---Chapter Four---

"And the voice said 'Danger! Beware of both Fire and Tiger'?" Foxpaw asked critically. Flamepaw had decided to tell the prophecy to the only two cats in the clan he could trust more than anyone else: his littermates, Foxpaw and Rollingpaw. They, however, did not seem to be impressed with his dream.

"Yes!" Flamepaw cried. "I'm telling you it was real."

"It was just a stupid dream," His brother, Rollingpaw, retorted. Rollingpaw was the kind of see-it-and-believe-it cat. He would not trust anything unless it was sitting right in front of him in clear view, which only made the situation much harder for Flamepaw.

"But Spottedleaf was there!" Flamepaw explained desperately, "She said she walked in the dreams of my sisters too!" He looked at Foxpaw with an exasperated expression. Rollingpaw, too, tilted his head and to the side and gazed at Foxpaw.

"I'm not crazy!" Foxpaw hissed, "I don't have dreams about she-cats who passed away long ago."

"It must be Squirrelflight then. Or Leafpool?" Flamepaw was becoming desperate, his eyes flicking back and forth from his brother to his sister.

"Well duh. There's no reason why Leafpool shouldn't have dreams of StarClan. She is a medicine-cat after all." Foxpaw twitched her tail as she stood up on all paws. "Promise me you won't go around to the whole clan telling them of a silly dream you had? Believe me, Flamepaw, you have nothing to worry about. If StarClan wanted to warn ThunderClan of something they would have told Cinderpelt or Leafpool. Not an apprentice!" Before Flamepaw could cry out in protest, the ginger-and-white she-cat bounded away towards the fresh-kill pile. Other cats all around were already eating and sharing-tongues. Rollingpaw stretched out his front legs.

"She's got a point you know. It was just a dream, and nothing more." In a heartbeat, Rollingpaw turned tail and padded away after Foxpaw.

Flamepaw heaved a sigh. Would anyone believe him? Those were the only two cats who trusted him and they merely dismissed the meeting of Spottedleaf as nothing but a dream. His heart plummeted as he realized he started to loose hope in his own self. What if it had been nothing more than just a silly dream? Would that at least mean that ThunderClan was not actually in danger from 'Fire and Tiger'? He tried to convince himself that Foxpaw and Rollingpaw were right, but the only sound that echoed in his mind was Spottedleaf's words: ...that doesn't mean it's not important...let StarClan guide you through your dreams.

Flamepaw felt his fur begin to prickle. He shivered as if a gust of wind was ruffling his fur but the trees overhead were still and made no sound. Shaking all the thoughts about Spottedleaf out of his head, he trotted over to the fresh-kill pile with his tail dropping behind him. Choosing a plump thrush for a meal, he walked over to where his new mentor, Brambleclaw, was sitting with his mate, Squirrelflight.

Once he was in earshot of them he realized that their voices were raised, as well as the fur on their necks. Too late, he thought. He had just stepped into an argument and he didn't want to turn around incase it brought their attention to him.

"How come whenever you look at me all you see is Tigerstar? You were never like that before!" Brambleclaw was saying.

"I'm not saying that," Squirrelflight hissed. "I don't care who your father was! This has nothing to do with shared blood!"

"Sure it doesn't!" Brambleclaw spat back.

"Look," Squirrelflight mewed, trying to calm down. "I'm just saying you've been sounding a bit ambitious lately. I want to help you." The ginger she-cat touched Brambleclaw's shoulder with her tail. "You're starting to remind me of--"

"Tigerstar?" Brambleclaw sounded furious.

"Hawkfrost." Sandstorm glared back at him. Brambleclaw narrowed his eyes and hissed.

"Whatever you think about Hawkfrost I don't care! I don't need your help. AND I'M NOT LIKE MY FATHER!" Before Squirrelflight could say anything more, the broad-shouldered tabby warrior turned tail and bounded away, leaving Flamepaw's sister to stare after him with her tail puffed out, as if she were angry. Her eyes, however, betrayed her and looking into them, Flamepaw could detect the agony and stress in the she-cat's sad green eyes. He took a few pawsteps forward until Squirrelflight noticed him for the first time.

"O hello, Flamepaw." She purred, licker her paw, and wiped it over her face as if trying to hide her sorrow. "Congratulations on becoming an apprentice."

"Shank shoo." He said through the mouthful of thrush. He plopped down next to her and began eating his first meal since he was made an apprentice. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Squirrelflight giving him awkward glances every once in a while. He ignored her, guessing that she was probably wondering if he had overheard the argument.

The two cats remained silent for a while which Flamepaw didn't mind. He wasn't too eager to start a conversation with any cat at the moment, and he rather had some peace so he could think things through. Flamepaw caught sight of Brambleclaw eating his fresh-kill near the warriors den alone. The ginger apprentice sighed. If Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw didn't get over their fight with eachother, what would happen to their kits, Moonkit and Yellowkit?