I Have My Dignity

### Prologue; Cheetah.

My name is Cheetah, King Cheetah if you want to use my full and real name. I am a cat who rules a division of Bloodclan. I had a kit with a Stoneclan warrior, and this cat, Burningkit to Burningpaw to Burningstrike to Dignity, was distrusted his entire life. When my son supposedly killed the Stoneclan leader, it is not proven if he did or did not, he was exiled. I allowed him to join our ranks. He shed his clan name, and I gave him a new title; Dignity. He was a cat with great skill, great training. He ascended among the order quickly. When he joined, I gave him a collar with one dog fang. After a couple moons in Twoleg Place, it was nearly as decorated as mine. His story is told elsewhere, but here I will tell you a different story. It is the story of me, from the day in the forest that I met his mother, to the day that I realized my son was never going to be among my ranks again.

### Chapter 1; Polarsky

I padded through the forest, hunting for prey. The cats of my clan were hunting in the land that was ours, but I wanted to do something different today. Twoleg Place prey was of little variety, song birds and squirrels, the occasional mouse or rabbit. The clan territory, however, was much more diverse. My goal was to find a stream or pond and catch a fish or two. My clanmates and I hardly ever had fish, only a Day Warrior's goldfish brought from their den. I had been taught how to catch fish as a kit, though, and I would be able to bring some home to my clan. I was higher but not yet high among the rankings, and a fish would please my leader- a lot. So I crossed the border, and I couldn't have been four fox-legnths in when I saw a grey she-cat padding through the forest. Half a heartbeat after I saw her, she saw me.

"What are you doing on Stoneclan territory?" She said, her eyes flashing at me. I didn't know much about clan cats, but I did know they were often with patrols. I could take on one or two cats easily, maybe three, but to get in a fight with an entire patrol didn't have the best odds for my victory. My choice to run was not a cowardly ones, but a wise one. I tore through the brush, my own thundering pawsteps echoed by her pawsteps as she gave chase. I zipped around trees, and slowly became aware of two cliffs on either side of me. She was trying to drive me into a corner, but I didn't realize this until I was too deep in to turn another way. I decided in a second's decision to try and talk my way out of this. I still wasn't sure if there were other cats with her, and a battle would attract all sorts of attention if we were near camp.

"You're a smart one," I said, trying my paw at the art of flattery. Maybe, if I worded it right, I could get a new member for the group. "Almost good enough for Bloodclan," I said carefully, and I saw a proud light come into her eyes for some reason I cannot explain. It definitely wasn't because of my compliment, though. "You should check us out." She almost seemed offended by this comment, and quickly hissed a response.

"I have my own clan, thank you! I am a Stoneclan warrior, and you are nothing but a mangy flea-pelt Bloodclan Kittypet!" She spat, and Cheetah chuckled.

"Sassy, too. You remind me of a rose- you're pretty, but you have sharp thorns." Maybe charm would work, if he couldn't recruit her. "The name's Cheetah."

"Don't cheetahs have spots?" She said. Ah, well, I'm a brown mackerel tabby, so no spots for me. "You have stripes, why are you called Cheetah?" The charm was working, maybe I could get away with this. I don't know if she was trying a little charm, too, but she was making me fall, too.

"There's a kind of cheetah called the King Cheetah, with some stripe type markings." I explained. Was I distracting, or was I distracted? I couldn't tell at this point. "King Cheetah is actually my name, but I'm also quick-tongued, like a cheetah is quick-footed."

"Interesting. I'm Polarsky." She meowed. "Polar for my grey pelt, and sky for..." She paused, trying to think. "Actually, I think it's just because it sounds cool." I tried to do a charming smile, and maybe I tried too hard. I decided maybe I should try and arrange a meeting. Something nice.

"Would you meet me on the border next crescent moon? I won't bring my clanmates, if you don't bring yours." I offered, trying to seem gentle. The fearsome collar around my neck made it a little difficult, but the claws and teeth were a sign of honor and dignity. She accepted my offer, kind of. She said she would think about it, and be there if she decided to be. I nodded in goodbye, and then we parted ways. Padding back to my camp, I tried to wrap my head around how I had managed that. However, I didn't have any fish. The leader would not be pleased if I came home with nothing, so I hunted on the way back. I caught a nice, plump rabbit. The leader would still be pleased with this! Still, it was not my biggest accomplishment for that day. I had arrang a meeting with a she-cat I was beginning to fall in love with.

### Chapter 2; Reign

I reached my camp without any trouble. My leader was, in fact, quite pleased with my rabbit. She gave me another tooth for my collar. It was a battle night, which meant I could challenge a higher rank to a battle for their rank. Of course, the leader would have to approve the spar, but I knew exactly who to challenge and how to fight them.

"Pine!" I meowed loudly as the clan gathered. "I wish to challenge you for your rank!" I looked to Reign, the leader. She nodded in approval.

