Cinders to Flames

Chapter 16

"Come on, Cinderfrost. It's time for the dawn patrol."

Cinderfrost raised her head slowly and blinked dully at her denmate. She felt her stomach twinge when she spotted a flash of pity in his amber eyes.

I don't need your sympathy, she thought.

She dragged herself out of her nest and stretched in the sunlight. She couldn't help but think back to Featherpool's words. Cinderfrost had known it all along, but to hear the words spoken aloud felt like thorny claws tearing through her heart.

"Let's go," she meowed to Blackwhisker, proud that her mew was steady. She would not show weakness. They walked off to join the patrol, before Houndheart stopped them.

"Blackwhisker, you're on the hunting patrol." He growled, his mew rough and throaty. The black tom opened his mouth to shoot back an angry reply, but seemed to decide against it.

"Of course." He meowed carefully, stepping away from her with a rueful smile.

"You're with Appleheart,Heronsky, and Featherpool," the deputy recited. Cinderfrost groaned inwardly. Not Featherpool.

She reluctantly joined the patrol and they set off, Appleheart leading.

"We should check on the DarkClan border first." The red and white she-cat decided. This day couldn't get any worse. She thought.

"Hey, Cinderfrost." Heronsky meowed happily, giving her a good-natured shove.

"Hi." She responded, trying her best to will him away.

"Who clawed your ears when you were trying to sleep?" He huffed.

"Um, no one." Cinderfrost muttered, walking a little faster.

Heronsky caught up with her, his blue eyes sparkling. "What I'm trying to say is you seem to be in a horrible mood. Duh."

Fortunately, before she could respond, she was interrupted. Unfortunately, they were ambushed. Some DarkClan cats burst out of the bushes, snarling and flashing their teeth. Cinderfrost kicked right into action. She darted at a brown tabby she-cat, slashing at her ears. She grabbed her forepaw and flipped her on to her back, clawing the brown she-cat's belly fur. She desperately kicked her off, and Cinderfrost let her go, watching as she fled over the DarkClan border. She turned and spotted Featherpool pinned down by a grey tom. Cinderfrost paused for a second. Should I...

The tom held up outstretched claws. Memories of Blizzardstar's death flooded her mind.

Appleheart slammed into the tom, sending him sprawling across the ground. She raked her claws down his side and he followed the brown she-cat in his retreat. The rest of the cats retreated, not without spitting insults and threats behind them.

"Stupid DarkClan warriors. Let's go back to camp and get those wounds fixed!" Appleheart called, leading the way back down the forest path.

"Some sister." Featherpool muttered under her breath as she passed her, following her old mentor.

Some sister. Says you, foxheart. Cinderfrost thought furiously. She followed behind the patrol, her claws digging into the ground.

"Would you like to share some prey with me when we get to camp?" Heronsky asked as they walked. "To celebrate my brilliant skills while fighting off DarkClan warriors?"

"Did you used to be this shallow?" Cinderfrost muttered under her breath, barely audible.

"Hmm?"

"Oh, nothing," she meowed cheerfully.