---Chapter Eight---
Flamepaw ran on, uncertain. He could not see where he was going since the dense fog limited his vision, but he could tell he was not in ThunderClan territory. All around where strange smells he did not recognize, though it seemed familiar somehow. He stopped several times to sniff the air but no warming ThunderClan scents came to him.
"Spottedleaf! Are you here? Spottedleaf, where are you?" he called out desperately but no response came. Flamepaw hesitated a while longer, desperate for a reply. He called out the former medicine-cat's name several more times, but nothing but silence followed. A cool breeze ruffled his fur and chilled him to the bone. It was very dark, probably midnight, and he had no idea where he was or how he got there but he assumed the StarClan she-cat would be there to guide him back. Only something was wrong, Spottedleaf was not there. She said she'd be there for him, didn't she? She wasn't going to abandon him here, out alone in the fog on an ice-cold night? Although Flamepaw wandered off on his own even since he was a kit, he had never left ThunderClan territory before, and without the sweet scent of his clanmates hanging in the air, he felt lost and terrified.
"Spottedleaf! Please, answer me!" Flamepaw cried hopelessly. At last, someone did reply, but it was not Spottedleaf.
"Spottedleaf is not here." The voice rang out loudly and clearly though Flamepaw could hear the agony hidden in it. He could not tell where it was coming from and when he looked around for the cat who was speaking, all he could see was fog. It sounded strange as if two cats were speaking, instead of just one. "No one is here," The voice continued, "Everyone has left me! My kits have left me. My kits! My kits!" The voice gave an eerie wail and faded away.
"Wait!" Flamepaw mewed out loud. He turned his head every direction, not sure where the she-cat who had spoken was, or if she was even there at all. "Stop! Speak to me! Where are you? Who are you?"
No answer. The only sound was the light breeze gently blowing his fur. He shivered and was about to give up hope when finally another sound came to his ears. It sounded like a high pitched scream of terror. Flamepaw's heart sank as it grew louder and he distinguished a few different voices; each were high-pitched and all of them were crying out for help.
They sound like kits! Flamepaw could hear the blood pulsing in his ears. Where these the kits the voice was talking about? This time, he could tell where the noise was coming from. Without a moment's hesitation he bolted through the fog. He stumbled over a rock once or twice as he ran; with the heavy fog, he could rely on his ears alone to guide him to the mewling kits. In time, a new sound came to his ears: the sound a rushing river that must be flowing nearby. Although he could hardly see, he pictured what the river must look like: a large rushing stream of water that could drag any cat under if they were not careful. Oh no, Flamepaw's mind was racing as the ground underpaw became softer and he approached the edge of the river. Were the kit's screams coming from the river?
Flamepaw stood at the edge of the river. The water looked pitch-black and no stars reflected in it through the foggy air. It was as if StarClan had left him with this problem to deal with on his own. He strained his ears to try and figure out what direction the kit's cries were coming from. Give up, that voice in the back of his head that was always putting him down whispered, You already know they're lost in that water somewhere.
He was no RiverClan cat, but he knew he had to save the lives of the kits. The ginger apprentice sighed and lowered his haunches, ready to pounce into the mysterious rushing water. A heartbeat later, he leapt and came crashing into the water with a SPLASH! Ice cold liquid chilled him to the bone and he immediately struggled up to the surface, gasping for breath. His whole body shook madly in protest as he swam through the freezing water, trying to listen for the kits. He wanted to run out of the river and never look back, but he forced himself to stay in, straining his ears to hear the crying kits over his own noisy splashing.
"I'm here!" Flamepaw cried out "I'm coming. Where are you? I'm going to save you!" There was no response but the constant whimpering of three frightened kits that grew louder and louder as Flamepaw thrashed in the rough current. The water pulling him one way along with him trying desperately to keep his head up above the surface, Flamepaw was running out of energy fast. The current began pulling him diagonally across the stream as he tried to swim forward and he kicked harshly several times when he began to sink farther into the dark water.
The cold water churned around him and some splashed up into his face, blinding him for a couple heartbeats as he was dragged down the river. Flamepaw thrashed wildly from fear of drowning. He hoped that the current would bring him towards the edge of the river where he could get out safely. But then what would happen to the lost kits?
Oh StarClan, help me! He sent a silent prayer up to his warrior ancestors as he felt the water starting to pull him downward. He was able to take one final gasp of air before he gave a last frantic kick of one hind leg and sank into the icy darkness which surrounded him.
dun dun dunnnnn .. What's gonna happen to Flamepaw now I wonder? Who's voice was that? And who are those kits? Why is this chapter so short? O the drama.