Runningpaw studied the barn. "That's where you live?"

    "Yeah," Sunpaw purred. "Come inside. I have a friend I want you to meet." Intruiged, Runningpaw followed him inside.

The barn was shadowy and slightly eerie. It had a lot of space, with rafters up at the top, and a large stack of hay. Runningpaw jumped a little when he noticed a shadowy figure standing in the corner.

Sunpaw looked guilty. "Oh- Fiery! You're awake! I'm sorry I left, I just wanted to..." He trailed off at the cat's cold stare. Runningpaw could only see the figure and the golden eyes. The pelt color was masked by black shadows.

"Who is this?" The cat snarled in a dark voice. Runningpaw thought it sounded familiar, though he couldn't be sure. And why did Sunpaw seem so... Scared? He obviously knew this cat because he knew his name, but still... Something was wrong.

"Fiery, th-this- this is my brother, R-Runningpaw."

The cat's golden eyes fixed on Runningpaw, and he stepped out of the shadows, revealing a bright ginger pelt. This was the cat that Runningpaw saw on the border patrol, he realized with a trickle of fear.

Sunpaw was friends with him?

<><><>

Sunpaw glanced at Runningpaw uneasily. His brother looked so... Horrified. Something was wrong, he knew. Everything seemed darker and more... Fearful.

"Your brother?" Fiery growled, his gaze trailing back to Sunpaw. "The one that made you leave in the first place?"

Guilt flashed through his mind, and he spotted Runningpaw slowly backing away.

    "He didn't make me leave," Sunpaw retorted, stepping forward. "I chose to go on my own."

    Fiery curled his lip. "I thought you said you had no family, because your parents favored Runningpaw. And here's your family now."

    "I-!" Sunpaw stammered, remembering the night when he told Fiery that exact fraise.

    "I'm sorry, Sunpaw," a quiet voice murmured. Sunpaw spun around, staring at Runningpaw, whose gaze was fixed on the ground. "I knew you were sad because you didn't have friends... I didn't know you didn't think of me as family. If you think of me that way, I'm just going to leave. You obviously have a better family here." He flashed a look of utter hatred at Fiery.

    "Runningpaw-" Sunpaw started, but his brother had already vanished.

    "Finally," Fiery grumbled. "Did he blackmail you or something so he can see where you live? I'd bet my life that he's going to blab about our home to his clan. We'll have to move, I-"

    "How dare you talk about Runningpaw like that?!" Sunpaw screeched.

    Fiery remained calm. "I believe you've said those same words before," he snarked.

    "Because I didn't understand!" Sunpaw roared, feeling heat slowly rise along his back.

    "And you just happen to understand now?" Fiery growled, arching his back.

    "Yes!" Sunpaw yowled. "Because I remembered what it's like to have a family!"

    Fiery's pupils thinned. "So you're saying I haven't been like a family to you?"

    "No way. Not at all." Sunpaw's claws slid out. "Family isn't just something that always agrees with you and acts like you're right. Family is there to guide you in the right path, love you, and correct you when they're wrong so they can grow up a happy life."

    Fiery trembled in rage. "What do you know about family?" He screeched, wildly lashing his tail. "You grew up neglected in a stupid clan!"

    "I know more than you do! You lived alone in a broken down shack!"

    "I wouldn't be alone if Snowy were still here!" He screamed. "And she would be if it weren't for your fox-hearted clans! You took our territory, and we were forced to split up, you idiots. You don't care wether cats already live on territory you want, you just take it all! I thought we would understand each other, since we both lost a sibling, but no! You had to go off and find him again even though he made you leave. That's not how life works! Not everybody's going to love each other, even though you might think that way, you fool!"

    Suddenly all the rage and sadness Sunpaw had kept inside of him was unleashed, all shut into one bolt of heat. It took a half second to whip out and strike Fiery's heart, and he stumbled back, his golden eyes closing as he fell onto the ground in a heap.

    Fear distinguished Sunpaw's fire in a matter of seconds and he sprinted over, placing his ear onto the small burnt mark on the tom's chest. After a couple seconds it let out s low heartbeat. Is he... Dying?

    Tears filled Sunpaw's eyes. What has he done? He just struck Fiery... He really didn't know how to control his powers. What if Fiery died, because of him? Fiery and only tried to protect him, and Sunpaw had hurt him.

    Snowy... He realized. He had lost a sibling.

    I am going to bring her back, if it's the last thing I do.