A/N: Wow! The reviews were great for the first chapter! Thanks a lot for the support! Oh, and just to tell you, I won't be starting any more new stories until I finish the ones I'm working on, K? I just wanna stay on topic, but if you have ideas for future stories for me to write, tell me! They'll be on my list, and as soon as I finish Graypaw, I'll write them! Well, I may or may not, it depends. Anyway, thanks again! Here, I have Another cat who doesn't like the Sandstorm x Fireheart/star couple!
"CINDERPELT!" An ear peircing yowl erupted from just outside my den. I shuddered at the noise, Curling my tail tightly around my rear. "Cinderpelt! Cinderpelt!" More yowls of pain came. I opened my eyes, feeling a snarl escape my throat.
"What is it?!" I snapped, leaping to my feet. A young apprentice trembled in front of me, stepping back a bit. My expression fadded from angry to comforting, and I sat down calmly.
Cloudpaw stared, wide eyed. I stared back, realizing that it was Fireheart's apprentice who was calling my name. "I'm sorry... Um, what brings you here, Cloudpaw..." I muttered, looking at the ground with embarrassment. Cloudpaw kept staring. I sighed. I'd obviously scard the poor cat! What would he tell Fireheart?...
I shivered at the thought. I could imagine Fireheart's stern gaze. How could I scare his apprentice half to Starclan? "Erm... I-I tripped and sort of... ehm, twisted my paw..." The long haired tom mumbled, ears flat agains his head. I sighed once more and shook my head. "I'm sorry if I scared you, I didn't mean to..." I said, no emotion in my voice. The only thing that I could think about was Fireheart hearing about how much I frightened Cloudpaw.
"Here, come. I can help your paw. Hold it out for me to inspect, please." I ordered, trying to act casual. "Okay," Cloudpaw murmured, lifting his white furry paw towards me. I sniffed it warily, and looked it over. The apprentice was right. His paw was twisted. Not badly, more like sprained, but he'd have to stay off it for awhile.
"Does this hurt?" I asked, nudging his paw with my nose just to comfirm. "Yes." Cloudpaw said with a nod, looking like he was about to yowl in pain. I grunted to myself, before padding towards my shelf of herbs. "Let's see..." I said, glancing around. Cloudpaw waited patiently, whiskers twitching occasinally. I muttered the name of the berries I'd need to use to myself, and snatched some off the shelf.
I chewed them up, and spit the chewed berry out onto the ground. I grabbed some poppy seeds, and mixed them into the berries.
"Eat this. The poppy seeds will help you relax, and the berries will sooth your paw. Rest in the apprentice den for awhile, and try to stay off of your hurt paw for the rest of the day. If... If Fireheart or your denmates ask why your resting, tell them that Cinderpelt ordered you to. Got it?" I explained, hesitating to say Fireheart's name. Cloudpaw nodded, and licked up the berry mixture.
"Oh, and one more thing?" I mewed as Cloudpaw turned to leave. "Put this cobweb on your paw just to be safe." I said, nudging a cobweb near the apprentice. "Okay, thanks Cinderpelt!" Cloudpaw said with a smile, grabbing the cobweb and exiting the den. "Anytime! Just doing my job!" I called back, sighing soon after. I curled back into a little ball inside my nest, and tried to relax.
I glanced towards the empty spot where Yellowfang's nest used to be. I felt small tears forming in my eyes. The poor, old yet loyal medicine cat who used to be my mentor had died in a horrible fire. I missed her like she was my own mother.
Suddenly, the thought of Fireheart drifted into my head. Fireheart... I thought dreamily. I pictured the handsome, ginger pelted tom sanding in front of me. I sighed, gazing up at the ceiling as I rolled on my back. Fireheart had been the cat I loved so much ever since he came here when I was a kit. I dreamed about him as an apprentice, and was thrilled to be his apprentice back then. I loved that cat.
I smiled warmly as I thought about him. I shivered afterwards, thinking of the accident. The accident that ruined everything. It ruined my entire life. I could've been with Fireheart. Now, I... I can't. The thought made me want to cry. I gazed over at my horrible excuse for a hind leg. It looked nasty, scarred and completely torn up. I was lucky it didn't just pop off.
Actually, I would have been lucky if it did. That leg brung terrible memories back, and it was the on reason I wasn't a warrior. I longed to be one, yet... I couldn't. I felt a tear run down my cheek. For the rest of that morning, I lay there. No one entered the den. I cried. I felt weak, like a kit. But I couldn't help it. I just wanted Fireheart to love me back. I just wished that monster hadn't hit me...
"Cinderpelt?" A voice asked. I opened my eyes, and looked up. A handsome, kind ginger tom stood above me. "F-f-fireheart?" I asked warily, trying to figure out what was going on. "Um, hi!" He said, nervously shifting his weight. "Oh, um, hey! Are you... hurt?" I awkwardly muttered, stretching and getting up.
