Chapter 1: Daily Routine

Instructions

Mudspatter awoke with a lurch. He'd had a nightmare about a flood. Water had always made his fur bristle. He was born into RiverClan but after his traumatic experience as a kit he wouldn't go near water, to the clan's great displeasure. Nightmaretalon especially would never let it go that Mudspatter hated water and that his parents were dead. He felt so bad for Moonpaw, Nightmaretalon's current apprentice, as Nightmaretalon once mentored him and that was... a literal nightmare. He forced a small laugh at the irony. "Rise and shine, fish breath!" a weaselly voice came from outside the warrior den. The source of the voice poked his head in. "Yes, Skinkfang," Mudspatter muttered quietly, getting to his paws and trying to let his brown fur lie flat. "What was that? I can't hear you," Skink snickered, shoving Mudspatter back to the ground. The mottled brown tom gave a sniff and staggered to his paws. "I said y-yes sir," he said, trying to be a bit louder this time. "Good. Nightmare wants you, by the way. Byeeee!" Skinkfang zipped out of there, the coward. Muddy sighed, walking slowly out of the reed woven den into the bustling camp clearing, and looked around for the gray pelt of his tormentor. It was nice to see all the little things around the camp, like the adorable family bonding moments... that he would never be a part of. He shook his head, looking around. Lunarsong was huddled against Beestar frightfully; she had seen a spider. She's more afraid of the world than me! he remarked silently. Moonpaw had seemed to be hiding in a bush while Wasppaw was trying to teach her some cool tricks. Can he not see she's upset? Finbelly was drying herbs outside the medicine den with his brother Carppaw. Siblings. Huh. He wondered what they were like. Maybe if he had one they would protect him from Nightmaretalon- "Hey, stop daydreaming, runt!" Speak of the devil. A large gray tom was now towering in front of him. He hadn't even noticed. Mudspatter took deep breathes, putting on a quivering smile. "Hello, Nightmaretalon. You wanted to see me?" he quavered, trying to sound casual. "Yeah, I would! I need your help in the territory." Nightmaretalon grinned wickedly. Mudspatter knew exactly what his intentions were, but he had to take a stand. "Sorry, but I can't. I have to.... help Finbelly," he meowed nervously, but stood firm. "Look. You and I both know very well you don't. Now, before this becomes much, much worse, I advise you to come with me," The mottled tom growled revealing yellowing fangs. "Y-yes, Nightmaretalon..." he muttered, hanging his head. He would never win. He followed the huge tom out of the tunnel over the small stream and out onto the foreboding fields. The good thing was that out in the open, Nightmaretalon couldn't do much. The bad thing was that Mudpatter was, well, himself, and he had no true friends or family. I guess Beestar is his half brother but he never recognized him as such. Skinkfang joined them shortly. Nightmaretalon snarled at the scrawny yellow tom for being late. Even his 'friends' were treated badly. At least Mudspatter wasn't Whisperbreeze. He felt so bad for her. She was Nightmaretalon's sister. If he treats me like this, StarClan knows how he treats her, thought Mudspatter. It was even more infuriating because Beestar was oblivious to it! He stopped abruptly, soft mud squishing at his paws. Then shivers ran down his spine. "N- No!"