Bright Blazing Sun

Sunkit is an average kit of ThunderClan - no powers, no prophecy. As he grows into an apprentice, he tries to find out who and what he is. When a threat looms, he must figure out how to save himself and the cats he loves.

CHAPTER 1

 * Sunlight shone bright on a greenleaf day. It made cats look away and blink. It made cats hot.


 * Cats were at the sun's mercy.


 * One cat, although he was much smaller, stood above the rest. He was free to leave the hollow, and mess up the medicine den whenever he wished. This cat was handsome, and all of the she-cats batted their eyes at him.


 * He was the strongest cat in the Clan. All of the other cats trusted and respected him. He made battle plans. He was the head of every patrol.


 * All because of a prophecy.


 * One day, this day, the cat stood up and mewed, "Today is the day that the prophecy will come true."


 * So he flicked his tail, and the merciless sun exploded.


 * All the cats leaped up and cheered, calling his name…


 * "Sunkit! For the last time, get up!" one yowled in his ear.


 * Sunkit shut his eyes. I'm having such a wonderful dream, he thought miserably. Leave Dirtkit to mess it up!


 * A paw prodded Sunkit. "Get up!" Dirtkit's voice whined.


 * Sunkit blinked his eyes open and had to shut them quickly- the sun was still shining. "I'm up," he groaned to his denmate. "Can't you just leave me alone?" he added, annoyed.


 * "If you're up, open your eyes," Dirtkit meowed. "Or you might as well be talking in your sleep."


 * Sunkit heard pawsteps fading away, and he sighed in relief and tried to sleep again, but he couldn't.


 * He stood up and shook off his pelt of any moss. "Thanks, Dirtkit," he growled to himself.


 * He looked around and saw his littermate, Nettlekit, standing in the entrance of the nursery.


 * "We're all just kits," Nettlekit mewed to Sunkit. "He should just leave you alone."


 * Sunkit nodded but did not reply, and pushed past his sister to go into the main camp.


 * "Sunkit!" Sparrowpaw rushed over and stopped Sunkit from trying to get away.


 * "Did you hear?" Sparrowpaw asked happily. "Dirtkit's becoming an apprentice today."


 * Sparrowpaw spoke fondly of her brother. Not long after she and her littermates had been born, her mother, Cloudheart, had mated once again and had one kit- Dirtkit.


 * Sunkit held back a rude comment and just replied, "Good for him!" Then, on impulse, he added, "Now he can't bother me in the nursery."


 * Too late, he bit his tongue. But Sparrowpaw didn't seem to be offended. Instead, she nodded and mewed, "Oh- look. Cindertail is calling me for training. Gotta go!"


 * Sunkit watched as she bounded away.


 * "From now on, you will be known as Dirtpaw," Sandstar mewed, flicking her tail. "Your mentor will be Antfur," she added.


 * Antfur- the deputy. Sunkit despised him. Antfur was bossy and strict, but the best warriors in the Clan had been mentored by him.


 * Dirtpaw touched Antfur's nose, confirming that they were mentor and apprentice, and the ceremony was over. ThunderClan chanted, "Dirtpaw! Dirtpaw!"


 * Sunkit could not help but feel a sense of relief as the Clan crowded around Antfur and Dirtpaw, congratulating them and calling Dirtpaw by his new name. Antfur could not be Sunkit's mentor now.


 * Sunkit looked around the clearing uncertainly and saw Fangpaw- the newest apprentice next to Dirtpaw, sitting alone, far outside the Clan. Fangpaw looked distressed, and was scratching the ground with his claws.


 * "What's wrong?" Sunkit asked anxiously, trotting over.


 * "Gustpelt scolded me- again!" Fangpaw whispered.


 * Sunkit blinked and turned toward the Clan. Indeed, the medicine cat was congratulating Dirtpaw.


 * Fangpaw continued, "I really want to be a medicine cat, but not if Gustpelt is going to be mad at me all the time." Fangpaw's voice grew scathing as he added, "His expectations are much too high."


 * Sunkit wanted to comfort the distressed apprentice, but he didn't know what to say.


 * What kind of cat will I be if I can't encourage my Clan to follow their dreams? Sunkit asked himself angrily.


 * He whispered, "I'm sorry," and ran back to the nursery.


 * He was safe there.