Jayfeather's P.O.V.
"JAYFEATHER! JAY, WAKE UP!" I heard my sister's voice screaming. I opened my blind eyes and sat up, grunting. I smelled something, like barbeque. I love barbeque! Maybe dad's having a BBQ tonight! I sure hope so!
Wait… How do I smell it all the way up here?
"Jayfeather, get up, get up! It was raining and then some lightning struck the treehouse and… and-" Hollyleaf stammered, but Lionblaze interrupted, trying to speed things up.
"The house is on fire! Come on, we have to get mom and dad!" Hollyleaf grabbed my hand and pulled me along.
"Wait! I have to get Star! She's probably freaking out!" I exclaimed. Star, my guide dog, was in a crate in my room. I shook my hand from Hollyleaf's and she followed. She yanked the collar of my shirt.
"Wait for me. Lionblaze, get mom and dad! Come on, Jayfeather." She pulled me to my room, even though I knew how to get there. But there was a burning carpet everywhere, so…
As soon as Hollyleaf let Star out, I pulled her by the collar and, with Hollyleaf, ran outside. Lionblaze was there, too.
"Where's mom and dad?" Hollyleaf asked. I could sense the fear in her voice, and it quickly infected me. I clenched Star's leash, dropping her collar and pulled her closer.
"They weren't in there room. They must be in the backyard!" He yelled over the crackling of the fire. "Come on!" I heard him running to the wooden gate and the creak as it opened. Star and I followed, and Hollyleaf was holding the door.
When we got to the back, I heard a familiar voice. Shockingly familiar. Is that-
"Ashfur?" My brother and sister exclaimed in unison. Why in the name of StarClan was he here?
"What's he doing here?" I hissed to Hollyleaf, feeling his gaze rest upon us. "What's happening?"
Hollyleaf didn't answer. I heard Ashfur speak up. "Oh, so nice of you to join us! Squirrelflight, dear, why don't you tell your children why am I here?"
"Kids, get out of here, go find Brambleclaw!" Squirrelflight screamed. Hollyleaf grabbed my arm and pulled me, only to stop.
"What? What happened?" I asked, tugging her arm.
"The fence caught on fire… We're trapped!" She answered, letting my arm go. "What are we going to do?"
"We could go through the backdoor... " I muttered. "It's on fire, but if we go quickly…"
"No, it's too risky. Ashfur! Help us!" Lionblaze screamed. "Get Squirrelflight, please!"
I heard Ashfur cackle a low laugh. "And why on earth would I do that?" He growled. "I don't think I want to!" I heard something spilling in front of us. Hollyleaf gasped.
"He's pouring gasoline on the grass… He's trapping us. Squirrelflight! Help!" She cried. Hollyleaf pulled me back, and I felt the heat on my face. I pulled Star with me, and she stood in front of me as if she was protecting me. I patted her on the head.
Ashfur began speaking once more. "Squirrelflight, dear, I need you to understand something: you can stop crying. It's not going to do anything. You are going to watch your children burn. You'll hear their final screams and pleads for help. Hopefully, they'll drive you mad."
He's insane! I thought. I knew he was terrible, but this? He's trying to kill us! I listened as Squirrelflight spoke up. "Ashfur, please. I know you were hurt when I left you, but murder? I didn't know you were this bothered by it. I'm so sorry…"
"You are not sorry!" Ashfur screamed. I heard him drop the gasoline bottle. "You got everything you wanted, everything anyone wants and left me like I was nothing. It was like, every day I was bleeding out onto the rocks. I'm surprised all of you failed to see the blood."
The fire was closing in. "Ashfur!" I yelled desperately, though I doubt he could hear me over the fire.
I heard Squirrelflight heave a huge, depressed, sob, and then she exclaimed, "Do with them what you want- I don't care for them. They are not my kids."
I gasped. What? No, it must be a lie. It had to be a lie, it had to! I heard Ashfur stifle a gasp and then scowl. Then he let out a laugh of victory. "Oh, poor Squirrelflight... You might have saved them, but what about yourself? How will Brambleclaw feel when he realizes you lied to him all this time? He'll leave you. You'll feel like me. Now, let's let these orphans out of the flames, and I'll call Brambleclaw."
Ashfur threw water onto the flames and let us out. Star panted with relief, and headed for the scorched gate. I let her lead me out. As I left, however, I heard screams and crackling. Fear was radiating off of the backyard, and I tried not to cry. I felt Brambleclaw come and embrace me. I pushed him away. "Stop it! Just stop!" I ran away, with Star making sure I didn't fall.