I'm just as special. I came from the same litter, I took my apprentice name alongside her, I trained as often as she did -- more, even! So why is she over there, with a warrior and the medicine cat, while I'm sitting here with the apprentices?
"I wish I was on patrol," Briarpaw meows ruefully, swishing her long tail restlessly. "My warrior ceremony is coming, but I won't have earned it if Brambeclaw doesn't assign me on any patrols!"
It's hard to feel sorry for her. Blossompaw and Bumblepaw are always with her, and she will be getting her warrior name in mere days. Me? I'm stuck staring from the outside in at my mysterious, oh-so-special sister. I don't see why it can't be me who gets attention. She's got no backbone, but I at least know how to speak for myself.
She moves in closer to Jayfeather and Lionblaze, and looks around to be sure no one is watching. She doesn't even bother looking in this direction. Has she no sense?
"You'll have earned it," Bumblepaw says kindly to his sister. I slouch away to the apprentice den, curl up alone, and pretend to sleep.
It's not long before Blossompaw prods me with her paw. "I know you're faking," she snaps as I open my jaws in a fair imitation of a yawn. "I'm not in here to ask you why. I just thought you might like to know that Poppyfrost's kits are about to become apprentices."
About time; Ravenkit and Thistlekit are a menace. "I'm not going," I tell her bluntly, resting my head on my paws.
Blossompaw's tone sharpens. "Fine," she meows icily, "but I won't make excuses for you!"
Of Millie's three kits, I like Blossompaw the best. She's got a temper, and I admire that. Dovepaw thinks she's rude -- go figure.
I don't need to watch the ceremony to know that Poppyfrost's kits will become Ravenpaw and Thrushpaw. I'm sure I'll figure out who their mentors are later -- Rosepelt's been hinting for a moon that she might get her first apprentice. Above all, I don't need to see the proud look on my sister's face as she gazes at the new apprentices. It's like she thinks she's leader, and every cat is hers.
It's dark by the time Dovepaw prances in here, still chattering her congratulations to Ravenpaw. She curls up in a nest away from me, not even taking the time to say hi. She's starting to give up on me.
Hatred burns in my blood. I don't know what special bond she shares with Jayfeather and Lionblaze, but she can keep it. Cats can favor her all they want; I don't need it. I don't need anything.
I don't need anyone.
Starting at dawn, no cat will ever be able to say I owe them something. I won't depend on them. I take care of myself, and I can do it better than any other it.
I said I was leaving the Warriors fandom, so what do I do? Immediately write a Warriors fanfic. The thing is, I couldn't resist doing this before the Erins have a chance to "officially" tell which of the sisters is one of the Three, and before they have a chance to tell us what goes on between them then. I want to give my take before they shove theirs down our throats.
Short on purpose. First time I've written with present tense.
