Violets in the Sunlight

Prologue
"I can't believe you agreed to this!" Alderpaw burst out as his father approached.

Bramblestar's eyes were grave and he bowed his head as he replied. "There's no other way. Rowanstar, choose a kit."

Rowanstar hesitated, and Alderpaw sensed that he wasn't happy about the solution either. He would protect the rights of ShadowClan against any cat, but he wasn't cruel, and he clearly understood what he was doing.

"I'll take the black and white one," he meowed.

"That's Violetkit," Alderpaw told him, unable to stop his voice shaking. "Look after her, please."

Rowanstar dipped his head. "She will be well taken care of in ShadowClan," he promised. The he gently lifted Violetkit by her scruff.

At last the kits understood what was happening. Violetkit began to wail in a shrill voice and lashed out helplessly with her tiny paws.

And then, she extended her claws and scratched Rowanstar's eye.

Rowanstar yowled in agony and threw Violetkit. She flew up into the air and screamed, then hit the oak tree in the center of the clearing. Alderpaw heard a sickening crack as Violetkit's leg slammed against its bark, then fell to the ground.

Rowanstar hissed through the pain, "Forget that one. I'll take the gray one instead."

As Rowanstar slowly padded towards Twigkit, Alderpaw leapt in front of her. "No," he meowed. "If you would hurt a tiny kit like that, you don't deserve Twigkit."

Bramblestar nodded. "What Alderpaw speaks is true. Twigkit and Violetkit must stay in ThunderClan.

Rowanstar snarled. "For now, but this isn't over!" He flicked his tail, and ShadowClan left.