Chapter 10.5
Smudge jumped in surprise and looked around. Firepaw came out of the bushes and approached him. Smudge cowered in fear as a vicious wild cat approached him. It was clear to Firepaw that Smudge didn't recognize him.
"Smudge, it's me." He meowed.
"H-ho-how d-d-do you know my n-name?" Smudge asked stammering.
"It's me, Rusty, we were kittens together. I lived in the garden next to you." Firepaw meowed.
Smudge was confused, it had been moons since he last saw his old friend, he honestly thought that Rusty was dead. Smudge had to admit, the wild cat did look familiar.
"Rusty, is that really you?" he asked.
"Yes, it's me." He meowed.
"How are you alive? Did you find the wildcats again or are you living with new house folk? You must be if you're still alive." Smudge meowed in disbelief.
"I'm called Firepaw now." Firepaw meowed.
"Firepaw…" Smudge echoed.
He couldn't believe it, all this time, his old friend had been alive. Smudge honestly thought his friend was dead, he thought that Firepaw had been killed by the wild cats, but he was wrong; so wrong.
"Well Firepaw, you're new life doesn't feed you well enough. You certainly weren't this skinny the last time we saw each other." Smudge meowed.
"I don't need twolegs to feed me, I've got a whole forest to eat!" Firepaw meowed confidently.
"Twolegs?" Smudge meowed confused.
"House folk. That's what the clans call them." Firepaw explained.
Smudge stared at Firepaw in disbelief and astonishment. If being a wild cat made you this scrawny, than he wanted no part of it. Firepaw sniffed for Smudge's scent, but it was different. Firepaw was confused, he should be able to recognize Smudge's scent.
"You know, you smell different…unfamiliar." He meowed.
"Unfamiliar? You're the one that smells different, you're probably used to the smell of wild cats now." Smudge meowed jokingly.
Firepaw chuckled in amusement, but seriously, why couldn't he recognize Smudge's scent? They were kittens together, Firepaw should know Smudge's scent like the smell of his birth mother, unless…Smudge was pass six moons. It made sense now, Smudge went to the vet and had got himself fixed. No wonder he smelled so different.
"You went to the cutter, I mean the vet!" Firepaw gasped.
"So?" Smudge meowed calmly.
Firepaw couldn't believe it, Bluestar was right, once you go to the cutter, you're a completely different cat.
"Come on then, what's it like living in the wild? Is it as good as you thought it be?" Smudge asked.
Firepaw thought long and hard about this, he remembered sleeping in a damp den, he remembered the horrible stench of mouse bile and having to clean and care for Yellowfang. Firepaw remembered the days where he would try to please Bluestar, Lionheart, and Tigerclaw all at once. He remembered being taunted for his kittypet blood; even with powers, cats still couldn't let it go. But then, Firepaw remembered his first catch, of running in the forest to catch his prey, of tasting his first mouse, and most of all, he remembered his days of spending time with his friends. However, Firepaw remembered his powers, he remembered that the clans had powers and outsiders like Smudge weren't allowed to know, and he remembered the possible penalty of an outsider knowing their secret. Firepaw took a deep breath.
"I know who I am." He meowed.
Smudge sighed, he should've expected this. He honestly thought that Firepaw would have second thoughts. Suddenly, Smudge heard the rattling of cat food and his owner calling him.
"I should get going, dinnertime soon." He meowed.
"Be careful Smudge, there may be another wild cat nearby that's not fond of kittypets, I meant housecats as I am." Firepaw warned.
Smudge nodded and looked around alarmed. He turned around and started heading home.
"Good-bye, Rusty. I'll tell everyone at home that you're okay!" Smudge meowed.
"Bye Smudge, enjoy your meal!" Firepaw meowed.
He watched as Smudge climbed over a fence and disappeared on the other side. Firepaw turned around and headed back into the woods.
"I'll catch something on the way back, maybe through the pines." He thought.
As Firepaw walked deeper in the woods, he flattened his ears; he felt ashamed that he had to keep such a secret from Smudge. If Firepaw ever had to see his mother, littermates, or any of his old friends, he would have to keep the fact that he can control fire. It hurt Firepaw to do that, but he knew there were reasons for it. Firepaw hoped that this would be the last time he'd see anyone from his past. It would hurt, but Firepaw had a new family and a new life. He looked up at the branches for birds and squirrels, than heightened his senses. All he had to do was impress his mentor and hoped she or anyone else didn't see him with Smudge.
