Fire burns brightest by the beach

'' Cinderpaw tore through the forest blindly. Everywhere she looked, there was sand. The very wind was made up of the stuff. The fluffy gray apprentice felt it, at first cutting and harsh, tear at her. But then it became softer and gentle. Soon, she was able to merely stand and relish the sensation of the soft powder gently licking her pelt. It was a strange experience yet a good one. She knew that this was not real, yet did not try to escape the dream. It had a sense of importance that she could not quite place. Then something unwordly, something strange happened.After a The storm of sand started to feel a little warmer. And warmer. And warmer.''

''All of a sudden it was tearing at her, burning her pelt wherever it touched. Cinderpaw yowled but the sand tore into her mouth, choking her. It grew hotter and hotter, and soon the sand was literally in flames, scorching Cinderpaw's soft, exposed fur. She screeched and tried to run away but the flames grew hotter. The storm of sand was on fire and it was killing her...''

"Wake up!" a harsh, rasping voice startled her. Cinderpaw opened her eyes, quivering. A skinny, dark gray she-cat with twisted yellow teeth was standing over her, eyes full of concern.

"Yellowfang!" she exclaimed, and tried to pull herself to her feet. Fireheart, his fiery coat gleaming in the sunlight, was probably waiting to teach her how to fight badgers or something. Her heart glowed with anticipation of spending the day with one of the most skilled warriors in the Clan.

Then she remembered.

"Ouch!" she yowled, toppling over. Her leg still felt like it was on fire. That part hadn't been a dream.

"Careful, you great furball!" the medicine cat grunted, but her tone was surprisingly kind. Cinderpaw didn't reply. She felt almost sick with misery. She'd never be a warrior. She'd be condemmed to watching helplessly as Brackenfur became a warrior and Fireheart became a leader and some lucky she-cat got to be his mate...

"How is she? How's my kit?" a frantic voice broke the silence. Cinderpaw recognised Frostfur's voice. She had never expected to be fussed over like this after becoming an apprentice.

"She'll survive, Frostfur, but I'm not sure she'll ever have full use of that leg. She can certainly forget about becoming a warrior any time soon." the ex-rogue muttered gravely. Cinderpaw whimpered. What had happened to her life? One minute, she was the old Cinderpaw; a happy, boisterous apprentice being mentored by Fireheart. The next minute, she was the new Cinderpaw. A bundle of fur lying miserably in the medicine cat's den. Forever.

"Can... can you get Brackenpaw to see me?" she mewed, although there was only one cat she really wanted to see.

"Yes. Is there anything else I can get you? A thrush, maybe?" Frostfur mewed.

(TBC)