Hi, everyone! I'm back! Thank you to everyone who reviewed the prologue of Remember Me.


Ash's POV:

It's not my fault I was born the best.

Nor was it my fault that, though I was hardly more than a kit, the she-cats, young and old, stared at me every time I walked past. I was just born handsome and strong. Everyone could tell that I was going to be Darkness's second when I became a little older. I was the ideal cat, and all of the rogues who had ever turned their eyes in my direction knew that.

Whenever my littermates and I had a play-fight, I would always win. I was born a fighter, with broad shoulders and rippling muscles. And then, there was the she-cats in Darkness's rogue group. They all gazed at me every time I did something as simple as flick my tail. I'd say I was handsome.

And maybe, a bit arrogant, at times.

I guess I was lucky to be born as the perfect cat, with a sleek, gray pelt and such captivating blue eyes. Well, maybe not perfectly entirely completely perfect, but, you know, as close as a cat can ever get. Practically flawless.

Everyone told me so.

The toms stared at me in slight admiration, which felt wonderful, while the she-cats gazed adoringly at my slightest movement. A she-cat was lucky if I even bothered looking her way and glancing at her for even a heartbeat.

And most of the time, I couldn't care less for the she-cats.

Or rather, all of the time. There was no she-cat who had caught my eye, just yet.

Yes, you might say I'm cocky for just a young kit. But then again, the others should learn to respect me starting now, if I'm going to be Darkness's second in a few moons. That was a position that was almost impossible for most normal cats... but well, I was rather proud to say that I, Ash, was not the average tom, and everyone knows that I'm going to be Darkness's heir. I'm the obvious choice, one of the only cats suited for such a position.

I was flawless, and there was nothing anyone else could do about it.

oO0Oo

Now, I stood at a small pool of water, staring into the water. As I watched, my reflection blurred, slightly, and another cat came to stand beside me. Startled, I moved my forepaw slightly, nudging a small pebble into the water. The small action spread ripples throughout the pool, distorting my image.

A tail flicked my shoulder, and I turned to see Lion, one of my closest friends, flick his tail. Though the golden-brown kit was a moon or so younger than I was, he was still a valuable friend who understood me like a brother. Lion's eyes focused briefly on something behind me, and the expression in his amber eyes became playful. "Well, it looks like you have yet another admirer."

Rolling my clear blue eyes at Lion's comment, I turned my head slightly away from Lion to see Honey, a light brown dappled she-cat, staring nervously at me. Our blue gazes met for a second, before she looked away and padded on.

Momentarily, I was surprised. Honey was a friend of mine, though not as close as Lion. I didn't know that she was one of my "admirers", as well. She was quite pretty, I guess, but she didn't strike me as anything spectacular, other than a friend.

So many admirers that I had, and I didn't want anything to do with them. Sometimes I enjoyed letting them admire me, only to cast them away moments later. There was no cat who had proven worthy of that special place in my heart... well, not yet, anyway.

And I was barely more than a kit.

"You probably just wish that you were in my place," I retorted smoothly to Lion, but my eyes were amused.

Lion scoffed. "No way!" I nudged my friend pointedly, and shot him a skeptical look.

Lion looked slightly abashed. "Well... I guess it would be cool to become Darkness's second and all, sooner or later, but other than that... I wouldn't want a bunch of she-cats staring at me whenever I walk past them." He shuddered. "That would feel awkward."

"Not even Honey?" I teased him, knowing his soft spot for the dappled she-cat who had gazed at me heartbeats ago.

Lion gave no response, but I could see the tufts of fur on the tips of his ears lift up slightly. "That's a shame." I nudged Lion playfully. "But you know, it's great to have so many cats admire you when you're just a kit. When I become Darkness's second, all the cats under the same sky will know my name and respect me!"

"Of course they will," Lion scoffed, rolling his amber eyes. "Well, I know that I, for one-" His words were cut off as I jumped onto him playfully, my claws sheathed as I pinned the golden-brown tom beneath me with ease. I swiped at Lion's face with a soft paw.

"Let it be known that anyone who dares to mock me will be exterminated!" I yowled playfully, then turned my face back to Lion, a mock snarl plastered on my face. "Now, what was it you were saying?"

Lion's eyes filled with mock fear. "All hail Ash!" Flicking my tail under Lion's nose, I sprang gracefully off the golden-furred tom. Lion shook the dust from his thick fur before turning his head to face me. "You'll be getting your mentor anyday now, Ash. Who do you think it's gonna be?"

I purred at Lion's question. "Maybe Darkness himself, considering I'm perfect to be his next second once Starless dies... which will probably be quite soon, considering that she's actually senior age." I envisioned myself padding at Darkness's side, a full-grown tom. "I hope so."

