Friendship is rare. -Me

Chapter 11

The words of Firestar were still fresh in Snowpaw's mind come the next morning. She couldn't figure out what the legendary leader meant by his prophecy. Icestar had been acting weird too, ever since departing from the leaders at Moonstone. Had StarClan told the leader something that was horrible and affected the entire forest?

Her question was soon answered though, for there was the familar calling from Icestar. Snowpaw, who had been trying to catch a small nap, got to her paws and stretched before she departed from the den and took her spot near the warriors. She felt slightly self-conscious, being the only apprentice.

Icestar was silent for a moment before she sighed and spoke. "StarClan spoke to me at Moonstone, and Spiceleaf assures me I should let you know," She paused, as if trying to put what she wanted to say in the right words. "StarClan told me this; 'Flame can save. But flame can also melt the snow.'" There was a quiet mummering from the clan, and Snowpaw tried desperatly to stay calm. Had Icestar saw the same thing she had? Icestar sighed, lashing her tail for silence. I am trying as we speak to figure out what this prophecy means." Wait. Had Snowpaw just been seeing things or did Icestar just glance at her with worry in her eyes? Wait.

'Flame can save. But flame can also melt the snow.'

Snow...

She was the snow?

No way! She was only an apprentice! There was no way she was 'snow'!

Guess again...

Snowpaw jumped. A sudden scent filled her scent glands, and she reconizged it as Firestar. She turned her head, and saw the transparent image of her ancestor beside her. He was unmoving.

"Find the flame, Snowpaw. For only he can lead you to victory. But beware fire, for he will burn the victory."

Then, he was gone.

Snowpaw shook her head, realizing she was alone in the clearing. With a shake, she shakily got to her paws and padded to the apprentices den. But she was stopped by Icestar.

"Snowpaw," came the low and calm voice of her leader directly behind her. Snowpaw turned her head to see the light gray, almost blue she-cat behind her. Snowpaw said nothing. "Come with me to my den." Without waiting for an answer, Icestar turned and padded away. Finding no other way to get out of it, Snowpaw followed.

Icestar curled into her nest, her tail folded gently over her front paws. Snowpaw sat in front of her, gaze cold. Icestar stared at her for a long time. Then, she sighed.

"Snowpaw, I know you are still mad at me, and I'm sorry. I don't blame you though." She paused, as if waiting for the apprentice to say something. When Snowpaw didn't speak, Icestar continued. "But, you have to realize where I was coming from. That knowledge could've brung harm to you. Perish will do anything to get ahold of you, Snowpaw, and thats why we kept it from you for so long. But...I know it was wrong, and I'm sorry..." Snowpaw's gaze softened a bit, but remained cold. Icestar sighed. "Anyway, I was wanting you to go on patrol with Cinderfang and Wolfwind." Snowpaw nodded, and turned, exited the den. Icestar watched her leave.

Cinderfang and Wolfwind met Snowpaw near the entrance of camp. Snowpaw joined them, feeling snappy and irratated. The three cats patroled the RiverClan border. Cinderfang instructed Snowpaw to follow the border over to ShadowClan, and then back to camp. Snowpaw agreed, and started picking her way through the forest.

It felt good to be alone, patroling the forest. She loved the feel of the undergrowth on her paws, the sound of birds in the air. She took a deep breath, walking slowly along the border. Before she knew it, she found herself nearing the Thunderpath, and she coughed at the vile stench of the monsters and path.

Just as she started to turn back to camp, a rustling reached her ears. She jerked toward the bushes bordering the Thunderpath, and a familar smell reached her nose a moment before the cat showed herself.

"Well, well," purred Perish, circling Snowpaw as she exited the bush. "If it isn't Snowpaw..." She chuckled, flexing her claws. "I hope you feel good about you murder of my partner." Her gaze suddenly became cold and unwavering. "You shouldn't have done that, Snowpaw." Perish circled Snowpaw, and Snowpaw locked gazes with the she-cat, following her movements. "Now, you have to pay." The moment the last syllable exited Perishs' mouth, she leaped, landing directly on top of Snowpaw. The apprentice spat and struggled, but Perish was too large. The rouge chuckled, flexing her claws.

