Fire Clan: Foxkit's Destiny

Chapter 14:

Foxpaw was taking a well deserved nap. She had went out early hunting, cleaned out the elders' den, and had don't a great deal of battle training and then repeat for the past few days.

She was dreaming about chasing a squirrel. But the closer she came to it, the farther away it seemed. Foxpaw then broke into a run, but the squirrel just seemed farther and farther away. Eventually she just stopped and watched it disappear from view without it moving a muscle. She then felt herself jolt and was ripped away from her dream.

Foxpaw bolting into a sitting position, blinking her eyes for it to get used to the dim light. And by the way the wind smelt, it was already dusk. She then scented another pelt next to hers. She turned her head and saw Nighpaw smiling at her, his black pelt blending deeply into the rock wall, his amber eyes glowing brightly.

"Nice nap?" He asked gently.

Foxpaw nodded and drew her tongue down her back to wash out the moss scraps. "Yes thank you. Did you wake me up for a reason?"

He nodded. "Of course. Owlstar has chosen you along with me, Elmpaw, Badgerpaw, Shadepaw, and Tornadopaw to represent Fire Clan's apprentices to go to the gathering tonight. You remembered right?"

Foxpaw's eyes widened and her insides started to bubble with excitement and nervousness. "O-of course I remember!"

Nightpaw chuckled. "Of course you did," he said as slight amusement glittered in his eyes.

She snorted but still had a smile on her face. "I did! I just forgot momentarily.. I was just very busy for the past few days."

He licked her ear comfortingly. "Yes, I know. Now come on, we're leaving soon."

"Ok," she said as she heaved herself to her paws and padded after him through the tunnel. When she looked around, the sky had already turned dark and the rest of the cats going to the Gathering had already gathered underneath the High Rock.

Owstar looked around him. "Is everyone here?"

Falconwatcher nodded. "Yes," he replied, his pelt blending well with the rocks and dirt around him.

"Good," Owstar said once before flicking his tail and bounded through the camp exit, the rest of the group thundering after him.

Foxpaw ran beside Nightpaw, eyes fixed ahead. Her breath came short as her legs carried her faster and faster along side her clan. They reached the Boulder Ledge. Foxpaw gasped. It was huge! All around it the ground was flat. But then there was half of a hill with a big flat stone at the very top edge.

She felt Nightpaw's gaze on her pelt. She turned at look at him. "What?"

He shook his head. "Nothing. It's just that I had the exact same expression on my face when I saw the Boulder Ledge," he said smiling, turning back to face it as Fire Clan slowly dispersed to chat with the other clans. "It's huge isn't it?"

"Yeah.." Foxpaw said nodding. But for some reason, she felt a strong connection to that ledge, like, she was meant to be up there along with the rest of the clan leaders. Foxpaw shook her head to clear the feeling.

A clan leader life would not be the life for me. She forcefully thought as the feeling slowly ebbed away.

Nightpaw nudged her, breaking her away from her thoughts. "Come on," he said, nodding to a pair of River Clan apprentices. "Let's go talk to them."

Foxpaw suddenly felt uneasy. "Are you sure it's alright?.." She asked wearily, glancing at them.

Nightpaw chuckled nodding. "I'm sure. Just don't say to much about our clan ok? Now let's go," he said calmly, padding towards them. Foxpaw had no choice but to follow.