Announcement: 10000 words! Hahah! For anyone who dared to read my newbie story with a lot of mistakes in it, thank you so much! I promise, over time, that it'll get more and more organized! :D

Chapter 14:

Flame:

Age: 22 moons..

The she-kit hopped off the branch and landed on the ground on her paws. She ran up to me and greeted me with a touch of noses. "I am sorry you were taken away from your home when you were so young... I know how it feels... But it was my time to die. It wasn't your time."

"I know." I purr.

She turns to Shira, inspecting the rogue Leader as if she was a shrew or a vole. Shira glared at her through narrowed eyes, not betraying a single glint of emotion besides anger.

"Welcome! Shira of twolegplace. We have heard a lot about you. And about what you-" She cots off, then adds. "About what you do."

"It was perfectly justified! Strangers are nothing but horrific and disgusting. They killed my family!" Shira breaths raggedly.

"You did that yourself when you abandoned them. You sealed their fate when you ran away." Hollykit whispers, smoothly. She glances at me momentarily, then back to Shira, swishing her tail. "Now! I have a story to share with the both of you.. About the Clans."

I flatten my ears. I had vowed never to focus on my past again, and now it was catching back up with me. I had spent my entire life wondering what it would've been like to have been a Warrior. It had been so long that I forgot who my parents even were, or what they looked like...

Shira sighs. "Very well. I will. But only because you are just a kit. Blameless of the deeds that your parents."

The black she-kit growls. "I'll have you know my father is a great Warrior. He loved me even when I died. He saved countless lives! Unlike you!" Hah! She's doing the same thing I did. She flicks her tail at me. "Flamekit... I must speak with this cat alone. You do not need to know what I have to say."

I open my mouth to protest, but I think better of it. "Very well." I begin to leave. "And my name is Flame, not Flamekit." She stares at me, her eyes... A fluent color of amber.

(later)

I wake to a paw prodding me, it was Frost. She was skinny and underfed like the rest of her denmates. I look at her, questioningly. I was still perfectly aware of my dream. I knew what was going to happen. Thank you for reminding me, Hollykit. Though I have yet to know the truth.

"Hey. Are you ok? You were yowling in your sleep." She mews.

I push her paw away. "I'm fine..." I assure her. "How are you? And more importantly, how is everyone?"

"Alive, at least."

"Good." I yawn and sit up. Per usual, most of them were watching me as if I was some sort of god. Which... Honestly... I hated.

It was about time that mousebrain got some sense knocked into her. She should be getting her sorry hind in here right about...

I watch, unsurprised, as the rogue leader bursts in here, her fur ruffled and her eyes wide. The prisoners lowered their heads submissively, scared as usual.

Right about now. I roll my eyes.

"Where is that cat that was captured a few hours ago!?" She snarled "Where?!" The prisoners glance at me. I stare at Shira, curious as to what she'd do. She walks up to me and sits down with a loud thud. I see tears running down her face. What on earth did Hollykit say?

"I spent the last years of my life with nothing but hatred in my heart." She cries. "She told me about a life I could have hat, with a happy family, siblings, friends, even my own childred! I know what I did was unforgivable, but I beg you.. Show me that it is possible to be happy again. I want the cats around me to be happy."

I put a paw on her shoulder. She doesn't protest, looking down at her paws. "If she told you about the Clans, I had that taken away from me a long time ago. I've all but forgotten it until now. But... Me and Sky are nothing but an echo of what she described. But.. I can at least show you that."

Shira sobs, leaning into my shoulder. O wrap my foreleg around her, hugging her. Well this is weird.. I think, embarassed.

"If you wish to start over, will you let all these cats go? And disband this rogue group?" I offer.

"I will." She looks up at me, pure understanding and regret in her eyes. "Also, Hollykit wanted me to give you a message." I tip my head to the side, curiously. "She told me that you need to find the gorge, and follow the stream."

Thank you, Hollykit.

I am Flame, son of Sky.

And I am thankful.