*kicks down door* gUESS WHO GOT OUT ANOTHER CHAPTER IN THE SAME DAY! its me. shortest chapter so far is then followed by longest chapter so far. huh. But yeah, Cloudpaw's arc is kind of different in this. You'll also probably notice while reading this fic that the events are kind of twisted around here and there. That's because I've only read the original series once and that was in like. third grade or something. so uh. sorry.
-break-
Fireheart had begun to notice things about Cloudpaw. Things like how despite the fact that Cloudpaw was eating less and less, he was getting fatter and fatter. Things like how Fireheart could always smell Cloudpaw's scent on the border by twolegplace. Fireheart had even went to Princess and asked if she had seen Cloudpaw recently. Fireheart had given Cloudpaw the benefit of the doubt, but Princess stated she hadn't seen him in a while.
So Fireheart decided it was time to figure out where Cloudpaw was going. That day, when Cloudpaw went out on his daily excursion, Fireheart followed him out of camp. They entered twolegplace and Fireheart felt a sense of hollow disappointment begin creeping up on him. Cloudpaw headed deeper and deeper in, and the feeling within Fireheart became greater and greater until it anchored at the doorstep of a twoleg den.
Cloudpaw let out a loud yowl that almost made Fireheart give up his hiding spot. Cloudpaw continued to do this until the door swung open and a twoleg came out, holding a very familiar dish. The twoleg set the dish down and as it started running its paw down Cloudpaw's back, Fireheart felt that feeling of disappointment swallow him whole.
After finishing, Cloudpaw stayed for a little more of the twoleg's paw, before getting up and scurrying off past Fireheart. Remaining unnoticed, Fireheart followed Cloudpaw until they were out of twolegplace. Upon leaving the white fences and stone paths behind, Fireheart padded up behind his nephew.
"Cloudpaw," Fireheart's tone did nothing to hide the feelings churning within him, and Cloudpaw spun around with wide eyes. "How long have you been doing this?" Cloudpaw at least had the decency to look ashamed.
"Not… Not that long, I just… It's just that… Why do you care anyways?" Cloudpaw growled defensively. Fireheart frowned at him.
"Not only are you my apprentice, Cloudpaw, you are my nephew. My family. And you've been going out and doing… This?" Fireheart felt his cold disappointment begin to be replaced by stinging anger. Cloudpaw looked up at Fireheart with defiance before turning and walking off.
"Cloudpaw-" Cloudpaw groaned loudly, interupting Fireheart.
"Whatever. I'll stop." The white tom ran off into the woods, and Fireheart had a sneaking suspicion that Cloudpaw would not stop as he stated so kindly.
-break-
"Tigerstar? Can I speak with you about something?" The brown tabby gave Fireheart an acknowledging glance and nodded.
"Well you see," Fireheart started, trying to figure out how he should continue, "I noticed recently that Cloudpaw's been acting strange lately and going off by himself, so I decided to follow him and well, he uh… He's been going to twolegplace and eating kittypet food." Tigerstar tensed as Fireheart finished. For a moment a complete silence was held between the two.
"Tell Cloudpaw that he is to be confined to camp for the next moon." Tigerstar said monotone. Fireheart resisted a wince and nodded.
-break-
"What do you mean confined to camp!?" Cloudpaw shouted. Fireheart sighed.
"I mean just that. This is your punishment for disobeying the warrior code and acting like a kittypet." Fireheart meowed calmly. A burning rage was stored within Cloudpaw's blue eyes, and he stormed off past Fireheart to the apprentices' den. Fireheart felt that cold disappointment fill him once more, but now directed at himself. Was this his fault? Fireheart decided he needed time to himself.
-break-
That night, Fireheart dreamt of shadows hiding cats and a sea of blood and death and darkness, held aloft by bones and claws. Fireheart jolted awake to see Darkstripe once again leaving early in the morning. Before Fireheart could think anything of it, Graystripe rolled over and onto him.
"Graystripe!" Fireheart hissed quietly. The tom made a quiet grunt, but otherwise did not budge. Fireheart sighed and decided to let Graystripe squish him for now, but Graystripe was getting dawn patrol duty today.
-break-
It had been half a moon since Cloudpaw's confinement to camp and the apprentice was starting to get antsy. And it appeared to Fireheart that perhaps his apprentice had gotten fed up with his confinement. The orange tom had searched every nook and cranny of camp, but could not find Cloudpaw.
