Chapter 6
"Are you alright Flamepaw?" Gorgestorm helped Flamepaw back to his paws, "Maybe we should try a different move?"
Flamepaw shook his head, "No. No. I do want to learn this move." Flamepaw was learning the move that he had (or had not) seen when Smokeclaw was giving his siblings extra training. He wondered how Gorgestorm would react if he told him. "He probably won't believe me," thought Flamepaw, "Everyone thinks Smokeclaw is a great warrior. They would think I was lying." He blinked and realized that Gorgestorm had told him something. "Oh sorry. What did you say?"
Gorgestorm sighed, "I think we should call it quits for today. You don't seem to be motivated."
"But I am!" cried Flamepaw, "It's just that…never mind."
Flamepaw walked a couple paw steps behind his mentor. He looked up and saw Cloudstar and Brookpaw. "Oh. Are you heading back to camp? Good. Then we will go with you."
The leader and warrior padded on ahead while Brookpaw and Flamepaw walked side by side. Flamepaw still wondered if what he saw was real or not. He watched his sister walk out of the corner of his eye. He decided to take a chance. "Hey Brookpaw? Did by any chance…I mean… did Smokeclaw every train you?"
Brookpaw froze in place. "How…How do you know?"
Flamepaw's blood turned cold. Then it was true. What he saw wasn't a dream at all. "It really happened."
"I'm sorry!" cried Brookpaw, "I wanted you to come but Smokeclaw wouldn't let me. I wanted you to come."
"What is going on here?" Ckoudstar and Gorgestorm, noticed that the two apprentices weren't following and they headed back. "Brookpaw? What's wrong?"
The she-cat shook her head, tears forming in her eyes, "I didn't want to. I didn't want to take those extra lessons from Smokeclaw if you weren't there but he is our father and we should listen to our father…"
"Smokeclaw is giving you extra lessons?" said Cloudstar in disbelief.
"That's not fair to the other apprentices," said Gorgestorm, "It is the job of the mentor to train their apprentice. I'm going to have a talk with him."
"I want to speak with him as well," said Cloudstar, his eyes cold. He turned to Flamepaw, "Take Brookpaw back to camp. Come Gorgestorm. Smokeclaw is on a hunting patrol with Jumpsky, Duckpaw and Bushwhisker. I think they are in the field."
Flamepaw watched the white and brown pelts disappear into the forest. He returned his attention to his sobbing sister. "It will be alright," he said, "Don't worry. You aren't in trouble. Come on. Let's head back to camp."
Flightwing
Flightwing lifted her head from the pool and rubbed her eyes with her paws. She was nervous. When Flamepaw fell asleep tonight, she would enter his dreams and speak to him. "I wonder if I can sound Starclany enough?" she thought, "I mean I'm not really a member since I did leave. And I don't have stars in my fur or anything like that."
"You excited?" asked Darkpaw, stepping into the room.
Flightwing envied how starlight seemed to dance on the tom's fur. "But I have wings," she reminded herself, "That's special." Out loud she said, "Of course I'm excited. Although this will be my first time not speaking to somecat I knew when I was alive." Her eyes settled back on the pool. The water shifted until Twilight, Badgerpaw and her own apprentice Owlfeather appeared. "I wish Cinderstream could see Twilight and maybe walk in his dreams."
"That isn't wise," said Darkpaw, "He is already feeling a pull of a cat who isn't there. I fear he might end up like Watersta-Watertail."
"I know," whispered Flightwing, "But I can hope can't I?"
Darkpaw nodded, "Yes. You can hope."
Flamepaw
Flamepaw left the apprentice den. It had taken a while to get the sobbing Brookpaw to fall asleep. "I wonder what Cloudstar is asking Smokeclaw?" Flamepaw suddenly had an idea. If this power thing worked before that there should be no reason why it won't work again. Flamepaw hurried back inside the apprentice den and settled onto his moss bed. "Come on power!" he prayed, "If you work I'll believe in Starclan for the rest of my life!" He closed his eyes and let sleep take him.
Flamepaw opened his eyes and looked around. He was in the apprentice den. He jumped when he saw his body lying a paw step away. If anyone was looking into the den it would look like he was fast asleep. "I can't believe it!" cried Flamepaw, "I did it!"
Flamepaw hurried out of the den and left camp. He raced through the forest, towards the field. When he got closer he heard Cloudstar.
"What is the meaning of this?" asked Cloudstar, "Brookpaw told us you have been training her and Milkpaw."
Flamepaw entered the field. The small groups of cats were near him. Jumpsky, Duckpaw and Bushwhisker were watching Cloudstar scold Smokeclaw in shock. Remembering that he couldn't be seen, Flamepaw walked over to Duckpaw and sat down next to him. "Hi Duckpaw. What's going on?" Satisfied that Duckpaw wasn't answering him, Flamepaw turned his attention to what was going on in front of him.
"I want my kits to be the best in the clan," said Smokeclaw, his head held high, "They deserve that."
"Then why did you leave out Flamepaw?" snapped Gorgestorm, "Brookpaw felt guilty for leaving Flamepaw out. He's your son."
"He isn't my son!" snarled Smokeclaw.
Flamepaw's blood turned cold. What was his father saying? How could he not be Smokeclaw's kit?
"How dare you!" snarled Gorgestorm, "He is your son."
"No he isn't," said Smokeclaw, "He looks like…somecat that I can't remember. But I remember my hatred for this cat. Flamepaw reminds me of him!"
This again! It was just like his mother! The two of them thought he looked like someone from their past that they couldn't remember. "I don't get it!" cried Flamepaw, "Who do I look like? Who is this cat?"
"Maybe I can answer that."
