Firetalon's Destiny

Chapter 20

"I wonder if StarClan is disappointed with me," the ginger apprentice mused aloud while staring up at the clear night sky. His bright, ocean blue eyes reflecting the millions of white lights sparkling brilliantly against the much darker sky. All around him, crickets chirped their songs of love and the small, still growing new-leaf leaves rustled overhead as a light breeze howled. It was this kind of night that calmed the young cat's rattled nerves. The peace was, however, shattered by the loud crack of a breaking branch. Someone was approaching.

Firepaw, returning from the realm of thoughts, quickly scrambled behind a fallen tree whose rotting trunk was covered in plain brown fungus and bright green moss that greatly stood out against the darker coloring of the tree. Crouching low to the ground, he cautiously peered over the rim of the tree. His ears perked and his eyes wide with alertness, he skimmed the surrounding area. Ferns rustled a little ways from him and he watched a large figure strut forward. "What's he doing out here?" softly he whispered, his tail tip twitching in confusion. Crimson was supposed to be asleep... Well so was he, but unlike Crimson he had a small minor problem that he had to deal with. A problem known as Moon.

His mind was still in turmoil after his teacher in his dreams had revealed that she was not StarClan but was actually a Dark Forest cat, he just couldn't figure it out. Should he refuse any more of her training and return to StarClan's side or should he reject StarClan and return to the cat that had agreed to help him become stronger than anyone? Moon had been there for him since he was a kit and what has StarClan done? All he could think of was that they made a prophecy claiming that he could very well destroy the way of the Clans.

"Now's not the time to think over this deep philosophical crap," he growled, by now Crimson had escaped his sights. Leaping up, Firepaw hurried farther into the woods. He couldn't lose sight of Crimson, he needed to know just what his fellow Clanmate was doing. As he trekked farther away from the camp,  this feeling of dread washed over him. He recognized these landmarks... But why would Crimson be coming over here? His ears twitching, Firepaw slowed his pace, instincts screaming for caution. Creeping onward, he slithered past a clump of ferns and came to an abrupt stop. Inches from his paws lay the Black Trail, its offensive stench hanging heavily in the air around him.

"You're late!" across the Black Trail, a CityClan warrior stood with a frigid gleam in his eyes. His black pelt blended neatly in with the darkness of the night, making it seem like there was only a pair of fierce golden eyes floated in the shadows.

"Sorry, it was harder sneaking out of the camp than I thought it would be," the apprentice tug his gaze away from the black warrior to stare, with wide eyes, at Crimson. His heart beat sped up and he swallowed nervously, just what was Crimson doing? Well whatever it was, Firepaw was certain it wasn't good. So he slunk back into the cover of the large, draping fern in hopes that they'd shroud his obnoxiously clamorous ginger fur from sight. He almost wished that his fur was better for blending in at night, maybe a dark brown or black. Even a gray coloring would have worked.

"So what news do you bring? Do you have anything useful at all?" the practically invisible CityClan cat stared relentlessly back at Crimson, who remained silent. Was he thinking over an answer? Was this warrior so dangerous that even the unruly Crimson had to think over his response? 

"Well..." Crimson shifted, his tail tip twitching. "I don't have much but... It would seem that, thanks to the lack of CityClan activity, Flamestar is planning on reducing the amount of patrols along the border. Our Clan has been rather strained to keep up with patrolling all our borders, especially this one."

What was Crimson doing!? Firepaw raked his claws furiously through the ground underneath, his blue eyes smoldering with anger. How dare he give away FlameClan information!  Taking in a couple of deep breaths, the small apprentice forced down his anger. He needed to pay attention.

"Hmm..." the practically invisible cat just stared back at Crimson, his eyes narrowing as if lost in thought. Finally he grinned, his teeth glittering in the darkness. He didn't say anything more, and turned to walk away.

"Ah! Wait!" Crimson called out, it seemed like he said something else but whatever else he added was blocked out by the loud booming roar of a rumble beast rushing past. By the time it passed, the CityClan warrior was gone.

Now then... time to alert Flamestar. Turning around, Firepaw began to back track into the forest when Crimson called out. "Firepaw, stop!"

The smaller cat froze, his heartbeat speeding up as a momentary bought of fear rushed through him. This fear was then followed by his anger from earlier. Turning around, his eyes flint hard, he stalked up to Crimson. "Crimson, I'm giving you five heartbeats to tell me what you're planning before I rip your ears off!"

"Calm down Firepaw," Crimson looked momentarily startled, almost like he hadn't expected to see the ginger, orange striped cat to be so angry. "This is for the best of FlameClan."

"How is this helping FlameClan? All I see is you giving away crucial, information. What you just told to that CityClan cat should only be heard by FlameClan ears."

"You agreed that you didn't want FlameClan to be weak, right?" hesitantly Firepaw nodded, remembering the conversation from a couple of sun rises ago. "Well this is my plan."

"By giving FlameClan information to our enemy? Crimson, that's ludicrous!"

"No its not Firepaw, you just need to see the bigger picture. What will we, FlameClan, be forced to do as our plans are constantly seen through by CityClan? We'll adapt, that's what. We'll learn to see ahead and prepare in advance. Not only that but peace between FlameClan and CityClan will never be, since CityClan is more than willing to go for any opening in FlameClan defenses. Ultimately, this will be helping FlameClan."

"No Crimson, I don't agree with this! We'd be betraying the entire Clan by doing this! I can't help you."

"You can and you will help me," Crimson suddenly smiled and shivers ran down Firepaw's spine. "If you don't than I'll tell everyone about what you've been doing..." leaning closer to the smaller cat, he whispered. "I'll tell them all about Moon and the Dark Forest."