Fire Stroken: Chapter 1

Steadying his paws on the rough, hard ground below him, Stormfur made his way back to the tribe with little prey. He looked to the side at his mate, Brook, who was carrying a thin, scrawny mouse and an old shrew. Brook hadn’t been talking to him for a while, and he suspected she was upset about something. “Brook?” He whispered, making his voice sound warm and confident.

Brook turned her head the other side, ignoring him and sped up her pace with Stormfur to find that he was trailing at the rear of their patrol. Stormfur grew frustrated as the day went on; when it was time for the tribe to eat, she sat near the queens and didn’t even glance at him.

Talon of swooping eagle padded up to him with a small mouse in his jaws; the one Brook had caught. Just thinking about her made frustration grip him like the sharp claw of a ShadowClan cat. Talon blinked at him and dropped the mouse at his paws, then settled down beside him.

“something seems to be bothering Brook,” He commented.” Stormfur bit back a sharp retort of, Yes, I’ve noticed. He eventually sighed and closed his tired eyes to relax. “I give up,” He meowed. “I don’t know what to do.” Talon tipped his head to one side. “What do you mean?” He asked.

“She won’t talk to me! I’ve tried everything I can think of. I know she’s mad at me for something.” Stormfur flexed his claws on the hard cave floor. Talon smirked.

“Are you sure you’ve tried everything?” He smiled. Stormfur glared at him indignantly. Talon shrugged and looked at Brook at back at him. “You could use yours truly.”

Talon meowed. “I’ll go ask her what’s the matter, she’ll tell me, and I’ll report back to you. I am her brother, remember?” Stormfur narrowed his eyes. “Sounds like a plan,” He purred. Talon smirked again, which made Stormfur a little wary, but he knew he could trust his friend.

The next day, the report Talon gave him was something Stormfur never wanted to hear.