Flame

Chapter Twenty

They set Cherrykit down, Dove trembling with the effort. Flame sat and itched behind his ear. “What do you mean, ‘There are cats down there’? it’s a gorge, who would live in there?” Molekit had been washing Cherrykit’s scared face, but now he spoke up. “We do! That’s Thunderclan camp! We made it!” Dove and Flame exchanged anxious faces. Molekit nosed Cherrykit up and they scampered off. Flame thundered after them, Dove on his heels. Before they knew it, they had ducked through a thorn tunnel, and were standing in the middle of a stone hollow, surrounded by multiple cats. Dove bumped into Flame and drew a sharp breath. A broad-shouldered young cat stepped bluntly forward and said, “What are you doing in my cam--” “MY KITS! THERE YOU ARE!! WHERE DID YOU GO?” The queen stopped to listen but continued. “What? Those cats brought you back? They helped you?” suddenly, the speaker burst from a bramble bush, flinging herself in front of Flame and Dove. “Thank you so much!” she turned to face the young cat who was confronting the two. “Bramblestar! These cats saved my kits! Whatever they want you give it to them! Oh, thank you! I am forever in your debt!” Bramblestar looked her sternly in the face. “Poppyfrost! I highly doubt kits tell the truth. I bet they were running from them! Now,” he said, facing, once again, Dove and Flame. “What are you doing in my camp?” Dove lay exoustedly  down as Flame told Bramblestar of their long journey. He ended with, “Bramblestar, I doubt you will believe me, this tale is almost unbelievable. However, I intercede with you for one reason. My mate is expecting kits. I think her time is near. Please, if only we could stay until her kits are born, and well enough to travel; I will help with hunting, and patrols, we will even take warrior names if you want!” Bramblestar looked pityingly at Dove, whose stomach had swollen considerably. Then he looked around at his clanmates. Their eyes were filled with sorrow and pity. He said, “Until then. Daisy! Escort Dove to the nursery. Lionblaze! Show Flame the territory and cram hunting and battle skills into his head.” Bramblestar retreated into his den, worrying if he had done the right thing, letting cats into the clan, just as leafbare was ending. 

Flame poked his head into the nursery and saw Jayfeather, the medicine cat giving something to Dove. “These are Borage leaves. They are to help you produce milk when your kits come.” he turned and headed out of the den with a curt “Move,” to Flame. Flame entered and sat down next to his mate. “I’ve learned so much about Thunderclan territory today! There’s this great place for training, they call it the clearing. And there is a twoleg half bridge that sticks out over the lake! Oh, the Lake! Dove, it is beautiful! The sun’s rays bounce all over it, the water is as clear as a river, and oh it’s just so pretty!” Dove nodded, every bit as excited as Flame was. “Flame, the kits are to come soon! Jayfeather says that they are to be here in a quarter moon!” Flame was speechless. “That’s great! News like that calls for celebration!” and he bounded out of the nursery to find the juiciest prey for his mate. Carefully, he turned over each piece of prey until he found a freshly caught, fat thrush. Elated, he picked it up, savoring the delicious smell that flooded his senses. He trotted into the nursery and interrupted a conversation between Daisy and Dove. “Dove I-- oh, sorry,” He laid the thrush in front of Dove and left, hoping to have an audience with Bramblestar.