The sky was bright and clear the day the clan came to life again, buzzing with excitement at the prospect of brand new apprentices. Runningwind could understand why. ThunderClan had little to brag about in terms of excitement lately.

After Fireheart and Graystripe had returned from their noble quest, their clanmates, Runningwind included, had asked them to recount their adventures for days. But after their stories faded into tales only kits were still excited to re-enact, ThunderClan had returned to its normal routine. Runningwind was nearly driving himself crazy with the amount of patrols he'd joined just to cure the boredom.

And today, hopefully, that would change. Frostfur's four kits were finally old enough to become apprentices. Runningwind began to hope, despite himself, that Bluestar had accepted his request to mentor one of them. Despite not hearing from the leader herself, he'd been mentally preparing himself for the role. He'd even been desperate enough to hang out with the kits in the preceding days with Mousefur, and he hated to admit it, but he really had grown fond of Cinderkit.

He admired her energy and spirit, seeing the similarities she had to him when he was her age. Maybe she was even a bit braver than he was. He and Mousefur had to stop her multiple times from leading a kit battle party outside of the camp to attack the apparent "invading ShadowClan warriors." After the four kits had been kidnapped by Brokenstar's goons, the four of them had a vendetta against ShadowClan. A reasonable reaction, in Runningwind's opinion.

Runningwind hoped Bluestar had noticed his dedication. Mousefur was beside him, looking nervously toward the Highrock from which Bluestar would soon emerge. He gave her a nudge, and she looked over, grinning sheepishly.

"Sorry, this is so embarrassing. I don't look that nervous, do I?" Mousefur asked, quivering tail to toe.

"Not at all." Runningwind lied.

Mousefur sighed with relief, then turned away to continue trying to burn a hole into the Highrock with her gaze.

Runningwind smirked before turning toward the kits that were all lined up in front of Frostfur. He felt a pang of sadness when he saw the usual empty spot where Lionheart typically sat on the other side of the nursery, protecting the kits. He always missed the golden tom, but there were some times he felt his absence more than others.

When Bluefur had been busy with deputy duties, Lionheart would step up to train Runningpaw a couple times. He'd been younger then, but he was patient and kind, much like he had been with training Graypaw.

Runningwind liked to think he'd had some influence in that.

He wondered if Lionheart's kits would be anything like their father someday. Cinderkit certainly had that mane of fluffy fur around her neck, and her littermates all shared a bit of his golden pelt. He hoped Lionheart would be smiling down from StarClan when Runningwind got to train one of his kits.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a clan meeting!" Bluestar called, finally emerging from the depths of her den. The deputy, Tigerclaw, followed the leader close behind, his expression more or less a scowl like always.

Could he lighten up just this once? Runningwind rolled his eyes. Look how excited the kits are.

Cinderkit was bouncing up and down, and while Brackenkit was more reserved, he too was trembling with excitement. Meanwhile, Brightkit stood up tall, eyes gleaming as she stretched up to look at Bluestar. And finally Thornkit, who looked quite calm, but Runningwind noticed his tail twitching, betraying his anticipation.

Bluestar too seemed amused. "I see that you all have been anticipating my announcement for some time now."

"It's not every day you get four brand new apprentices!" Yellowfang yowled from her spot by the medicine den. "Four brand new stupid furballs to look after." She muttered the last part under her breath.

"Now let us begin." Bluestar meowed. Her eyes twinkled, and Runningwind was reminded of a giddy young apprentice. But that moment was gone in a blink of an eye, and it left Runningwind wondering if he'd even seen it at all.

The kits strode forward in a neat line. Runningwind was sure the clan would've been amazed had they not all seen Frostfur rehearsing with her kits the previous day.

Brightkit was the first in line. Her ginger tail stood straight up in the air, sunbeams peeking dappling her pelt between the leaves overhead.

"Brightkit, from this moment on you will be known as Brightpaw." Bluestar looked through the crowd before her gaze rested on Whitestorm. "Whitestorm, after doing so well with Sandstorm, I only see fit that you continue to impart your wisdom onto Brightpaw."

Runningwind didn't bother to watch the mentor and apprentice touch noses. His gaze was on Cinderkit as she walked forward, second in line. This was it…

"Cinderkit." Bluestar meowed slowly, making Runningwind's pelt prickle with impatience. "From this moment on you will be known as Cinderpaw." Once again, Bluestar's keen blue eyes swept through the assembled clan.

But her eyes barely lingered on Runningwind before resting on an orange tom.

"Fireheart." The leader's voice was fond. Runningwind had a terrible itch on his right ear, but he stood stiff and still, eyes boring into the ginger tom like a million termites. A million termites. Biting your stupid butt!

"After your brave journey, you are more than ready for your first apprentice. I hope you teach her well."

Fireheart looked pleased, likely not from the imaginary termites biting him. He walked over to Cinderpaw and the pair touched noses.

