Here is another challenge for Children of the Shadows! It is a wonderful forum, and I advise all of you to join. So, here is Tainted Love.

Tainted Love

Love is the best thing in the world, but it can also hurt.

That is what Firesong was experiencing.

She remembered the day when she fell in love. Her mind went back to that day every day.


(Flashback.)

Young Firepaw woke up in her nest and yawned. She looked up and saw her sister, Sunnypaw, looking at her, a big smile on her face. "We get to explore the territory today, remember?"

Firepaw jumped up immediately. She padded over to the entrance of the NightClan camp. Her mentor, Jayflight, smiled at her. "Ready to go? Robinleap and her apprentice, Duskpaw, are coming with us. Lets go!"

Firepaw smiled, and padded next to Duskpaw. He was 3 moons older then her, and she had met him last night. He seemed very kind.

They padded through the territory, which was very large, and surprised her. He whispered in her ear "Think this is amazing? We haven't even been through a quarter of the territory yet!" Duskpaw chuckled softly, and she smiled back.


"So that was the territory, Firepaw! Lets head back to camp before the sun sets." Jayflight meowed. She nodded, and followed her mentor, Duskpaw beside her.

Suddenly, Jayflight stopped. Robinleap stopped beside Jayflight. Firepaw almost crashed into the back on Jayflight. Firepaw looked at her mentor with concern. "What is it?" She noticed Duskpaw sniffing the air, so she did too. She smelled a repulsive scent drifting near them. Duskpaw looked at Firepaw with worry.

"Fox. Its close. Robinleap, Duskpaw, help me fight it. Firepaw, go back to camp and get help." Firepaw looked at Duskpaw, and he nodded to her. She ran back to the direction of camp. She could hear behind her the whispers of her mentor and her friend. "Now where is it..." She faintly heard Jayflight say.

The scent got stronger and stronger, until she saw a blur of ginger in the bushes. She froze, and held her breath, hoping it wouldn't notice her.

But, that was simply not the case.

The fox lept at her, and bit into her shoulder. Firepaw yowled loudly. The fox's growl echoed through the forest, and scared a few birds out of their trees. She tried to fight back, but being her first day as a apprentice, she didn't know any battle moves. 'This can't be the end,' she thought to herself.

Thats when a dark grey figure barreled into the fox, knocking it off of Firepaw. 'Duskpaw!' She thought.

He looked at her. "Go get help!" He yowled at her.

She nodded, and ran to camp with a new feeling for the tom.

Love.

(End of Flashback.)


She sighed as the memory faded, and looked over to Duskstrike, who was sharing a squirrel with Firesong's sister, Sunnylight. They had became mates a moon ago, and Firesong still couldn't get over it. Though they were still close friends, Firesong couldn't help but feel jealous.

Sometimes, she even plotted against her sister.

She felt guilty about it, of course. She loved her sister. But she also loved Duskstrike. He had saved her life, after all. Duskstrike barely hung out with Firesong anymore. If they did talk, it was 'Sunnylight this' or 'Sunnylight that' or 'Wouldn't Sunnylight be the best mother in the world?.' She was absolutely sick of it. She was sick of being treated like she was nothing.

Her other best friend, Darkwing, Duskstrike's brother, sat down next to her. He had a huge crush on her. He looked at her with pure love and asked "Want to share a squirrel?"

Suddenly a plan formed in her head. A revenge plan..

"Yes, of course, Darkwing."

"Firesong, I have been meaning to ask you...Would you be my mate?"

Firesong smiled spread across her space. "Of course, my love." She nuzzled him, then glared at Duskstrike. He looked at the two, the smiled at her with happiness. She snarled.

She looked at Darkwing. "Who should we tell first?" She asked him, brushing fur with him.

"Our siblings, of course." The pair padded over to their siblings. "Guess what?" Darkwing asked them. Sunnylight turned her head slightly.

"What?"

"We are mates!" Darkwing announced. Sunnylight lit up. Darkwing touched noses with Firesong. Firesong flinched, then remembered her plan.

"Mind if I talk to Duskstrike alone for a bit?" Firesong asked Sunnylight and Darkwing. They both nodded, then Firesong sat down next to Duskstrike. She looked at him with love. Not love for Darkwing, but love for him. He never returned the look.

"I am so happy for you." Duskstrike purred. Firesong narrowed her eyes.

"Your not jealous? At all? That I love someone else that is not you?" Firesong asked.

"Of course not. Why would I?" Duskstrike looked at her with confusion. Firesong felt sadness rise inside of her.

"Because! I thought you might realize you love me if I took a different mate! It's because I love you, not Darkwing!"

"But you took him as a mate?" Duskstrike looked even more confused.

Firesong looked away from him. "To make you jealous.."

"I don't love you, Firesong. Never did, never will."

Firesong jumped up. "Fine! I don't care, anyways!" She ran out of camp, and into the forest, farther and farther beyond the borders.

"I am no longer Firesong. From now on, I am Fire. I am not part of that evil Clan.

Hope you liked it! Sorry if there is to much dialogue... Oh well. -Silver.