Runningpaw didn't look back as he left the barn. Self-consciously he sped up his walking, and eventually broke into a run until he arrived at the border, where he went to the camp and curled up in his nest before anyone noticed he disappeared. The moon was starting to set.

He kept his gaze on his silvery paws. Once again he had left Sunpaw. Who was this... Fiery? When did he meet him? Was there something going on he didn't know about?

He wondered if he should have left Sunpaw with that cat.

Alarm swept through his whole body.

    He had left Sunpaw with a dangerous cat that will most likely harm him.

    He bolted to his feet and accidentally stepped on Foxpaw's tail.

    The red tom snapped awake. "Hey! Watch where you're..." He saw Runningpaw and grinned. "Oh, hey, Runningpaw! Wanna train together later today... Where are you going?"

    Runningpaw didn't answer, for he was sprinting out of the den and towards the warrior's den. He forced his way in, awakening a few cats.

    "Mom!" He yowled. "Mom, Sunpaw is with a dangerous cat! He's gonna get hurt! We need to help him!"

    Willowfoot jumped to her feet. "My son," she gasped. "Where?"

"In a barn, somewhere- he's with some cat-"

"Come on, show me," she said through gritted teeth, bounding out of the den. Runningpaw darted after her.

"Should we- uh, shouldn't we tell Nettlestar?"

"Nettlestar is an idiotic fox-hearted mouse-brain," Willowfoot snarled.

Runningpaw, who had never heard his mother say any curse word more than "jerk" fell silent and followed her as she sprang out of the camp.

The dry leaves crunched under their paws as Runningpaw drew ahead to lead his mother through the forest. But she called, "stop!" Right as he arrived at the border.

    "But- But we can't wait any longer, Sunpaw simply can't be alone with that guy-"

    "I know that, Runningpaw," Willowfoot said softly. "Just tell me. Tell me everything."
     
    So Runningpaw did. He told her about his brother's powers, about Fiery, about meeting with Sunpaw barely fifteen minutes ago, and about leaving him.

    Willowfoot paused for a full minute after he finished. Then she said, "Runningpaw, have you ever wondered why Nettlestar never sent out search patrols for Sunpaw?"

    "I do. Every day," Runningpaw said firmly.

    "It's because... It's because Sunpaw isn't supposed to be here. He's adopted. Both his parents were loners, and they died together if hyperthermia the winter you were born. Sunpaw was your age, and I was already taking care of you, so I took him in, even though Nettlestar didn't want me to."

    A sickening wave of nausea rolled over Runningpaw, dots dancing in front of his eyes. "Sunpaw..." He croaked.

    Willowfoot bit her lip. "Nettlestar didn't want me to take him in for two reasons- one, we had too many mouths to feed already, and because he didn't like the idea of having a cat in our clan with no warrior blood. He... He asked me in private... He told me to abandon Sunkit in the snow!"

    Runningpaw flinched at the fury raging in her eyes. "And.... And you said no, right?"

    His mother took a deep breath. "Correct. I said no. And he... He tried to get me back. He told the clan that Sunkit wasn't my kit, he was dangerous, and he should be avoided. The idiot. All he did was create a very lonely kit.

    "And then he told the clan more- that my other son, Runningkit, was special, and that he was very important to the clan."

    Runningpaw looked up. "That's why everyone follows me around."

    "Yes," Willowfoot said quietly. "I knew what he was doing- he was trying to make sure Sunkit decided to leave. And he got what he wanted."

    Her son paused. Then he said, "if- when we get Sunpaw back- what will Nettlestar tell everyone?"

    "Nothing. I'll tell everyone that he's the cat of the prophecy, and that the shouldn't be ignored."

    "Prophecy?"

    "Lushheart told me. After Sunpaw vanished. She actually knew him quite well. She told me about a prophecy, which is obviously about the only cat with fire powers."

    "What's-"

    "It goes 'Only the one of heat and flames can take the evil and make it tame."

    "So Sunpaw has to fight evil?"

    "Apparently," said Willowfoot. "We just don't know what the evil is."

    "The evil is Fiery!" Snapped Runningpaw. "So we have to stop him! Come on!"