Cinders to Flames

Chapter 27

Cinderfrost crept behind the crates in the abandoned twoleg nest to meet with the other Council members. Her throat was dry and her head filled with worry as she still tried to figure out how to tell them that she was to leave. Pixie sat at the front facing the rest of the Council. They fell silent when Cinderfrost walked in. She felt their gazes boring into her fur, but she forced herself not to react.

"Cinder, we've been waiting for you." Pixie purred silkily in a way that made Cinderfrost's spine tingle with unease.

"Pixie," she ducked her head and then sat down next to Fluffy, who scowled at her. Perhaps I had been too defensive of my "friends" in the twolegplace, she thought dryly.

"Now the entire Council is here," the grey she-cat glanced at Cinderfrost, who dipped her head slightly. "I have an important announcement."

Cinderfrost leant forward a bit, curious to hear what Pixie had to say. She noticed many of the Councils' ears pricked up at her words.

"Too long have the cats of the twolegplace strayed to the shadows. Too long have we hid away and let the forest cats rule the forest." Cinderfrost noticed she spoke like she was never one of them. She frowned anxiously and Pixie continued. "Now, all that will change. Next moon we are going to claim the forest as our own!"

The Council cheered, but Cinderfrost felt her blood run cold. A million scenarios were already darting through her head like a family of mice escaping a hunter. She fought to keep her expression passive. Pixie started going over her plans to take over FrostClan first, and then move on to the other two clans. But the voices of the twolegplace cats were distant, like she was submerged underwater, and her chest tight.

She had been tricked.

From the very start, carefully chosen from a young age and trained to be the perfect killer. She would know all of FrostClan's secrets so they could have a huge advantage to attack.

Now she knew what the School really was meant to be.

Pixie had created an army.

From the very back of her mind, something Cinderfrost had been told many moons ago emerged.

"I have come so early to your dreams to warn you. There is a cat who will deceive you. Their plans may seem trustworthy, but do not listen to them! The future of FrostClan depends on you!"

You mousebrained pile of foxdung! Cinderfrost cursed herself. I thought he was warning me about Heronsky! How blind could I really be? She curled her claws against the hard stone floor in frustration.

"Cinder? You spaced out." Cinderfrost broke from her thoughts at Pixie's words. Every cat seemed to be staring at her, and felt like their gazes were fixed on her scarred hindleg.

She swallowed hard. "Yes? What is it?" She asked, struggling to keep her voice calm.

"I asked what the best way to the FrostClan camp is?" She repeated.

Cinderfrost thought rapidly, trying to seem engaged in the attack plan.

"Best way to the camp- Well some cats are bound to be hunting at night and it's best not to risk the rest of the camp being allerted. Best to keep an element of surprise." Her mew grew stronger and more sure as she spoke. "I would suggest going through the Untaken Land and then creeping through the dirtplace at the side." Cinderfrost suggested that in hopes that DarkClan would be there and drive them off. "Although that might be difficult with so many cats, since that part of the camp wall is bramble."

She noticed that the Councils' gazes seemed to be fixed upon her. Her heart flew with an odd feeling. She couldn't remember a time when every cat seemed to cling on her words like dewdrops on a spiderweb after the rain.

"Go on." Fluffy said with curiosity in her voice.

"Appleheart and I could secretly dig a hole large enough through the dirtplace wall, and if we hide it well nobody will notice it. I would still send a few cats to incapacitate the guards, with the threat of DarkClan, Ravenstar doubled the camp protection. But that's just an idea." She didn't want to seem like she was taking charge of the plans.

"That's a brilliant idea, Cinder." Pixie said, and she couldn't help feeling pleased at her praise. She ducked her head modestly to hide her expression.

As the meeting went on, Cinderfrost struggled to figure out what to do about the battle they were planning. Should she tell FrostClan? "When do we attack?" A cat she didn't know the name of called out.

"Any ideas?" Pixie asked, but her gaze was fixed on Cinderfrost.

"Full moon will be the best time. Half the clan will be gone to the gathering, and most of the warriors will be gone so the clan will be vulnerable. Also, the moonlight will help guide our way," she suggested.

"Good idea. We attack at full moon." Pixie cast a firm green gaze around at the Council. "I want everyone to train extra hard before then. Meeting dismissed."

As the cats started to filter out, Cinderfrost stood to go.

"Wait, Cinder. I want to talk to you privately." Pixie's strong mew rang out around the now empty twoleg nest.

Foxdung. "Yes?"

"I'm very impressed with your plan for the attack on FrostClan," she began, her eyes glowing with pride. "But I want to make sure your loyalty lies with the School."

Cinderfrost's stomach swirled with nerves, but she fought them down. "I never belonged in FrostClan," she meowed. "Even at my lowest, not one cat turned to help me. Those cats mean nothing to me."
Pixie nodded, satisfaction in her gaze. "I am very proud of your progress, Cinder. I knew you would be the perfect pupil from the moment I saw you."
You mean the perfect killer, she thought, her heart aching with the sting of betrayal. Pixie really knew how to play the long game.

"You wanted to know more about me," the slender she-cat continued. "So for your undying loyalty to me these past moons, you shall have your wish." She leant in towards her, and Cinderfrost shivered as she felt her warm breath on her cheek. "My real name is Sagetuft."

AhHhhHhhhhh the suffering is real. I kinda just want to get this story over and done with :/ The plot is nonexistent and boring so yeahhh.

(Oh also announcement for CTF #2 I guess. I've already started writing it but have to finish this before I publish it... I'll talk about it later)