With a heavy heart, Fireheart headed towards twolegplace, finding Cloudpaw's scent and following it. It was late and the stars lit his path until the lights of twolegplace blocked them out. Of course Cloudpaw would end up going back here, wouldn't he. What was so great about it anyways? Kittypet food wasn't even that-
"Help! Help!" Fireheart tensed and looked up. That was Cloudpaw's voice! Cloudpaw was in trouble! Before Fireheart knew quite what he was doing, he started running towards where he heard Cloudpaw's cries and found a twoleg carrying the struggling apprentice in its paws. Fireheart didn't hesitate to run up to the twoleg and climb up it to swipe at its paws.
Fireheart was thrown off as the twoleg dropped Cloudpaw, and he swiftly turned and picked up the apprentice, running as fast as he could out of twolegplace. As gray and silver turned into green and brown, Fireheart slowed, adrenaline fading. He stopped and set down Cloudpaw, reprimanding words on the tip of his tongue, when he saw the state Cloudpaw was in.
Cloudpaw had curled in on himself slightly and was shaking almost violently. His breathing was heavy, and Fireheart couldn't help but see the tiny ball of fur he had brought to ThunderClan in Leaf-Bare. Fireheart sighed and curled around his apprentice—no—his nephew and quietly attempted to reassure the shaken tom.
After a while, Cloudpaw's shaking ceases and his breathing became even. Fireheart nudged him, and was met with tired blue eyes.
"I know you've had a long day," Cloudpaw meowed softly, "But do you think we could go hunting or something? I'm not really ready to go back to camp." Fireheart smiled at Cloudpaw who gave him a look.
"Sure. I bet I can catch more than you." Cloudpaw let out a sound akin to a bird squawking at his mentor's challenge. Fireheart purred in amusement as the white apprentice jumped up, a fire in his eyes. Cloudpaw wouldn't go back to twolegplace now. Fireheart was sure of it.
-break-
It was early in the morning when the two returned. As it turned out, Cloudpaw ended up catching more than Fireheart, and the apprentice was certainly smug about it. At the entrance of camp the duo were met with Darkstripe who had just exited.
"And where are you off to this early, Darkstripe?" Fireheart asked. Darkstripe glared down at Fireheart.
"Nowhere is where." Darkstripe muttered, shoving past Fireheart. With narrowed eyes he watched Darkstripe go.
"Fireheart?" Cloudpaw asked, a bit of worry tainting his voice. Fireheart shook himself. He had more important things to do right now. Like organizing dawn patrol and telling Tigerstar about the previous night. Oh no.
-break-
"Tigerstar?" Fireheart asked, stepping into Tigerstar's den. The tabby looked at him, exhaustion clear on his face.
"I think Cloudpaw's learned his lesson. I'm certain he won't be going back to twolegplace again." Tigerstar looked Fireheart up and down for any lack of conviction before nodding.
"If you think so." Fireheart was about to turn and leave when he paused.
"Can I ask what has you like this?" Fireheart asked, speaking softly as not to aggravate his leader. Tigerstar let out a long suffering sigh.
"Goldenflower and I got into an argument is all." Fireheart blinked. Thinking back on it he had noticed that Goldenflower and Tigerstar were interacting less and less, and said interactions were becoming less friendly.
"Will you two stay mates?" Fireheart asked, and was surprised by the bark of laughter that Tigerstar let out.
"Oh I'd be surprised if she admitted we were ever mates. Besides, she's been taken by someone else for quite some time now." Fireheart blinked, confusion clear on his face.
"Who is Goldenflower with then? And why did she have kits with you?" Tigerstar gave Fireheart a smug smile.
"Goldenflower is mates with Brindleface. I'm sure you can figure out the rest." Tigerstar meowed, standing and stretching as realization dawned on Fireheart. That was why the two queens had always been so close. Tigerstar walked towards the exit of the den motioning for Fireheart to follow. And follow Fireheart did, mind filled with connections he had never noticed before. Cloudpaw jumped up when he saw Fireheart coming.
"Fireheart! Do I get to go out of camp now?" Cloudpaw asked, bouncing on his front paws. Before Fireheart could answer, Tigerstar did it for him.
"Yeah, you're free to go run around the forest now." Cloudpaw almost leapt in joy, and turned to Brightpaw and Swiftpaw behind him. The three grinned at each other and ran through the exit of camp shoulder to shoulder. Fireheart couldn't help but smile at his nephew—who at times felt more like Fireheart's own son.
And as Tawnykit and Stormkit and their respective siblings begged and pleaded for the newly apprenticed Ashpaw and Fernpaw to take the kits with them out of camp, Fireheart let his earlier meeting with Darkstripe slip away from him. For now, Fireheart was at peace.
-break-
uuuuuuuuugh the ending is bad but whatever I was rushing this by the end. SO. Goldenflower and Brindleface. Thoughts anybody?
(also i'm still very open to pairing suggestions please help)