Blazestar's Fire

“ You try.” Songfall urged. Blazepaw gritted her teeth and reared just as Flintscale had done. She brought her paws down on the water, wincing at the slight sting in her pads. A large wall of white erupted in front of her, sending powerful currents through the river as it fell back down. Flintscale gave her an approving purr. “ Very good!” he praised. Blazepaw puffed out her chest proudly. “ Come on, its time we head back to camp. You can pick a nice juicy piece of fresh-kill- tomorrow you’re going on the dawn patrol!” Flintscale took in a huge breath and dove underwater. Blazepaw watched, fascinated, as his lean shape shimmered below the surface and burst out of the water near the bank. It’s over already? Blazepaw felt a pang of dissappointment. Still, she waded towards the stony shore and scrambled out, shaking her bright ginger pelt and spraying droplets everywhere. “ Bye Blazepaw!” called Owlpaw. Blazepaw waved her tail in farewell and skipped after Flintscale as he lead the way back to camp. As she ducked under the familiar sedge entrance, she suddenly felt bone-tired and stifled a yawn. Flintscale watched her sympathetically. “ You must be exhausted. Show me your paws” she lifted them up. The soft black pads were cracked and held flecks of blood. “ They aren’t used to this sort of exercise. Soon, they’ll look like mine.” Flintscale showed her his own tough grey ones. “ go to the medicine den to get them treated. See you tomorrow!” he bounded away. Blazepaw watched his strong outline and muscles that were hard underneath his pelt. All the other warriors were like that, strong and powerful. Will I ever be like that one day? suddenly, six moons of training seemed like a long time. A bright ginger pelt flashed at the edge of her vision. Redriver was ducking into the warriors den. Blazepaw stopped. She dug her claws into the ground and fluffed out her pelt. It had been such a great day that Blazepaw hardly had time to think about Redriver. But now... she felt a familiar twist in her heart. I must speak to her. Blazepaw padded towards her mother. “ Redriver?” she called tentatively. No answer. Then, the entrance trembled as the beautiful she-cat came out. She flicked her ear irritably. “ Who’s there?” she grumbled. Her eyes rested on Blazepaw. “ What do you want?’ she barked. Blazepaw scuffed at the ground with her paws. “ I-I wanted to tell you about my training today,” she chocked. “ Don’t bother. I don’t want to listen.” Redriver growled. “ But-but...” Redriver stalked away and padded into her den. Blazepaw stood stiff legged with horror. Some invisible cat jabbed a claw into her chest. Redriver! the wail caught her in throat. She darted into the den and stared at her mother. “ Redriver! Redriver, please!” she howled. Redriver’s eyes flashed. “ Do what? Be a mother to you? Be a mother to the cat who killed Blackflame?” “ I didn’t kill him!” “ Yes! You made him die! If it wasn’t for you, Blackflame would still be alive!” Blazepaw gasped in horror. The blood roared in her ears and she staggered in hot agony. “ Blackflame would want you to be a mother to me!” she struggled to control her emotions. “ he would be disappointed in you.” she dropped her voice to a cold whisper. I have done nothing wrong! I did not kill my father! You are heartless! she screamed inside. Redriver stood up at this. She bared her fangs. She let out a blood-curdling yowl. The next thing Blazepaw knew, blood was welling on her muzzle.Redriver lashed her tail and crouched in the corner of the den. “ Get away from me!” she snarled. Blazepaw was numb. Every bone in her body ached and every muscle screamed. Her heart was tearing, splitting in two at Redriver’s words. With a wail she fled, ignoring the stinging in her paws. Medicine could heal them, but it could never heal her heart. ��Chapter 5