Cinders to Flames

Chapter 12

Cinderpaw shivered in the cold leaf-bare night. The stars glittered above, and Cinderpaw wondered if Blizzardstar was watching. She ducked underneath the tree roots and into the tunnel that led to the Gathering place.

"It will be interesting to meet DarkClan again after... you know." Blackpaw meowed from beside her.

"I doubt Ravenstar will take any of Ashstar's fox dung." Cinderpaw scoffed.

"He better not, we don't want to injure any more of FrostClan's pride."

The hollow was filled to the brim with cats. The DarkClan and FrostClan cats were staying far away from each other, unless they were spitting angry retorts and insults.

"It's much less cheery than the last Gathering, that's for sure." Blackpaw meowed dryly, and they sat down at the back of the crowd, further away from everyone else.

"So, how didn't I die in the battle? No one really told me." Cinderpaw asked.

"Iceleap rushed in and fought off the DarkClan cats who were attacking you." Blackpaw responded.

"Well thank StarClan for that. I'll have to thank him later."

Cinderpaw watched as three cats stauntered up to them.

"Mouse dung." Blackpaw muttered under his breath, glaring at the ground, like not making eye contact with them would make them go away.

All three cats were bright ginger, their pelts standing out against the dark hollow.

"Do you remember me, Cinderpaw?" The first cat asked matter-of-factly, a large fluffy tom with flaring leaf-green eyes. Cinderpaw suddenly remembered, a foggy memory finding its way to the surface of her brain.

"Ah, I do. Hello Firepaw." Cinderpaw meowed sourly. He was the cat who Ashstar had ordered to kill her.

"It's Firebird now. I was made a warrior for my fabulous fighting in the battle. You were pretty easy to finish off, no wonder. Cripples can't be warriors, didn't your mother tell you?"

A wave of pure rage hit Cinderpaw, but she fought hard to keep it down. "Tell that to Bear and Lynx." She meowed quietly.

"Who?"

"Oh, no one. Just some old friends of mine. You'll probably end up just like them, once I'm finished with you."

Firebird laughed bitterly. "I'm so scared! Gimme your worst!"

"Don't worry, I will." Cinderpaw snarled, tensing her muscles, ready to run at him. Blackpaw grabbed her scruff, holding her back. "I'm going to rip your ugly arrogant face off, you disgusting excuse for a cat!" She yowled, and Firebird's green eyes narrowed in rage. His two sisters gripped his shoulders, trying to stop him from attacking her.

"I'll break your three other legs and then you'll be a full cripple!" He hissed back.

"Calm down Cinderpaw!" Blackpaw cried, panic swirling his amber eyes. "Remember the Gathering truce?" Cinderpaw forced her fur to lie flat and her muscles to relax. "Tomorrow night, same place. You must be alone." Cinderpaw meowed, turning away from Firebird stalking to the other side of the hollow, near the tunnel.

"What are you doing?" Blackpaw asked, running to catch up.

"Seeing who really is the greatest fighter."

"Maybe I should come with you." Blackpaw suggested, worry in his voice.

"I'm tired of cats thinking I'm incapable!" Cinderpaw hissed suddenly, turning on him, her fur standing up.
"I don't think you're incapable," Blackpaw meowed, "I just... care, okay?"