Firetalon's Destiny

Chapter 19

Entering the camp I looked around to see if I could spot Crimson. Sure enough the golden tabby sat, with hunched shoulders, near a corner of the camp. He clearly didn't look happy about being ordered around by Skypaw. Speaking of which, I glanced over my shoulder to watch the younger apprentice heading towards Flamestar's den, flanking him was Rustypaw. Looks like they were going to tell father about what happened with Crimson.

            "Firepaw," I looked back at Crimson who gestured for me to come over there. Coming over to him, I couldn't help but see the torment in his amber eyes. Did he feel bad about fighting against CityClan? Or was he just worried about what his punishment for starting that fight would be? "What did I do wrong? I don't see how showing FlameClan's strength could ever be the wrong thing to do. Yet here I am, in trouble."

            "Well um..." I shuffled my paws, I had never really thought too much about this. All I knew was that Flamestar hated pointless violence. "I guess it's because we don't want a war with CityClan... maybe?"

            "Well that answer really helps," Crimson rolled his eyes before sighing. "But no matter what we do, if CityClan wants a war aren't they going to come up with just about any excuse to start it? Even if we do nothing, they'll still manage to find fault in us."

            "Well yeah, I guess that's true..."

            "So, if CityClan is going to fight against us anyways, why shouldn't we show them how strong we are? If we don't defend ourselves while CityClan ridicules us, won't they just think we're a bunch of pushovers that could easily be beaten? If we never fight back then CityClan is definitely going to attack us!"

            "B-but we're not pushovers," I shifted under his suddenly passionate amber gaze, I wanted to defend FlameClan's ways but I just couldn't... A bit of what Crimson was saying did sort of make sense. The only way to prevent CityClan from attacking us was to defend ourselves but we would still end up with casualties. Isn't the whole point of trying to solve this whole mess peacefully, to avoid injuries as much as possible.

            "How so? We never fight, all we do is let CityClan get away with insulting us. In the whole half month I've lived in this Clan, I've never once seen a FlameClan cat fight back against them. This peace that Flamestar is trying so hard to gain is only going to make FlameClan softer than what it already is! What we need to do is change the Clan's ideals! Make it so that we aren't afraid to fight back!"

            I winced as Crimson's voice rose a notch, if he got any louder someone is bound to overhear him and then he'll get into even more trouble for saying these things. "Alright say I agree with you, what do we do? We're only apprentices, so there's no way we could possibly get any of the warriors to listen to us."

            "I'm still working on that," thankfully Crimson's voice returned to its normal level. He seemed content with my response. "But what I do know we should do is train."

            My ears perked at the word train. Even though I already had both Moon and Tailfur helping me with battle training, the prospect of being taught by Crimson was very appealing. And three cats teaching me how to fight is much better than just two. "Alright... when will we start training?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Padding silently through the dense undergrowth, I paused to stare up at the leafless branches overhead. I still couldn't quite get used to this being StarClan's hunting grounds. I had always imagined StarClan to be well... cheerier I guess? Not a place that sends chills down your spine at random intervals or distant yowls breaking the otherwise eerily silent forest. Plus I highly doubt StarClan cats would tolerate random iridescent blue fungus growing on the trees.

            "Firepaw, I have something to tell you," entering the usual clearing, I instantly spotted my small gray mentor sitting near the center.

            "What is it?" I eyed her nervously while taking a seat a little ways from her. Whenever Moon had something to tell me, it usually wasn't anything good.

            "Never before have I seen a learner such as you. I've only been training you for three moons but I have already seen amazing progress in you. So I have decided to tell you everything," Moon paused, her intense blue gaze meet mine. "I am not a StarClan warrior and this place is not StarClan's hunting grounds-"

            "Then what is this place!" I interrupted while narrowing my eyes, what was Moon saying? She had to be a StarClan cat. If she wasn't than that would mean...

            "It seems you've finally figured this out. Yes this is the Place of No Stars, and I am one of its residents."

            Jerking awake, my heart fluttering rapidly in my chest, I quickly scrambled out of my nest. Stumbling outside, I stood taking in deep relaxing breaths while trying to gather my thoughts. The Place of No Stars... just no way. How could I have been so blind? Of course that place was the Dark Forest! Sitting down I stared up at the starry sky, wondering just what StarClan thought of me. Did they disapprove of me? But they didn't understand, I'd do anything to get stronger... But still it made sense why she had tried so hard to get me to kill other cats. She wanted me to become a murderer, just like any other Dark Forest cat.

            "Firepaw, what's wrong?" Crimson came up to join me, his eyes glowing with curiosity.

            "It's..." I trailed off, Crimson had only recently joined the Clans. He doesn't know too much about StarClan and the Dark Forest. If anyone was going to listen to me, he would. "I've been training with this cat in my dreams. And well I just realized that she's a member of the Dark Forest... She's really strong, and she's taught me so much, but now that I know this... I'm just not sure if I want to continue training under her teachings."

            "I don't really know too much about spirit cats and stuff but well... if she's strong, shouldn't you keep meeting her?" Crimson studied me thoughtfully before adding. "I mean who says you have to follow in her pawsteps, just learn the fighting techniques and then when she has nothing else to teach you, just leave."

            That's the problem, I highly doubt that if I went back she'd let me escape from her grasp. I was trapped between obtaining unstoppable power, with a one way ticket to the Dark Forest, or giving up and being satisfied with what I've learned already.

            What should I do? I needed to chose... the Dark Forest or StarClan? Which would be best? I need strength to protect my Clan and those I care for but... will StarClan give me the strength I so badly need? I know the Dark Forest will but do I really want to seal my fate to that awful cluster of trees?

            I need more time. This decision is too major to just make in one night. After all what I chose now will change my destiny.