice would get her to the top. She didn't know them very well, but she was going to. She looked back and forth between her pile of prey and the other cats'. She frowned slightly. She thought she had done well, but her pile was obviously the smallest. She watched as Queen Medallion looked at the kittens before her.

"Well done, kittens." Her smile was warm and friendly; her voice was firm but gentle. "You kittens have been chosen to be the Mashed Potatoes and Gravy set. Little white kitten, please come forth." The white kitten stepped forward, and Queen Medallion approached him.

"You have brought me the largest prey-pile, so you are to be the leader. From now on, you will be known as Mash. Lead your set well." Mash bowed, his whiskers twitching with joy.

"Little black kitten, now you come forth." Queen Medallion continued. "Your prey-pile is the second largest. You will be known as Potato. Help your set well." Potato bowed and ran back to his mother; chattering with delight.

"Last, but certainly not least, little brown tabby kitten come forth. Your prey-pile is the smallest, but is still much appreciated. You will be known as Gravy. Learn your set well." Gravy smiled, but couldn't help but feel a twitch of envy at being last. She had hunted her best that morning; knowing it would be the most important hunt of her life. She was still satisfied with knowing that she finally had her own set. And she would learn them well so she could move up to the Potato, and then finally Mash of the set.

Gravy looked back at where the still-kittens were sitting. They were anxiously waiting for the day when they would be put in a set. It wouldn't be long for them. She had been there only yesterday. Now she had her own set. She could help her community and make sure not a single cat went hungry. She could feel her paws tingle as she thought of her destiny. Maybe she could be the queen. But she shook her head.

Only the eldest royal child can become queen or leader. She thought angrily. She glared over at Scal, the cold, standoffish royal daughter. Scal was still very young. Younger than Gravy in fact. But she was still the oldest royal. Gravy didn't think that she would be a very good queen. She had to keep these thoughts captive, though. This was the way it had always been.