The Fire Prophecy/Book 1

Chapter 13

Where am I? It's so cold. Am I dying? No! I can't die yet! I have to be the warrior I promised to be! Cursedpaw opened his eyes and jumped up, panting. He looked around and he was in the forest. He backed up, unable to speak.

"Cursedpaw." A familiar voice sounded from the forest.

Cursedpaw snapped his head toward the sound and almost broke down as he saw his brother, Flamepaw. He wanted to call out, he wanted to run to him and tell him how much he missed him. But he couldn't, it was like he was bolted to the ground. Not until Flamepaw had pride in his eyes that Cursedpaw began walking toward him.

"Follow me." Flamepaw ran off, Cursedpaw following right behind him.

Soon Flamepaw ran past the Moonclan border, straight into their camp. He stopped right at the edge and looked at the clan as they walked around. Cursedpaw growled but calmed down as Flamepaw put the tip of his tail on his shoulder.

"Come on! Let's go hunting Halfpaw! Please!" A white apprentice begged Halfpaw, who seemed to be a bit annoyed.

You could tell the apprentice was attracted to Halfpaw just by the way he acted. Cursedpaw growled, feeling an urge to attack the apprentice as he unsheathed his claws. He stood tall, his head down as he dug his claws into the dirt. No! I'm a Fireclan cat...I can't...

"Cursedpaw...to continue your prophecy you must do what you expect is wrong. You cannot let it slide from your talons. No matter what, or no clan will survive." Flamepaw looked at his brother, fear in his eyes.

No clan will survive? Do what I expect is wrong? What does that mean?

Cursedpaw shot up from his nest and panted, his eyes wide. Emberclaw pushed his head into the apprentice den and looked at him with anger in his eyes. He has never been a morning person anyway. Cursedpaw looked over to him, his hair standing tall.

"Come on fleabrain, Ashblade wants to take you training." Emberclaw meows and backs out.

Cursedpaw gets up and walks out, his mind still filled with his dream. Do what I expect is wrong? He sighs and licks his paw, his ear twitching at a noise a little bit away. Cursedpaw raised his head and looked towards Smokecloud who was just coming into camp, instantly getting his paws trampled by Lionkit. Cursedpaw purred but his ears twitched again, hearing the noise again.

Cursedpaw narrows his eyes and spots movement behind Smokecloud and Lionkit. His eyes widen as he sees piercing yellow eyes and the orange pelt of a fox. He instantly jumps to his paws and runs toward them yowling.

"Smokecloud move! Behind you! Fox!" Cursedpaw yowled.

Smokecloud lifted his head surprised and looked behind him, his eyes widening at the sight of the fox. The fox growled and stalked forward. Ashblade spotted it as well and ran towards it but wasn't close enough to get there in time. Cursedpaw growled and jumped over Smokecloud, jumping onto the fox's face. He scratched at its eyes and bit at its snout.

The fox yowled and shook its head, trying to get him off. Ashblade then jumped onto its flank as did Emberclaw. Even Emberstar jumped in, along with Heatwave, and clawed at its belly. It let out a yelp of fear and raised its paw, swiping at Cursedpaw. Cursedpaw yowled with pain and fell to the ground. The fox ran, Ashblade, Blazefang, and Emberclaw going after it. Cursedpaw got up and shook his head. The fox had gotten his ear, tearing a piece off. Smokecloud came over with Marigold and started placing it on the wound.

"You'll be fine and thank you Cursedpaw. That was very brave of you." Smokecloud mewed. Emberstar nodded and walked over to Water rock, making Cursedpaw's eyes widen.

"Let all cats old enough to fight with fire come to the bottom of Water rock." Emberstar yowled, his voice filled with Pride.

Every cat shook out the fur from their pelts and trotted over, sitting down. Ashblade came in with Emberclaw, shaking his pelt with the others. He nodded to Emberstar, signaling that the fox was long gone. Emberstar nodded, purring. After every cat fell silent Emberstar stood tall, his tail held high.

"Today an apprentice showed his bravery once again. Cursedpaw." Emberstar walked forward, towards Cursedpaw. Cursedpaw trembled with happiness.

"Cursedpaw, you have shown this clan your bravery over and over again. You've helped your clan in the hardest times and for that I am proud. So I, Emberstar, leader of Fireclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard, and I commend them as a warrior in return. Cursedpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and serve your clan, even at the cost of your own life?"

Cursedpaw raised his tail and head high, nodding.

"I do."

"Then by the power of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Cursedpaw, from this moment on you, will be known as Cursedfire, Starclan honors your bravery and loyalty and we welcome you as a full member of Fireclan." Emberstar meowed proudly, touching his nose to Cursedfire's head.

"Cursedfire! Cursedfire!" The clan raised their heads and yowled his name to their warrior ancestors. Cursedfire purrs with delight and looks up at the sky. He then caught a familiar scent in the air.

Flamepaw!

"Do what you expect is wrong." Flamepaw's voice echoed in his head, making Cursedfire look down.

What does he mean? Could it be...Halfpaw!