"Oh what am I going to do…?" Cinderpelt shredded her bedding in frustration. She sighed and rolled onto her back. Her disfigured leg stuck out at an odd, uncomfortable angle. She growled remembering how quickly her dreams had been ruined.
Cinderpelt, Cinderpaw at the time, raced towards the Thunderpath. How could Fireheart not trust her to receive the message from Tigerclaw? She pressed on as the metallic scent swarmed her nostrils.
"Bluestar, over here! Come quick!" Tigerclaw's deep yowl could be heard not too far away. Almost there, Cinderpaw thought. Just the thought of receiving an important message, being called a hero for helping the clan, and Fireheart praising her and saying she wasn't a bad apprentice after all sent a flood of warmth from her nose to her tail tip.
"Tigerclaw it's me, Cinderpaw!" She yelled out. She leapt out of the sparse brush onto the Thunderpath. Then the a loud growl made her freeze. It was the growl of a Monster.
"Move mousebrain!" Tigerclaw spat. Cinderpaw's legs locked as the Monster bore down on her, its shiny red hide gleaming. It gave a loud honk and swerved. All she remembered after that was the Monster trampling her with its round paws and Tigerclaw looking down at her with a look of anger and disappointment. Then she fainted.
"Well, that can't be helped now. I'm a medicine cat…. Starclan wouldn't allow it, no one would… But I have to tell Fireheart that I love him…" She ripped out a clawful of moss. "Tomorrow…."
Cinderpelt sat at the entrance of the medicine den, her tail curled neatly over her paws. "Hey, Yellowfang?"
The old she-cat grunted to show she was listening and continued sorting her herb piles.
"How do you tell a tom you have feelings for them…?" Cinderpelt asked casually. Yellowfang paused and straightened up.
"Cinderpelt…. You know the penalties of being a medicine cat….you cannot be distracted by kits and mates." Yellowfang said sternly.
"I know that. I just want to tell Fireheart how I feel!" She pressed on. Yellowfang gave a toothy smirk.
"Fireheart, eh?" Yellowfang chuckled. Cinderpelt growled in annoyance as warmth engulfed her at the mention of her ex-mentor's name. "Just come out and tell him. If he says he has the same feelings…. Well… too bad… If he doesn't…. too bad…. Cinderpelt, it wouldn't go good for either of you. It'd be best not to say anything." She yawned and swept a bit of dirt away from the pile of poppy seeds.
"I'm doing it anyway." Cinderpelt said.
"Why are you so stubborn….?"
"Just look at who my mentor is." Cinderpelt's hackles rose a bit. The two she-cats stared at each other for what felt like hours, but was just mere minutes. Then Yellowfang gave her trade mark raspy laugh.
"You have a point. But if your heart gets crushed, don't come running to me." The seriousness from before returned to Yellowfang's voice. Cinderpelt nodded and scanned the camp for the ginger tom. He was basking in a beam of sunlight, his pelt lighting up like flame.
"Hey, Fireheart!" Cinderpelt called. The ginger tom trotted over to her, his muscles rippling under his sleek, thick fur.
"What is it Cinderpelt?" He cocked his head. The simple movement made her heat flutter.
"Fireheart…. What I'm about to tell can't affect our friendship, okay?"
"Uh… Sure Cinderpelt." Fireheart pricked his ears as he watched Sandstorm walk to the camp exit and caught her eye. Cinderpelt scrunched up her eyes and held her breath. I'm really about to do this….! She thought to herself.
"….. I love you!" Cinderheart sat there waiting for a response.
"Um…. Was that meant for me.…?" A confused voice said. Cinderpelt could instinctively tell the meow did not come from Fireheart. She opened her eyes.
"DUSTPELT!?" She yowled. "Where did Fireheart go?!"
"He's over there with Sandstorm." The brown tabby tom flicked his tail towards the two, who were heading out to go hunting. Cinderpelt flopped onto the ground and sighed. Take good care of him…. Cinderpelt thought watching Sandstorm brush against him. Take good care of her…. Dustpelt thought watching Fireheart brush against Sandstorm.
"Well… now that odd moment is over can you help me with this stubbed claw?" He held out his paw for her to inspect. Cinderpelt smiled.
"Sure… But of you tell anyone…. I kill you!" She growled.
"Okay, okay…. Redtail warned me she-cats could get moody but this is ridiculous…." Dustpelt sighed and followed the her into the medicine den.
