The Beauty and the Warrior

The Castle... Is Weirdly Familiar?

While Fireheart, Leapool's father, was traveling through the woods on quite a stormy night, it felt weirdly familiar to him, but unfortunately it was quite hard for Fire to see in the darkness.

As he was trying to make out what was in front of him, there was a loud boom and a lightning bolt struck the tree in front of him, falling onto the path and startling his horse.

"Oh no..." He murmured. He began encouraging his horse down a different, unfamiliar path. And as he traveled, it got colder and colder. He was very confused as he continued down the path, but then he saw a dark figure in the shape of a dog.

"Wolf..." Fireheart realized. He tried turning around, only to realize that there were other wolves behind him. He made his horse bolt forward, the wolves ran after him, and he and his horse Phillipe lost the cart.

They just barely made it through two huge iron gates. Fireheart expected the wolves to continue chasing him, but they didn't.

Fireheart was a bit confused as to why the wolves didn't follow him. Is it something here? He wondered, but he didn't dwell on it for long because he was suddenly hit with a huge wave of familiarity. What was so familiar about this place that made him feel so... safe, and like he was at home here.

Well, this is a curious feeling. Fireheart thought as he led his horse to a water troft.

"Rest up Phillipe, we need to leave tomorrow. Hopefully..." Fire murmured.

He approached the front doors and knocked.

The doors opened.

Creepy. He thought.

But he stepped in anyway, still feeling an odd sense of comfort and belonging.

Called out for a caretaker, or even the owner, but there was silence. He was thinking about leaving, but then heard the crackling of fire nearby. He turned and saw a fireplace lit with the dazzling flames. They hissed and cackled as he approached the warm, dancing flames.

He spun around, warming himself, before sitting in the chair he'd noticed.

Nearby, a candelabra and a clock sat on a shelf.

"It's a cat!" The candelabra whisper-yelled to the clock next to him.

"Y-yeah..." The clock whispered fearfully.

"Hey wait a sec... is that- no. It-it couldn't be-" the candelabra's eyes were wide with shock.

"Fireheart?" Came a shocked whisper from nearby.

At the sound of his name being called by a strangely familiar voice, Fire looked around, he then spotted the two beautiful figures on the shelf above the fireplace.

Out of curiosity, Fireheart stood and picked up the clock.

"Beautiful..." He whispered. Then set it down gently and picked up the candelabra. "Extraordinary!" He smiled. He couldn't understand it but these little figures seemed so familiar. He just couldn't put his claw on it.

The candelabra had to hold back his squeak of pure shock and happiness as he realized that he was right. It was his old friend from before the curse.

The clock was just as happy and shocked as his friend. He was no longer afraid of the new cat in his home.

Because he wasn't new.

After Fireheart put the candelabra down, he began to wander towards the dining room.

"Can you believe it Ravenpaw?!" The candelabra shook his friend by his shoulders. "Fireheart is HERE in the CASTLE!"

"I kn-know!" Ravenpaw gasped as he was being vigorously shaken. "God Greystripe STOP!"

"Woops." Greystripe laughed nervously and let go of his friend.

Meanwhile, as Fireheart entered the dining room, he saw that there was a huge feast set up.

"Oh... thank you so much!" He gasped, he was still a bit cold. And as he scooped a bite of the spaghetti into his mouth, he sighed in content at the warm noodles.

Then, to his confusion, a small tea cup moved a few inches forward, which made him jump.

"Sorry." The tea cup whispered. "Mom said not to move because it could scare you, but I just couldn't help myself. It's been so long- since another cat has been here. And she also said not to talk so I'm probably scaring you even more... aren't I?"

Fireheart felt confused, and he had to admit, a bit scared. But everything seemed so weirdly familiar he didn't really mind too much.

"N-no." Fire finally blurted out. "I don't mind. Keep talking. You have a sweet voice."

"Really? Thanks D- sir." The small tea cup corrected herself.

"Anytime?" Fireheart says.

Then a tea pot moved forward a bit, and Fireheart saw a green eye blink up at him, the lid hung at an odd angle where it covered her other eye.

"H-hello." She whispered.

Fireheart's eyes went wide with shock as he sat there.

"Hi." He finally said.

"What brings you here?" She asked.

"Well, I was seeking shelter, see, and then wolves attacked and, well, now I'm here." Fireheart explained.

"Well, it's impressive that you escaped with your fur intact. Those wolves are quite vicious." The tea pot laughed.

"Say, what's your names?" Fire asked.

"Well, I'm Sandstorm, and this is my daughter Squirrelflight, but we- I mean I, usually just call her Squilf." The tea pot introduced the two of them.

"What lovely names." Fire smiled.

"Thank you." Sandstorm smiled.

Then all of a sudden, all the lights, including the fireplace, went out, and Fireheart saw a huge beast storming down the stairs.

"WHERE'S MY DINNER?!" Came his booming voice from the stairs.

"Oh dear, you need to go!" Sandstorm exclaimed.

Fireheart didn't question it, he just got up, feeling the sudden urge to leave. He ran for the doors and raced through them, getting Phillipe and racing away, when he smelled something.

A rose.

Fireheart brought his horse to a stop and looked around.

He then saw a rose bush nearby, and each rose was the same bright blood red that matches his late mate's dress perfectly. He walked over and took out a knife and cut a flower off of the bush.

But just as he'd gotten the knife safely back in his pocket, a huge, hideous monster jumped out from the bushes behind him dragging him to back to his castle, Fireheart protesting, trying to scratch and claw away, but couldn't.