𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑭𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔: 𝑨 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒕 𝑭𝒂𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒄

CHAPTER 17

Maplepaw awoke in the Starless Forest and immediately began searching for her mother. She needed answers and she demanded them now.

"Maple-darling," Scorchflame meowed.

Maplepaw smiled before saying, "Thank you for helping me complete my assessment. I would've completely failed if it weren't for you."

"It was nothing," Scorchflame purred, flicking her tail dismissively.

"I have a question to ask, mother," Maplepaw cautiously meowed.

"Go ahead," Scorchflame replied.

"You know that particular skull you asked me to bring? Why that skull out of all the others and also, why did Cinderstar react so...so severely to the sight of it?" Maplepaw asked.

Scorchflame sighed and sat down, gesturing for Maplepaw to do the same before wrapping her tail around Maplepaw's body.

"I suppose I should tell you. It's a long story, but if I don't finish it before sundown, I'll wake you up and we can continue it later," Scorchflame murmured.

Maplepaw leaned slightly onto her mother as she readied herself for the lengthy story to come.

"Cinderstar had a sister, by the name of Fangpaw, due to the absurd amount of teeth she possessed. Some believed it was a gift from StarClan, allowing her to inflict greater damage on her opponents during combat, while others thought it to be a curse from the Starless Forest, to show that we were alway present, that no one could escape from our wrath. Regardless, she was a determined cat, hoping to excel at everything she participated in, even if her teeth got in the way. Her teeth made it quite difficult to communicate with others clearly, but she pushed through. Eventually, she gained the favour of Adderpaw, what most of the clan perceived as the most eligible bachelor out of the four clans, had he survived to warriorhood. He was charmed by her audacity, determination and ambitiousness that he soon fell smitten with her. Personally, I think the two of you would've made a wonderful couple," Scorchflame interrupted her story, a smirk on her face.

Maplepaw spluttered, trying to form words but her mother continued,

"Anyways, Cinderstar, however, did not understand why Adderpaw would fall in love with her deformed sister when she was so much more capable and beautiful, in her opinion. She tried, to no avail, in gaining Adderpaw's attention. Thus, she thought that if she couldn't gain Adderpaw's attention, she would outcompete her sister in everything, and possibly even cause her demise. She did everything she was asked of, and went beyond what was expected of a normal apprentice. She kept the prey-pile well-stocked during leaf-bare, sacrificing an entire night's sleep to do so. When the assessments came, in which they needed to descend the canyon, Cinderstar, overcome with envy at the affections the two shared, and the fact that Adderpaw did not even glance at her, or her efforts, Cinderstar decided to lead them to their doom. She told them to follow her, saying that she knew a safer part of the canyon to descend to, but she was planning to lead them both to their demise. Her own mother told her to keep clear of a certain section of the abyss, as it was extremely deep and very, very unstable. However, now that Cinderstar believed she had nothing more left to lose, she would take the gamble, if it meant that she would see no more of Fangpaw. Now, to her, Adderpaw was of the same value as Fangpaw, thus, she saw no loss in his death. The night they entered the chasm, it seemed as though StarClan was watching over them, for neither Adderpaw, nor Fangpaw died from any sudden falling rocks or landslides, however, since Cinderstar also wanted to complete her exam, decided to let it slide for now, knowing that she could kill them later if it truly boiled down to that. Cinderstar travelled to the shallow part of the chasm, where I also directed you, but surprisingly, it was there, supposingly the safest part of the chasm where the ledge that both Fangpaw and Adderpaw were standing on, collapsed and they fell a long way down, perhaps both breaking their necks and died. Cinderstar obviously felt accomplished and returned back to camp, successful."