Jealousy

‘‘Oh, take Dovepaw with you! She’ll be the most useful cat during your journey to bring back our water! After all, she is the greatest, most talented ThunderClan cat ever!” Ivypaw tramped through the forest, breaking twigs and stomping over dry saplings, her tail lashing furiously.

“Meanwhile, her sister can go collect moss for the elders. I’m sure she’s got nothing better to do anyway!”

In her rage, she lashed out at a nearby tree, causing its bark to fly off to the ground. “It’s not fair! She doesn’t even try!”

But just as she was about to shred a bramble bush, she heard a rustling sound and turned her head to see ThunderClan’s former medicine cat, Leafpool, stepping out of the undergrowth. A tiny mouse dangled from her jaws and she had a surprised expression in her amber eyes.

“What’s wrong, Ivypaw? You look like a magpie stole your freshkill!”, she meowed after putting her catch down.

The young silver gray and white she-cat flattened her ears and looked down to the forest floor, embarrassed to be gotten caught in such  rage.

“It’s nothing, really.”

“Then what are you so upset about?”, the light brown tabby asked gently.

Letting out a grave sigh, Ivypaw gave in.

“It’s not fair”, she repeated. “Dovepaw is being treated like she’s going to be the next leader while nobody… notices…” Her voice trailed off as she realized how selfish she sounded. To her surprise, she saw nothing but understanding in Leafpool’s eyes.

“I think I know exactly how you feel”, meowed the older she cat.

“Really?”, asked Ivypaw, not fully convinced. Leafpool and her sister, Squirrelflight, seemed to get along very well, especially after it had been revealed that Squirrelflight raised her sister’s kits.

“Yes. It was a long time ago, but I remember it clearly. The clans lived in their old territories back then, before the Great Journey.”

Ivypaws ears perked up, her anger almost completely forgotten, as Leafpool began to tell her story.

“From a very young age, Squirrelflight knew she wanted not only to be a warrior, but the best one. She was conscious, brave and hot headed, had no cares in the world, but somehow, everyone seemed to like her. At least that’s what I thought back in the day.

 And then, there was me, ‘Firestar’s other kit’, who never got into trouble and who tried to act responsible and nice to everyone. However, both Firestar’s and Sandstorm’s attention was dedicated to my troublemaking sister, and even if they snarled and hissed at her whenever she did something bad, it seemed to tighten their bond. While I was struggeling to take a liking into being a warrior apprentice, my sister’s path seemed settled. You have no idea how jealous I was of her self-confidence and her determination, even though I hated to feel that way – she is still my sister, after all, and I love her. But somehow, I was always standing in the shadow of both her fiery pelt that looks so much like Firestar’s and her fiery character.” 

Ivypaw nodded, her dark blue eyes round of wonder. But Leafpool wasn’t quite finished yet.

“Finally, when I was five moons old, I realized that I wanted to be a medicine cat, and all my doubts faded away as I tried my best to memorize all herbs and their uses. I have to admit, I also hoped I would make my parents proud that way, so they could boast about me being a good medicine cat and not about Squirrelflight for once.

But even with Dustpelt as her mentor, my sister still managed to cause trouble almost every day.”

Leafpool purred as the memory came back.

“When Brambleclaw was chosen from StarClan, she decided to go with him, leaving me behind. I didn’t understand why she wanted to go, since Brambleclaw didn’t like her at all and she was getting all the attention from our parents, but I didn’t stop her.

When the Clan realized she was missing, everybody was worried sick about them. Other cats had been disappearing, too. But I kept silent, which almost caused my heart to break.

Around that time, I started to understand that I didn’t need to compare myself to my sister. We were completely different, and as well as I would never be as good as her in hunting, she would never be able to cure a bad bellyache. I learned that I was, in fact, pretty awesome myself and that I actually didn’t stand in anyone’s shadow.”

She winked at Ivypaw, who had been paying attention the whole time.

“Jealousy is hard to overcome, and everyone has to work out how to do it for themselves”, the light brown tabby ended, stretching her front legs and arching her spine.

“I’ll try to remember that”, Ivypaw meowed reverentially. She’d never though Leafpool would understand her so well. “Thank you!”

Leafpool purred and picked up her mouse again. “You are welcome. See you later!”

Ivypaw watched as the warrior’s white tail tip disappeared in the undergrowth.

She would never look at Leafpool the same way again.

Her fluffy fur was completely flattened now, and she went to collect the moss, as ordered.

As the sun began to sink near the horizon and Ivypaw trotted back to camp, she hoped Dovepaw would be back soon.

I hope you’re fine, sister.