Flame Rising

Chapter 1

Puddlekit was sitting in the nursery, kneading the moss of his mother's nest, watching his littermates play. He had always been left out of the group. But he didn't mind. The others were noisy anyway.

Puddlekit flinched as Marigoldkit zoomed right in front of him. "Hey, Marigoldkit!" he yelled, "Watch where you're playing!"

Marigoldkit ignored him. Puddlekit's littermates weren't exactly mean, but Puddlekit's quieter personality often discluded him from the group.

Puddlekit shrugged, and curled up. He closed his eyes, trying to block out the loud racket of his littermates.

"I am Marigoldstar!" He heard Marigoldkit shout. "Shimmerstorm! Seedclaw! Follow me and we will attack ShadowClan!" Marigoldkit charged out of the nursery yowling. Seedkit and Shimmerkit followed yelling and making a racket.

At least I can get some quiet. Puddlekit thought, shrugging. He rested his head on his paws, closing his eyes. Eventually, sleep overtook him.

When Puddlekit woke up, he was not in the nursery. He was in a grassy field that smelled nice. Birds were chirping, and the sun was shining brightly.

Puddlekit took a step back. Where am I? He thought nervously. Did Sweetflower take me away while is was asleep?

Suddenly, a cat flew out of the trees. It was an bright ginger tabby tom, who's pelt resembled flame.

Puddlekit leaped into the bracken on the edge of the field, hoping the strange cat wouldn't notice him. He held his breath.

"Come out, young kit." A deep voice sounded from the clearing.

Puddlekit tensed. He crept cautiously out of the bracken. The ginger cat was staring at him, making Puddlekit's fur bristle with nervousness.

"Greetings, Puddlekit." the tom said, dipping his head. "I am Flamestar."

"W - where am I?" stuttered Puddlekit.

"You are in StarClan." replied Flamestar.

"So I died?" Puddlekit asked, with a hint of panic on his voice. He looked around frantically, hoping to see a cat he recognized.

Flamestar let out a mreoww of laughter. "No, no!" Flamestar reassured him. He laid his tail on Puddlekit's pelt. "It is not your time yet. This is just a dream."

Puddlekit cocked his head questioningly. "Really?" he asked, puzzled. "Usually my dreams are about hunting mice."

Flamestar shook his head, amusement glittering in his flaming amber eyes. "This is a special dream. The cats of StarClan, your ancestors, have a message to share with you. 'Thunder is in danger from itself. Only four of the leader's kin can use their power to see through to the rotten inside'" Flamestar closed his mouth, waiting to Puddlekit to reply.

What Flamestar had said sparked a memory in Puddlekit's mind. His Clanmates had been talking about a similar thing that was about Blacktail, Frogleap and his mother, Sweetflower.

"What does that mean?" Puddlekit questioned Flamestar curiously.

Flamestar shook his head regretfully. "Some things are best left unsaid."

Puddlekit watched as Flamestar's ginger pelt moved silently across the clearing and into the trees.

As Puddlekit's vision got darker, he knew he was about to wake up. But he didn't want to leave they prey scents and warm sunlight. When cats die, he thought to himself, they really do go to a better place.

(Without reading ahead, which cats do you think are the "rotten inside"? HINT: there's four)