Flamepaw's Quest

Chapter 11

            "Kittypets," Rosepettle snarled, standing next to Flamepaw. Her claws were unsheathed, and Flamepaw nervously unsheathed hers, facing the three cats.
            How had Flamepaw not realized they were kittypets before? All three wore collars, each a different color. A gray tabby tom stood, hissing at them. A tortoiseshell she-cat stood next to the tom, her claws unsheathed. For a kittypet's, they looked rather sharp. Lastly, a white tom with black spots stood behind them, though he didn't seem as angry as the others.
            "Maybe we should go," Flamepaw whispered to Rosepettle. "They don't seem too friendly."
            "They're just kittypets," Rosepettle stubbornly replied. "How hard can they be?"
            As soon as she said that, the tortoiseshell leapt at Rosepettle, pinning her down. Flamepaw gasped as the tom leapt onto her and knocked her over. Gasping for breath, Flamepaw tried to remember the very few battle moves Dusktail had taught her.
            She squeezed out of the tom's grasp, watching as Rosepettle stood staring at the tortoiseshell, her eyes widened. Surprisingly, these cats refused to claw. They only held down their opponents.
            "Do something!" Rosepettle called to Flamepaw.
            The striped gray tom was making his way towards Flamepaw again. Flamepaw bit her lip and stopped moving backwards. She had to help Rosepettle.
            "STOP!" she shrieked.
            All three kittypets froze, staring at Flamepaw. She knew it was only a matter of seconds before one of them launched at her again.
            "We come in peace!" Flamepaw called. "We're only looking for a cat!"
            All three cats exchanged glances, then retreated. The tortoiseshell let Rosepettle go, and Rosepettle immediately bolted up, shouting, "Yeah! That'll teach you not to mess with RiverClan!"
            Flamepaw nervously stood. Perhaps traveling with Rosepettle was not the best decision. The she-cat was incredibly stubborn. Who knew when she would get them into another bad situation?
            The tortoiseshell only rolled her eyes. "You're looking for a cat?" she asked.
            Flamepaw nodded. "Yes. Have you seen a golden she-cat go by? Her name is Goldstar."
            The spotted tom shook his head. "I haven't seen a cat."
            Flamepaw's heart dropped. She glanced around, then looked down at her paws. "Okay. Thank you though," she sighed. "Come on, Rosepettle. We better head off."
            "Wait!" the striped tom called. It was the first time she'd heard him speak.
            Flamepaw looked up, hopeful. "Yes?"
            "We may not have seen the she-cat, but if you come by here again, just ask for us, and maybe we'll have seen her. I'm Smoky by the way," he said. Getting a better look at him, Flamepaw realized he was not as large as he seemed, and he had a white fuzzy belly that seemed to die down his tough image.
            "I'm Neko," the spotted tom introduced himself.
            "And I'm Patches. You seem like nicer clan cats. Well, except you, white kitty," Patches growled. "You're as stubborn and annoying as all the rest."
            A low grumble rose in Rosepettle's throat, but Flamepaw hit her with her tail before it could advance into any harmful words.
            "Thanks again," Flamepaw said to the three cats. Patches and Smoky padded away, but Neko lingered beside Rosepettle and Flamepaw.
            "Your kittypet friends are waiting," Rosepettle told Neko, pointing to Smoky and Patches, who stood at the door of their twoleg nest.
            "I want to come with you," Neko spoke quietly.
            Rosepettle laughed. "You! A kittypet! Come with us?" She glanced at Flamepaw. Flamepaw did not laugh though but studied the tom. It seemed like he truly meant what he said.
            "It's true!" Neko argued. "Please, I'd be a great addition! I want to help you find the lost cat!"
            "Stop whining, softie," Rosepettle snapped. "This quest is for clan-cats only. And last I recalled, you're only a kittypet."
            Neko sighed and dropped his tail between his legs, starting to pad away.
            "Wait!" Flamepaw called, suddenly feeling sorry for the tom. Neko turned around, a hopeful expression on his face.
            "Flamepaw, what are you doing?" Rosepettle whispered.
            "Come on, Rosepettle. He can at least help. Maybe he'll be useful," Flamepaw whispered in return.
            "Hello?" Neko asked.
            "You can come with us," Flamepaw told Neko.
            Neko's eyes lit up and he raced towards them. "Oh, thank you! Thank you!" he exclaimed.
            "Yeah, yeah," Rosepettle grumbled. "Just don't bring your soft-hearted kittypet feelings along with you."
            "Come on. Let's go!" Rosepettle called, leading them past Neko's home. Flamepaw and Neko trotted with Rosepettle. To be honest, Flamepaw was glad to have Neko with them. Perhaps he'd be able to keep Rosepettle from making bad decision, as Flamepaw had proved to be unsuccessful at that.
            "So where are we heading to?" Flamepaw asked Rosepettle.
