Diseased

Chapter One ~ Hope

(Hopekit's POV)

I open my blue eyes. My eyes have a pink tint in them, which is why I am made fun of. I don't mind though, of course. I am two moons old now, just four more moons 'til I become an apprentice! But three sunrises ago I saw our medicine cat, Streamfall, and our leader, Foreststar, talking and shooting glances at me. Sigh. I really want to become a warrior, but I guess being a medicine cat would be fine, too. I would also like to go outside, to feel the wind flow through my thin, thin fur, and a leaf very delicately fall onto my smooth forehead. It has always been a dream of mine, ever since Streamfall spoke to my mother on my first half-moon. The half-moon. The day of half-moon is the night I dread. My first half-moon forbade me to go outside. My second half-moon killed my only brother. I am not looking forward to my third half-moon.

Something is wrong with the half-moon. I wonder if everyone gets bad luck from the half-moon? I prefer the full-moon. The night of the Gathering. That night is the only night I get to go outside. My mother calls it Hope Night. Just for me. And everyone knows about it, so they stay in their dens that night. I would love to spend Hope Night with at least one other cat. Just one Hope Night would be good enough for me. Just one.

Tomorrow is the third Hope Night. And tomorrow is the first time I get to speak to my sisters! My mother is overprotective of me. I can't even talk to my sisters, so why bother anyone else? I can't play, prance around the nursery, I can't do anything. Anything. Streamfall is coming.

"Hello, Hopekit." He says. "How about we go take a walk around camp?" "NO!" My mother yowls. As I said. Overprotective. Streamfall whispers into my mothers ear. Her eyes widen and her cream fur fluffs up in alarm. Then, her gaze softens as she realizes what Streamfall said. "Well, I guess. But only once!" She adds, back to her regular state. I have never, ever, seen her calm. Ever.

"Well, come along, then." I get up and my legs shake. I take my first step. It feels wonderful. I take another after another, and soon enough, I'm next to Streamfall. He smiles at me. I smile back. Together we walk to the entrance to the nursery. Streamfall yowls and startles me. Several warriors rush to Streamfall, and surround me, giving me shade. Strange. It must be hot. But hot in leaf-bare? I frown slightly. Streamfall pads along camp, and I follow, still wobbling a bit. Soon we reach the nursery again. "Wow!" I exclaim. Streamfall and the others are already gone. "How was your walk?" My mother asks. Her glossy pelt...... is bristling. What? "Er, fine." I reply, in a 'cool' way.

"Well, okay. Time to sleep now." She says. I can hear a snarl stuck in her throat.Calm....but not. I lay down and close my eyes. Today was an exciting day, but so will be tomorrow. I slowly drift of to Starclan..... wait, Starclan??