Template:Blazestar's Fire/Sample

Prologue

Fire danced from treetop to treetop, the screams of terrified cats echoing in the dawn air. The soft light of early mornings was burnt by fire that seemed to scorch the sky. An old grey tabby she-cat hissed to brown-and-white she-cat.

“ Get the elders, I’ll get the queens. Are all the apprentices safe?” at her deputies nod, the old grey tabby lumbered off towards an overgrown tree stump, shaking her head in wonder at a fire alive near the river. Water! That’s what we need. But there was no time to get it now. Cats must be saved first.

“ Good news, Willowstar! Elders clear! Warriors evacuating.” the deputy announced. Willowstar nodded and turned to the two cats who had exited the tree stump. One was a small dappled grey with two kits, the other an extremely gorgeous she-cat carrying unborn kits.

“ There’s a fire, leave camp immediately. Here, I’ll carry one.” Willowstar stooped to pick up a she-kit from the dappled cat’s litter.

“ We know.” the beautiful she-cat hissed, but followed her leader. The dappled grey cast an anxious look at her kit before darting away between burning tree stumps. She returned later with empty jaws to take her kit.

“ Go safely, Littlewhisker.” Willowstar handed the queen her daughter. Littlewhisker blinked gratefully ad scooped up the wailing kit. Suddenly, the golden-brown she-cat dropped to the floor. She moaned as her body began to convulse. Willowstar’s breath stopped. She knew this cat was giving birth, but in the middle of a fire? How would she live? A handsome black-grey-and white tom sped over, pelt streaked with dirt. His face widened with concern when he spotted his agonized mate.

“ What’s happening? Is it the kits?” Willowstar nodded. He dropped beside his mate and caressed her flank with lavish licks.

“ You can do it, Redriver. Just hurry before the fire devours us.” he joked. The she-cat rolled on her back, her ginger fur blending in with the landscape.

“ Go on without me and save yourself. These kits will take their time.” she growled. Willowstar glanced about anxiously, paws pricking with urgency.

“ We must leave!” she wailed. The tom looked at her, his eyes giving away his own terror.

“ Leave, Willowstar. I can handle this.” he curled himself around his mate and murmured soothingly. Redriver wailed once more as her kits struggled to be born.

“ Where is Larkwing?” Redriver called for the medicine cat.

“ She’s probably evacuated. You’re going to have to do this on your own.” Blackflame shuddered as he saw his mate’s eyes roll back in her head. Redriver kneaded her claws into the dry ground, letting out hacking coughs as smoke filled her nostrils. What a way to give birth. Redriver snorted in grim amusement. She gasped as another spasm wracked her body. Help me, StarClan! Redriver groaned once more, and wailed as Blackflame grasped her scruff and dragged her to the shelter of an old holly bush. He glanced over his shoulder, the flames were nearing. Redriver closed her eyes as agony wracked her once more. The first kit is coming! She narrowed her eyes at Blackflame.

“ Leave. The kit will be born soon, I’ll join you then.” but Blackflame stubbornly shook his head. Redriver focused on not screaming out loud. It’ll all be over in just a bit. Redriver tried to soothe herself, but to no avail. Suddenly, a scream broke out from her throat against her will and laced the crackling air. Her firstborn kit suddenly slid into the world. Redriver groaned. She felt that this was the only kit in her litter and there were no more. Blackflame was watching, the wonder in his eyes as he gazed at his daughter was astounding. Redriver purred at his expression. Blackflame reached out a claw to poke the fiery-brown kit that had began to wail. His gaze melted at her cry.

“ We must leave now.” he grabbed his daughter up by the scruff and helped Redriver to her feet. Redriver’s legs wobbled with exhaustion and her eyelids drooped, but she forced herself to stay on her feet. Blackflame allowed her to lean into his shoulder and they set off across the fiery camp, skirting around clumps of burning bushes. Suddenly, a dull roaring filled their ears. A massive wall of fire erupted out of nowhere, streaming in their direction. Blackflame’s eyes widened with horror, he shoved the kit into Redriver’s mouth.

“Go!” he wailed, shoving her with his nose. Redriver stumbled away, but the fire bore down on them, hissing cruelly. Blackflame suddenly stopped. There was another wall of fire that led to the camp entrance/exit. A small gap stood between two clumps of burning fern, enough for one cat to squeeze through. Redriver glanced over her shoulder, the wall of fire reared above them like a snake. Blackflame nudged her towards the gap.

“ There’s only room for one cat.” he whispered. Horror pulsed through Redriver and she wailed like a kit.

“ No! I’ll stay with you forever!” she pressed against his side. Blackflame gently drew away from her, his eyes glistening with grief but hardened with determination.

“ You must live. You and our kit.” he pressed his cheek against hers. I don’t care about the kit! I want you! Redriver tried to scream, but her throat choked the words. Blackflame guided her to the flames.

“ Hurry.” his voice was calm facing death. Redriver numbly walked through the fire, too numb to acknowledge the fact that the fire didn’t burn her kits outstretched tail. She turned around just in time to see Blackflame stare at her, his eyes full of love and sorrow.

“ See you in StarClan.” he murmured.

“ And to you.” Redriver’s jaw moved of it’s own accord. She glanced away just before the fire roared once more and darkened Blackflame’s eyes forever.