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Cobwebpaw looked around the den. She saw all of her kin, as well as the adoptive three from Poppy’s litter. Six of them, all in total, including herself. Birdpaw, Leopardpaw, Weaseltuft, Starlingpaw and Timberpaw. She had come to a realization that once the announcement of Runningpaw being Maplemist’s kin, the clan seemed odd towards the group of kin, Runningpaw and the new apprentice, Halfpaw. Cobweb took a breath and started, knowing her kin would see it too. “I don't know how we ended up here..” 

Weasel scuffled his paws on the ground, staring into her eyes for a few moments before shyly murmuring. “Any good we’ve done will all disappear..” The medicine cat had anxiety flashing in his eyes, tail tip twitching around. 

Bird shoved herself to her paws, only to be tapped by Leopard, which caused her to lower. “I cannot take this, I am wearing so thin…!” 

Leopard blinked sympathetically at Bird, his tail stroking along her bristled spine in affection, giving her a sorrowful smile before focusing back on Cobweb. “Cause when they look at me, all they see is him…”

Cobweb could understand what Leopard meant. He acted oddly like his father, Icegaze, in multiple ways, and the former medicine cat was most likely seen in a bad light for having kits, a mate and killing a few clan members for threatening the family when they were nothing but a moon old.

Starling started up, her bright yellow eyes revealing uneasiness. “Why should I have to work twice as hard, just to only reach half as far..?” She sent a glance to her brother, Timber. The tom most resembled his father, although he had a mix of his mother in him, the bright, fiery orange pelt he had.

Timber sighed, his short stub tail flickering to Starling’s tip, which wrapped around him. “When they look at me, he's all they see..” He bit his lower jaw, looking as if he had an overbite, ear twitching as Weasel spoke again.

Weasel stared out of the den, a gentle look of sorrow on his face. The other few apprentices had crowded a tail length or so away from the den. “'Cause when they look, they never see me..”

Murmurs of the apprentices grew louder as it grew to chatter, the words simply nothing but judging on the six.

“I can see her spirit every day, soon he will suffer her same fate!” They were hissing to each other, glaring off into the clearing, which Cobweb couldn’t see, as they were blocking the entrance.

“You cannot trust a murderer’s kin! He's gunna end up exactly like her!” A golden apprentice hissed at their friends, bright blue eyes sparkling around the clearing. Cobweb blinked, a gentle hiss of frustration escaping her jaw. She knew exactly who they were talking about. Runningpaw. She was close to him despite what he did to her kin, shoving past her kin to snarl at the group. “Watch your back!” Cobweb leaped forward with sheathed claws to startle the group, which they scuttered backwards, eyes narrowing at her. “Watch your sides! He’s got evil hidden inside!” A white and brown apprentice growled as they loomed on her, which she responded to smacking them in the head with a rough paw blow. The cat hissed and stumbled back, glaring at Cobweb. She felt two pelts brush against her and pull at her, which she looked to be Bird and Leopard.

The apprentices started hissing at them, eyes narrowed with a growl at Cobweb. “Hide the kits! Hold them near! No one's safe so long as she's here!”  Cobweb snarled, tensing to leap at them when Leopard blocked her path, nudging her backwards. She glanced to her kin, the two blinking at her as Weasel, Starling and Timber growled at the other group, causing them to flee.

Leopard stared into Cobweb’s eyes, slowly speaking to his kin. “Listen to me, you're not alone.. You don't have to go through this on your own.” He saw emotions flare in her blue and green eye, simply staring back at him. He knew how much Running must mean to her, although he didn’t understand why, with how aggressive he is. But, he couldn’t blame him. He himself was aggressive too. He gazed deeper into her eyes, looking for something more.. Longing? Did she have feelings for him? He internally smiled, coming to a realization. Now he and Cobweb both had certain.. ‘love interests’. He often saw Bird with Half, but he was still uncertain if she liked the other tom. 

He snapped back to reality as Bird next to him chirped to Cobweb. “Hold your head high, don't let them get through.. Please,” she paused to rub her tail along Cobweb’s shoulder, like he had done to her earlier. “don’t let this get to you.” Leopard smiled at the sight of Bird and Cobweb getting along. The two have been distant ever since Amber died, often engaging in small talk and separating. He saw loving in both of the she-cats eyes, which he softly nudged in to press his nose on Cobweb’s chest tuft. “Once they see what’s inside your heart then they'll know you’ll be able to reach twice as far..” He heard purring emerge from his sisters, his tail brushing on Bird’s tail. “We'll prove ourselves- just wait, they'll see!” Bird chimed in. Leopard felt his kin rise and snarl, lifting his head to see the dark brown and white apprentice with only two of his other friends. Leopard touched his tail to Cobweb. “Don't look at them, just look at me..” He murmured, Cobweb’s tail twitched in irritation, and he assumed he was ignored.