"No, I was just coming to thank you." Fireheart said, sitting down and curling his tail around his paws. "For what?" I asked, yawning breifly.
"For helping Cloudpaw. His paw is much better, and he said that you were very nice to him!" I beamed as Fireheart spoke. I barely stopped myself from blushing under my fur. "Oh, it was no biggie. Your apprentice is very kind, you taught him well." I responded, licking my shoulder as I talked.
"Ha, thanks! Well, have a nice day!" Fireheart padded out of the den as he spoke. I was left, sitting there with a smile stretched across my face. My face felt hot. Fireheart was the very cat that I wanted to be with forever, and he was acting pretty nice to me! Did that mean he liked me?
Suddenly, another friendly voice sounded outside. I tilited my head to the side, and peeked out. My mouth gaped open as I saw Sandstorm standing near Fireheart.
That little devil! I thought, snarling lightly. Sandstorm liked Fireheart too, and I knew it. In fact, she LOVED him. I glared at the she-cat.
"Hey, Fireheart!" She purred, gazing lovingly at him. I stood there, claws unsheathed. I was ready to lunge at that... that horrible cat any second.
"Hi, Sandstorm!" He said, turning a smiling at her. I stared. He likes her too? Then I remembered. I remembered about how I told him that she loved him. I almost fell down sobbing as I thought. "I can't believe that I had a chance with him... And I blew it!" I whispered to myself, gazing angrily at Sandstorm. I had said she loved him. I had. I had brought this on! I almost let a tear stream down my cheek. I meant to say that I loved him. But I was too nervous. Too afraid.
"So, do you want to go hunting together?" Sandstorm purred, touching her nose to his cheek affectionatly. Fireheart grinned. "Of course!" He mewed, licking her cheek in return. I continued to stare. The two padded off, pelts touching and tails entiwned. I growled.
Fireheart and Sandstorm soon returned, prey dangling from their jaws. I lay curled in a ball at the mouth of my den, my face expressionless. I couldn't believe it! Sandstorm and Fireheart. Mates. Together. I sobbed a little, a lump of sorrow forming in my throat.
Fireheart and Sandstorm dropped their prey in the prey pile, and went off seprate ways. "This is my chance," I muttered to myself, getting up. Fireheart was all alone, grooming himself near the prey pile. I stepped out of my den, anxious. This was it. I would explain everything to Fireheart. He would have to love me back... Wouldn't he?
"Fireheart!" I called out, runnign... erm, limping towards him. The ginger cat looked up, his head tilited slightly to the side. "Hm?" He asked, licking at his paw. I started panting, trying to calm down. My heart beat faster and faster. "Um... well, Fireheart... I have something to-to tell you..." I choked the words out. Fireheart stared.
"Erm, what is it, Cinderpelt?" He asked, continuing to groom himself. I felt tear swell in my eyes. "I... I..." I couldn't get the words out. I felt the lump in my throat grow larger. "You...?" Fireheart said, beginning to lick his paws. "I... I love you..." I squeaked, barely audiblely. Fireheart stared. "You what?" He asked. I let out a sigh of relief. He didn't hear me. I was embarrassed, yet grateful. "I... Fireheart, there's a cat that loves you..." I tried to think of what to say.
"You already told me, Cinderpelt! Remember? You told me how Sandstorm loves me!" He groaned, confused and frustrated. I stared. "No... but... I... There's a cat that loves you, but you don't know it!" I tried to explain without saying ti out loud.
"I know that! And I love Sandstorm too! Cinderpelt, are you okay? Do you need help? Are you sick?" The ginger tom looked worried. I sighed.
"Nevermind..." I muttered, and padded off towards my den. Tears streamed down my face. How was he so clueless!? I loved him with all my heart! But...
Emotions clouded my mind. I cried. I curled in a fuzzy ball of fur in my den. More crying. "Why doesn't he understand!? Why doesn't he get it!" I sobbed softly to myself, tears running down my face. "I love him!" I almost screamed the words. But I hushed myself. It was time to face it.
Fireheart, the cat I loved dearly, would never love me the same way. We would never be mates. Never. I was a medicine cat for one. Plus, he was with Sandstorm. And I can't blame anyone but myself for letting this all happen. If only I hadn't been hit by that monster. If only I hadn't said Sandstorm loved Fireheart. If only it hadn't all gone wrong. But it did. And I can never take that back. Ever.
I had to accept this. I welcomed it. I never did find a mate, or have someone love me back. Sadly, nothing ever happened between me and Fireheart. Yet, I still love him so, so much. With all my heart.
A/N: Aw, poor Cinderpelt! LOL, so many cats hate Sandstorm and Fireheart. Thanks again for the support! Please, feel free to tell me what I should do next! I'd love to do someone's request! Thank you again! Hope you all enjoyed it! Bye! ;D