Book One of A New Era: A Clan of Fire

Chapter Five

Flare burst from the hole, kicking dirt up behind her. A deafening crash filled the air. Knowing that she was out of danger, she let go of Salem and sank to the ground gasping for breath. Her heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest. She was aware of a piece of wood flying at her, but she didn't feel pain when it hit her. All she felt was exhaustion. Her legs ached with it. She was dimly aware of cats around her, watching her.

She dragged herself to where Salem lay and slumped down beside him, pressing her side against his. He was shivering violently. Ignoring her pain, she curled herself around him in a desperate effort to warm him. As she moved, her pain increased and, as she curled around Salem, the pain became too much, and her vision began to swirl. It wasn't long before everything was a peaceful blackness.

* * *

Flare slowly opened her eyes. She was lying in the scorched grass by the barn. Memories hit her like a wave of water, pounding against her. She still had her head rested on Salem, who was unconscious. Her throat was dry and sore form all the smoke she had breathed in. Her whole body ached. Flare's nose twitched as a delicious scent wafted to her. There was a mouse beside them. She bit into it eagerly, savoring its juices, relishing them as they helped to soothe her throat. It was still warm, and Flare purred happily. She forced herself to only eat half of it, so that when Salem woke up, he could eat, too.

"Good morning, sleepyhead. Go ahead, eat it. We can catch more," a purr came from above her.

Flare glanced up. It was Gizmo and a ginger tom with yellow eyes. The tom was a lean cat. Flare guessed that he had more speed than strength. She glanced at Gizmo. He was looking down at her with amusement. Flare quickly devoured the mouse and staggered to her feet. Pain shot through her leg. Flare lifted her paw and winced as Gizmo allowed her to lean on his shoulder. She glanced at her leg with surprise, seeing that there was a long scratch down from her shoulder to her paw.

"If you're wondering, it was from a piece of wood that smacked you when the barn collapsed," the ginger tom mewed from behind Gizmo.

Flare dimly remembered the piece of wood, but she had felt no pain then, she had been too exhausted to feel it or care. There were no splinters in her flesh anymore, so Flare guessed that Cleo had taken care of them. However, her entire body hurt whenever she moved.

As she thought this, Cleo came into view as if she had been summoned. She was at Flare's other side in a few heartbeats, helping her walk through the fields and into the forest. Then, they came to a clump of ferns where Cleo helped Flare make a sharp turn to the left. A clearing opened in front of her. As Flare gazed around the clearing, Cleo led her to a bush at the edge of the clearing. There, Bri and Ratchet were talking while Wilma slept by her kits, which were being carefully watched by Tom. Turtle spotted Flare and rushed over in a tumbling ball of fur.

"Hi Flare! I'm so glad that you're awake and okay!" the tiny kit purred.

Her sister followed and mewed, "You saved Gizmo and Salem!"

"You are so brave and amazing and... and... and I want to be just like you! I will save cats and hunt and... and I will... protect them!" Turtle cried breathlessly. Her eyes were filled with admiration and awe. "Just like you protected me."

Flare purred loudly, enjoying the kits' attention. "Of course, I did what any cat would do. It's nothing special."

"But it is! No cat was going to go back for the missing cats! You did! You're the best!" Turtle exclaimed loudly enough to wake her mother, Wilma.

Flare's ears burned with embarrassment. "Let your mother sleep, little one."

"Okay, but you're still the best. Flare will you make a promise?" Turtle mewed.

"Depends on the promise," Flare meowed, a nervous prickle in her belly.

"Promise that you will stay with us?" Turtle mewed hopefully.

"Yes! Please!" Spot begged.

Flare sighed, "I can't make that promise, little ones, but we'll see."

Disappointment clouded Turtle's gaze and she mewed, "Oh."

"Well, at least it's not a 'no,'" Spot meowed brightly to her sister.

"You're right," Turtle mewed, clearly trying to cheer up.

As the two kits bundled away, Flare relaxed next to Bri. The friendly white she-cat was talking about her coming kits. Flare purred, thinking about more kits running around and causing trouble.

"I'm nervous and excited at the same time. I have always wanted kits, but what if something goes wrong? What if they die?" Bri fretted.

"I'm sure everything will be fine as long as Cleo is here," Ratchet purred reassuringly.

Flare listened to their conversation for a little longer but was then distracted by the sound of rustling. She glanced towards the ferns, just in time to see Salem stumble into view.

"Salem!" she exclaimed and leaped to her paws. Her leg screamed in protest, but she ignored it. As she helped Salem settle beside Bri, Gizmo dropped a vole in front of him.

"Eat. You need strength," he urged.

Salem devoured the vole in a few ravenous bites. "That was delicious!" he meowed as he got his first taste of freshkill. He shot Gizmo a grateful look and nestled down into the dry grass. Flare watched and a sudden thought waved over her head like a cloud of mist.

How long were we asleep?"

"Most of the day," Gizmo replied. Flare opened her mouth to ask another question, but Gizmo cut her off. "No, you were not asleep for days, the fire was last night."

Flare nodded and turned to the ginger tom. He had followed Gizmo and was carrying a scrawny rabbit in his jaws.

"Hello, my name is Flare," she purred.

"Ginger," he mumbled shyly around his rabbit.

Gizmo gestured to Wilma, who was staring hungrily at the rabbit. "Someone wants your rabbit." He let out a small mrrow of laughter.

"She can have it." Ginger dropped the rabbit beside Wilma, who gladly bit into it.

Flare stretched luxuriously, enjoying the last of the leaf-fall sunshine. She yawned and curled up beside Salem, her leg letting out a small complaint. As the cats snuggled together, Flare found herself drifting off into the world of dreams.

Here is Chapter Five. That means that our first headcanon (fun fact) chapter will be next Friday! The idea of this is credited to POPPYTEA. See you next week!