"Are you nervous?"

A small voice spoke up. Dawnkit lifted her head as the voice of her brother traveled into her ears.

"About?" She queried, however she knew what he was implying. In the next few sunrises was their apprentice ceremony. She was excited, however anxious, but she assumed anybody would feel the same.

"A little, maybe." She then sighed, resting her head on her pale paws as Brinekit softly padded towards her.

"We'll be sharing a den with Dovepaw, Tealpaw and Blossompaw again." He teased gently which resulted in Dawnkit rolling her eyes playfully as she nudged her brother.

"Don't remind me." She mused.

Dovepaw and her siblings were apprenticed days ago and it was nice to finally be away from her and her excessive babbling. Dawnkit wasn't sure if there could be anyone any more annoying than the calico molly.

However it would be a little while before Leopardkit, Lionkit and Nightkit joined them, which she found upsetting. However she promised Leo that she'd have a nest built right beside her own for when she did become an apprentice as well.

Dawnkit was also terrified of leaving the safety of the nursery, and more importantly, the safety of her mother. She would have responsibilities now, and she could no longer snuggle into the warmth of her mother's fur when she had a nightmare, though her thoughts were interrupted by Brinekit.

"I swear you're always thinking about something."

"Mom says that's a good thing; keeps your mind active."

"You cling onto every little thing she says still?" He questioned, however it made Dawnkit grow defensive.

"Of course. She's the smartest cat I know."

"No. You're just gullible."

"You really think mom would lie to us?" Dawnkit hissed.

"That's not what I said, don't put words in my mouth. It's just," he paused for a moment, "you take everything she says too literally."

"When it's all you have, you would too. I'm sorry I don't have the instant respect from father like you do."

Speak of the actual devil.

Tigertaunt.

"Hello father." Both of the kittens spoke in unison.

Her father's slanted crystalline gaze flickered from Dawnkit to Brinekit. She could feel her stomach churning.

"You guys are to be apprenticed soon. I've talked with Sunstar to ensure you both are apprenticed to the strongest warriors. Only the best for my two children." His words were bleak, yet a nearly chilling grin slipped past his sharp features. Her father was the deputy, so he and the leader were very close and Tigertaunt got his way with Sunstar almost always. Sometimes she forgot Sunstar even was the leader, half of the time her father appeared to have the upper hand.

"Thanks father. I won't let you down." Brinekit reassured, his gaze flickering between the two of them momentarily.

"I know you won't."

Those words unraveled nothing but annoyance in Dawnkit. Her brother was a kit, what if she was the golden one all along? What was it about her brother that earned just instant admiration?

~~~

"Brinekit, you have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Brinepaw. Your mentor will be me. I haven't had an apprentice since my leadership started and I'd be more than honored to mentor any kit of my deputy," Sunstar paused as he smiled down at a beaming Brinepaw, "I will pass down all that I know to you."

As the two touched noses, Dawnkit felt her heart absolutely shatter. How could she compete with her brother now? His mentor was the leader for StarClan's sake! She tried to recite her mother's words, how love defied success, but it still hurt. Besides, she was great at multitasking. She could love and hate her brother at the same time.

"Dawnkit." As her name fell from Sunstar's mouth, her frustration instantly vanished, and so did her nerves. All she wanted was to be a warrior, and now her training would officially begin.

"Now Dawnkit, me and your father have talked about a different course for you."

Dawnkit tilted her head in utter confusion as her eyes met an equally confused Brinepaw's, however she didn't speak.

"Dawnkit, you have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your name, you will be known as Dawnpaw." He didn't say warrior name; to say she was freaking out was an understatement.

"Your mentor will be Graypetal. I know this isn't what you expected, but I believe you will thrive. He'll pass down all he knows to you and we both believe you'll be a wonderful medicine cat one day."

Dawnpaw seemed completely frozen in place and all she could do was look at the approaching medicine with pure horror as he touched noses with her.

This could not be happening.

~~~

"Daddy must have lacked so much confidence in you that he made sure you didn't make it to becoming a warrior so you couldn't disappoint him. Could you be any more of a failure?"

Dovepaw.

"I'm not doing this with you." Dawnpaw only hissed in return, however she had to bite her tongue as a smirk crossed the calico's features.

"On the bright side D, at least you'll be in the upper ranks, makes up for the boring life you'll live as the rest of us have actual meaning."

"Are you through?"

"While the rest of us get to train together, grow together, you'll be left alone. Sorting herbs."

"Shut up!" Dawnpaw had tried keeping herself calm, but all Dovepaw's words did were ring true to her. She would live a boring life. She would grow up alone, while her friends stayed together.

It wasn't fair.

~~~

"I can't believe it."

"Yeah, I can't either." Dawnpaw sighed, which resulted in the cream bengal beside her to do the same.

"It doesn't make sense. They've never seen you do anything remotely close to being a medic, what even made your father think that medicine cat would suit you better?" Leopardkit questioned, her golden eyes round as she stared at her friend.

"I honestly don't know, Leo. Maybe I wasn't as good as Brinepaw, but I didn't lack potential. At least," Dawnpaw paused with bitter distaste, "I didn't think I did."

"Yeah. You could've definitely been the second best warrior in the clan!" Leopardkit mused lightly, but Dawnpaw only batted an eye.

"Behind me, of course." Leopardkit added.

"Right, you've got big talk to still be a kit though." Dawnpaw mused, causing the two to fall into a small chuckle.

"You know D, maybe this won't be so bad." The bengal suggested quietly, offering her friend a hopeful glance but Dawnpaw just shook her head.

"You know," she paused, "Dovepaw came to see me after my ceremony."

"Oh Dawnpaw, you know you can't take what she says to heart." Her friend spoke, however Dawnpaw continued on.

"I know; I usually don't. But listen Leo," Dawnpaw looked at her friend, "everything she said was true. I'll spend most of my days sorting herbs, finding herbs, herbs this and herbs that." She paused, tearing her gaze away from the kit's as she looked ahead longingly.

"I can't think of anything worse."

｡ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈•ﾟ｡

Hi! Again, more of a filler chapter, however everything happens for a reason. Things will definitely start getting more interesting soon. :)

Little fact! In the prologue, it mentions that Dawnkit's fur color (white) indicated purity! It's a small detail, but symbolically, it plays a bigger role to when she's older.

That's all! Any and all feedback is appreciated. 💘