The apprentices started their chant, the brown and white tom simply silent as his amber gaze pierced into them. “I can see his step in all of her strides! Soon there will be no safe place to hide!” They cried like kits, their voices ranging louder. Leopard crouched to the soil in aggression, his sisters doing the same. “You cannot trust a murderer’s kin! They’re gunna end up exactly like him!” Leopard moved in place with his kin, between the two she-cats. The clan had turned to the ruckus, almost all of the warriors narrowing their eyes at them. Leopard felt uneasy with all the eyes digging into his pelt, the feeling making his ears hot. “Turn your back! Let them rot!” The apprentices were eventually yowling, Rowan stood on high rock and looking down at them, his eyes sparkling with fear and confusion. “They have the exact same ambition that he's got! Guard the camp, chase them out! No one is safe so long as they’re about!” The camp joined in on the chant, rounding up over to Rowanstar. Leopard lifted his head and saw Half and Running staring in confusion. Leopard waved his tail, the other two toms noticing and padding over. Running crouched next to Cobweb, leaning into the shecat, Half doing the same to Bird. Leopard guided them to the apprentice den then followed in, knowing Weasel, Starling and Timber had followed.

Bird flanked with Half on her side, Cobweb a few steps away with Running next to him. She heard pawsteps behind them and scented her kin, sighing. She found her nest and curled with Half, Cobweb doing the same with Running. Leopard, Timber, Starling and Weasel sat in front of them, the older of the kin glancing to the entrance. Again, she spoke up, whimpering, feeling her throat tighten from tears. “I don't know how we ended up here…” She glanced around, Weasel immediately snapping back. “Any good we've done will all disappear..” Cobweb raised her head, murmuring, through a tight throat as well, Bird could hear it. “I cannot take this, I am wearing so thin..!” Leopard bowed his head softly, his icy blue eyes focusing on the soil. “Cause when they look at me, all they see is him..” 

Bird softly blinked, making eye contact with all of her kin, opening her jaw, the cats around her doing the same. She started, the rest following her lead, eventually they were all in sync, radiating their voices outside of the den. “Why should we have to work twice as hard just to only reach half as far? When they look at us, they’re all they see.. 'Cause when they look, they never see us.”

Cobweb continued, her voice mingling with Weasel. “I don't know how we ended up here..” “Listen to me, you're not alone..” The two fell silent, Starling starting up again. “You don't have to go through this on your own, hold your head high, don't let them get through..” Near the end, her own voice joined Starling’s. “I cannot take this, I am wearing so thin! Cause when they look at me, all they see is him.. Why should I have to work twice as hard just to only reach half as far?” Leopard’s voice mingled after Starlings faded. “Then they'll know you'll reach twice as far…. We'll prove ourselves--” Bird let her voice fade, Timber’s starting up to rival Leopard's. “just wait, they'll see..” “When they look at me, he's all they see..” 

Running and Half, who have been quiet the entire time, finally spoke. In sync, they murmured. “Don't look at them, just look at me..” Bird felt a muzzle brush into her fluff, purring weakly.

Starling stood, her eyes flashing with mixed emotions, clouded and dark. “Listen to me, we're on our own.. We don't have to go through this if we go alone!..” The dappled shecat padded to the entrance, turning back on herself to face Timber and Weasel. “I promise they will never get through…” She paused, her gaze focusing on everyone before back to her blood-kin, her shoulder fur bristling. “I am leaving, brothers, so should you.” Bird felt her heart stop dead. She looked up to see a Timber and Weasel had panicked and shocked expressions on their faces. When all was silent, Starling continued. “Once they see the mistake they've made perhaps then they'll see it my way!.. I'll prove myself-- just wait, they'll see!” She hissed, taking a pawstep out of the den. “I hope they all turn around and watch me leave..” She then took off out of the den in a powerful strut. Weasel and Timber crowded at the entrance, where Bird got up to look as well.

Starling made her way through the cats with a slow but power-filled stride, taking time to look around camp for a last time before she made her way to the entrance. The cats hissed as she walked.

“I can see his spirit every day, soon she will suffer his same fate! You cannot trust a murderer's kin! She's gunna end up exactly like him!” Starling didn’t seem bothered with the aggression in their tones, still taking her time to look around camp, in silence. 

“Watch your back! Watch your sides! She's got evil hidden inside! Hide the kits! Hold them near! No one's safe so long as she's here! I can see his step in all of her strides, soon there will be no safe place to hide! You cannot trust a murderer's kin! She's gunna end up exactly like him!” As the cats chanted, Starling raised her voice to growl. “I don't know how we ended up here..! Any good we've done will all disappear..!” Starling rounded to the entrance, glaring at the clan cats. “Turn your back, let her rot!” “I cannot take this, I am wearing so thin!”  “She has the exact same ambition that he's got! Don't let her in! Cause when we look we only see him..” “When they look at me, he's all they see..”

It was a horrible back and forth fight, until the clan settled and Starling hissed out. “'Cause when they look, they never see me..” She whipped around and fled camp, leaving the clan to stare out at her, Bird and the other four to stare in astonishment. It had become too much. Starling left the clan because it was too much. Leopard slowly stepped forward and led the others into the den, which they complied in silence and simply curled up in their nests to process what happened. Bird was in shock.. She gulped as she imagined Cobweb or Leopard leaving her here, the thought alone scaring her.. She buried into Half’s fur, closing her eyes, eventually falling asleep.

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