"Now, now," she purred, lifting her paw. "Wouldn't you want to make Gingersky proud?" An empty void filled Snowpaw suddenly, weakening her struggles, but she continued. "And what about your friend? Seapaw, was it?" Snowpaw groaned in pain and struggled. Perish purred. "Don't worry. This will only hurt alot." She tensed her muscles and brung the claws down.

There was a sudden rushing noise in Snowpaw's ear the moment before the claws struck her. A crash and a thud, and she was suddenly able to get to her paws. Snowpaw leaped to her paws, and was surprised to see the rouge Amberflame on top of her, snarling and hissing.

"You!" the rouge she-cat growled, lifting a paw to strike Perish. But Perish was quicker, and kicked the she-cat in the stomach, sending her rolling into a tree. Perish growled, and leaped. Snowpaw spat and leaped as well. The two she-cats collided, and Snowpaw felt her head spin as she collasped on top of Perish, pinning her down. Perish snarled, clawing at Snowpaw, but Snowpaw growled and dodged before bringing her claws down on the she-cats face. Perish yelped, and then, Snowpaw was bowled over.

A large apprentice-aged rouge stood over Snowpaw, snarling and biting. His coat was a light ginger, and his eyes were a striking red, sending waves of fear down Snowpaw's spine. But she didn't give in. Snowpaw yowled and bit into the rouges paws, earning a yelp for her efforts. She then raised her paw to smash it against the toms face, but he pinned her down quickly with her paws. Snowpaw watched as he reared back his head and lunged for her thoart.

"No!" came a sudden yowl, and the tom was suddenly gone. Snowpaw opened her closed eyes and looked around, seeing a large apprentice on top of the rouge that had attacked her. The pelts were almost alike in color, except the one that had saved Snowpaw was a darker red, and his eyes were a soft amber. The lighter tom snarled and bit at the apprentice. "Firesight, you can't!" Firesight growled and stopped struggling. Snowpaw looked around for Amberflame and saw her wrestling with Perish. After a moment, Perish shoved the she-cat into a tree, where she jumped to her paws. Snowpaw leaped over to join Amberflame, her pelt mattered with blood and mud. Perish, who was panting and bleeding heavily from the wounds on her shoulder and back, limped toward the two toms, who had finally seperated. Perish glared at the darker tom, who lowered his head.

"You dare not attack another apprentice!" she hissed, stepping closer to the tom. "How dare you, Flamesoul!" She slashed at him, and he collasped, a deep wound in his neck. Bloodeyes said nothing, only watched the younger one with defeat. "You have just sentenced yourself to death!" She reared back, and Snowpaw watched in horror before her actions were put on autopilot.

"No!" she shouted, suddenly finding herself launching herself at Perish. The rouge she-cat was surprised when Snowpaw crashed into her, but that didn't stop her from attacking. She slashed at Snowpaw, but Snowpaw growled and slashed back. Amberflame was soon there, pulling Perish out from under Snowpaw. Firesight was motionless, staring at his paws. Flamesoul was staring at Snowpaw in awe.

"You...you saved me?" he asked, amber eyes glowing. Snowpaw nodded, and looked to see Amberflame and Perish wrestling.

"Go Snowpaw!" Amberflame yowled. Snowpaw didn't need to be told twice. She nudged Flamesoul and rushed off into the forest the opposite direction of the camp. Blood trailed after her and Flamesoul both as they ran. They made it all the way to Sunningrocks again before collasping with exhaustion. Snowpaw's head was swimming from loss of blood, but there was no way they could lead the rouges back to camp. She looked to the sky, seeing the gray clouds swollen, praying for rain to wash the scent away. And, just as quickly as she had said the prayer, the rain started to pour. With a silent thanks to StarClan, Snowpaw and Flamesoul limped quickly into camp.

---End of Chapter---