Burst of Fire

Chapter 2

Cloud sniffed the air, the chill of it making him sneeze. I must tell Storm that winter is on the way. He thought. Storm was Cloud's brother and leader of the Pine Forest cats. But instead of heading to big-rock, where Storm sheltered, he made his way to the birth clearing. There he found Dove, resting on the sun-bathe rocks.

"I want you to go rest in the birth-den." Cloud said a matter-of-factly. "Winter is on it's way, and I can taste snow in the air. It isn't safe out here." He thought for sure Dove would just go straight to the birth-den, but instead she let out a shaking laugh.

"Which is exactly why I'm out here. I want to enjoy the last rays of sun before winter comes along." Dove sighed before adding, "Look Cloud, I know you're just trying to protect me, but you're not your brother. Not a tribe leader. You can't tell me what to do."

Cloud realized that she was right. He wondered how much he really sounded like his brother. In truth, though, that was a good thing. Cloud wanted to be leader. In fact, it was his kittenhood dream. Cloud's back fur bristled as his mind formed a way to achieve his dream...

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"Petal! Jack!" Those stupid humans didn't know Fire's name, so they called him Jack. Petal giggled every time they said the human-name. Petal always went straight to the humans, but not so much for Fire. "Jack!" They called again. Fire hated those humans.

"My name isn't Jack..." He muttered, annoyed and embarrassed. But he went to them anyway. As he arrived, he caught phrases of what the humans were saying, but couldn't understand it. Petal stood there with an excited look on her face. "What is it?" Fire asked her. "What are they saying?"

"Well, they're saying..." Petal, who had lived with these humans long enough to understand their language, strained to make out what they were saying. "...that they're going on a camping trip to the great oak forest, and we're going with them! You know what this means, right?" Her Blue-grey fur and dazzling yellow eyes stood out boldly. "We're going to escape!"

Suddenly, Fire filled with hope. His flame colored fur poofed out and his midnight blue eyes gleamed. And those humans thought that they were pet cats. Well guess what? They were wrong. Petal and Fire were the bravest forest cats of all time!

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Cloud made his way to big-rock, always doubting his plan. Would it work? Would he be made leader? Cloud sighed as he realized that this wasn't just a kittenhood dream. It was his ambition. A deadly, frightening ambition, in which he would do anything to achieve it.

Do I really want to do this? Cloud thought. Of course I do. I want to be leader, don't I? Don't I want to be admired and praised, just like Fire? Yes... of course.

All of a sudden, Cloud had a flashback. About a million of them, really. Fire runs through the pine forest, knocking Cloud out of the way as a field dog charges at him. "Why did you do that?!" Cloud exclaims. Fire simply says: "Because your fate was in my paws." ... Cloud is plotting to kill the oak forest leader to earn reign over the forest. Fire barges in and scolds him: "Cloud, with plots like this you'll never become leader yourself!"... Dove lays on sun-bathe rocks, Fire next to her, licking her to keep her warm in the chilly, early spring air. His eyes seem to say: ''She's MINE, Cloud, mine and no one elses!''

That's when Cloud decided that it was what he was going to do. And right on time because he had reached the big-rock. Storm must have heard him approach because he called softly, "enter."

"Hello, Storm." Cloud gestured to the mound of Earth next to his brother. "May I sit?" When Storm nodded, Cloud sat. "I have something to tell you, brother." Cloud began. "As you know, becoming leader is my kittenhood dream. I believe I have found a way to achieve it."

Storm's innocent, curious face almost made Cloud sick. No, he told himself. I have to do this. Cloud's claws slashed Storm's throat. Cloud flinched, but he kept hold of his brother, scarlet blood gushing from the wound. Storm's voice was lost and confused. "Why... Cloud ...?" His eyes glazed over and his body fell limp. Cloud bowed his head.

"I'm sorry, brother."