Sunkit's heart pounded. Today he and Runningkit were becoming apprentices.

    Nettlestar gazed down at them from the Highrock. Sunkit couldn't help but notice his gaze was on Runningkit the whole time.

    "Runningkit, step forward."

    Sunkit's brother stepped forward proudly, his head held high. Nettlestar paused. "From this day forward, you shall be known as Runningpaw. Your mentor will be..."

    The cats in the crowd looked at their leader hopefully. Of course, thought Sunkit, they all wanted to be his mentor.

    "...Robinflight."

    The deputy stalked up to Runningpaw and touched noses with him. Runningpaw smiled.

    "Sunkit, step forward."

    The orange-furred kit stepped up, feeling all the cats staring at him. He could hear whispers.

    "...Rosekit's and Firekit's brother... Why is he up before them?"

    Nettlestar looked at him. "You will be known as Sunpaw. Your mentor will be Thistlefur."

    Sunpaw turned and saw the gray tom. He looked disappointed he wasn't Runningpaw's mentor.

    He touched noses with his new mentor. Thistlefur's green eyes flicked to Runningpaw.

    "Meeting dismissed," Nettlestar yowled.

    Some cats walked away, while others ran over to Runningpaw. Sunpaw was shoved out of the way by an apprentice. Rolling his eyes, he walked over to Thistlefur.

    "Can we explore the territory?" He asked hopefully.

    Thistlefur was watching Runningpaw. "....what? Oh yes, we can do it with Runningpaw and Robinflight."

    Sunpaw's heart sank.

    Thistlefur glanced at him. "Aren't you Rosekit and Firekit's brother? Why aren't you becoming apprentices with them?"

    Sunpaw's claws sank into the dirt. "Because I am Runningpaw's brother! I am not related to Rosekit or Firekit! Nobody ever thinks a scrap like me could be a brother to the magnificent Runningpaw!" He kicked a stone.

    Thistlefur frowned. "You're just as popular as Rosekit and Firekit."

    "Half the clan doesn't even know I exist!" Sunpaw snapped.

    Thistlefur shrugged. "Oh well. Make yourself popular."

    Sunpaw wanted to claw Thistlefur's ears off. I'm trying to make myself popular, you mouse-brain!

    <><><>

    Sunpaw and Runningpaw walked inside after their long day with their mentors behind them. They had learned a lot- Sunpaw even caught a mouse. Runningpaw didn't catch a thing.

Three apprentices caught sight of them and ran over. Sunpaw thought they were going to congratulate him on catching his first mouse.

Why, he thought, would I think such a thing?

They brushed past him and circled Runningpaw. "Did you catch anything?" Poppypaw asked.

Runningpaw shook his head.

"Don't worry," Foxpaw purred. "You'll catch something next time!"

"I caught something," Sunpaw meowed.

Whitepaw glared at him. "Runningpaw didn't. Don't make him feel bad!"

They wouldn't be saying that if Runningpaw caught something and I didn't.

<><><>

Sunpaw had to scrape together a nest with the extra moss in the corner of the apprentice's den. Runningpaw, of course, had already been made a nest.

He looked up through the bramble roof. Stars twinkled in the sky.

He stood up and trotted out of the apprentice's den, nearly stepping on Foxpaw's tail. Mousetail, who was in guard, was facing into the territory so he didn't see Sunpaw slip into a bush and outside of camp.

    He walked sadly through the territory, wondering what he was even existing for. He might as well jump into a river and see where it takes him, and his clan won't even notice him leaving. They would notice if Runningpaw left, he thought bitterly.

    He arrived in a small dusty clearing. He sat down and wrapped his tail around his paws. He should probably sit here and die.

    He scraped a line through the ground with his paw. As he made more lines, he thought about Runningpaw. Why was he so popular? It wasn't fair!

    His claws slid out and sent into the ground. He dragged his class across the ground and created...

    Sparks.

    Sparks. Orange and red sparks sprang into the air. He screeched in surprise and fell backwards.

    He raised a paw, and nearly screamed at the top of his lungs.

    His claws were on fire.