Prologue
"This was never meant to happen..." Amber eyes darkened with worry and guilt as they looked down upon the broken gray form Fireheart had dutifully carried back to camp. Ears pressed flat with disbelief as it was mentioned that the young cat could never be a warrior.
"We underestimated Tigerstar's ambition." Another voice added to the first. "He doesn't care what sacrifices are made, as long as he can obtain the power he wants so desperately."
The first cat that had spoken, a beautiful tortoiseshell with soft amber eyes let a small sigh pass her lips. "But Yellowfang said it. She may never become a warrior, now…"
"Why not?" Both cats turned at the sound of a new voice, deep and strong as the cat it came from.
"Oakheart." The other cat seemed mildly disgruntled by the reddish-brown tom's arrival. "Why are you here? You have no business with ThunderClan."
"I could say the same to you, Raggedstar." Oakheart pointed out, his whiskers twitching. "Besides, I want to watch over those I love, too."
Raggedstar was quiet for a moment, before he snorted. "It's no wonder you became deputy, Oakheart. You would have made a fine leader."
The tortoiseshell shook her head. "Now's not the time or place to be discussing that…" She mewed quietly, looking back down on the limp bundle of fur settled in her old den—now Yellowfang's.
"You're right, Spottedleaf." Raggedstar bowed his head—almost as if in apology, though Spottedleaf would never call him out on it, since the old leader hardly displayed such emotions. "But there's nothing we can do here."
"Why not?" Oakheart objected hotly, lashing his tail as he fixed his own amber eyes on the young apprentice. "We've all said it—this wasn't supposed to happen. So why are we letting it?"
Spottedleaf shook her head. "We cannot control them, Oakheart, that goes against everything they—and we—know."
"We heal leaders' wounds." He meowed.
"The wounds that killed them." Raggedstar had phased from remorse to exasperation, and Spottedleaf felt herself growing impatient as well. "And had she been a leader, and had this been a death-blow, we may have been able to do something. But-"
"Fine." Oakheart shrugged, catching both cats off guard. "We won't heal her. But I won't just sit back and do nothing."
"Then what are you going to do…?" Spottedleaf's eyes were wide as she noticed the stubborn set to Oakheart's shoulders, and the flash of his amber eyes as he looked down at Cinderpaw.
"I'm going to help her. With me training her in her dreams, and your dearest Fireheart training her below, Cinderpaw will be a warrior in no time."
"But Oakheart-!" Her objection did no good, as the reddish brown tom was already bounding away. Slowly, she let her eyes wander back down to Cinderpaw, who was shifting fitfully in her sleep.
Good luck, Oakheart… If anyone can help her, it's you… And if any cat could save her… She watched as Firheart pushed his way quietly into his apprentice's nest of bracken, his ears and tail low with the weight of his thoughts. It's Fireheart.
So, this is the beginning of my first ever Fire X Cinder fic, and I am super excited! I got a review requesting a Fire X Cinder fic, and one also requesting a Swift X Bright fic, so I figured I would kill two birds with one stone. How much would change if Cinderpaw had been given the chance to recover? If her leg had healed properly and she had continued her training? For now, I'll just say… A lot xD Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think!