Cinder and Holly Book #1: The Wrong Path

Chapter 15

Cinderpaw padded down the clearing of the plains, she gazed around nervously, feeling uneasiness in her stomach, she glanced over to her shoulder, noticing the clear, starry trees, she scampered past a swishing bush, a crisp breeze swept through the trees, making them clatter.

"Hello?" She uttered, gazing around the blue-white plains, she had been here before, when she was in the moonstone.

Suddenly, she spotted a cat, sitting in the middle of the plain clearing, their pelt looked starry, and clear, Like a ghost. She thought. She bounded down the clearing, approaching the mysterious cat.

"Who are you?" She murmured, the cat gazed at her, with her lips drawn to a smile, "Hello, Cinderpaw," They mewed, flicking their tail, "Where am I?" Cinderpaw mewed, the cat frowned, "I can't say," They spoke, "but, I have to send you a message."

Cinderpaw tipped her head, "What message?" She asked, the cat spun to her, padding closer to the black-and-white apprentice, "Ash bits are around the forest, plants are dying, leaving a leaf staying alive, though, dying stems lay on top of it, be careful, as flames are rising."

"What does that mean?" Cinderpaw mewed, the cat pinned their ears, "I can't say," they mewed, "Good luck, though."

The cat spun away, padding down the plain clearing, Cinderpaw glanced at the clear, starry sky, and noticed darkness fading into it.

Cinderpaw flicked her eyes open, she raised her head, gazing around the den, she glanced down on her paws, noticing Storm and Fawn curling around, drifting into dreams, Cinderpaw dipped her head, and she nudged Storm with her muzzle.

Storm opened his eyes, he raised his head, and he glanced at Cinderpaw, "Are we leaving?" He asked, in a tired voice, Cinderpaw nodded, "Go wake up your brother, I'll wake Birdpaw and Hollypaw up."

Storm nodded, nudging Fawn with his shoulder. Cinderpaw stood erect, she padded over to Birdpaw, who was curled into a ball, his eyes were closed, she crouched, "Birdpaw?" Cinderpaw muttered in his ear.

Birdpaw purred, making Cinderpaw smile, "Birdpaw," She'd mutter again, Birdpaw opened his eyes, gazing at Cinderpaw, he then drew his lips to a smile, "Hi, Cinderpaw," He mewed, Cinderpaw purred, "Did you have a good dream?" She asked, Birdpaw nodded, he stood erect, and he glanced at Cinderpaw.

"Wake Hollypaw up, we're leaving." Cinderpaw declared, Birdpaw nodded, he spun to Hollypaw's nest, and he padded over to it.

Cinderpaw spun her head to the entrance of the den, and she bounded over to the entrance, padding outside into the forest clearing.

A cold breeze swept through the bracken, Cinderpaw padded past the clumps of fern, she padded down the forest clearing, Cinderpaw gazed around the forest in a nervous manner.

Storm and Fawn were snuggled up together, laying on Birdpaw's back, they were both asleep.

Hollypaw paced faster, but her pace got slower as she padded beside Cinderpaw, "Are you sure we should go back?" Hollypaw asked, "We might've missed where we should've gone!"

"Yes, I am sure," Cinderpaw told her, Hollypaw sniffed the air, and her eyes widened, "I smell magpies!" Hollypaw mewed briskly, Birdpaw smiled, "I could hunt," He mewed, then he glanced over his shoulder, staring at Storm and Fawn, "But, I have to take care of these two."

"Alright," Hollypaw mewed, she spun to a bush beside them, and the padded into it, Cinderpaw and Birdpaw continued to pad down the forest clearing, they were both nervous, "So," Birdpaw mewed, "How are you?"

"I'm doing fine," Cinderpaw mewed, she then thought about that message, Flames are rising. She thought, she began to sweat, she wondered what the message was about, Another prophecy? She thought, It's not over!

Cinderpaw padded down the depths of the forest, along with Birdpaw, "Let's rest," Cinderpaw mewed, "We have to wait for Hollypaw."

Birdpaw laid down carefully, trying not to disturb the two kits, Cinderpaw padded over to Birdpaw, and she laid down beside him.

Cinderpaw felt a cold breeze rush through her fur, she wouldn't shiver, as she had a lot of fur.

"It sure is cold," Birdpaw mewed, purring, Cinderpaw smiled at Birdpaw, "I know, but I can take it," Cinderpaw mewed, Cinderpaw laid her head on Birdpaw's shoulder, "I can't believe it."

Birdpaw gazed at Cinderpaw, "Believe what?" He asked, Cinderpaw frowned, "I—I don't want to do this..." Cinderpaw stammered, feeling guilt inside of her stomach, StarClan wouldn't like that...

"I'm so stressed, I have to deal with all these rogues, I couldn't even help you, or Hollypaw, besides I led both of you to those dangerous rogues..." Cinderpaw mewed gloomily, suddenly, Birdpaw drew his tongue over her forehead, making her eyes widen, she glanced back at Birdpaw, and his eyes widened.

"What did I just do?" Birdpaw muttered, Cinderpaw stared at him for a moment, and she stood erect, "I—I need to go find Hollypaw..." She mewed nervously, she spun away, and she scampered down the forest.

What just happened? She wondered, as she continued to pad down the forest, part of her felt flattered, and the other part felt confused.

That must be a mistake, She thought, He doesn't like me.

Right?

Cinderpaw bounded down the forest along with Hollypaw and Birdpaw, she felt so awkward being around Birdpaw, after what just happened, but sometimes she thought that it would be rude.

Storm darted down the forest, though, he was a bit slow, Fawn leaped forward to him, and Fawn landed on top of him, "I won! I won!" Fawn mewed.

Cinderpaw thought of Fawn as shy, yet a kind kit, she was right, Fawn padded away from the black tom-kit, and Storm grinned, he crouched down in a hunting position, and he leaped forward, and hit the huge kit, they both rolled down the dirt-filled path.

Cinderpaw glanced back, staring at Birdpaw with a sweat, I still can't believe it. She thought. Storm landed on top of Fawn, he shoved his paw on his underbelly.

"I win! I win!" Storm bragged, Cinderpaw padded over to the two kits, "You two will be great warriors," Cinderpaw purred, Storm glanced at Cinderpaw with a smile, "Really?" Storm asked, his chest puffed out.

Cinderpaw nodded, making his eyes sparkle with glee, he padded away from Fawn, and the cream tom stood erect.

"When do we become apprentices?" Fawn asked, hoping that he'd become an apprentice sooner, Cinderpaw's lips drew to a smile, "In three moons," She mewed, "But that'll be soon."

Fawn frowned, though, he padded down the forest enthusiastically, along with Storm, who dashed down the forest, Fawn grinned at the tom, and he darted down the forest after Storm.

Cinderpaw smiled at the two kits, but she'd then gaze back at Birdpaw, and she began to feel nervous, Stop thinking about that! It was an accident!

She'd then pace faster, gazing around her surroundings cautiously.