"Cloverpaw! Cloverpaw!" A black and white patched she-cat barrelled towards me. "Primrosepetal says I can do my assessment today!"

A purr rumbled in my throat, my thick furred tail curling in delight. I smoothed my ruffling fur. Just be happy for her! She's your sister. It's fine. I told myself, forcing a smile. "That's amazing, Flowerpaw!" I meowed. "You're going to be a warrior." You. Not me.

Flowerpaw's face fell and her eyes grew wide worriedly. "Don't worry! I'm sure Mapletail will give you your assessment, soon, Clove!" she responded encouragingly. Flowerpaw always knew how I felt, even when I did my best to hide it.

"Yeah. Me too," I said, forcing my growl to sound cheerful. "But I don't mind, Flow. Once you're a warrior you'll be able to be a mentor! And lead patrols! And hunt food for your clan without your mentor looking over your shoulder..." I trailed off despondently.

Flowerpaw sighed, her ears flattening. I'm just as good at hunting and fighting as her! Mapletail is just stubborn. I told myself bitterly, but in seeing my sister's claws dig into the soft earth in disheartened guilt, shame crept into my fur.

"I'm sorry, Flow. I'm happy for you, truly. I'm so glad you're going to be a warrior! It's just, I always imagined you and I would become warriors together." I lashed my tail. And we should be made warriors together! But it's not like I can tell that to Mapletail. The Clan deputy would probably just put her on dung-clearing duty just for mentioning it.

Flowerpaw gave a sad smile. "I know, Clove. I really do understand how you feel. I wish you could be a warrior, too! Honestly, I thought you should've become a warrior last moon, with Aspenpaw and Creekpaw."

Aspenpaw-recently made into Aspencall-and another apprentice, Creekpaw, had both been made into warriors a moon ago; Creekpaw had had to leave behind his own sister, Streampaw, Cloverpaw's good friend.

Cloverpaw grinned, bending her head down to give her chest fur a few embarrassed licks. "Well, Flowerpaw, that's kind of you. Tomorrow after your assessment, you're going to be made the best warrior ever!" she exclaimed, fur prickling in excitement. I'm upset we won't be made warriors together, but Flow doesn't need to feel bad about her success.

"I wonder what my warrior name will be!" Flowerpaw purred, wheat colored eyes lighting up once more.

The possibilities flashed in my mind. "Flowerpetal, Flowershine, Flowerclaw!"

Flowerpaw paused, a pained expression crossing her gaze. "Not Flowerclaw."

I froze. Stupid Cloverpaw! I scolded myself. How could I forget? Clawbelly just died three moons ago! Obviously his death is still raw in her mind. "Of course not." There was a long, awkward pause, Flowerpaw staring somberly at her feet. "Maybe Flowerfur?" I suggested hesitantly.

Flowerpaw's sad gaze met mine, and she meowed a monotonous reply. "Maybe." She turned and I followed her gaze to our den, where Streampaw, Leopardpaw, and Hawkpaw- the other three apprentices- were sharing tongues at the bramble entrance. "I'm going to go head to bed," she said dully, padding away, her plume of a tail dragging behind her.

I stared after her in dismay. Flowerpaw was the brightest, happiest cat you'd ever meet-unless you mentioned her dead best friend. Clawbelly would have been her mate some day, I knew. But after that WindClan cat killed him, it ruined everything. And it's my fault.

"Loonriddle! Help!" The WindClan warrior yowled to his clanmate. Loonriddle raced to where her friend was pinned beneath Clawbelly and leaped at the Riverclan cat. I was too frozen to move, my paws seemingly rooted to the ground. I knew I had a clear path to my Clanmate-only a few paw steps and I could bowl over Loonriddle and release Clawbelly. But I didn't move.

Flowerpaw's wail snapped me out of my trance as Loonriddle clamped her jaws around Clawbelly's throat. Crimson liquid oozed out of the wound when she lifted her head. Clawbelly's eyes began to glaze over, and his ruffled fur began to smooth as he fell limp beneath Loonriddle.

My sister's best friend and future mate had died in that battle. That petty, stupid, territory battle that should never have even happened.

And it was my fault.