Flamepaw ran as fast as she could through the trees. Hard on Ashpaw's heels, she let her mind drift, imagining what it could've been. Ashpaw stopped abruptly, causing Flamepaw to crash into him. She grunted as she gathered herself up.
"So-"she was cut off as she looked in the middle of the clearing. Tears welled in her eyes at the site. A rouge loomed over an elder from her clan, Thornspots. The rogue looked up at her, and smiled as he ripped his claws across Thronspots' throat.
"No!" She yowled, leaping at the rogue, but before she tackled him, he sped off into the trees. She looked down at the bleeding elder. I can't leave him, but I will get my revenge! She promised herself as tears fell down her cheeks.
"T-Thornspots!" She whimpered, settling down beside him.
"Remember all the stories you used to tell me? Well, you can soon tell me some, when you are being healed in the medicine cat's den!" She pleaded. She saw a weak smile across the elder's face as his eyes dulled, letting out a spasm throughout his whole body before lying limp. Wailed in sorrow, her head bowed in grief.
I will always watch over you, my young one .She lifted her head as the voice rung in her head. Ashpaw emerged from the bushes, leading Ferneye and Tigerwhisker to the clearing.
"No, Thornspots!" Ferneye choked, tears gathering in her eyes. Flamepaw saw Tigerwhisker look at Ashpaw seriously.
"Where did the rogue go?" He mewed sternly.
"I-I don't know!" Ashpaw stammered. Flamepaw licked Thornspots fur one more time. She turned to Tigerwhisker.
"Help me bring his body back to camp." She said, her voice filled with grief. Tigerwhisker nodded, padding over to his body. Flamepaw helped heave Thornspots onto her father's back. He padded off towards camp, Thornspots' head and tail drooping limply off her father's shoulders. She dreaded the sight, looking away quickly.
Ashpaw laid his tail across Flamepaw's spine.
"It's ok. He will always watch you." He whispered into her ear soothingly. She looked into his eyes, seeing sympathy clouding Ashpaw's deep blue eyes. She nodded, rising and padding back toward camp. Ferneye hurried after the two apprentices, worried about Flamepaw. She walked through the camp entrance and into camp.
Every cat looked at her. Her fur felt on fire from all the cats staring at her. Before she could say anything Cinderstar appeared from her den. She looked at Thornspots' limp body in the middle of camp, and back at Flamepaw. Flamepaw looked at herself, and realized the dead elder's blood was all over her.
"What did you do?" Cinderstar growled at her; the leader's eyes like blue fire.
"It wasn't me! I would never kill an elder!" She protested. Tigerwhisker stepped in front of Cinderstar.
"There was a rogue. I picked up a hint of his scent, leading out of the clearing where Thornspots was killed." He explained every detail. Cinderstar dipped her head in apology at Flamepaw before leaping onto the Hightree.
"We have lost one of our elders! Thornspots was one of the greatest and wisest elders ever in this clan. We will all miss him." She announced, her voice echoing all over the camp. She leapt down, and settled down beside Thornspots.
Flamepaw felt a tear stream down her face, falling to the ground below her. She slowly padded over to the elder's body, licking his wound clean before laying down beside it, sticking her muzzle deep into his cold fur.
She sighed, remembering all the stories he had told her as a kit. Flamepaw would always sneak out of the nursery and creep into the elders den. She always snuggled up close to Thornspots, anticipating the next great tale she would be told. All the stories Flamepaw knew, she had learned them from Thornspots.
Tears fell onto the cold elders pelt as she recalled all the memories she had had with him, and now he was gone. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you She thought, wanting to tell that to him. Sleep hung on her eyelids. She closed them, sleep coming difficult.
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Flamepaw awoke to a paw prodding her side. She opened to see Ashpaw looming above her.
"Come on, you need to sleep properly in your nest." He urged. She nodded in agreement. She shivered at the cold and she removed herself from Thornspots warm side. She groggily padded into the apprentice den; settling down in her nest. She heard Ashpaw drag his nest next to hers, and curled up next to her. She drank in his soothing scent before slumber claimed her once more, this time a little easier.