Cinders to Flames

Chapter 6

Cinderpaw sniffed the cold night air, recognizing the unfamiliar scent of the Untaken Land. She quickly reached the FrostClan border, the scent flooding her mouth. Cinderpaw stepped over the border, her ears pricked for any signs of Cloverpaw. With the doubled camp guard, she had had to sneak through the dirtplace. Unfortunately, the dirtplace was an extremely thick bramble bush. Her fur still stung from the stab of the thorns. Cinderpaw nervously groomed down a spot of fur that was still sticking up from her ungraceful exit.

"Cinderpaw!" Cloverpaw's mew snapped Cinderpaw from her thoughts.

"Cloverpaw!" Cinderpaw answered back, running to her. They touched muzzles, purring in delight.

"Let me show you a place I found where you can see the stars," Cloverpaw meowed, and Cinderpaw followed her through the forest, into a field of grass.

"Look up." Cloverpaw told her, and Cinderpaw gazed up at the glittering stars, the still full moon glowing quietly.

"Now we can do whatever we want without any cat judging us," Cinderpaw meowed.

"What shall we do first?" Cloverpaw asked, her green eyes playful and curious.

"Teach me how to run as fast as a HeatherClan cat." Cinderpaw demanded.

"Okay, well you have to stretch your legs out as far as you can, the longer the stride, the faster you go." Cloverpaw suggested. Cinderpaw nodded, and Cloverpaw turned around.

"Catch me if you can!" she yowled, racing across the grass. Cinderpaw charged after Cloverpaw, her paws flying over the ground. Cinderpaw pounced on Cloverpaw, but Cloverpaw leapt on top of her, pinning her to the ground.

"Too slow," she sang, her green eyes glittering playfully.

"I could never outrun a HeatherClan cat." Cinderpaw meowed, shaking Cloverpaw off. As the two cats watched the sky, realization hit Cinderpaw.

"We can't do this." Cinderpaw meowed, her voice shaking.

"Yes we can, I could join your Clan!" Cloverpaw argued, but Cinderpaw just shook her head.

"Could you really leave your Clan just for me? What about your parents? Are you willing to leave Birchpaw to grow up by himself?"

Cloverpaw's eyes grew dark. "You're right. I couldn't ask you to leave your Clan for me, either."

"No," Cinderpaw meowed, leaning against Cloverpaw's shoulder. "I would miss everyone too much."

They sat in silence, watching Silverpelt shimmer like a moonlit river in the dark sky.

When it was time for them to part, they said their goodbyes.

"I will always love you." Cloverpaw murmured, stroking her pelt with her thick furred tail.

"I, too." Cinderpaw replied, her throat tight.

"Goodbye then, Cinderpaw." Cloverpaw meowed softly, and they touched muzzles, love and grief aching her heart.

The two cats parted, and Cinderpaw didn't look back as she walked toward the Twolegplace for her first meeting with Pixie.

Cinderpaw waited outside of Twolegplace, waiting for Pixie. She had been told to wait at the same place they had met before; the dark alleyway where she had fought the three strays. Pixie was nowhere to be seen. It was leaf-fall and approaching leaf-bare, so it was horrible weather to be out at night. The wind tugged at her fur, Cinderpaw pulled her tail around her body for warmth. She was thinking about going home, until she saw an elegant pale grey she-cat emerge from the shadows, her green eyes glowing in the light of the half-moon.