Hollyleaf x Ashfur

Chapter 2

Hollyleaf padded into camp, her pelt brushing Ashfur's as they dropped their kill onto the pile.

They made their way to the warriors den, Ashfur breaking away to go on patrol. Hollyleaf shrugged and went back to the fresh-kill pile, picking out a juicy mouse.

A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. Then another followed. Huge raindrops spattered the ground as a clap of thunder sounded. Lightning flashed again, striking a tree at the edge of the hollow. Red flames leapt from the leaves, spreading the rest of the forest.

"The forest is on fire!" Hollyleaf yowled. Hollyleaf soon found her brothers, and all three of them sped out of camp, only to be blocked at the thorn barrier by a fallen tree.

"We have to find a place to stay until the fire dies down!" Lionblaze screeched.

"No." Squirrelflight's mew sounded behind them. Her pelt blended into her surroundings. Smoke billowed up from behind them as the fire crept closer.

"There's another way out, just climb up these rocks." Squirrelflight demanded. Hollyleaf followed her mother up the rocks, her paws weighing her down with exhaustion.

They came to the edge of a cliff, just as Ashfur appeared at the other side.

"Help me push this branch into the flames, Ashfur!" Squirrelflight called.

Ashfur's gaze lingered on Hollyleaf as he took the branch up in powerful jaws and jammed it into the narrowing patch where Hollyleaf and her brothers' huddled.

Sadness lingered in his gaze as he looked back at Hollyleaf, ignoring everybody else.

"Their father isn't here to help them now!" He sneered at Squirrelflight.

"Your quarrel with Brambleclaw has got to stop!" She hissed. "You have to realize I'm his mate, not yours! You have to stop trying to punish him!" she screeched in anger.

Ashfur laughed. "I couldn't care less about Brambleclaw. It's not my fault he's mates with a faith-less she-cat. I know you think I've never forgiven Brambleclaw for stealing you from me, but you're wrong, and so is every cat that thinks that. My quarrel is with you, Squirrelflight."

Hollyleaf felt her throat close up, choked with anger and sadness for Ashfur.

He loved my mother once!

"All those moons ago, Ashfur. I didn't realize you were this upset." Squirrelflight said softly.

"Upset!" Ashfur spat. "I'm not upset! You have no idea how much pain I was in. It was like being cut open everyday, bleeding out onto the stones. Even after I found new love, I still feel like that sometimes." He gazed steadily at Hollyleaf and his eyes clouded.

"Now I will make you feel real pain." His sad gaze lingered on Hollyleaf, as if saying he was sorry about what he was about to do. "What better way to show you my pain then to watch your own kit's die in front of you?"

Squirrelflight scowled at him. "Kill them then. You won't hurt me."

Hollyleaf stared at her mother in horror. Ashfur's eyes stretched wide with disbelief as he stared at Hollyleaf.

"If you want to hurt me, find a better way, because they are not my kits." Squirrelflight snarled. "You're lying." Ashfur choked. Hollyleaf felt Lionblaze stiffen beside her. "No, I'm not. Did you see me give birth? Did I nurse them? Did I stay in the nursery until they were apprentices? No!" Squirrelflight spoke softly. "Do the Clans' know?" "No." "I'm telling." Ashfur turned tail and sped through the burning undergrowth.

Hollyleaf felt panic enfold her as she walked slowly across the branch, her head spinning with dizziness. Hollyleaf collapsed on the burned grass, barring her teeth at Squirrelflight as she came near. Hollyleaf stalked away, her paws heavy, her head aching.

Squirrelflight had lied to them.