            "I was thinking we continue searching the RiverClan border and around the territory," Rosepettle explained. "Then, we can head out into further forest, like near Moonstone."
            "Good idea," Flamepaw agreed.
            Neko was silent, probably confused. Flamepaw, however, did not feel like explaining to him all these warrior terms, so she let him walk in silence. They continued walking for awhile until Flamepaw's stomach began to rumble. She had not had anything to eat since the day before, missing her morning meal.
            "Are you hungry too?" Rosepettle asked.
            Flamepaw nodded.
            "I'm actually a bit famished myself," Neko commented.
            "You're a kittypet. You're as plump as the prey we catch," Rosepettle snapped.
            "Rosepettle," Flamepaw warned.
            Rosepettle sighed. "Just, forget it. Let's see if we can find some food in the forest."
            Flamepaw nodded, following Rosepettle back into the woods. It was nice to be away from twolegs and in a more comfortable environment. She enjoyed smelling the scent of RiverClan all over again.
            "There are so many scents here!" Neko gasped.
            "There are many cats in our clan," Flamepaw explained. "Plus, they probably just completed morning patrol."
            Flamepaw's heart ached as she thought of her mother and father, who most likely were worrying sick about her. She thought of Dusktail, who was probably upset she was missing training. Still, Gingerkit had made it Flamepaw's mission to rescue Goldstar, and she would not return to RiverClan until Goldstar was with her.
            Rosepettle led them to the river near the edge of the territory. Neko's eyes widened as he came towards it, and he immediately lapped at the cold water. Flamepaw, thirsty herself, lapped at the water beside him.
            "This is the best water I've ever drank!" he exclaimed.
            "What? Your owners just grab water from their home?" Rosepettle asked.
            Neko nodded.
            "Everything is fresh here!" Rosepettle explained. "And, just an F.Y.I, try to keep the kittypet comments down. I'm getting annoyed."
            Neko shrunk down. "Oh, sorry," he replied.
            As Rosepettle glanced in the river for a fish, Flamepaw gazed at Neko. He looked about the age of a warrior, maybe older. She couldn't help but wonder why he had quickly decided to leave his kittypet life for a little bit to help them out. Then, she saw him gazing at Rosepettle for  a few seconds before turning away.
            That's why, Flamepaw thought to herself. She felt her heart sink a little, which surprised her. So what if Neko had a tiny crush on Rosepettle? It wasn't like Flamepaw liked him herself... She had just met the kind tom that day.
            "Water vole!" Rosepettle gasped.
            Flamepaw looked up just in time to see Rosepettle leap at the river's edge. She turned around, a plump vole in her jaws.
            "Eat up!" she commanded. Flamepaw took a bite, sharing the vole with Rosepettle.
            Seeing Neko sitting all alone, refusing to touch the meat, Rosepettle rolled her eyes. "All right, kittypet. You can have a bite too," she sighed.
            Neko grinned and took a bite at the vole, humming as he ate it. Flamepaw supposed this was the first piece of meat he had ever tasted, and she supposed he'd be left wanting more, just as Flamepaw had.
            "The fish is the best," Flamepaw exclaimed. "It's what we mostly catch. Though voles are good too."
            "Are you kidding?!" Neko exclaimed. "This is the best piece of food I've ever put into my mouth!"
            "Neko, your kittypet is showing," Rosepettle reminded him.
            "Oh, sorry," Neko sighed. He finished up the vole, and the three sat by the edge of the river for awhile in silence.
            "Maybe Goldstar is dead," Rosepettle said at last.
            "Rosepettle!" Flamepaw gasped, seeing the somber expression on the white she-cat's face. "Don't say that! Gingerkit said she was only in danger, not dead."
            "Who's Gingerkit?" Neko asked.
            "Oh, boy," Flamepaw groaned. "This will take a lot of explaining."
            And so, for quite some time, both Flamepaw and Rosepettle recounted the tale of how their leader had gone missing the day before, and against their deputy's wishes, they had decided to look for her after Flamepaw received a dream from StarClan, the place of dead cats.
            "So a dead kitten talked to you?" Neko asked.
            Flamepaw nodded.
            "Neato!" Neko exclaimed.
            "Only leaders and medicine cats can talk to them though. It's a bit odd Flamepaw could," Rosepettle explained, gazing at Flamepaw.
            Flamepaw had never really thought about it before. It wasn't common for a normal apprentice to hear from StarClan. Perhaps this truly was a special case.
            "I wish I could talk to dead cats," Neko sighed. "My mother...she's a dead cat."
            "I'm sorry, Neko," Flamepaw sighed. She wanted to say she felt the same, but she had never lost a cat in her family before. Instead, she cleared her throat and turned to Rosepettle. "Where should we go next?" Flamepaw asked.
            "This way!" Rosepettle called, leading them even further into RiverClan territory.