Van: Time for Chapter 2!
Kai: Now you get little Flamekit's point of view!
Van: This one is called Heat
Kai: Let us begin!
Flamekit walked with Blossompaw. He knew that the pretty apprentice played tricks with his mind, the way that she walked, laughed, and talked all seemed to put him in a trance. But a good one, he decided. Besides, they were only about a moon apart, though you'd never guess because StarClan had sped her growth. She was now the size of a full grown cat, and still and appentice. Flamekit hoped that she would stop growing. Otherwise, she may grow so tall, he would never see her beautiful face again.
"So you'll be an apprentice soon," Blossompaw commented, glancing sideways at Flamekit.
"Yes," Flamkit agreed "And you a warrior."
Blossompaw shrugged as though she was embarrised about it. "I don't know. I may be an apprentice for a while now. After all, I'm just older than you."
Flamekit nodded, happy to remind of that fact. "But you've learned a ton," he reminded her, "And you're huge." He instantly regretted that comment - his fur felt hot with embarrisment as he stumbled to add "A-and you've had a long ap-prentices-ship."
Blossompaw purred slightly, which didn't help with Flamekit's heat problem. He sniffed slightly, and smelled burning twigs. He stopped, spinning around and cursing his carelessness, to see Icekit glaring at him from where she walked beside Honeyheart. She focused on the twig and it immediately froze, dropping the temperature and making Flamekit shiver. Jerking his head in thanks, he spun back around and nearly ran into Blossompaw.
"S-sorry," he said, stumbling back. They continued at their pace, and were silent a few moments.
"You really need to be more careful," Blossompaw warned. "One day, you may start a fire that your siblings cannot put out."
Flamekit muttered apologies. Twice that day he had been warned - once by Leafpath, and once by Blossompaw. Was it so obvious that he could hardly control his power? His siblings seemed more able to. Why couldn't he?
"It's okay," Blossompaw seemed to sense his worries with her heightened senses. "We all had trouble with our powers at first. I didn't even realize that every cat couldn't smell, hear, and so on as I can."
"Mine can't go that easily ignored," Flamekit said, jelousy prickling his pelt. How wonderful, to be able to hide your power! He didn't have that luxery, and, he realized, neither did his siblings.
"That's why you must learn to control it," Blossompaw said clearly. "Listen, you'll be fine. Just...believe in yourself, okay? It'll make everything a lot easier." Flamekit didn't respond, and they walked in silence for a long time until Milkbird slowed to let them catch up. Flamekit sighed under his breath. Now Blossompaw would spend the rest of the walk talking about training with Milkbird.
"I was just talking with Rainsong," Milkbird said, which may have confused Flamekit, having known that they weren't standing together, if he hadn't known that Milkbird could talk to cats in their minds if she wanted to. "She agrees with me that it's high time for your warrior ceremony."
Blossompaw actually stopped a moment, shocked. "Are you serious?" she asked. "Me...a warrior? I'm barely seven moons!"
"In age," agreed Milkbird, "but in body and mind, you far exceed the normal." Her gaze softened. "Come now, we made you an apprentice early. Why not a warrior?"
"I...I can't believe this!" Blossompaw was breathless in excitement. "Hawtail...Hawktail would be so proud - and Sandkit too." She closed her eyes momentarily as though picturing them, and Flamekit felt a stab of pity. He may not have had a father, but he still had his mother and littermates.
"Congratulations, Blossompaw," he mewed warmly, and she opened her eyes to him, radiating happiness. "I told you that you could do it."
"That means it's you're turn, too," she reminded him, turning to Milkbird. "When are the kits getting apprenticed?"
"Tonight," Milkbird said. "With you're warrior ceremony. And then we will feast." Flamekit's stomach rumbled at the thought of a feast. They had skipped their sunhigh meal today, because Rainsong was restless and wanted to move faster. "Leafpath approached Rainsong about your siblings," Milkbird addressed Flamekit.
"About what?" Flamekit narrowed his eyes in confusion. What had they done?
"Oh, nothing wrong," Milkbird meowed, carelessly reading his mind and answering his question. "They approached Leafpath and requested that they were apprenticed to her. Mistkit and Mudkit, that is."
Flamekit blinked slowly. So this was the path that Mistkit and Mudkit had chosen. He was a bit disappointed that Mistkit wouldn't be training with him. She was, after all, his only sibling that didn't naturally hate him.
"Don't worry," Milkbird said in that annoying way of hers to read minds and then comment upon what she found. "Mistkit and Mudkit will still have to train as warriors and medicine cats. Especially in these days...they have to know how to take care of themselves."
Flamekit nodded, satisfied, and found himself wondering who would be mentors. He thought immediately of Stormtalon, the strong dark grey tom that he so idolized. Would he, perhaps, mentor Flamekit? The thought left him breathless with excitement. But then he remembered Leafpath's words. Could Stormtalon's strength really lead him to become a gentler, clamer Flame?
