Safety and Relief
Three rabbits hopped in the open field. Even though there was no undergrowth to cover him, the rabbits didn't notice Patchpelt stalking forward. "Pounce, Patchpelt!" Adderfang urged. The black-and-white tom obeyed his father, and grasped one rabbit in his teeth. Adderfang caught the others. "Good work."
"You too." Patchpelt felt hot from his run. So hot… He breathed the scent of his catch in, but the savory smell was overwhelmed by smoke-scent.
"Fire!" Dappletail screeched. Patchpelt jerked up from his sleep. Flames leapt about the camp, so close. "Run!" She and Smallear scrambled away.
"One-eye!" Patchpelt hissed. "Hurry!" But the elderly she-cat stumbled as she tried to get up. Patchpelt nosed her to her paws. He nudged her to the exit, hot air pushing around him like an enemy warrior's attack.
That was when the branch fell. A burning, flaming tree limb. One-eye huddled against Patchpelt, and he sheltered her from the stick. The flame had gone out by the time it hit him, but he felt splinters scrape his skin.
"Come on!" One-eye yowled. Patchpelt burst out of the den. Cool air. It felt better than anything Patchpelt could remember. Relief!
"Help!"
Halftail! Patchpelt turned back to his den. He couldn't see his denmate through the smoke, but his voice clearly came from within. Fire streaked across the exit, heat pouring off it.
"Patchkit, I already see your father's courage shining in your eyes," Pinestar said. Patchkit's eyes shown at the compliment. "From now on you'll be called Patchpaw, and I give you Fuzzypelt as your mentor. Listen to him carefully because, though he is young, he is clever enough to teach you how to use your courage wisely."
Patchpelt blinked at One-eye. "Go on. I'll get Halftail." The last thing Patchpelt felt right then was courage. The tom dashed into the wall of heat. It seemed to slow him down like he was moving through water. What he wouldn't give for water! The smoke blinded Patchpelt. He forced his way sightlessly through camp. Bright flames danced before him, and Patchpelt summoned all his remaining strength. He burst through the entrance, ignoring the fire that scorched his fur. Halftail had collapsed. Patchpelt grabbed his denmate and dragged him toward the exit. But the amber-eyed tom had already breathed in too much smoke, and his paws ached from the run to Halftail's aid. He stumbled to the ground. So much heat… Patchpelt couldn't get up. His creaky old legs were too tired, too burnt, too hot. Smoke engulfed him. He needed to get back to safety!
Then firelight broke through the smoke, and he saw something silhouetted against it. Fuzzypelt? Had his mentor come to bring him to StarClan? Then the figure came closer, and he saw not Fuzzypelt, but another cat with wild, dark fur.
"Yellowfang?" he croaked, too hoarse for her to hear. But the heat and smoke was too much. It all faded to black.
I'm coming to you, StarClan. I've finished the race. StarClan was so close. They had finally made it to safety and relief.
