Sunwing's Regret

Chapter Six

    When the two brothers arrived at camp, it was destroyed. The bramble walls were burned down, and flames still rose into the sky.

Nettlestar was shouting orders. "Robinflight, get everyone to the biggest clearing you can find!"

"Nettlestar!" Sunpaw cried.

Their leader whipped around. "Runningpaw! Sunpaw! Everybody's worried about you, Runningpaw." He blinked. "And you too, Sunpaw."

Yeah right.

"Nettlestar, I have fire powers," Sunpaw pleaded. "Let me help lead the cats to safety."

Nettlestar smirked. "That's not possible. The fire must have made your head dizzy."

"It's true!" Runningpaw argued. "I saw it. He saved my life!"

Nettlestar paused. "Fine. You two go with Robinflight. If you get injured because the fire wracked your minds, then it's your own fault."

What kind of leader are you? Sunpaw thought as they sprinted over to their deputy. Runningpaw told him that Sunpaw had fire powers and he could help them, and Robinflight only had to believe the most popular cat in the clan's story.

"Lead the way, Runningpaw," said Robinflight.

Runningpaw narrowed his eyes. "Didn't I say that Sunpaw has fire powers, not me?"

"Oh." Robinflight frowned. "Go ahead, Sunpaw."

Sunpaw trotted off into the forest, carefully avoiding the flames. The murmurs behind him of "why is Runningpaw behind him" and "why is he there" made his fur itch.

He spotted a clearing, which was blocked by fire. He wanted the clan to like him for once, so he checked to make sure everyone was watching.

"Stand back," Runningpaw ordered.

Sunpaw faced the fires. His eyes narrowed. His claws slid out.

Go away, he thought fiercely.

The fire only twitched.

"Ha!" A cat sneered from behind. "The kit thinks he can control the fire-"

"Shut up," Runningpaw snapped.

The cat stopped talking.

Sunpaw concentrated again. He took a deep breath.

GO AWAY. He yelled in his mind. Just let us pass. Split apart, leave us alone. Go. Away.

The fire hesitated, then slid aside, leaving an opening. Astonished gasps filled him with pride. "Come on!" He bounded between the flames. "Hurry, before it closes again."

He stood between the gap in the fire, making sure the flames didn't close on his clanmates. As they reluctantly trotted by, they gazed at him in wonder.

They stood in the clearing. Sunpaw's heart pounded. Everyone was here. He saved his clanmates.

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For once, the fire was over. They had stood there for an hour until it started raining. The fire vanished into smoke, and the whole time, Runningpaw and Sunpaw never let out that Sunpaw had started the fire.

As everyone set back for camp, cats were talking around. Rosekit bounded up to him, her eyes huge.

"So you really have fire powers?" She whispered.

Sunpaw nodded, feeling excited. His crush was talking to him!

As they arrived at their burned home, cats began setting at work to fixing it. Nettlestar sent two groups to do each half off the camp, nursery and elders first.

Many cats went over to Runningpaw and Sunpaw. Whitepaw looked at Runningpaw. "If he has fire powers, maybe you do too!"

"Yeah!" Other voices added in. "Runningpaw could have fire powers! That's amazing!"

Sunpaw's heart felt like it could shatter into millions of pieces and scatter all through the world so no one could put it together again. He fell back on his haunches. Why are they getting so excited about a cat that could have powers than about the cat that does have powers?

His gaze darkened. Oh yeah, because Runningpaw is the most important cat in the clan and I'm the cat that's just there.

Runningpaw looked uncomfortable. "Well, I don't have fire powers."

"You could, and you just don't know it yet!" Foxpaw exclaimed.

Sunpaw croaked out, "I need to go."

Runningpaw stared at him as he walked away. "See you later, Sunpaw," he called over the noise.

Sunpaw walked into the clearing where he learned he had fire powers. The claw marks were still gouged into the ground.

Nobody likes me, he thought miserably. Even when I show that I can be useful. They'll never like me.

A small voice in his head whispered, so why do you stay?

Where else would I live?

In the abandoned twoleg's nest? Or somewhere outside territory.

He blinked. That wouldn't be a bad idea...

Yes.

He was going to leave the clans.