"Tonight!" Rainsong announced. "Is a joyous occasion. It is time to recognize the growing of the youth of our Clan. Blossompaw, please come forward." Flamekit watched, warmth billowing in his chest despite the cold spring night, at the sight of Blossompaw, groomed and strong, standing before Rainsong with her head high, ready to become a warrior.
"Blossompaw," Rainsong mewed solemnly. "you have grown and learned in the ways of LightClan. Now is the time for you to make a choice. You pledged yourself to our cause as an apprentice. Now you must pledge to us as a warrior."
Blossompaw dipped her head without hesitation. "I, Blossompaw, hearer of the quiet, seer of the small, smeller of the scentless, feeler of the invisible, and taster of the tasteless, swear allegience as I have before, to Rainsong, her cause for light, and her Clan, LightClan."
Rainsong pressed her muzzle to Blossompaw's shoulders. "I accept you, Blossompaw, hearer of the quiet, seer of the small, smeller of the scentless, feeler of the invisible, and taster of the tasteless, as my warrior and servant of LightClan. I hereby give you the full powers of a warrior, and name you Blossomsky, for your youth and joy that you fling to the sky, and rests with us all. Rise now, and show the world your pride."
Blossomsky rose, a sparkle in her eye, and Flamekit was proud to be the first to chant, "Blossomsky! Blossomsky!" When Blossomsky returned to the crowd, her eyes rose to the stars, as though thinking of her lost family, and imagining them cheering too.
"Honeyheart," Rainsong meowed when the cheering died. "Please come forward." Honeyheart did so, dipping her head to Rainsong. "Honeyheart, you have done well to raise your kits, especially in the circumstances you are stuck in. Do you now entrust their safety and growth to their mentors, your Clanmates?"
Honeyheart hesitated before dipping her head. "I do entrust the safety of my kits to my Clanmates, and their mentors, though," she sneaked a glance at Rainsong. "I pray the Clan will remember my gift and its significance to them." Flamekit felt a flicker of annoyance at his mother for reminding the Clan how much they owed her, but dropped the ugly feeling immediately, remembering to be a gentle Flame.
"Of course," Rainsong dipped her head respectfully, and Honeyheart joined the Clan again.
"Mistkit, Mudkit," Rainsong continued "Step forward."
Flamekit watched his siblings, fur groomed to perfection, step forward, and felt an uncarecteristic burst of pride for the two of them. How much he and his littermates had grown in six moons!
"You have shown interest in the path of the medicine cats," Rainsong mewed slowly, studying the kits carefully. "do you accept it, for what it is, a hard path away from other cats, and closer to StarClan?"
"I do," Mistkit answered immediately, Mudkit's own reply slightly echoing hers.
"Leafpath," Leafpath stepped forward at Rainsong's call. "Do you accept these appentices as your own, and do you, Mudkit and Mistkit, accept Leafpath as your rightful mentor?"
Leafpath said, "I accept you, Mistkit and Mudkit, as my apprentices, vow to teach you all I can, and make you the best medicine cats you are able to be." To which Mistkit and Mudkit replied in unison in the words taught to the kits by Honeyheart, "I accept you, Leafpath, as my mentor, vow to listen to all you teach and respect you in every way I am able." Then Leafpath touched noses with Mistkit and Mudkit.
"I name you Mudpaw and Mistpaw," Rainsong said. "and I wish you luck and attentiveness in your apprenticeship." Leafpath, Mistpaw, and Mudpaw, dipped heads to Rainsong, and stepped back to join the Clan. "Mistpaw! Mudpaw!" the Clan called. Flamekit felt suddenly distant from those siblings - more so than usual. They were different now, going down a different path that he couldn't follow.
"Flamekit, Streamkit, and Icekit," Rainsong mewed. "Come forward." The three did so, Flamekit's tail quivering slightly in excitement. "You choose to follow the path of the warrior, as most of the cats around you. Are you sure of your choice?"
"I am," Flamekit answered with his siblings.
"May you have only the greatest luck in your endevors," Rainsong mewed. "Starshine, Stormtalon." The two came forward. Flamekit thought his heart would burst. Would Stormtalon mentor him? "Stormtalon, Icekit, do you accept each other as mentor and appentice?"
The two turned to face each other, and solemnly meowed the words, touching noses to seal the vow. Flamekit tried to hide his disappointment as Icekit was named Icepaw, joining the cheer of "Icepaw!" somewhat reluctantly.
"Starshine, Flamekit." Feeling a start of surprise at Rainsong's choice for his mentor, Flamekit turned to face Starshine. "Do you accept each other as mentor and appentice?"
Starshine's response was immediate, without hesitation. "I accept you, Flamekit, as my appentice, vow to teach you all I can, and make you the best warrior you are able to be." Flamekit's tongue felt heavy. He stared at Starshine, and found respect for him in his heart, but not the idolism he felt for Stormtalon. He still felt regretful, but he mewed, "I accept you, Starshine, as my mentor, vow to listen to all you teach, and respect you in every way I am able." They moved closer, and reached out to touch noses. Flamekit hesitated at the last moment, but touched noses with Starshine.
