The Fire Prophecy/Book 1

Chapter 6

No cat mentioned what happened at the gathering when they got back to camp. Emberstar instantly went to his den, Hethermoth following. Firepaw watched him go and hung his head. He felt warmth against his pelt as he walked slowly to the apprentice den.

"It will be alright Firepaw, don't worry." Flamepaw mewed softly, nuzzling his brother's ear.

Firepaw didn't say anything and went to his nest, seeing Emberpaw already asleep with Orangepaw beside him. Firepaw sighed and laid down, resting his head on the edge of his nest. Why? My first gathering and this happens. Why do I feel at fault for this? Am I really cursed? Firepaw let sleep overtake him as he swam in his own thoughts.

Firepaw opened his eyes and he was standing in the middle of a meadow. Silverpelt was a dark blue, a dark aura pouring out of it.

"Hello?" Firepaw called out as he looked around, trembling slightly.

"Firepaw!" An unfamiliar voice called out.

Firepaw instantly turned around and saw huge trees that touched silverpelt. He stepped forward and felt something beneath his paw. He looked down and it felt like his whole world just collapsed. Flamepaw laid there, his body cold, blood slowly dripping from his mouth.

"No..." Firepaw mewed, his voice cracking.

"This was your fault!"

A yowl came from the trees and Firepaw instantly looked up, seeing his mother standing there, her fur rising on her back. She hissed as more Fireclan cats came out of the trees, hissing, and growling.

"Hethermoth...no...I didn't mean to...I didn't..." Firepaw tried to explain, but so much was happening at once.

"He just wanted to help!" Cracklecoat yowled.

"He came one step closer to you and he fell to the ground dead!" Another yowl rose from the rest, making Firepaw's eyes widen and he backed away.

"I was right! You are cursed!" Emberpaw yowled, stepping forward.

"Cursedpaw! Cursedpaw! Cursedpaw!" His clanmates were walking towards him, yowling the name over and over again. Firepaw flattened his ears, trying to block out their yowls.

"Oi! Cursedpaw, wake up! You're kicking me!" Emberpaw hissed harshly, making Firepaw's eyes shoot open and he stood up quickly.

"Sorry, Emberpaw!" Firepaw ran out of the apprentice den and ran right into Smokecloud. Firepaw looked up at him, fear in his eyes and his flank heaving.

"Are you alright Firepaw?" Smokecloud asked softly.

Flamepaw came out, herbs in his mouth. He tilted his head at Firepaw, worried. Firepaw took one glance at him and he started trembling. Smokecloud tried to calm him down, but Firepaw couldn't hear anything. Was that a message? Am I really cursed? Everything became dizzy and Firepaw collapsed.

Firepaw woke up in the medicine den, his head throbbing. He felt a warm body beside him and saw his mother, Hethermoth, laying there, fast asleep. How long have I been out?

"Firepaw? You're awake!" Emberstar ran to Firepaw and licked in between his ears.

"What happened, you were out almost all day," Emberstar asked, sitting down and wrapping his tail around his paws.

"Just...Just a nightmare...it was nothing." Firepaw mewed, looking away and tucking his nose under his paw. Emberstar started to say something else, but Hethermoth raised her head.

"Firepaw!" She purred and washed his fur, licking his head non-stop.

"I was so worried." Hethermoth meowed, nuzzling his cheek.

"I'm sorry." Firepaw looked at her and purred softly, sadness in his eyes.

"Hethermoth, Emberstar, can you please excuse us? I need to check to see if everything is fine." Smokecloud asked, bowing his head at his leader.

Emberstar nodded and got up with Hethermoth. Hethermoth left, but Emberstar stopped and looked back at Firepaw. Firepaw looked away as Emberstar walked the rest of the way out.

"How are you feeling?" Smokecloud asked as he sniffed Firepaw's fur.

"Fine." Firepaw meowed plainly. Smokecloud looked at him and sat down, wrapping his tail around his legs.

"Firepaw, what was this so-called nightmare you had?" Smokecloud looked Firepaw right in the eyes as he spoke.

"So you heard? It was just a stupid nightmare, it doesn't mean anything." Firepaw meowed as he laid his head down, making Smokecloud narrow his eyes.

"Firepaw, that was no nightmare. That was Starclan trying to tell you something." Firepaw lifted his head, eyes wide. The old medicine cat sighed.

"When you were born Starclan came to me and told me something. They said, "A kit gray as ash will rise as tall as the highest flame." I believe they were talking about you. You have a purpose and you must finish it, no matter what gets in your path." Smokecloud meowed sternly.

"But it can't be me. It shouldn't. I'm just a cursed apprentice that only hurts the ones around me." Firepaw meowed softly. Smokecloud touched Firepaw's head with his muzzle.

"Stay here." Smokecloud walked out of the medicine den and came back soon after. He grabbed some herbs and dropped them by Firepaw's nest.

"Eat it. You will need it for our journey." The old cat meowed sternly.

"Where are we going?" Firepaw asked, tilting his head in confusion.

"The moonstone." Smokecloud swallowed the same herbs he gave to Firepaw and licked his lips.

Firepaw's eyes widened and he looked down. Should he? He swallowed the herbs and scrunched his nose in disgust.

"Come now." Smokecloud meowed, walking out of the den. Firepaw ran after him, continuing his journey.