Less than Perfect

Less than Perfect is by BladeOfHope

Prologue: An Unwanted Kit
The dark gray she-cat wailed as she crouched over her nest. The Clan medicine cat stood next to her, and her mate was nearby. The other queen had considerately taken her kits outside to play while the dark gray she-cat gave birth.

The medicine cat, a small but intelligent silver tabby she-cat, gently felt the kitting queen's side. "I think there's only one," she said. "It shouldn't be long now. You're doing great, Stormcloud."

Stormcloud's mate spoke up. "Our kit will be strong and intelligent," he assured the she-cat.

Stormcloud trembled as a spasm shook her. She yowled with pain as a small, wet white bundle slid out into the nest. The medicine cat rushed to the kit as its mother collapsed. She vigorously licked its fur the wrong way to warm it up. The kit let out a hungry wail, and the medicine cat nudged it closer to the exhausted queen's belly.

The brown tom padded up to them. "Thank you, Silverpetal," he meowed to the medicine cat. He looked warmly down at his new kit, but hesitated. "What's wrong with it?"

The white she-kit was much smaller than even other newborn kits, and both of her front paws were twisted at odd angles. She was crying feebly as she tried to snuggle closer to Stormcloud, but her twisted paws were making it very difficult.

"Her paws are just twisted," Silverpetal meowed briskly. "If you work with her and help her become stronger, I don't think it should be too much of a problem."

Stormcloud helped her kit move closer with one gentle paw. "I think she's beautiful," she murmured. "What should we name her, Thistlefur?"

Her mate curled his lip. "Halfkit," he snarled. "She'll never be a full warrior." He turned and left the nursery.

Silverpetal looked at the retreating tom for a few heartbeats, then leaned close to Stormcloud's ear. "The Clan will reject her," she said in a strained, haunted voice. "She will not be accepted by many of her Clanmates, and even those who are friendly to her will look at her with pity."

Stormcloud licked Halfkit's white fur. "I'll always love her."

"I know," Silverpetal sighed, her voice returning to normal. "I just hope some of the others will think the same way..."