Black Pelt, White Lie/One

One: Ashpelt
She doesn't know the truth.

I don't want to tell her.

Some day, I will have to.

But now, I can't.

I still carry that heavy burden on my back.

Fifty badgers is nothing compared to the weight this has left me with.

But I need to keep the secret safe.

That's why I can't tell her.

I can't tell her that I killed my own mother to keep my secret safe.

~

"Ashkit, go and play with your kit-friends! I'm sure they'd be happy to make up a game with you."

''She didn't understand. I had never had any kit friends. They were scared of me. Every time I'd go near one, Scorchkit, he'd run away, yowling.''

''"Freak! Badger-stinky! Flea-brain!" The insults were hurled at me like stones hurled at trees. The other kits never understood how I felt. ''

I never really understood either.