Cinders to Flames

Chapter 10

Cinderpaw was sitting outside of the apprentice's den, eating a mouse.

"Care to share that fresh-kill?" asked a voice from behind her. Cinderpaw looked up to see a black she-cat with long patchy fur staring at her.

"Go ahead" Cinderpaw meowed, staring down at her barely eaten mouse. Darkfeather sat beside her, tearing into the mouse hungrily. Cinderpaw watched jealously at the black she-cat's large appetite. Cinderpaw hardly eaten the last few days, instead she claimed that she was saving the food for the elders.

"I saw that you and Blackpaw haven't been hanging out as much" Darkfeather started, pausing to take another bite of the mouse.

"I don't need to spend every second with him" Cinderpaw muttered.

"Don't worry, he wont stay mad at you for long, he is a very forgiving cat" Darkfeather promised her.

"We are not mad at each other" Cinderpaw retorted. I'm just trying to protect him. She added silently.

"You are barely doing him a favour. Do you want him to be alone for the rest of his life? He doesn't have any other friends" Darkfeather pointed out.

"I'll think about it" Cinderpaw meowed, and Darkfeather stared at Cinderpaw with her intense yellow eyes that reminded her of her mother's.

"You'd better," was the last thing Darkfeather meowed as Cinderpaw turned away from her and left her to eat.

"It's time you go on a border patrol" Mudsplash told Cinderpaw, "We have been mainly focusing on practising your battle skills, but we obviously don't need to do that anymore"

"Who is going to be on the patrol?" Cinderpaw asked her mentor.

"Twistfoot and Vinespring will go with us"

"I haven't talked to you in a while!" Vinespring meowed to Cinderpaw enthusiastically.

"Yes, I have been caught up on my training" Cinderpaw replied. She had to admit, she didn't have Vinespring's enthusiasm. All she could think about was Blackpaw. Darkfeather's words still lurked at the back of her head like a headache that wouldn't go away. Cinderpaw followed her Clanmates through the forest. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she tripped over a root, tumbling into a mud puddle.

Twistfoot grabbed her by the scruff and helped her out. Cinderpaw shook the mud out of her fur, her claws itching with frustration.

"Thanks" she meowed to Twistfoot, running to catch up with the other two cats.

"No problem" Twistfoot meowed, catching up with her in a few long strides.

"How's apprentice training doing?" Twistfoot asked, obviously trying to make conversation.

Cinderpaw groaned inwardly. Why did cats always want to talk to her? "It's going pretty good. I have mastered all of my battle moves" she replied, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice.

"Well, that's good! You will be well prepared for battle then,"

"I guess," Cinderpaw meowed, noticing that her paws itched with excitement when he mentioned battle. Suddenly, Cinderpaw bumped into Vinespring's hindquarters.

"What was that for?" Cinderpaw meowed, shaking her head with annoyance.

"Smell the air," Vinespring whispered. Cinderpaw raised her head to the sky, taking in a deep breath. Cinderpaw's eyes widened with horror.

"Run back to camp and fetch help. We will try to hold them off" Mudsplash ordered.

"But you will be outnumbered!" Cinderpaw protested, watching as seven DarkClan cats emerged from the trees, eyes flashing with menace.

"GO!" Mudsplash yowled, launching himself at the DarkClan patrol. Cinderpaw turned tail and raced through the forest. She didn't flinch as twigs and thorns ripped through her pelt, leaving scraps of silver fur still clinging to the bushes. She leapt through the rocky path to the camp entrance, trying not to imagine Mudsplash lying in a pool of blood, or Vinespring cornered by DarkClan warriors, or Twistfoot battered and bruised.

"DarkClan has invaded, we need back-up!" Cinderpaw yowled as she collapsed in exhaustion in the middle of the camp, panting and trying to catch her breath.

"Appleheart, Iceleap, and Hawktalon, let's go" Blizzardstar meowed, choosing the Clan's best warriors. The three cats dipped their heads in agreement and raced to the camp entrance, toward the DarkClan border. Cinderpaw turned to follow them, but Blackpaw stopped her.

"Please don't go, you'll get hurt," he pleaded, his amber eyes full of worry.

Cinderpaw met his eyes for a second.

"Goodbye Blackpaw," Cinderpaw meowed, turning, and racing through the camp entrance to catch up with the group.

When they reached the border, the trees were filled with the sound of screeching cats. Mudsplash, Vinespring, and Twistfoot were surrounded by cats, still striking out bravely at their attackers.

"FrostClan, attack!" Blizzardstar yowled, and as they charged the DarkClan warriors yowled with surprise.

Cinderpaw launched herself at a ginger she-cat, who she immediately recognized as Squirrelpaw. Cinderpaw batted her aside with a paw, clamping her jaws around her scruff and throwing her aside. Squirrelpaw hit the ground with a thunk, knocking her unconscious.

"That was easy," Cinderpaw muttered to herself, turning, and leaping at a thin black and white tom. He seemed to be surprised by her ferocity, but quickly recovered, slashing at her ears. Cinderpaw ducked, jumping up and slashing his eyes. He snarled and snapped at her throat. Cinderpaw stepped back and out of the way, bashing her head into his. The black and white tom stepped back, momentarily stunned. Cinderpaw launched herself at him, gripping his shoulder with her claws, forcing him to the ground and slashing his exposed belly. He hissed in pain, shaking her off and fleeing into the bushes, across to the DarkClan border.

Cinderpaw looked around the battlefield to see if any other cat needed help. Then she spotted Ashstar. He was standing over Blizzardstar, his claws raised to make the finishing blow. Cinderpaw watched in horror as Ashstar slit his throat, Blizzardstar's lifeless body falling to the forest floor. Cinderpaw screeched in absolute grief and rage. With a few long strides, she was leaping at Ashstar, claws outstretched. She tore at his dark grey fur, biting and snapping in fury. Ashstar tried to shake her off, but she still clung to him, desperate to avenge her leader. Another DarkClan cat tore her off Ashstar, knocking her to the ground. Cinderpaw was back on her paws in seconds, hissing her outrage at the second cat, an orange tabby tom.

"Kill her," Ashstar ordered, his cold grey eyes flashing.

"I'm not afraid of you!" Cinderpaw yowled in defiance, her tail lashing back and forth with rage.

The orange tabby raised his paw and struck her. She stumbled back, black filling her vision, dark waves pulling her down as she fell unconscious.