"One love, one heart, one destiny."
-Bob Marley

The rest of the story is in Redkit's POV

"We're going to be apprentices today!"

My brother Brownkit leaped excitedly around the camp clearing. I smiled, though I felt like I was hurting.

I watched ahead as Haytuft and Nettleburr were praising their kits.

Both parents were praising their kits.

"Is something wrong, Redkit?" Brownkit asked gingerly.

Sweet brother, if only you felt the pain I felt.

"Just trying to hold in my excitement!" I managed a small smile. "Who do you hope for as a mentor?"

"I hope our Dad, though it's a weak hope I suppose!" Brownkit commented. "You?"

"Applefrost is fun to talk to." I meowed. "She'd be the best mentor for me."

"Dad!" Brownkit leaped away from me and onto Dad's back. Our Dad was the deputy, Stonewater.

"My kits." Dad smiled and showed deep blue eyes of pride. "I've fathered two gracious kits."

"DAD!" a shrill voice cried. "I'm going to become a 5-star warrior, my training starts today!"

"And her." Dad muttered, baring his teeth. I nodded, staring at the voice's owner.

Jiovekit.

"Hey Jiovekit!" Brownkit meowed. "Excited for the apprentice ceremony?"

"Sorry, I don't talk to normal cats." Jiovekit rolled her eyes like it was a joke.

Brownkit flinched and looked back down.

"It was worth a shot." Brownkit muttered.

I growled and stood facing Jiovekit.

"Go away if you're not going to talk nicely!" I snapped louder than I intended to. "No one wants you here!"

Jiovekit snorted. She was fully aware I was lying, every cat wanted her here.

"Mom!" Jiovekit wailed. "Redkit is bullying me!"

"Keep you kits in line, Stonewater." Weaselberry snarled from the Nursery. "Come here, Jiovekit."

"Hello, my precious grandkits."

"Hello, Marshmouse." Stonewater purred. Marshmouse smiled and licked my fur roughly.

Marshmouse didn't intend to, but she reminded me that my mother should be grooming me and my brother for the apprentice ceremony.

I shouldn't be so rude, the fact I had a she-cat to groom me didn't make me feel too unwanted.

She moved on to grooming my brother, who looked embarrassed as Willowpaw and Honeypaw snorted in the distance.

I noticed Jiovekit walking in a tramp-like fashion in front of the male apprentices. Her tail pointed at them then to her butt.

Fuzzpaw looked on with eyes filled with lust. Flypaw sighed in annoyance and looked away from Jiovekit.

At least not all the toms were crazy.

"All cats of RiverClan come forth to the clearing!" Splotchstar meowed.

"It's time!" Brownkit pranced his way to the clearing.

"Stonewater's got a cute kit." Haytuft flicked his tail to Brownkit. "His she-kit is..."

"Troubled, sweet." Nettleburr whispered. "Don't be rude."

I growled. Troubled?! Yes, but you had two parents, I assume?! I only had one!

Is what I would have said. But of course, I kept silent.

Like you have all these moons

"I am about to make three kits into apprentices." Splotchstar meowed. "Jiovekit, come forth."

"I always think best for last, but-"

"Shut up, you foolish kit." Splotchstar growled.

"She is part of a prophecy!" Weaselberry snarled. "Show her some respect!"

"I will show her the amount of respect I give all kits." Splotchstar meowed boldly. "Jiovekit, you will now be known as Jiovepaw. Applefrost, I hope you teach this kit to respect and treat all cats in the Clan equally as her mentor."

Weaselberry lashed her tail in presumably anger. Applefrost touched her nose to Jiovepaw.

"Brownkit, you will now be known as Brownpaw. Clovertalon, I hope you teach Brownpaw to be a strong warrior and hunter, but have heart for the weak, as he has always."

Brownpaw looked happy to get the fun-loving tom as his mentor. Clovertalon looked happy as well.

I knew it, I was going to get the horrible, mean, no-fun mentor.

I waited for the worst.

"Redkit, you are now known as Redpaw. Antpad, I hope you straighten out Redpaw and teach her to be dedicated and nice."

Some cats chuckled as I looked down.

Pain is only understood by those who felt it.

"Touch your nose to mine, Redpaw." Antpad said sternly.

I did so.

"Jiovepaw! Redpaw! Brownpaw! Jiovepaw! Jiovepaw! Jiovepaw!"

Jiovepaw stood next to Applefrost, lifting her head arrogantly.

"THE FUTURE THREAT WILL BE STOPPED WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL ANGEL!" Weaselberry yowled. "JIOVEPAW!"

I walked away.

"Don't worry, Redpaw." Antpad whispered as we walked away from the crowd. "They're hope is misplaced."

"Apparently not." I grumbled.

"Listen, Redpaw." Antpad growled. "My parents died both in a ShadowClan battle while I was left in the Nursery! You must not feel bad about yourself, I've grown up in sadder times."

I gave a puzzled look. Is no parents worse than one good parent and one bullying parent?

I don't believe that.

"Jiovepaw is not cleaning the elder's den!"

Me and Antpaw turned around to see Weaselberry facing Applefrost. Jiovepaw was next to her mother.

"Make her clean it!" Weaselberry snarled, gesturing her tail to me.

"I'm Jiovepaw's mentor, not you." Applefrost meowed coolly. "Please move aside."

"You'll rise and she'll take orders from you one day." Weaselberry purred to Jiovepaw. "You'll just have to take the orders till then."

Weaselberry walked away.

"MOM!" Jiovepaw snapped. "COME BACK HERE!"

"Shall we explore the territories?" Antpad insisted.

I looked at Jiovepaw, her eyes threatening me with death.

"Yes, we should go." I walked away with Antpad.

"I...feel bad." I was surprised at my own words.

"Really?" Antpad was more curious than confused. "Why's that."

"It's not her fault she was raised that way." I meowed. "I should apologize for snapping at her earlier."

"If you really wish to, than do it after we explore the territories." Antpad sighed. "OK?"

"OK." I replied.

Then there was the river. Antpad nodded her head to me and I dived in.