Rising from Flames

Chapter 1 – The Angel's Sin

A little start note. Hi! This is the first chapter, technically the first, not counting the prologue. But, thank you for the reviews, and I hope you'll review this chapter as well.

In a place where the stars aren't here, that's where you'll find your hope. In a place the raging fire consumes all you will find you're light. In a place of darkness and fire you will seek out your savior. In that place, you will be saved.

Russetbloom woke with a start. Her eyes widened when she remembered her dream. Was it a prophecy from StarClan? No, that can't be true, she thought to herself. StarClan closed them to us. How would they send a prophecy? But indeed it was a prophecy. A prophecy that wasn't supposed to be sent. It was a dream to the future. It was a dream for hope, light and their savior. But it couldn't be revealed. Whoever had it must die.

The dream stuck with her all day long. She was distracted during training, during hunting, during her whole day. Her best friend padded over and plopped down. "I hear you're distracted." he said. Russetbloom nodded. "Why?"

Russetbloom swallowed. "Because I can't tell you." she whispered and stalked away. The gray cat looked at her with his green eyes oddly. "I'm sorry Stormwhisker." she whispered.

Stormwhisker shrugged. Whatever it was, it couldn't be that bad, could it? Stormwhisker stalked to the fresh-kill pile and muttered darkly. I thought Russetbloom was my friend, he thought to himself. He chose a vole for himself and sat down in the shade, next to Emberflash. "What's up?" she asked.

Stormwhisker just sat there looking at the ground, not say a word. Finally Emberflash sighed and got up. "Well, let me know if you figure you want to tell me." she said. Stormwhisker just sat there. Emberflash sighed and trotted to the warrior's den.

Adderstar came in the camp entrance holding two mice in his mouth. He dropped them at the fresh-kill pile and went to his mate, Lilacmist. "What's wrong?" she asked, her sweet voice catching everyone's attention. Adderstar never showed his emotions outside his den. He shook it away and leaped onto their meeting place, on the branch stuck out between rocks, and many smaller rocks below, forming a passageway to the branch. It was thick, so you could fall off, but not easily.

"Let all cats old enough to see the flames, gather around High Branch for a clan meeting!" he yowled. His clan was surprised. A meeting?

Adderstar cleared his throat before speaking in a loud clear voice, "These past days are very dry, only just enough for our clan to feed off of. I'm afraid when the next time it rains, lightning will strike and a fire or flame will come out. Every cat must be on guard for this."

"But what if it doesn't rain?" a cat yowled from the crowd.

"It doesn't matter. Because sooner or later, it will, it must, rain." Adderstar said. "This topic is closed. You will look out for any sign of flames." He said firmly as he took a great leap off of the branch. He padded to his den with Lilacmist, their heads together and tails twined together.

Stormwhisker stood up from where he sat in front of High Branch, shook his pelt to get the dust off, and padded to the camp entrance. "Hey!" A ginger she-cat yelled. Stormwhisker turned around with a look that said What? "Can I come with you?" Stormwhisker sighed and nodded.

"Fine Ivyshadow. You can come hunting with me." Ivyshadow let out an excited squeal that reminded Stormwhisker of his dead sister, Stormwhisp who had one kit with Blackclaw.

Ivyshadow ran up in front of him. "Where are we going? What are we hunting? Where? What? Why hunting?" she asked, a million questions coming out her mouth that made Stormwhisker want to yowl in annoyance.

"Whatever you want." He said between gritted teeth, trying to keep in annoyance-meter down, at least not above 75.

Ivyshadow stopped suddenly. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Am I annoying you?" she asked nervously. Course yah! Stormwhisker yelled in his mind. Ivyshadow looked concerned. Just when Stormwhisker opened his mouth to reply, she started to laugh gleefully. "Got you! You were worried about my personality huh? HAHA!"

Stormwhisker gritted his teeth once again. He wasn't ready to admit he was worried when she acted so quietly, so he just ran to his favorite hunting place and layed on the grass watching the clouds move in the sky. "Pretty isn't it?" a quiet voice asked.

"W-Who's there?" he asked nervously.

"I'm a void. I'm an angel who makes voids in the dark sky during night." Said a beautiful white haired girl to her waist, her expression somber. And with large white feathered wings, stepping out of the shadows. Tonight one will appear made by me, to hunt a cat down."

"Hunt who down?" he asked. "What's you're name? Angel's don't exactly exist do they?" he said, even though he doubted himself.

"I was not meant to come down here to give you answers. But I will give one answer. I am Celeste. An angel who is also the celestial princess. I am here for questions. What is your friend's name?" she asked in a misty sing-song voice.

"R-Russetbloom." he stammered. "Russetbloom is my friend." he said with a stronger voice this time. "What do you want from her?" he asked defending his friend.

"Nothing." Celest replied simply.

"Liar." Stormwhisker snarled, as he whipped around and broke into a run back the camp entrance.

Celeste just stood there. "You're right." she whispered. "I am not here for nothing. I'm here for success. For the blood. For your fate." she said as she faded into the blue sky.

As Stormwhisker burst into the camp, he went to find Russetbloom. He ran to Adderstar and asked urgently, "Have you seen Russetbloom?" Adderstar was surprised, but then nodded his head yes. "Where?"

"I believe she went to her favorite dreaming place or somewhere." Stormwhisker thanked him and ran to the patch of grass in the willows that he and Russetbloom found together. It became their favorite place to go, dream, yell, sleep, anything.

He rushed over just in time to see a black circle close in the dark, starless sky. And there, under the willows, lay an almost dead Russetbloom.

"Russetbloom!" he screamed when he saw her laying limp with blood on her lips. "Don't worry. You're going to make it. I'll get Rave-"I stopped when she opened her eyes.

"You know it as much as I do. I won't make it." She whispered.

"Don't say that." He said hoarsely.

"The main reason I was left to be kil-"she coughed out blood. "Killed was that I had a prophecy. I want"more blood, "you to know I-" as she coughed more blood and lay completely still.

"Russetbloom?" he whispered. "Russetbloom, what was the prophecy?" more silence. "Russetbloom?!" he screeched. "No!" he yowled to the starless night sky. "Why her?" he asked tears streaming down his face. "She was my best friend. My closest friend." He said sinking down to the ground. "I didn't know about the prophecy. What was it?!" he yowled to the sky.

He picked Russetbloom by the scruff and half-carried and half-dragged her to camp. I will get revenge Celeste. You will not hurt my clan mates anymore. You will not start the fire that will doom us all.

Finished with Chapter 1! My chapters compared to those who read, The Endless Hourglass's The Servant's Promise, my chapters are deathly short. But, hope you liked it. Please review; leave helpful reviews, like what to improve, if it was bad, or if it should stay the same. Happy reading! I will continue to update as soon as I can.