“Another case of green-cough?” I meowed worriedly as I joined my sister Goldensong to watch as a hacking Silvereagle was escorted by Treeheart into the medicine cat den. “That’s what, the fifth case?”
“Thankfully no one’s died yet but…” Goldensong didn’t finish the sentence but I was fairly certain that she was thinking it would only be a matter of time. “Don’t push yourself too much, alright Firepaw? I need you to stay healthy and not get sick.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” I tried to smile reassuringly to the golden she-cat but I couldn’t help but feel a deep fear and worry when all thoughts came to the illness spreading through our camp.
“Hey Firepaw hurry up, we’re supposed to go hunting with our mentors now!” Nettlepaw yelled in annoyance while the tip of his tail twitched with impatience. The dark brown tom with lighter spots was the oldest apprentice among us and, even though it hadn’t even been a moon since his arrival to the Clan, he was already trying to take charge of us. “If you take any longer we’re going to leave without you.”
I rolled my eyes at Goldensong who snickered and gave me a sympathetic smile. “You better hurry or he’ll come over here and drag you away by your tail.”
I snorted, I’d like to see him try, before quickly joining Nettlepaw, his mentor Stripedtail and my mentor Tailfur. “Took you long enough,” Nettlepaw and Stripedtail exclaimed at the same time while they both giving me a scrutinizing glare.
Could those two be any more similar? “Yeah, yeah sorry,” I snorted while stalking past over my shoulder I exclaimed rudely. “I’ll be sure to take longer next time.”
“Firepaw,” Tailfur sighed and gave me a disapproving look. “Don’t talk like that to warriors, it’s disrespectful.”
“I’ll note that for the next time,” I meowed with a whatever tone in my voice before pulling ahead in order to get through the camp first. Looking around I frowned in disapproval at the snow that left a white blanket on the ground. Lifting my paw I shook the snow off crossly, how could something so pure be so cold? Flicking my ear, I shot the others an annoyed glance before exclaiming loudly. “StarClan! You guys are so slow!” I smiled smugly as Nettlepaw gave me a miffed glare. Of course I’d probably get in trouble for this, but that expression… priceless.
Tailfur quickly leaned over to Stripedtail, who looked about ready to slash my ears off, and whispered urgently into his ear. Stripedtail, content with whatever my brown mentor said, focused on me and said. “Firepaw, we’ve decided that it would be best if you refrained from coming hunting with us. It would seem the nursery is need of cleaning… so it would seem more fitting for you to stay and help out there.”
“Of course Stripedtail…” I dipped my head, while turning away so as not to see Nettlepaw’s gloating expression. “I’ll be sure to get it done,” heading back to the camp I froze when a loud, grieving yowl came from inside. It sounded a lot like… “Tailfur, did you hear that?”
My mentor didn’t reply, his eyes wide before leaping into the camp, practically shoving me aside. Nettlepaw looked at me, with a curious expression. “What’s wrong? Who’s cry was that?”
“It was Snowfall,” I murmured and, not giving any more of an explanation, I whirled and chased after Tailfur. I quickly charged across the camp and skidded to a halt in front of the medicine cat den. Cautiously peering into the nursery, my tail drooped as my fears were realized. Tailfur sat, with hunched shoulders, in front of his limp daughter Crowkit. His tail rested comfortingly against his whimpering mate while he gently nuzzled the black kit’s limp body.
“I’m sorry Tailfur, I did the best I could do for her but without catnip all I could do was ease her suffering,” Treeheart whispered and I felt a deep guilt flash through me. The lack of catnip was all my fault, if I hadn’t gotten captured by CityClan cats than this would never have happened… Crowkit would still be alive and no one would be anguished right now. I need to do something! If I could somehow get catnip than no one else would have to suffer. “Firepaw what’s up?” Rustypaw joined me while peering into the den. His eyes widened at the scene currently taking place. “She died?”
“Because we don’t have any catnip Treeheart wasn’t able to heal her,” I informed him numbly.
“Should we do something? I mean surely there’s some catnip somewhere around here,” Rustypaw frowned before starting to pace as he struggled for an idea. “Oh! What about that other Clan? Er… SilverClan. Would they give us any catnip?”
“Flamestar is always talking about how the cats of SilverClan are our friends, so I don’t see why they wouldn’t help us,” I frowned, but it was leaf-bare and they’d probably be hesitant to give us assistance. “I guess it’s worth a shot.”
“Then let’s go!” the dark ginger apprentice grinned with excitement and he started to head for the exit.
“Right now? We should at least inform Flamestar of this.”
“And be left behind while he sends a warrior? If we get the catnip ourselves, we’ll be heroes!”
“But it’s not the way the Clan works…” but the thought of being a hero was tempting. Plus if we brought back the catnip, Nettlepaw would be knocked down a branch or two. My whiskers twitched at the prospect, it would be amusing to wipe the smug look off that furball’s face. “Alright, let’s go.”
“Where are you going?” we froze at the soft curious voice that came from behind us. Whirling around, the two of us came face to face with our smallest denmate. She had a white pelt with small silver flecks and her large eyes were a golden coloring. “Can I come with you?”
Rustypaw and I shared a look before I nodded. If we left Littlepaw behind, there was a good chance she’d tell someone about where we were going. Then a warrior would be sent and we’d be forced to return to the camp. “But if you end up slowing us down, we’ll leave you behind.”
“Thank you Firepaw, Rustypaw,” she smiled timidly at the two of us. “So are we leaving now?”
“The sooner the better,” Rustypaw took the lead as we slipped out of the camp. “So Firepaw, how long do you think it’ll take to reach the SilverClan camp?”
“It’ll probably take us the rest of the day, and that’s not counting any breaks.”
“Then we best get going,” Rustypaw picked up his pace, forcing us to hurry after him. “We don’t have any daylight to waste.”
YOU ARE READING
Firetalon's Destiny
Fanfiction"Beware fire's wrath, one false move and the code shall burn while the Clans turn to cinders." Firekit, besides being the Clan leader's son, is nothing but a normal, energetic kit. But as time passes, and as he witnesses one harsh reality after anot...