Not that I wanted the black she-cat to die anytime soon, but Starless was getting rather old... to old to serve as Darkness's second for long. She would probably die of sickness or something soon, but I doubted she would be killed at the hands of any other cat. Even at such an old age, Starless had about as much deadly skill as Darkness had... she would never lose a fight.

And hopefully, neither would I, when I finally could become Darkness's second.

"Well..." Lion looked uncomfortable for a heartbeat. "Word has spread that Darkness has developed a bit of a liking for that new cat... about your age. Have you ever talked to her before? I really wonder what's so special about an outsider that makes Darkness-"

I unsheathed my claws and sunk them into the dirt, tearing up the grass beneath my paws. "Oh, I've met her all right. And she's special in her own way." My blue eyes smoldered as I added, "Specially arrogant." And that was saying a lot, coming from me.

"Remind me of her name, again?" Lion asked, looking slightly surprised at my sudden anger at the mention of the new she-cat.

I growled under my breath. If there was one cat I completely despised, it was her. "Her name's Wolf." Wolf had been brought in about a moon ago, into this group of rogues, where Darkness gave her the name Wolf. Well, for one thing, Wolf was one of the only she-cats who didn't show any sense of attraction toward me. Instead, she completely detested me. And... it's fair to say that I hated her, too.

"Well? What's wrong with her?" Lion asked. "Worried that she'll become the new second?"

Emotion flashed through me.

Yes, I wanted to say. Yes, I am. She doesn't deserve a place with us rogues, and she is not, in any way, equal to me. She's just a pathetic kit who's looking for someone to whine to! And why, of all cats, does she choose Darkness? Why does she go to him and try to win his support?

"Ash?" Lion prompted, and I looked up. "You were in a world of your own..."

I rolled my eyes, even though that was a part of my concern. This new news that Darkness had taken a liking to Wolf bothered me. I was supposed to be the next second. Me. Ash. The most handsome tom in this rogue group, the natural fighter.

Not Wolf.

Not some pretty she-cat who had no skill nor knowledge. Not only that, but Wolf was... slightly smaller than average, to say the least. Plainly, she was a rather small cat... but I guess that didn't stop her from being hostile and arrogant. She didn't look as though she would make a good fighter, due to her size. Stupid she-cat.

There was no part of me that could ever accept her; I would never see her side on anything.

She starts trouble with me, but she can't handle it. I'm just too strong for her. I couldn't count the number of times that we had gotten into physical fights over small things... where I, being a natural-born fighter from the start, always emerge the victor.

I don't see what Darkness sees in her. There was nothing appealing about her... besides, perhaps, her decent appearance. But that's all. Nothing about her aggressive personality. Nothing at all. Sometimes I felt as though she might act so hostile to cover up her weakness... which was possible. But well... why would I care? I want nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with her.

"I just don't like her," I muttered. "She doesn't even look as though she can fight for her life, yet she still is annoying and hostile." Every time I passed her, an argument would begin, over the smallest things. She somehow found a way to get angry at everything I did. And I guess, I did my best to act hostile to her, as well. We were just enemies, and we would stay that way.

"That's quite true," Lion agreed. "She seems too small to fight for herself-"

"She is too small to fight for herself!" I snapped.

Lion's eyes flashed shock for a moment, but he shook out his thick golden fur and continued. "Yeah, that... and I don't understand why Darkness would think anything about her. She's not outstanding in any way."

"The pathetic scrap doesn't deserve Darkness's attention," I growled quietly, turning away from Lion. I needed some time to think alone... I needed to get Darkness's eyes back on me, not on Wolf. Not on some useless kit who didn't even know how to defend herself.

"Hey, wait! Where are you going?" Lion called after me, but I pretended not to hear him as I bounded away across the clearing. I don't think I had any knowledge of where I was going, but it just felt good to be alone for a bit.

oO0Oo

The wind whipped into my face, and I threw my head back in pleasure, letting my ears flatten as I just ran, the grass soft beneath my paws. I loved the feeling of flying... it made me feel so alive, so energetic, that I had to bring the energy out somehow.

And I resorted to this.

Running felt good... the feeling of the warm breeze against my pelt, the soft ground barely touching my paws as I ran. Just for a single heartbeat, I let the wind blow my eyes shut, before letting them fly open once more.

Just in time to see a small shape bound out from the bushes, straight toward me.

My eyes widened in shock as I tried to stop my paws, but it was no use as I crashed into a furious and hostile gray-furred she-cat with white paws and blue eyes that flared up in angry recognition as they settled on me.

"Wolf!" The name came out as a startled gasp.

The smaller she-cat hissed angrily, before her she shot me a look filled with sweet venom. "Hate you, too."


Hope you guys liked that first chapter! Please review!

~ Always Fire