"I am ready to defeat you." Pine snarled. His pelt rippled as the muscles underneath tensed. He was afraid, but it would take a trained eye to spot it. I could see the fear in his eyes, and I snarled at him to ignite that spark. My tail lashed violently, and a twisted smile crossed my muzzle. I had my dog teeth on, sharp weapons a cat could wear over their claws. The fight went on until one cat was dead or one surrendered. I was not going to surrender, and I certainly wouldn't die like this. I noticed the Pine's dog teeth were duller than mine, for I often sharpened mine- he only did when he was told to for a war. He was second in command, but was growing a little weak for a reason unknown to me.

"I'm not going to be defeated." I growled. I then leapt at Pine, and clawed his muzzle violently with one paw. He staggered back a few steps, then jumped at me. I leapt aside, then used the moment he was off balance to topple him over. I pinned him down, my claws resting on his neck.

"I surrender! You win!" He yowled, his eyes wide as he recognized the presence of my claws so close to an easy kill. I released, amazed myself with my own quick win. Pine rose, his tongue running over his muzzle, bloody from the wound I gave him.

"Cheetah, you'll make a great second in command. I didn't want to give up my position, but at least I know it's in good paws." Pine meowed. His eyes were still a little cold, but at least he wasn't going to slay me in my sleep.

"Thank you, Pine." I said, nodding in respect. I tried not to show my glee, my silly excitement, on the outiside. I did my best to seem calm, dignified.

"Cheetah, congrats!" Reign meowed. She wasn't the cold-hearted, ruthless cat you may expect to be the one who holds the position as leader of Bloodclan. She was a good fighter and wise, and she could be strict and merciless, but mostly she was this fun, energetic young she-cat. You might be imagining Bloodclan as a mess of cats with no rules, or a strict order with tight rules. I can't control your imagination, but I can give you an idea of what this one was like. We had one main rule to follow- bring prey to camp before you eat. Of course, there were a bunch of other rules, but you wouldn't run into them in everyday life. Not many of my clanmates plotted to kill each other or Reign, or give away our prey. Of course, these rules were broken occasionally, but our punishments were a different kind of harsh than what you may expect. They were harsh, but not you are clawed until you are on your last limb and then left out for the foxes harsh, they were more like isolated in an old two-leg nest for a number of days with toads as your food. If you liked toads and were introverted, I guess our punishment wouldn't be very effective, but most Bloodclan cats didn't have both of those traits.

"Thanks, Reign. I'll serve you well." I said to her, dipping my head in a bow.

"I have no doubt that you could make a great leader." She said.

The next few moons are a little boring, because not a lot of things happen. I met with Polarsky often, but I'm not going to explain those in detail, apart from one which you will see here. It is the night she told me she was expecting kits- my kits. Keep in mind this is moons later, and we're skipping ahead. I'm second in command, and Reign is still leader.

I padded quietly to the border. There were no rules forbidding me from meeting her, but Twoleg place was not the safest home in the world. When I got there, Polarsky was waiting. She looked up at me, and I could immediately tell something was bothering her.

"Cheetah, I'm expecting your kits." Polarsky meowed quietly. I smiled, this seemed great! Why wasn't she happy? I licked her ear gently.

"That's wonderful." I said. I closed my eyes, sighing happily.  "The kits will be wonderful..."

"Cheetah, you don't understand. It's forbidden to have a mate outside of your clan..."

"Oh." I said. "I'm sorry. I don't know your clan's rules..." In my

"My kits will suffer for my mistakes." Polarsky whispered. She looked away. "Even that reality can't stop me from loving you."

"Love is powerful. If you come with me to Bloodclan, I can take care of you." I told her. My eyes looked into hers, smiling gently. I wanted her and the kits to be safe.

"My clan will care for me. I'm sorry, I can't leave." Polarsky meowed. I looked at my paws.

"Oh... Okay." I said, looking up. "I'm sure you know what will work. But if you change your mind..."

"If I get exiled, I'll come. But I won't be exiled, I'll be fine." Polarsky meowed.

It was then that we both left. I couldn't figure out what I wanted, and it was tearing me apart. I wanted her to be happy, and she was happy in Stoneclan. Yet, I wanted to be happy, and I'd be happy if she was in Bloodclan with me. I half wanted her to be exiled, and I felt horrible about this desire. I walked back to Bloodclan camp, my mind buzzing like the thoughts were bumblebees. As I padded into camp, someone jumped out of nowhere and bowled me over.

"Cheetah!" A voice squeaked. I chuckled, rolling my eyes with a smile.

"You got me, Titan." I said. A young, dark brown Tom-kit stood over me. He puffed out his chest with pride. He was a very large kit for his age. His father spotted him from across the clearing, and padded over.

"Titan, you shouldn't bother the deputy like that." Pine meowed, looking at his son.

"It's fine." I said, standing up as Titan moved. "He'll make a mighty fine fighter someday."