The Fire Within

Chapter 2

"You aren't welcome here." Wolfpaw flicked her tail, anger bubbling up. Her brothers stood behind her. The intruder stood her ground, but Wolfpaw could see her fear in her eyes. She growled and almost instantly Windpaw stepped forward. "My sister will not hesitate to slash your throat open. I advise you to leave at once." He said it with a calm voice, but the threat was still there. The cat seemed to start to say sometihing, then looked away nervous, "there's not much prey here anyway." she mumbled, racing off.

They stood there for a moment, before bursting out laughing. Wolfpaw let out a purr. "Can you believe mom made her bo that!" Windpaw laughed. "She did ask nicely," a voice replied. The "intruder" stepped into veiw. "No, you did it because jack asked you to!" Wolfpaw teased. Blue shook her fur, embarrassed. Stonepaw (pic) and Rockpaw chuckled. 

"Come on lets head back." Wolfpaw signaled for the patrol to follow.  After a moon or two of training, it had become clear that Wolfpaw was the leader, and her brothers would follow her anywhere. Windpaw was her second in command. He was calm and independent, but wouldn't act unless he thought it important. Stonepaw and Rockpaw were the muscle, both having long fur like Wolfpaw, only they were taller. They looked pretty scary behind Wolfpaw though. Stonepaw was kind and jolly, when Rockpaw was quiet and stern, always obedient. The two were always together.

Scarlet looked up from the cave. "There you all are!" She smiled to her kits, "I see that didn't take long. How did it go?"  Blue flicked her ears back and replied simply: "great." 

~~~~

The cats lay in the cave, listening to Scratch retell a story. "He suddenly jumped ontop of me, and slobbered all over my fur!! And that's how I learned that some twoleg dogs are sweet hearts!" Everyone laughed.  "Alright, my turn." Scarlet said, sitting up. "I'm going to tell you same of your family." Windpaw looked up, interested. "First, as some of you know, I have two siblings, Fernpaw/Mick, and a sister back in Darkclan. When the storm came, Mick and me were separated for the clan. We tried going back, but we were ultimately lost. That's when we meet Lolly, Windpaw's real mother." Scarlet laughed, "Mick was head over paws in love. But he had to make a brave sacrifice. He left his clan name for her, and her twoleg named him Mick." Windpaw smiled as Blue gave a confused look to them. "You mean you took your brother's kit!"

"I would never. Lolly heard so much about the clans, that she wanted her kit to experience it. Windpaw has four more siblings back with Mick and Lolly."

"I've had loving kin around me my whole life," Windpaw said, noticing Blue staring, "I do wish I could remember my parents, but my mother, brothers, and my tiny sister are perfect in every way." Wolfpaw slashed Windpaw with her tail, growling, "I wouldn't be tiny if you weren't so tall."

Scarlet grinned, "The full reason was because I started producing way before the kits were born, so Lolly had me take windpaw in. She was so nice to-"

"Who was our father!" Wolfpaw blurted. Scarlet let put a sad sigh. "I haven't told you yet, have I?" Wolfpaw shook her head. "Alright," Scarlet began, "His name was Claws. A look alike to Wolfpaw, all black with a white paw and tail tip. He was strong and cruel, leading a large band of cats. I was captured by his guards for trespassing and clawing a guard to an almost death. When I was brought to him, he said he wanted me in his group. I don't know how or why it happened, but I changed him. I was right by his side when he told the other cats that he loved me. Though I did as well, I had to bring you all back home." Silence fell over the cave. No cat bared to speak. So Scarlet continued, " Wolfpaw isn't the only look alike. Stonepaw and Rockpaw look like me and my sister, calico and fluffy. And Windpaw is light brown and gray, identical to his mother." Scarlet stopped for a moment. "I wonder if my sister has any kits. I hope I can see them."

  Blue placed her paw on-top of Scarlet. "I promise, with all my heart. That I will help in anyway I can to help you home." Scarlet, now close to tears, stared into Blue's sweet eyes. "Thank you."

~~~

Everyone was asleep. Everyone except Wolfpaw. She couldn't sleep, not now.  She had known little about her family, little even now. She wished known her father more. There was one thing she could remember. The memory was hard to see, but she know now that it was Claws.

Claws licked her and she giggled. "That's my little Raven!" He said, pulling her in for a snuggle. "One day you'll fly!" Scarlet smiled at the two. "Yes," she said, "Our little bird will be the graceful of all birds."

Wolfpaw smiled. Her nickname her mother sometimes called her brought many happy memories. As she listened to the crickets, she let out a yawn and drifted off to sleep.