Rage

Chapter 2

"Harder, Scarletpaw!"

Scarletpaw was out training with her mentor, Tinyblaze, and her brother.

"Yeah, Scarletpaw, harder!" Skypaw mocked her.

"Fox-heart." She muttered under her breath.

"Scarletpaw, put force into your blows! Your paws are like ferns!" Her mentor snapped. The red tabby she-cat sighed. Tinyblaze's temper was as short as her height!

Scarletpaw tried harder, but could never do it.

Her mentor sighed. "You will never get it."

The old she-cat sighed, trotting off.

The other red she-cat stood there, ashamed of herself.

Skypaw looked at her. "Maybe if you try harder, you could get it!"

"And now you decide to be supportive!" Scarletpaw growled.

Her brother flinched. "Sis..."

"Don't 'sis' me!"

"S- I mean, Scarletpaw, don't...overreact."

"I can overreact if I want to!"

"Bu-but..."

"Discussion over."

They just finished arguing when Scarletpaw's mentor came back.

"I have decided for Skypaw to show you how it's done."

The gray tabby tom first had a surprised expression, but then it curled into a snarl.

Skypaw smirked. "I would love to." He reared back on his front paws, and struck a mighty blow to her chest.

She staggered back, having lost her breath.

She had never felt such pain.

Had her brother had had unsheathed claws?

No. He hadn't.

She had seen...

So why did it hurt so much?

And then, she collapsed.

***

Willowstorm sighed. "Who knew that a little blow to the chest could almost kill you?"

Scarletpaw woke up, gasping. She stared at Willowstorm, not getting what she had just said. "Wha-what happened..." she slurred.

Willowstorm looked tired. "You were passed out for two days."

"Two days?! Just because my brother hit me?" She gasped.

The medicine cat shook her head. "You don't fully understand."

"How do I not?"

The silvery gray she-cat was lost in thought for a moment.

"Why? Tell me!!!"

"You have a weaker heart than normal. That means that you cannot battle."

Scarletpaw sat there taking in what she had just said. "I can- I can..."

"You will have to be a medicine cat apprentice." Willowstorm explained.

The red she-cat felt hot. With anger.

"But... I want to be a warrior!" She snapped. "What do you know anyway..."

"I am your medicine cat." The silvery gray she-cat told her.

"I already know that!!! And I am not becoming a medicine cat apprentice!"

"Please..."

"No pleases! I know what I am doing! I do not have a weak heart, I do not have problems... I wish my life wasn't a nightmare!"

Just before Scarletpaw went, she saw a flicker of fear in Willowstorm's eyes.
They were all scared of her.

***

Scarletpaw staggered out of the den. The medicine cat said that her heart was weak. Having anger problems, this was bad news for her. She could die at any moment...

She saw her brother Skypaw approach her. "Are you okay?" He asked worriedly.

"Do you think that having a bad heart is okay?!" She snapped.

Skypaw sighed. "You should treat others better, you know."

"I treat cats fine!"

"You know that you might just be the death of some cats?"

Scarletpaw knew exactly what he meant...

It was a mistake! An accident! Couldn't they see?

Everyone was scared of her...

***

Willowstorm sighed, entering Bouncestar's den. "Bouncestar?" She called.

Her wise leader stepped out form the shadows. "Yes?"

"I...need to tell you something."

"And what might that be?"

Willowstorm shuddered. "Never mind..."

Bouncestar chuckled. "I need to know what's on your mind, Willowstorm."

"If don't really feel like... talking..." she shuddered.

The medicine cat tried to change the subject. "Why is your name Bouncestar?"

Her leader laughed. "It was a nickname I got as a kit a long time ago, and it somehow stuck. And you still have something to tell me."

Willowstorm nodded. There was no use keeping it from her.

And she told her the prophecy.