Flame

Chapter Twelve

Setting off early the next morning, Dove and Flame said their goodbyes to Mazy, Lizzy and Cheese, the latter of which was unexpectedly cold to Flame, much to his puzzlement. When they had left, Dove began to lose herself to her thoughts. Questions of âWhat if â began to pester and tease her. âWhat if I had stayed behind with Cheese?â she thought over and over. She stole a look to the left where Flame was walking beside her. What Cheese had said began to haunt her. âYou love him donât you?â he had said. Her eyes filled with tears at the memories. Adderpelt had just become a warrior before the badgers attacked. She and Adderpelt and her had done everything together. As kits, they had played; as apprentices they had trained together. Dove had had feelings for him. That changed when he became a warrior. He became part of a new crowd. Adderpelt started to join Petalleaf and her friends, leaving Dove to fend for herself. When the badgers attacked, Petalleaf was killed and Adderpelt was crushed. As soon as his wounds healed he ran from the remnant of his clan. Dove had been shocked. A brush of fur brought her back to the moment. Flameâs green eyes were locked on her troubled ones. âWhat are you thinking about?â he asked tenderly. Dove looked away, but said nothing. They continued to walk the side of the river, saying nothing until Flame piped up, âDove, I think it is time to make camp,â She nodded absently. They stopped under the shelter of a willow tree, and Flame excused himself to hunt. As soon as he left, Dove started to claw up the grass in aggravation. I hate to do that! She screamed in her mind. I hate the coldness that has come between us! We should grow on one another not hate each other!

Flame stormed through the woods, unaware of where he was going. Mice scurried under lavender leaves, away from his pounding paws. His thoughts were jumbled together, whirling around his mind like a tornado, popping up mischievously. He stormed under a birch and began to rip at the bark. He new he had feelings for her, but he had no idea what to do with them. He looked up, hoping for anything to help him. Instead, he saw yellow and red leaves.  He was surprised; he didn’t think about the coming of  leafbare. Swimming from the depths of doubt and anxiety, he opened his mouth to the scents of prey. He sensed a squirrel in a nearby tree, cracking open a few nuts. While he crept forward, he thought about all the good times he and Dove had had. Thinking about how she had taught him the very hunting techniques he was using amused him. When he brought his thoughts back to a more present time, reliving every moment, he thought of how Dove’s eyes had glowed at the sight of Cheese. Jealously bombarded his thoughts until it was all he could think of. Cheeses easy smile, his rippling muscles and knife-sharp white claws he began to compare with his own. He looked himself over. Shining coat, gleaming white-tipped tail, sharp claws. His ego took over, telling him that he was way better than that Cheese. A new thought popped into his mind. The image of Dove laying amongst the roses, that brief spark of light that came into her tired eyes. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make Dove love me,” he decided firmly.