"I name you Flamepaw."
And it was done.
"Now," Rainsong continued, "as for you, Icekit, I have decided to apprentice you myself."
Flamepaw took an intake of breath, surprised. Leaders hardly ever had apprentices. Icekit, too, looked surprised, but recited the words with great poise, as usual, "I accept you, Rainsong, as my mentor, vow to listen to all you teach, and respect you in every way I am able." Then the two touched noses.
"I name you Icepaw."
Flamepaw cheered with the rest of the crowd, but he still felt very jelous of his siblings - they had gotten the better mentors! Feeling more than cheated, he sighed as the cheer ended.
"Time to feast!" announced Milkbird, hurrying to the fresh kill pile they had worked so hard to build up and throwing the largest kill to Blossomsky - "For the new warrior!" She then distributed the food merrily, and all ate until they were full. Flamepaw pushed away his jelousy, and stuffed himself, trying to fill the hole that had been created. He sat beside Starshine, and wholely ignored his mentor.
Once, when Flamepaw could no longer stand the silence, he called his congratulations to Blossomsky, whose purr was so loud, he could hear it from where he sat. She called back her own, and motioned that they would talk later. Flamepaw's heart beat in anticipation already. It was hard to return to his kill with Starshine, with Blossomsky so close and stunning.
Finally, when all the food was gone, it was time to sleep. Flamepaw proudly took a nest away from his mother for the first time, beside Icepaw and Streampaw, despite his burning jelousy for them. And oh, how it burned! - just as much as the stick had on the day's journey. The heat of it curled up around him, and he was so concentrating on it that he hardly heard Starshine's voice.
"I wouldn't do that."
Flamepaw looked up, surprised. Starshine stood above him, eyes narrowed slightly. "What?" the apprentice asked.
"I wouldn't do that - thinking hot thoughts. You're siblings...they can't take the heat. Especially those two."
Flamepaw shook some moss off his paw, trying to understand and buy himself time to think. Icepaw and Streampaw were already snoring beside him. "Did you want something?" he asked
Starshine only shrugged. "Only to warn you. I know that Leafpath and Blossomsky have as well, but I thought I might as well try. You have, after all, vowed to listen to me."
Flamepaw could only stare at his mentor. "I...I..."
"You need to try harder," Starshine told him.
"I can't," Flamepaw felt sudden anger, blistering hot. "I am trying."
"I am sure that you are," Starshine told him, obviously attempting to calm him. "But you need to try harder." Flamepaw felt the stabbing anger, and abruptly smelled burning. He could see a fern nearby, roosting.
"Put it out," Starshine said calmly.
"What?" Flamepaw felt panic, and iritation. "I can't! I don't know how!"
"This is your first lesson," Starshine was iritatingly calm. "Just try."
"How?"
"Calm yourself."
This is impossible. Flamepaw sucked in a breath, and forced himself to calm. He closed his eyes, and took deep breaths, and slowly, the anger-fire that was coursing through his veins softened to a slow, pulsating glow. He opened his eyes, and looked to the branch, which was no longer flaming, but glowed a firey red and black.
"Good," Starshine congratulated. Flamepaw resisted the urge to attempt to box his mentor's ears, and grunted softly. After a few moments, he met the older cat's eyes. "Keep working on that," Starshine suggested. "And you'll be able to control it in no time."
Control? Flamepaw's heart beat with longing - to be able to control his power...that would be amazing. "Is it really possible?" he asked breathlessly. "Can you really help me do it?"
Starshine nodded. "If you listen, and if you try."
Flamepaw slowly dipped his head. Starshine gave him a nod, and made his way back through the sleeping cats to Leafpath. Feeling a sudden fondness for his mentor, and also selfishly wanting to give him a warning, Flamepaw called. "Starshine!" Starshine turned, looking at the apprentice carefully. "Be...be careful yourself. Remember...Leafpath...she's a medicine cat. She's different. And you two..."
"Medicine cats are mated to StarClan," Starshine mewed slowly, firmly. "I am the embodiment of StarClan. We are doing nothing wrong. Besides," he hesitated. "Nothing is the same. The rules are collapsing. It doesn't matter." Then he turned and made his way to his nest, abruptly ending the conversation.
Flamepaw slowly lay down, curling up beside his siblings. He wasn't sure, and he may have imagined it, but he thought that Starshine seemed to be grasping for justifications.
Flamepaw's dreams were full of fire. Around him, flames devoured the trees, melting the ice decorating them. Beside him, a river was disappearing, evaporating under the heat. Flamepaw was surrounded by his own flames, not a cat in sight, and there was no wind there to save him this time. He was alone, and he had destroyed the others.
Alone.
Van: Whooo hooo! Flamepaw's something else, huh!
Kai: Very...fiery...hehe...
Van: Well, that took about another 2,700 words again! On a roll!
Kai: Message and/or review!
Van: And Happy New Year!