Runningwind barely paid attention as Bluestar paired off the other two apprentices. He managed a weak congratulations to Mousefur as she was paired with Thornpaw, just as she'd been hoping. He didn't have the energy to act like a jealous foxheart anyways. He moped a few tail lengths away from Mousefur, watching the proceedings and trying his best to keep his pained expression on the inside.

He didn't notice Tigerclaw stalk up to him until the huge tom poked his side with one of his infamously long and sharp claws. Runningwind at least kept his dignity, his yelp was barely audible amid the excited chatter of clanmates as they exchanged congratulations for the new mentors and apprentices.

"I heard about what you asked Bluestar." Tigerclaw growled, his voice low. "And I am sorry. I vouched for you, you know."

"Really?" Runningwind hadn't expected to have the favor of Tigerclaw, who hadn't paid a lot of attention to him until now. But he couldn't say that he wasn't flattered.

"Yeah." Tigerclaw scowled. "Unfortunately, Bluestar really seems to favor that kittypet. She made some excuse about 'ThunderClan having better use for your skills than mentoring,' but…" Tigerclaw glanced around furtively, making Runningwind feel uneasy. No one was within hearing distance, but what was it the dark tom wanted to say?

Tigerclaw's voice was somber. "I do not believe Bluestar may be as… how do I put this? She may not be as discerning as she used to be." Tigerclaw prodded Runningwind with his claw again, making him wince. "But that is not to say she will continue to lead us as well as she is able." His voice grew in volume with this statement, the somberness disappearing and that confident authoritative tone returning. "But I just wanted to let you know— I am looking out for you, alright? You will get an apprentice soon enough. I am truly sorry it was not this time."

Runningwind was too flabbergasted to do anything but nod. Tigerclaw seemed satisfied, and he gave Runningwind one last smile (though somehow his smiles always seemed more like a grimace) before turning to talk to Darkstripe and Longtail.

Then Runningwind nearly leapt out his pelt the second time that day as Mousefur seemed to materialize behind him, yowling in his ear so loudly he thought StarClan had come from the sky.

"Can you believe it? I mean, I was excited when Bluestar told me I was going to be a mentor last night but once it actually happened? There's nothing like it!" Mousefur gushed. When she saw Runningwind's blank expression, she frowned.

"Runningwind? Why are you making that face?" Runningwind continued to stare at her, expression unchanged.

"They told you the day before." Runningwind stated.

Mousefur blinked at him, as if it were obvious. "Yes?"

"That you are going to be a mentor."

"Yes."

"And who your apprentice will be."

"Well, actually, no but—"

"Oh StarClan help me." Runningwind collapsed onto the ground while Mousefur looked at him with a mildly concerned look on her face. "Just leave me here to die."

"Aw, stop being so dramatic." Mousefur paused, then her mouth dropped open. "Oh no. Wait. You didn't—-"

"Stooooop. Please. Not right now. I can't take pity."

"Okay, I won't pity you." Crouching down to meet his eyes, Mousefur simply continued to gape at him. "I just can't believe no one told you."

"No one told me—" Bluestar didn't even bother to tell me…

"No one told you that mentors are notified the night before!" Mousefur sprang up with a cackle of laughter. "You poor stupid furball. You were expecting to get an apprentice!"

"Yep. Just continue to embarrass me. Thanks."

Mousefur laughed a bit more, then paused in her tracks. When Runningwind looked up, her eyes glimmered with faint surprise mixed with the lingering mirth.

"So you really asked her then."

"Yeah." Runningwind mumbled into his paws.

"Okay?! So what did she say?"

"She said she'd think about it." Runningwind sighed. "But I guess she didn't really think about it because—"

"Well maybe because she'd decided already!" Mousefur said eagerly. "I mean, you're not a lost cause."

"Thanks."

"She's probably just waiting until the next round of kits are ready and you'll get one then."

"Maybe." Runningwind said softly. But Tigerclaw's words lingered in his mind. Did Bluestar really think that he could be used elsewhere? That he wasn't meant to be a mentor? It made sense if she didn't care enough to tell him that she'd already chosen mentors. Maybe Tigerclaw was right. Maybe Bluestar was going a bit loony in her old age. All eye-twinkly and… just plain strange.

"Look, I can tell you're doubting yourself again." Mousefur meowed, her steady voice rousing Runningwind from his thoughts. "But I know you. You're that confident, super speedy, don't take nonsense from anyone kind of warrior that everyone loves. You'll get an apprentice. Just wait."

Runningwind grinned up at her weakly. "Thanks." He tilted his head to the side. "You know, sometimes you can be really annoying, but you can give a decent pep talk."

Mousefur smirked. "It's true. My wisdom knows no bounds."

"It's true that you're annoying or that your wisdom knows no bounds?"

Runningwind knew he probably deserved the cuff to the ear Mousefur gave him after that.

To be fair to Runningwind, I wasn't notified that mentors are told the night before either :(

- Misty