Chapter 3.
StepStorm looked up from her fish. "What did you just say?"
"Didn't you hear me? We are going to get our mentors tomorrow," said StepLight.
"Finally," said StepClaw, "I can't wait to get mine. I can finally learn battling techniques and then those sharks better watch out! I'll rip them to shreds."
StepStorm did not share the happiness her friends had. For the past couple of days she made excuses so she wouldn't have to go out and train with the others. How was she going to get away from training when she got her own mentor? She got to her paws. "I'm going to take a walk."
"Sure," said StepLight, returning to the clam she was eating.
StepStorm was on her way out when she heard somecat say her name. Wondering what was going on she followed the sound until she was standing outside ShiningFeather's den.
"What are we going to do about StepStorm?" she heard ShiningFeather say.
"What do you mean?" came SpiritCave's voice.
"She does not have the skills of an OceanTide cat and she hasn't been out training in the past couple of days. I don't know if she would make a good warrior at all. SpiritCave. Could she become your learner? Then she could stay in the tribe."
SpiritCave sighed, "ShiningFeather. You know I cannot do that. The Spirit Wind has not spoken to me about her becoming my learner. The Spirit Wind must acknowledge the cat before I can train him or her, you know that."
"I know," said ShiningFeather, "But I don't want to kick her out just because of that. I don't think ShiningBlade will be kind enough to let her into ForestRose."
"I understand where you are coming from with this. StepStorm is not welcomed by many cats in OceanTide because she is an outsider. The older cats more than the younger ones."
"So, then can you make her your learner for a little while?" begged ShiningFeather, "At least until we can convince her to train. Even if she cannot do the things we can, there are still many things she could do."
"I could never do such a thing," said SpiritCave sadly, "You know that as well as I do. The Spirit Wind is sacred."
"Sorry. I didn't mean to suggest that it wasn't."
"I know you weren't. Tell you what, I'll take StepStorm to the Spirit Flame. There we can truly find out if she belongs here."
"Thank you. SpiritCave."
StepStorm jumped back and pretended to be engrossed in a piece of shell that had wandered away from the fresh-kill pile. She looked up at SpiritCave as he came out. "Come with me."
StepStorm dropped the shell and followed SpiritCave out of the camp. She wondered why she was being taken to the Spirit Flame. From what StepLight and StepClaw told her, the Spirit Flame was something only Spiriters usually visit. Normal cats only got to visit when somecat they care about died. StepClaw was surprised that bodies were burned in these tribes. For an OceanTide cat, the ashes were scattered into the ocean. StepStorm wondered where ForestRose put their ashes.
"Be careful and stay calm," instructed SpiritCave as they made their way down the rocks and up the beach, still hugging the cliff side that made up the OceanTide camp.
"How long is this rock wall?" asked StepStorm.
"It goes into ForestRose and then I don't know," replied SpiritCave as they entered the jungle area. "Don't worry. The place where the gatherings and the Sprit Flame are, are neutral territory that isn't owned by either tribe. However, I would advise you not to come here without me or one of the healers. We are the only ones who get freeway between the two tribes."
"Uh, alright."
SpiritCave took StepStorm to a small rocky cave. Around the cave there were no trees or bushes of any sort. Only grass. She could smell smoke and burning wood coming from within the cave. SpiritCave didn't hesitate. He just walked in.
StepStorm, not wanting to be left behind ran after him. She gasped as she stared at the marvel before her. The cave itself was roomy and there were pieces of wood stacked up in the corners. In the center, was a huge fire, the flames hot enough that StepStorm could feel them at the entrance.
"Come over here," instructed SpiritCave. He gestured to a couple of moss beds in the furthest corner of the cave, away from the fire. "Sleep on one."
StepStorm walked over and sat down on the moss bed and before she knew it she was asleep.
"Hello! You must be the new cat!"
StepStorm opened her eyes and yowled. The cat who was speaking to her didn't even look like a cat! It had the body of a cat but the body was made up of moving flames. StepStorm wasn't sure if the cat was either a tom or a she-cat.
"Come on! We don't have much time!" the cat's voice sounded like crackling fire. "OceanTide and ForestRose wish to speak with you. Come!"
"What? Who are you?"
"I'm the Spirit Flame," replied the cat, "Well, I'm the spirit of the Spirit Flame. I serve as sort of a connection with the Spirit Wind. Anyway. We don't have time for this. Come. Come."
StepStorm looked around and she realized she was in the sky above OceanTide! How did this happen?
"Come on!" cried Spirit Flame from above her. "Just walk up like you normally would."
StepStorm obeyed and she found out she could walk up. It felt like there was solid ground under her paws. The fire-coated cat took StepStorm up higher and higher until the island was only a mere speck below them. "How far up are we going?"
"We're almost there!" yowled the Spirit Flame. "Look. There it is!"
StepStorm looked up and saw they were heading for a very thick and large cloud. When StepStorm landed on it, she was surprised the cloud seemed to hold her weight.
"Welcome."
She jumped and checked to see who spoke. Standing before her were two cats, a tom and a she-cat. The tom's fur was a brilliant silver, and his eyes matched his fur. The she-cat on the other paw was black as the night sky without a moon. Her eyes were bright yellow.
"We thank SpiritCave for letting you come speak with us," said the she-cat. "I am ForestRose. He is OceanTide."
OceanTide nodded, "I understand your concerns. You think tribe life is not for you because you are different from the other OceanTide warriors."
"However. It would be best for you to stay in OceanTide. I would know," said ForestRose, "The cats living in my tribe are different as well."
StepStorm knew it. She could not belong to either tribe. They were too different from her.
"You should not despair though," said OceanTide walking over to her. He licked her gently on the head, "You can overcome the obstacles. You may be different but it is possible for somecat like you to live in OceanTide. Don't ever give up."
"StepStorm."
StepStorm's eyes opened. She was back in the Spirit Flame cave. For some reason the Spirit Flame seemed to be brighter than it previously was. She looked up at SpiritCave. "I met…"
SpiritCave held up his tail, "Don't tell me. And don't tell anycat either. The dream you just had was for you and you alone. Now, let's return to the tribe."