"I'll be back soon kits! I'm taking StormPaw out hunting with Sunfall. I'll be back later I promise." BlazingFlame called over his shoulder. "Bring back a vole for me!" HopeKit squeaked, NightKit leaped onto the pale she-kit and the pair rolled around on the earth. BlazingFlame purred to himself, he had grown used to helping the kits we vowed to raise and protect, the kits filled the empty space that NightDusk left when she died. "Where are we going hunting today BlazingFlame?" Stormpaw asked, the young apprentice's skinny frame was now large and well built. StormPaw would make a strong warrior in battle, "Lets go near the river with the SkyClan border." BlazingFlame meowed. The group padded along in silence, StormPaws ears were pricked and his jaw parted. StormPaw was the first to reach the border, the young tom looked around. "Can you smell anything StormPaw?" Sunfall asked when he reached the bank. StormPaw lifted his nose to the sky, "There's a water vole in the clump of ferns." Stormpaw meowed, flicking his tail to the clump of ferns close to the river. BlazingFlame nodded, "Good nose StormPaw, now since you tracked it I want you to catch it." BlazingFlame meowed. Stormpaw nodded, crouching down the apprentice crept forward slowly. "You did well on that one BlazingFlame." Sunfall meowed. BlazingFlame turned towards the golden tabby. "Thank you, but LongEar did most of the work." BlazingFlame mumbled, his pelt growing hot. Sunfall said nothing, soon StormPaw came back with the water vole he was hunting. "Very good Stormpaw, you're doing wonderful." BlazingFlame purred as the young tom covered his catch with earth. StormPaw nodded, "Thanks! I'm gonna go find some more fresh-kill for the clan." StormPaw purred as he bounced off. Sunfall shifted, his tail sweeping the leaves behind him, "Everything okay Sunfall?" BlazingFlame asked. Sunfall shook his head, "No, well kinda. I've been meaning to tell you something for a while now." Sunfall mumbled. BlazingFlame tipped his head worriedly, "You can tell me anything Sunfall." BlazingFlame meowed. Sunfall nodded, "Well.. this started when I met you during the gathering all those moons ago." Sunfall meowed. BlazingFlame flicked his ear but said nothing, "To put it simply, I like you BlazingFlame. Not as friends or clanmates but more than that.." Sunfall meowed, his tail flicked back and forth behind him. BlazingFlame stared back in shock, he didn't expect Sunfall to like him. "Sunfall, I-I don't know what to say." BlazingFlame meowed. Sunfall looked away, "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything." Sunfall meowed his voice cracking. BlazingFlame snapped out of his trance, "No, I'm sorry I shouldn't have stared. To be honest, I feel the same way." BlazingFlame meowed. Sunfall looked back at him, shock clear in his gaze. "Really? You do?" Sunfall gasped. BlazingFlame nodded, Sunfall began to purr softly and the pair entwined their tails together. StormPaw padded back with a thrush and a mouse dangling from his jaws. "I see you had good hunting today, Stormpaw." Sunfall meowed. StormPaw nodded, "Are we able to go back now? I promised I would show PoppyFeathers kits how to properly stalk their prey." StormPaw asked. BlazingFlame nodded, "Of course, let's take back your catch to camp." BlazingFlame nodded, picking up the thrush he waited until Stormpaw and Sunfall were ready.
Time Skip
BlazingFlame watched StormPaw as he played with the kits, PoppyFeathers kits, SmallKit, BlueKit, BrightKit and Sagekit were all bouncing up and down while LionKit, NightKit and Hopekit took charge. "StormPaw, can't we learn how to fight? It's no fun learning how to fight prey!" NightKit complained. StormPaw looked at BlazingFlame as if asking him if it was alright. "Go ahead StormPaw, they need to learn anyway." BlazingFlame meowed. StormPaw nodded, "Right, now who can tell me how to launch an attack?" Stormpaw meowed. LionKit bounced up from where he was sitting, "Oh I know! Fluff up your fur so you look bigger and wait for the fear in your enemies eyes and attack!" LionKit squeaked. StormPaw nodded, "Very good LionKit, now who can show me the attack pose we use?" StormPaw asked. All the kits tried their best to come up with an attack pose but NightKit had the best one. "That's great NightKit! Kits, look at what NightKit is doing." Stormpaw purred as the kits tried to imitate Nightkit. "How do you think those kits are holding up without their parents?" Sunfall asked. BlazingFlame shrugged, "I don't think they had enough time with her to really know her." BlazingFlame meowed. A furious yowl split the air, coming from the leaders den BlazingFlame stood up he raced up the slope to try and find out what happened. Coming to a halt BlazingFlame heard claws scraping the stone inside, racing in he spotted CrowStar fighting with somecat. "CrowStar! I'm coming!" BlazingFlame snarled and launched himself in the fight. BlazingFlame swiped down on the cat's shoulders, "Get away from my leader, manage pelt! "BlazingFlame hissed. TimberFoot appeared and rushed in to help, with three cats against one it was an easy battle, pushing the cat into the light BlazingFlame was shocked to see SweetSong. "You fools! You let your guards down, I knew ThunderClan was weak, that's why I wanted to take control and make this clan strong!" SweetSong hissed. "SweetSong, I thought you knew better than to attack me." CrowStar growled. "It's time to make this clan strong! But that cant happen if your leader." SweetSong snarled. "I'll kill you and take control, I'll rule the whole forest!" SweetSong boasted. "SweetSong, why are you doing this? You're the deputy you made a vow to ThunderClan." BlazingFlame meowed, he wanted to reason with SweetSong before it was too late. SweetSong hissed, "You really don't know do you? Your mother was meant to be mine! Before your father ruined it!" SweetSong hissed. "You were never meant to be born, instead I had to take a mate with HollowFlight and she had CherrySpring. I wanted you dead, so that stormy night I attacked you unfortunately Sunfall found you." SweetSong snorted. BlazingFlame stared in shock, "You attacked me? I could have died! But you didn't care, you just wanted revenge on my mother! Were the one who killed her too? You were in that battle too!" BlazingFlame hissed. SweetSong laughed, "What makes you think I didn't? I did kill her because she should have loved me!" SweetSong snarled.
