Warriors: Bird of Peace

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“Fire!” screamed Leafshadow. It had been a week since Cheetahstrike’s message, and the Clan had officially left Twolegplace. Now they were living in the woods just outside. But now, there was a problem.

“FIRE!” Leafshadow wailed. Birdstar peered blearily out of her den and immediately the stench of smoke engulfed her. She burst out of her bramble bush and joined in the alarm call. “EVERYBODY GET OUT OF YOUR DENS NOW! THERE IS A FIRE!”

Immediately cats started pouring out of their makeshift dens and began waking others. A rumble of thunder startled Birdstar so much she leaped forward and barreled over Leafshadow. As she sprang off of him and muttered an apology, there was a flash of lightning and a burning tree fell between them, separating Birdstar from the rest of her Clan.

“Sparkfire! Yes, I-I’ll get Sparkfire!” she stammered. “He’ll know what to do!” She raced off for another part of the forest, where she knew her friend was staying with his Clan. Turns out Cheetahstrike’s ‘big plans’ for the tabby were to have him and his sister start another Clan. SparkClan would be coming with them to their Clans’ new home.

She dashed through patches of flaming and charred trees, to the place where she knew SparkClan was camping. “Sparkfire! Sparkfire!” She called.

“Birdstar! Birdstar!” he answered sarcastically, leaping out in front of her. A pair of glowing green eyes glared down at Birdstar from a tree branch. “Don’t mind Blackpaw, she’s just…” He trailed off and looked down.

“Sparkfire, I know you’re deputy and all, and you have to put your Clan first, but my camp is on fire! A tree fell on some dens that hadn’t been evacuated yet, and no one else can get out! Please! You have to help!”

“Uh, Birdstar, we’re kind of busy too…” he said awkwardly.

“Cats are dying, Sparkfire! Can you really afford to have their lives on your conscience? I though you, of all cats, would understand!” Birdstar exclaimed, drawing herself up to her full height. Sparkfire hissed. That was a low blow, and she knew it! But she refused to show her guilt. Instead, she fixed him in her glare and hissed right back.

            “If you can’t take care of your cats, that’s not my problem.” He growled, crouching down and unsheathing his claws. “Now get out of my camp or you’ll have to fight.”

            That was it. Birdstar let out a scream of fury and pounced onto him. She sank her teeth into his neck and shook him like a dog would, then flung him into the tree where Blackpaw was stationed. The apprentice yowled and leaped off of her perch, but Birdstar merely swatted her away and resumed her attack. By now, Sparkfire had sat up and crouched again.

Birdstar flipped her tail and ripped her claws through his belly. He threw his head back and howled but no one came to his aid. Birdstar gazed coldly at the pool of blood around her wounded friend and turned to Thornstar. “Will you help us?”

“Lead the way.”

            Birdstar turned and stepped over Sparkfire’s limp body. Thornstar followed close behind as she pounded through the flaming forest. “What did Sparkfire mean when he said you had troubles over there, too?”

            “Oh, nothing, just a burning bush. We have cats stationed around it and working to quench it, though, so no harm done.” Thornstar replied calmly. Birdstar glanced at her but said nothing.

            “The tree is over here, at the entrance to the camp. All the ferns around the camp are on fire, so my cats are trapped. After we save them, we’ll have to leave immediately. This forest can’t support us any longer.” She mewed. Thornstar nodded and gazed up at the burning tree. She turned and padded back several foxlengths, and then sprinted forward and cleared the tree with a massive leap. There was a yowl of shock, and then several sighs of relief.