Willowkit has always been an outcast. 

Born to a medicine cat, she was never supposed to exist. 

Her father, Stormstrike, pretends she isn’t even his daughter. 

Her mother, Fallowtail, died giving birth to her, leaving her to be raised by the only queen in the nursery, a rude she-cat named Foxsnarl. 

Despite all of this, though, Willowkit is bent on becoming a medicine cat, like the mother she never knew.  

But will her family lines keep her from following her dream? 

Prologue 

A dark shape moved outside of the nursery, where a young she-cat was crying out in pain from giving birth. 

“This is stupid,” The tom hissed, his blue eyes stormy. 

“Why?” Another cat, a she-cat, asked, cocking her head. 

“It was a mistake, and now I’m going to be stuck with squirming furballs I don’t even want,” The tom sighed. 

The she-cat rubbed her white and ginger head under his chin, “Oh, Stormstrike, everyone makes mistakes...” She sighed too, “The most important thing is that you learn from them.” 

A small purr erupted in Stormstrike’s chest, “Thank you, Brightflight...” Then he hung his head, “But... the clan will hate me...” 

Brightflight’s face grew stern, “No, the clan won’t.” 

“How can you say that? I took Fallowtail, a medicine cat, as my mate!” 

“They know it was a mistake, a lapse in your judgement, they won’t blame you, they’ll blame that sorry excuse for a medicine cat!” Brightflight meowed, glancing in disgust at the nursery as Fallowtail let out 

Stormstrike smiled, “Y-yes, that’s probably what will happen...” He wrapped his tail around Brightflight’s, “And I know just who I want to be my real mate.” 

Brightflight let out a meow of joy, “Really, Stormstrike? Oh how wonderful!” 

Stormstrike was about to say something more before there was a call from the nursery from Ripplepuddle, the other medicine cat, 

“Stormstrike! Come here! Fallowtail... she’s... she’s dying!” 

Stormstrike’s eyes widened, Dying? He thought, shaking his head in dismay as he padded into the nursery, That’s awful! I don’t respect her anymore... but I’d never wish death on her! Now the clan will be short a medicine cat! 

In the nursery, Ripplepuddle leaned over Fallowtail, who lay gasping in her nest, a small blue-gray tabby kit squirming at her side, mewling for milk. 

“Stormstrike!” Fallowtail gasped when she spotted him, she attempted a purr but only succeeded in gasping harder, “C-come here, my love! Come see little-” More gasping, “- Willowkit! She looks so- so much like you, darling.” 

Suppressing the embarrassment and frustration at the pet names, Stormstrike padded over, “Yes, yes, she’s quite... nice.” 

In truth, Stormstrike thought she looked a bit like a rat, a drowned rat. 

“She will be-” Fallowtail gasped again, now louder, more desprate, “- the greatest cat...” Fallowtail sighed, a tear in her eye, “Dar-darling, you must prom-promise me something...” 

“Anything,” Stormstrike meowed, though, in truth, if it was anything too big, he wouldn’t keep it. 

“T-take care of Willowkit, she-she'll need you when I’m gone...” Fallowtail wrapped her tail over her kit, it seemed to take a lot of effort, “You must promise you will.” 

Ripplepuddle pressed his muzzle against his former mentor’s, “D-don’t go, I still need you! The clan needs you!” 

Fallowtail let out a mournful sigh, “I’m afraid my fate is sealed in the stars, little one, I will only be alive for but a moment more.” 

Ripplepuddle drew away and went into the corner to cry. 

Fallowtail used as much of her energy as she could to curl around Willowkit, “Willowkit, my love,” She breathed, her voice weak, “Do not fear, your daddy will look after you, he promised...” She suddenly let out a gasp and convulsed, her face contorted in pain before it grew relaxed, “Oh wow, oh wow...” 

Fallowtail was still. 

Ripplepuddle padded slowly forward and took Willowkit from Fallowtail’s body, he turned to Stormstrike, putting the newborn down, his face filled with hate and disgust, 

“I bet you’re happy now, are you not? She’s dead, no more responsibility of your ‘mistake’ weighing you down, you’re free to leave now, because I’m guessing you won't be keeping her dying wish, will you? Go back outside, I’m sure Brightflight is waiting for you.” 

Not knowing what to say, Stormstrike hissed, whirled around, and stalked out of the nursery. 

The vigil for Fallowtail ended at dawn, and her body was buried shortly after. 

“Move it, Medicine cat kin!” Tawnypaw hissed to Willowkit as she attempted to join in on their hunting practice. 

“Yeah, move it! You don’t deserve to train with us!” Goldenpaw sneered, glowering at her, “Even your own daddy hates you! Because of that, our poor mommy has to stay in the nursery for an extra couple of moons!” 

“Foxsnarl likes me!” Willowkit protested, despite knowing the fact was untrue. 

“Sure, and hedgehogs fly!” Goldenpaw cuffed her over the ear, “Leave us alone, go bother someone else!” 

Tears pricked at Willowkit’s eyes as she dashed away over the cold snow, she fluffed out her pelt for warmth. 

Willowkit had been born to a medicine cat in leafbare, every cat she spoke to said it was a bad omen, and Willowkit was starting to agree with them. 

Willowkit ran to the only place she felt safe and happy, the medicine den. The den was nestled comfortably in between a pair of mossy boulders, it had a natural roof of a fallen tree and she had heard 

that in newleaf and greenleaf it was covered in sweet-smelling flowers, she desperately wanted to be a medicine cat, and the den was one of the reasons. 

As she made her way into the den, Ripplepuddle padded over, carrying a bundle of herbs, he dropped them, 

“Oh! Willowkit, just in time! Come help me set the yarrow and catmint out to dry.”  

“Alright!” Willowkit squeaked, happy to be useful. 

Willowkit walked into the den and grabbed the other bundle of herbs, walking back out, she dropped them and set to work laying them flat. 

“You have a knack for this, you know,” Ripplepuddle meowed to her after a few moments of silence, “You’ve voiced how much you like helping me... would you perhaps consider be trained as a medicine cat when you’re of age?” 

Willowkit dropped the yarrow, eyes wide, “R-really? You mean it? I’d love that!”