Burst of Fire

Chapter One

Fire was perched on the windowsill, watching the birds flutter by. He longingly eyed the forests beyond, where other cats hunted and their kittens played all day. Fire sighed , annoyed. While every other cat was having the time of their life in the forest, he was cooped up in a human shelter.

"Fire!" The Female cat next to him snapped. "Stop staring into the trees. Even I aren't stubborn enough to keep wishing to be free. These humans take care of us, and that's all that matters."

Fire turned on the female. "You weren't born in the forest. You can't know how much I yearn to go back! The forest is my home, not this shelter that reeks of human and we're fed these disgusting pellets for breakfast!" Fire calmed down enough to sigh, "Petal, you were born here. You can't imagine how much I want to go back. A reunion with my family and my Dove is all I really want. Who knows, she might have a different mate now! But I was caught, taken away from her..."

Fire and Petal eyed the land outside. Petal twitched with anxiety. No matter how much she refused to admit it, Fire knew that she too wished to see the forest. Fire growled softly as his eyes came to rest on the fence that circled around the property. There was only one reason that He and Petal had not yet tried to escape: Even if they made it to the yard, there was no way out.

*********************

Cloud couldn't help but feel guilty. Fire had disappeared 3 seasons ago, and all Cloud had done since then was to steal his mate, Dove. She was as beautiful as the full moon, with specks of grey throughout her white fur. Apart from guilt, Cloud also felt jealousy. Fire had been caught by humans when he was saving everyone from an angry builder-human who was riding in a bright yellow human-ride. It was trying to build something in the birth clearing; Fire jumped in its way to save the kitten-mothers.

"Why so solemn, Cloud?" asked a sweet, deep, female voice. Cloud looked up. It was Dove, her belly round with kittens. "You have not taken that grim look off of your face ever since Fire was captured."

"I felt sorry for you, having lost your mate." Dove got a quizzing look on her face, so he quickly added, "But not anymore. I mean, he's getting all the attention, being called a hero and everything. I was jealous, but really, I'm not now. And I SO used to feel guilty about stealing you.... but not right now! I love you so much, Dove! Really! I do! I'm so lucky that we're having kittens together right now! I'm so happy I could just, just -"

Dove purred with laughter as she pressed noses with Cloud. "You don't have to explain," she sighed. "I will love you forever and always." Her soft green eyes gazed into his. "I never really liked Fire that much, anyway."

************************

Fire gazed into the woodland once more before fallowing Petal to the water dish. The water was metallic-tasting and warm. Fire sighed. He dreamed of the day when he could go back to the forest and drink crisp, cold water from the creek that ran through the Pine Forest tribe clearing...

"So," asked Petal, "what are you licking your lips at?" She didn't bother to let Fire answer before talking about things she ate there at the human shelter that made her lick her lips. Fire didn't listen. Instead he daydreamed about returning home to the pine forest, with his kind, oak forest neighbors as allies to fight against the field dogs. He imagined the dogs running in terror, leaving the cats yowling with triumph. He imagined life without humans, without human-shelters or their miserable human-kittens. And most of all, he imagined the day when Dove would welcome Fire back with a night slept with him.

"You weren't even paying attention to me there, were you, Fire?" Petal asked suspiciously. "Really, dude, what's on your mind?" She sighed and said softly, "It's getting dark out."

Fire gazed at the sky. There was a sudden chill in the air. He shuddered as he realized that winter was coming, and coming on fast. Fire yawned, "Goodnight, Petal." Out of the corner of his eye, Fire saw the beginnings of the first snow.

~I wrote this one back in 3rd grade, so I doubt that this was perfect, but I hope you enjoy this series anyway!!!