A poor boy from a poor family, spare him his life from this monstrosity.

Scorchpaw was up very late that night, pacing up in the hayloft with a sting in his heart. His mind was racing, he couldn't think clearly. He felt constricted, he felt like he'd burst any minute... 

Snowstorm's eye, destroyed by his claws. Maplepaw's blood in his mouth. Darkpaw's shouts, Cinnamonpaw's strong gaze, Jayflight's welcoming scent. Shatteredsoul's eyes piercing the darkness, the musky smell of the Dark Forest. His mother's kindness...

His mother! What would she think? She wanted her family, but was this what she wanted? Was this what he wanted? To be young, to be forced into a war that he can't control... Was this the way? 

His path was a dangerous one, one that he couldn't leave, he couldn't find the way out if he tried. Would he forever be haunted? Would he see Maplepaw's pelt in his nightmares? 

He trotted to the windowsill, staring at the cloudy skies. A soft drizzle of rain tapped the barn roof as a shuddering sob wracked his body. He felt so small. The apprentice saw a small flash of color out of the corner of his eye, glancing down at the cranny where he'd hidden his pendant... His special pendant. He pawed the pendant out of the cranny and rolled it onto the windowsill, tracing the green gemstone. He heard a scuffling noise behind him as he spun around. "Why're you up so late?" he whispered.

A silver tabby pelt shone "What are you doing up so late?" it asked, the cat was Thinstripe, she smiled with a purr.

Scorchpaw stared at the ground below through the window. "Just... thinking about things. Our family... StarClan... and..." his voice trailed off as his paw touched the rich green stone, purring softly.

"And a stone" she added laying down, Scorchpaw really was different than his littermates. They were all Different.

Scorchpaw held his breath, hoping she wouldn't notice Pepper's lingering scent on the necklace they had found. "What, this thing? Heh... it's nothing," he mumbled, pulling it closer to his chest.

Thinstripe starred at him with amusement "Seems special to you, so if it's nothing why don't you go and put it out of the rain?" she suggested in a dare.

Ooc: mobile

"Mom!" he scolded, smirking at Thinstripe. He lay down on the hay, facing his mother with the pendant held close to him. He stroked it with his paw like it was a kit. "It's just... very beautiful," he said quietly with a dreamy look in his amber eyes.

Thinstripe sighed "Your just like your father" she mewed "Always fighting" she mewed softly "If so beautiful go put it somewhere secret, or you know somewhere safe" she suggested again.

"I'll keep it safe..." Scorchpaw whispered, his voice traiLing off. He looked at his mother. He had to tell the truth... but not the whole truth. His voice was shaking with emotion. "I've met someone, Mom," he said quietly, "She's beautiful, and she's got these eyes, and this fur, and her laugh... wow." He rolled over onto his back, the pendant resting on his underbelly. "Her eyes... they're just like this color."

Thinstripe smiled, she clearly knew what was happening "Pepper" she mewed "You like her don't you?" she mewed happily.

Scorchpaw's eyes turned frantic. "Mom, you understand more than anyone... This isn't good. I love her, but it's not like I can just waltz up to Darkstar and say 'I'm in love with a rogue.' This is... It's breaking the code."

Thinstripe smiled "I broke the code, You wouldn't even be born if I haven't!" she pointed out, but not in a scolding voice.

Scorchpaw nodded quickly. "But does that still make it okay? I love you, Mom, but..." He paused. But I'm already becoming sinister, a code breaker, a murderer... I'm dooming our family. The apprentice sighed in defeat. "...But I'm terrified. I don't know what's right for me."

"There are a lot of choices, you need to choose. I chose" she mewed "You need to know which choice is right for you" she reminded him again.

He nodded silently. "Remember the promise I made? When I was a kit? I intend to keep it. I've met two of them by chance, but only Cinnamonpaw has accepted me as her brother. She's turned out to be gorgeous, you'd be proud. And Darkpaw... well, he's not too keen about having such a wild family."