Flame Rising

Chapter 4

Puddlekit kit woke up with a start. His sleep had been infested with nightmares of Crowflight and her littermates. He shuddered.

Sweetflower stared at him suspiciously. "Puddlekit, you seem kind of... shaky lately." she observed thoughtfully. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah," Puddlekit replied, his mouth dry from guilt. "I'm fine."

"Okay, just know you can tell me anything." she confided.

Puddlekit nodded. He padded out of the nursery, heading for the fresh-kill pile. When he saw his littermates sharing a hare, sadness and regret filled his heart. Lately he had felt that way anytime he saw them.

He flicked his tail angrily. He didn't want to be a part of some stupid prophecy. Flamestar didn't even explain what the prophecy meant! Puddlekit walked up to his littermates, deciding he would tell them.

"Hey, Puddlekit!" Marigoldkit beckoned him with her tail. "Come finish off this hare with us!"

"Okay," Puddlekit replied. "But first, I have something to tell you."

"What is it?" Shimmerkit asked, her eyes sympathetic.

Puddlekit took a deep breath, remembering his dream with Flamestar. "I had a dream." he explained calmly. "This cat named Flamestar came and gave me a message."

"What did he say?" Seedkit asked curiously.

"He said: 'Thunder is in danger from itself. Only four of the leader's kin and use their power to see through to the rotten inside.' Then I told Yarrowleaf and she said it was a prophecy. What should we do?" he asked, hoping one of his littermates would have an idea.

"Well first, we should think about who's Stonestar's kin."

"Good idea!" Marigoldkit exclaimed. "Well, there's Sweetflower, Frogleap, and Blacktail."

"Yeah! And Swanfeather, Rockfur and Moonfall, because they're Blacktail's kits!" Seedkit added excitedly.

"Then there's us four." Puddlekit finished off the list. But when he finished talking, the realization hit him.

His gaze swept over Marigoldkit, Shimmerkit and Seedkit. Realization dawned in there eyes too. "We are the four!" Shimmerkit yelped.

"But wait," Marigoldkit looked thoughtful. "What's the 'rotten inside?'"

"Crow-food?" Seedkit suggested.

Puddlekit drooped his head sadly. "I overheard last night that Crowflight and her littermates are planning to kill Stonestar." he meowed grimly.

"No!" Shimmerkit gasped. "They wouldn't!"

Puddlekit nodded. "They have an attack plan tonight." he explained. "But there's nothing we can do."

"Unless..." Marigoldkit's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Puddlekit! We will go save Stonestar. We are almost the size of apprentices, and there would be two of us!"

Puddlekit thought about it for a moment. "Sure." he said finally. He turned to Seedkit and Shimmerkit. "Do you two want to come?"

Shimmerkit shook her head. "I'd rather not." she said. "I'm going to help Yarrowleaf with her herbs."

"Me neither." Seedkit agreed. "Sweetflower would kill me!"

"Okay." Puddlekit nodded understandingly. "Marigoldkit? Meet me at the fresh-kill pile at dusk."

"Got it." Laughter glittered in her amber eyes. "I probably would have been there anyway."

As Puddlekit padded away, he started to feel doubtful. Maybe Shimmerkit and Seedkit were right. Maybe Marigoldkit and I are just risking our lives for no reason!

(Guess Puddlekit's power! HINT: Flame Rising)