Warriors: The Prophecy of Frost - Apprentice's Journey

Chapter 13- Raging Fire

Beware of MarshClan, Bitumen's words echoed in Frostpaw's mind. But MarshClan is nowhere close to the forest... and not close to us, or else they have found us already.

With her head full of thoughts, she tried to ask the StarClan cat for answers.

Have you heard of MarshClan? Frostpaw asked in her head, half expecting the StarClan cat not to answer.

No, came the reply. StarClan don't know everything.

Frostpaw sighed in disappointment. Bitumen had left a few days ago so she couldn't ask him for answers.

Sofie and Frostpaw had been walking for about a half moon. It was the same routine; wake up, hunt for prey, walk, walk some more, hunt again, take a quick drink, walk again and sleep.

Occasionally they would meet other cats, but they are either kittypets or loners who wanted to be left alone. They would have to cross Thunderpaths from time to time, so many that Frostpaw was used to it.

Just about two days ago, it was raining and Frostpaw was soaked. When she shook out her fur, she looked like a hedgehog. Sofie tried not to laugh and Frostpaw could have sworn a mouse was watching and laughing its head off.

I wish I got that mouse, Frostpaw's whiskers twitched with amusement. Then I could shake it until it surrender.

"I think there's another storm coming," Sofie spoke, looking at the sky.

Frostpaw nodded and mewed, "Should we seek shelter first?"

"I think the clouds can hold," she replied. "We could walk some more and look for shelter if it gets really dark."

Out of the corner of Frostpaw's eye, she caught a glimpse of a lightning strike. Thunder followed it and Frostpaw felt her fur raising.

Sofie stopped. Her nose twitched and Frostpaw stiffened.

"Fire!" she yowled a heartbeat later.

Frostpaw couldn't see any of the deadly flames but gray smoke darkened the sky.

"Run to that river!" Sofie yowled.

Frostpaw took off after her. She could already feel the heat of the fire.

A frightened vole rushed into Sofie's path and she nearly tripped.

Frostpaw skidded to a halt and nudged her forward. They continued running, but the hungry flames grew closer.

"Watch out!" Frostpaw screeched as a burning branch blocked their paths.

"This way," Sofie mewed swiftly, running in another direction.

"What do we do when we reach the river?" Frostpaw's voice was half drowned out by the crackling flames.

"Jump!" she yowled in reply.

That's when Frostpaw realised that the river was in front of them. She jumped in without hesitation as the fire swallowed the grass they were standing on a heartbeat ago.

Dark water washed over her. Frostpaw flailed her paws wildly.

"Sofie!" she called, swallowing some river water as she spoke. She spat it out and yowled again, "Sofie, where are you?"

There was no reply from the pale russet tabby.

Frostpaw forced her eyes to open wider. She only see the orange-red flames destroying the tall trees.

She mustered her remaining strength and pushed herself forward. Another blinding wave of water splashed over her head and darkness consumed her.

~~~~

Fire. The forest was on fire. Dark paws tramping the grass, turning it into moldy waste.

Eyes gleaming with hatred, hunger. For battle. Starry pelted cats being swarmed by darker, fainter, pelted cats, their claws unsheathed, forever stained with blood.

One by one... the stars disappear. No sun touched the ground. No light to guide a helpless cat's path. And no cat strong enough to stop it...

Except one.

~~~~

Frostpaw woke up and spat out the remaining river water in her mouth. She was gasping for breath now.

The river had washed her ashore, somewhere unfamiliar. A pale russet tabby shape lay beside her.

What should I do? Frostpaw thought anxiously.

She shook Sofie.

"I'm awake," Sofie mewed faintly, "just tired."

Frostpaw breathed a sigh of relief. The sun was just coming up; they have been out all night.

What remained of the forest was burnt trees. It was a deadly silence. The prey must have been killed in the fire, she thought.

"Are you okay?" Frostpaw's voice came out as a croak.

"Just tired," Sofie repeated.

"We are too exposed here," Frostpaw began.

"I know," she mewed, her voice becoming stronger. "But we are both tired; it's a risk we have to take."

"But-"

"Rest," Sofie insisted.

"Fine," Frostpaw reluctantly lay down on the unburned grass.

Will we ever reach the lake? Frostpaw wondered.

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A/N: Who do you think is that 'one'? ;)