Sparkface stretched out her paws as she pressed her body against her grass-woven nest, wishing she could melt away into the ground. Rain pattered on the ground beside her, and cats were milling around outside, talking and getting assigned to patrols. Few were still sleeping in their nests as Sandfur padded around camp, talking quietly to groups and sending them into the territory.

She knew that no cat would search her out to put her on a patrol or to join her in hunting. Sparkface simply remained so she wouldn't get in the way of the real warriors. The cream-furred warrior watched a few warriors come and go before a dark brown tabby tom padded over to her.

"Sparkface," meowed Gorsestar in a sharp, unforgiving voice. "You need to go on patrol." She flinched at the world, as if it was a sharp thorn digging into her skin. "You've been sitting around camp for the last two suns without doing anything."

The she-cat pulled herself out of the nest, green eyes dull. "Yes Gorsestar," she responded in a monotone. "I will go on a patrol."

The dark brown-furred tom seemed concerned for the other cat. His yellow eyes were soft with pity as he leaned forward, muzzle brushing her cheek and whiskers tangling with her own. The tip of his nose was now touching her ear. Sparkface held still, waiting for him to leave or speak. "You're not a weak cat. You're simply the most unlucky warrior that I have ever met. Don't give up." He retracted his muzzle and padded away, leaving Sparkface alone in the clearing for a short moment.

As the leader smoothly left the camp, Sandyfur padded back in, his eyes showing no sympathy for the cream-furred warrior. "Get over here," he called sharply. "And don't mess this up, please." His words stung as Sparkface trudged out of camp, spotting a small group of warriors.

The surprise was evident in Lionfrost's eyes as his sister joined the patrol, her head hanging low and thoughts dangling lower. "We're going to go to the RiverClan border," the ginger tabby meowed, hardly acknowledging her presence as he turned away from the camp entrance. 

Finchwing was the other member of the patrol; her shiny black pelt sparkled in the sunlight as she turned away from Sparkface, leaving the cream tabby alone with her thoughts for a few heartbeats. I have to prove myself to Gorsestar, she told herself. It's my responsibility to patrol this border like a real warrior, not like a newbie apprentice. Taking a deep breath, Sparkface unsteadily rose to her paws and padded after the other cats, her inhales short and her exhales nearly silent. Her pawsteps were silent as Lionfrost's mew echoed to her ears.

". . . sometimes I feel like she doesn't really try at anything," he had been saying softly, his muzzle nearly touching Finchwing's ear. "But I still have to love her and all, since she's my littermate."  

Sparkface let out a small cough as she sped up her pace, matching the pair's pawsteps as she walked next to her brother. His green eyes were sharp with surprise, as if he hadn't expected her to catch up. Silence lapsed over the patrol as they crested a hill, ignoring the pair of apprentices that flew across the moor, being chased by their mentors, who soon followed. 

As Sparkface marked the border, she let the monotonous feeling of regularity settle over her. Her mind started to numb when a blurry figure was visible in the trees. The cream tabby glanced behind her; Lionfrost and Finchwing were talking, probably gossiping like a pair of queens. She focused back on the cat—cats, as there were now two advancing toward the border. 

I should get them to help me, Sparkface reasoned, but another thought pushed this one away: What if I prove that I can be a helpful warrior? So instead of turning around and summoning the help of the other WindClan cats, she let out a loud growl as the RiverClan cat crossed to border.

"Don't trespass!" the warrior called, dropping into a crouch and preparing to launch.

The RiverClan cat looked to be bewilder; their figure still seemed blurred despite their closeness to her. "I'm just going to Moonston—" But the cat's protest was interrupted as Sparkface bowled them over, unsheathed claws battering their belly. She couldn't hear anything except for a dull ringing as Lionfrost pulled her off the RiverClan cat. She couldn't hear as Gorsestar rushed up to them and scolded her.

Sparkface had been going blind to the world, and now she was deaf to it too.

⌁

It all stopped as she opened her eyes to the grassy ground of WindClan territory. She was walking next to Gorsestar, who had a haunting expression of disappointment in his eyes. He turned to her, realizing she was conscious and able to talk.

"Why did you attack the RiverClan leader?" he asked calmly.

"They—they were trespassing!" Sparkface responded quickly, dipping her head. "I watched them cross the border, but my vision was getting a little weird." The strange ailment that had poisoned her sight was gone now, but the memory of it certainly wasn't.

"Ripplestar was going to the Moonstone," replied Gorsestar. "I am disappointed in you, Sparkface."

Sparkface hung her head. "I'm sorry, Gorsestar," she mewed miserably. I just wanted to prove I could be a good warrior...

But I guess I'm not. I suppose I'll never be.

⌁ Brought to you by Rio! ⌁ 

(And edited by Ember)