Gilafang's Resentment (Book 4)

Chapter 17

Gilapaw woke to a screech in the night. He shot out of his makeshift den of soft pelts, his fur bristling. Badgerfang and Turtleface shot forward, pelting towards the entrance of the den towards the cry. Sam ran after them, fully awake with fear.

They burst outside, and the hazy scent of fire hit Gilapaw like a tital wave. His eyes and lungs burned in the smoke lifting from the barn. His eyes widened. The kits!

Sam seemed to have this realization too, for they both pelted down the path towards the field, running desperately towards the flaming barn. The group behind Gilapaw ran after them, their eyes glittering with determination. This was the warrior code.

No kit shall be neglected no matter their kin.

By the time they reached the barn, the smoke was too thick to see a fox length ahead. Gilapaw kept pushing himself, his lungs burning as he stared at Sam's bushy tail. As they entered the barn, he broke away, coughing over his shoulder. "Meet me back outside! We have to split up if we are gonna find Weasel, Claw and the kits!" He cried, and, without waiting for an answer, bolted off to the heart of the blaze.

Sparks flew everywhere. Embers of wood burnt to a crisp fell like acid rain, and Gilapaw dodged them, zigzagging back and fourth to avoid getting singed. His lungs were screaming, and he coughed, staggering slightly. He fell down, his eyes watering and his lungs heaving for clean, fresh air.

He closed his eyes, determination sparking in his heart. I have to go on. I have to save the kits! He thought, forcing himself to his paws. He took another wobbly step and soon grew more strength, driven by desperation and determination. He had to go on.

A loud crack above his head broke his thoughts, and he looked up, shielding his eyes from the smoky haze to see a blazing wooden slab, its connection to the barn weak, breaking into tiny embers of charcoal. Gilapaw let out a yelp as a spark brushed his shoulder, and he dove out of the way as the plank of wood came crashing down, spraying flames everywhere like a splash of water. A sudden yowl of agony split the air.

Gilapaw shook his fur, trying to clear his hazy mind. His breaths were becoming tight, short and ragged, and he knew he had to leave soon. But he had to find the cat who had made the yowl of pain. Heading in the general direction of the yowl, he knew he had to be close.

A tiny moan caught his attention. Gilapaw perked his ears up, and called out in a raspy voice. "Hello? Claw?"

He was answered by a faint whimper of reply, and Gilapaw followed the sound, trotting faster. He rounded a bend to see the plank that had fallen, fallen right on top of a shadowy black figure. "Claw!!"

Gilapaw rushed towards the tom, unsheathing his claws. He dug them into the sizzling wood, the flames subsided now that it had fallen. His paw pads screamed as he touched the wood, but he pushed harder, using the pain as new strength. Suddenly a paw nudged him and he stopped. Claw looked up at his with amber eyes, glazed over in pain.

"Save... Moss and Pebble..." He wheezed breathlessly. The two kits were beside their father, huddling together in fear. They looked up at Gilapaw with matching blue eyes. Gilapaw growled, and shook his head.

"No! You'll be fine, let me save you!" He insisted, unsheathing his claws again to push the plank off his friend. Claw growled.

"Go!"

Gilapaw's pads burned as he touched them to the ground, but he ignored it and bent over to lick Claw's forehead. "Claw, I will protect them with my life," he whispered, and he moved closer to Moss and Pebble, picking the two up by their scruffs. "I promise."

Tail dragging behind him, he carried the two shaking kittens back towards the entrance, his chest tight. When he finally made it into the open air, he collapsed, heaving in the clean air like he would never get a chance to again.

Turtleface stood over him beside a char-furred Sam, who was licking a heaving Weasel worriedly. Badgerfang turned his eyes to Gilapaw. "Where is Claw?" He demanded.

Turtleface gave him a harsh look. "Badgerfang!" She rasped, as if she was in as long as Gilapaw. "He's barely breathing, let the poor apprentice catch his breath!!"

Gilapaw licked to two shaking kits beside him before he shook his head sorrowfully. "Turtleface... He..." Gilapaw was broken off by a fit of coughs. Sam's eyes widened and he hung his head, as if to give up.

The rest of the group nodded in understanding, and Turtleface helped Gilapaw up. "Its alright, Gilapaw. You saved Moss and Pebble, you did wonderfully.

Sam and Weasel shared their mourning. "We will miss him. We all will." They murmured. Gilapaw curled his tail protectively around the two kits. "They are mine to protect. I swore their safety on my life, and that is what I will do." He caught Sam's gaze. "I hope you understand.

Sam nodded sorrowfully. "They are yours to keep, Gilapaw." He said quietly, a tiny smile crossing his lips. "Claw asked you, its only honorable to give him his final wish."