Karyote

Chapter 1
It was a clear, quiet day in Shadowclan. The deputy, Smallmouth, was on patrol with some warriors, while the leader, Hazelstar, was working on some new battle tactics he had come up with. Then, a painful rrrrrrroooowww shattered the early morning peace. The medicine cat, Batwing, raced towards the nursery. A she-cat named Willowtooth was inside, grunting and wheezing. Batwing stared hard at the queen, and thought; ''Everyone thinks these are Voletail's kits, but they aren't. They're mine. ''Batwing took out some borage leaves, and gave a stick to Willowtooth so she could use it as a stress releiver. One of the other expecting queens, Cherrysun, was covering her ears.

"If this is what childbirth sounds like, I'm sure not looking forward to it!"

Batwing let out a purr of amusement, and looked back at Willowtooth. She looked up at him, her face a mix of pain and sadness.

"I...I love you. I always did. I'm sorry I put this horrible burden on you. Not being able to ply with your kits, just so that nobody will know you're the father. I'm sorry." Willowtooth buried her face in her paws, and suddenly, her belly rippled, and a little bundle fell out. Batwing instantly put the little kit next to its mother's belly. Willowtooth looked solemnly at the kit, and smiled.

"I'm not sorry you had this kit, Willowtooth. I still love you with all of my heart." He bent down and licked her cheek and walked out of the nursery. Willowtooth looked at the fuzzy lump of fur at her belly; a small she-kit with jet black fur and gray-blue spots, and huge oval-shaped green eyes. Willowtooth thought for a moment, and smiled.

"I have the perfect name. I will call you.......Brinekit." Willowtooth nuzzled her kit, purring loudly. The kit squeaked, but didn't fight back. Voletail came in a little later, and stared at the kit. He snorted.

"It doesn't look like me. Is it even a boy?"

"No..Its a girl.."

"What!? I wanted a boy who looked exactly like me, and who had a personality exactly like mine! You useless queen. If you ask me, all queens are worthless, and should be banished. I never even wanted to be your mate. Why did I accept?" With that, Voletail turned and stormed out of the nursery, his face twisted with rage. After he left, Tigerfoot, a white tom with brown tabby legs, popped his head inside.

"What's up with Voletooth? He looks like a badger that just ate fox dung!"

"Its nothing, Tigerfoot. Did you need something?"

"Oh, no. I just wanted to see the little guy. Or girl."

"Its a girl. Her name is Brinekit."

"Oooh! Pretty! I love that name!"

Willowtooth smiled, and placed her head on her paws.

"I'm going to sleep."

"Ok. I'll go so you can sleep in peace." Tigerfoot then trotted out of the nursery. Willowtooth purred, and fell asleep. Meanwhile, right outside the camp, a young gray tom with black splotches, orange eyes and a collar that had a pendant with the name "Karyote" on it, was watching the cats mill about.

"What strange rituals these cats have. Why not live with a twoleg? Although, it does seem that these cats care alot about each other, much more than a twoleg would. Maybe they would care about me, too."

Karyote watched a little longer, and then slunk back into the darkness.