Chapter Text
After the battle with BloodClan, everyone got quickly repaired with the help of Cinderpelt. Some of them were tired and wanted to do nothing more than sleep until sunhigh, but they aren't some stupid weak warriors. The warriors in ThunderClan are never weak.
After all that, every warrior was back happy like the battle never happened and mentors trained their apprentices.
And ThunderClan was back the good old Clan it always was.
Expect for Firestar.
Firestar was a cat with a red fur and green eyes, who became leader after Bluestar had died. He was born as a kittypet, but Bluestar took him in, and now he is one of the best leaders ThunderClan ever had. Firestar himself didn't like that he would be reminded of his past as a kittypet, living with Twolegs. Especially not from Longtail and Darkstripe. They kept calling him "kittypet" ever since he stood a paw in the Clan.
Firestar himself was exhausted and tired. He didn't take a break, only looked if his Clanmates needed help, since he was very loyal to his Clan and the cats.
"Once a kittypet, always a kittypet."
Luckily, Firestar had friends, like Cinderpelt, Sandstorm, Graystripe and Ravenpaw.
But one day, it was the final straw.
Longtail and Darkstripe were done catching prey for the Clan, and as soon as they saw Firestar, the insults came back.
"Oh, hello kittypet! Don't you miss your Twoleg life? You see, we don't need silly kittypets like you, especially if they're a leader." Longtail miauwed, his eyes with disgust for Firestar.
"I told you, Longtail, kittypets never belong in the Clans. Never. They're not worth it, they expect their mouth to be feed, not thinking they have to hunt for it." Darkstripe answered back, his eyes full of amusement. He certainly liked this.
They heard Firestar growl, and as he ignored the duo, he went to see his best friend, Graystripe. His best friend who never left his side.
"I'd be scared if I were you kittypet! While we can fight, you expect you're a king, getting everything he wants!" Firestar heard. His tail started to go moving, a sign he was turning angry.
And naturally, Graystripe saw all of that.
"Ignore them, Firestar. They are mouse-brains."
Oh, how Firestar wished he could ignore them..
Firestar made a movement to Graystripe wanting to mean, "let's catch prey for the Clan." and Graystripe understood, since he nodded.
As they were about to leave, Firestar didn't miss the hard insult he hated the most, and something which was said when he first came into the Clan.
"Once a kittypet, always a kittypet." Longtail said again. Something he knew Firestar despised. He still didn't understand why Bluestar accepted this kittypet and even made-
"Enough!"
It was so loud, that Longtail got away from his thoughts, Darkstripe shut his mouth, Graystripe was staring at his friend, and some cats went to see what happened.
"Enough I said! Enough with this — kittypet! I may have been one, but that was before. I am not a kittypet now! And I never will be one! Never! How many times must I proof myself to show that I am, and forever will be loyal to ThunderClan?!"
And as almost everyone watched, they realized at how tired and exhausted their leader looked.
"He always placed us first that he almost didn't care if he needed sleep." Sandstorm muttered, feeling bad she didn't recognize her friend looking like this sooner. She saw Graystripe thinking the same.
Sandstorm saw Graystripe opening his mouth, and silently whispered don't do it! but she knew it was useless.
"Firestar, if-"
"Don't talk back to me Graystripe! You said it yourself when we met! You claimed I didn't have any warrior blood in me!"
Firestar shook his head, as he realized what he said. He silently apologized to his friend, who just nodded.
"You are really a kittypet. You act like one while you've been with us for moons!" Longtail said. "You, stupid, pathetic-"
"Don't call Firestar pathetic, you annoying hairball!" Sandstorm yelled at him, her tail moving, and she would have done nothing more than use her claws on him.
Darkstripe now answered, with a look on his face, meaning he did not care. "You defend this kittypet? A kittypet who is our leader? It's unbelievable! If Tigerstar was still here-"
"Tigerstar is dead and will be dead Darkstripe! I may have been born as a kittypet, but I am loyal to ThunderClan! Forever!" Firestar yelled, as it was his last word and didn't want any insult back at him.
"C'mon Darkstripe. We don't need to do anything anymore with this kittypet they call a leader." Longtail moved his tail, meaning Darkstripe had to follow him, as both of them dissapeared out of sight.
And Firestar just heard his name before his vision went white.
As Firestar opened his eyes, he realized he was in the medicine den.
With Cinderpelt next to him.
"Oh, you're awake!" she said, her blue eyes being happy but full of worry at the same time.
"W.. what happened?"
"You passed out, Firestar. Now stay still, so I can check that one last thing on you."
One last thing? He wasn't injured, he didn't have any scars.
"You really have showed yourself to Darkstripe and Longtail. I know you are no kittypet anymore, Firestar." she said, after seeing him look at her as his eyes said: you don't think I am a kittypet, are you?
However, she continued. "You may have showed yourself to them, but how you take care of yourself.. you haven't slept in moons I can see. You are like Bluestar, but you still haven't turned your back to StarClan."
After he didn't respond, she sighed. "We are worried about you, Firestar. You are tired and exhausted. You work too hard for the Clan. You always worked too hard. Whitestorm will take over a bit until you have recovered." she said, looking with so much worry that Firestar felt bad.
"I.. apologize for this, Cinderpelt. I never meant to hurt you or the others with this."
"I know you didn't mean this. Just go to your den and sleep. You need it."
"Yes.. thank you, Cinderpelt. If Yellowfang was still here-"
"..she would tell me to stop talking to you. Now go you mouse-brain!" she chuckled, and so did Firestar.
As he left, he passed beside the den where Graystripe was. He felt the urge to apologize. So Firestar went to Graystripe, and as soon as they saw each other, Graystripe stood up and so did Sandstorm.
"Graystripe, I.. I am so sorry – I.. I really didn't – I really did not mean what I said. It was s..stupid and hurtful and – and you didn't deserve any-"
"We know you mouse-brain. I forgive for what you said."
"You're tired Firestar. The only thing you need is sleep." Sandstorm said, exactly having the same worrying eyes just as Cinderpelt.
He nodded, knowing they were right. So he left, and went back to his den, realizing he actually was tired.
So he slept.
But as he got a dream, Firestar couldn't do anything than let his tears fall.
No, no, no!
Spottedleaf!
Why can't I talk?!
Spottedleaf, where are you?!
"Kittypet."
No.
"Kittypet."
No no no! Not again!
Firestar tried to talk, open his mouth, but he couldn't.
I.. I am not a kittypet!
"Once a kittypet always a kittypet."
No!
This is just a dream!
"Is it Firestar? It also is reality. You are a kittypet and you forever will be one."
No!
"Don't deny it Firestar. You are a kittypet."
I.. I am not!
But when Firestar saw who those words said, his mind began to sink.
Spottedleaf.
Don't do this to me..
"You are a kittypet, Firestar. Or should I say..
Rusty?"
No! No, no, don't call me that! Spottedleaf you know better than this!
"I know better than you. You are a kittypet, Rusty. I can read you, because you're wellread. You are a kittypet."
No.. no..
I.. I am not!
Spottedleaf!
As Spottedleaf faded away, he yowled, yowled out of pain and hurt.
Spottedleaf.. no..
This time, he didn't yowl, but just let himself fall.
Fall in a pit of darkness like he was drowning.
"Firestar!"