Thank yew for the cookies, they were lovely c:
Sorry for the late update, I got pretty sick on Thursday and my sister also went ahead and broke the keyboard so I had to wait 'till we got a new one.
I wrote this rather quickly and I'm not entirely happy with it right now, but I do hope you guys like it.
Now what?
Fireheart felt lost and out of place. For the last half moon he had been living on the outskirts of Clan territory, wary of every sound that approached him. He feared the threat of Tigerclaw and his band of rouges hanging over him like an adder poised to strike. No matter what he did he couldn't shake it off.
He also feared a border patrol would catch him. He most definitely did not want to fight his Clanmates, but if circumstances called for it, he would. No matter how much it hurt him inside.
After his exile, Fireheart had planned to stay with Barley and Ravenpaw, but he didn't want to be found by anyone if they went looking for him so instead, he had made his own den. It was a poor substitute for the warmth and comfort of the warriors den, but it would have to do.
A strike of thunder cracked through the air as lightening illuminated the twinkling sky and a thin rain began to fall. He knew the Clan's territory would stay dry; the falling water was barley even reaching him.
Gazing up to the stars he stared as they shone coldly as if they were mocking him. To him was as if the stars were weeping. Was StarClan still watching over him? He hoped so, he felt as if as long as he could hang onto his belief everything would be alright, wouldn't it?
The sky rumbled in the distance and Fireheart sighed. He longed for the days where he had simply been Firepaw, and the only things he had to worry about were impressing his mentor, Bluestar, and bringing back enough fresh kill for the Clan.
The thought of fresh kill made his belly rumble. Stifling a sigh he left his den behind and went off to hunt. It seemed luck was with him as only a few tail lengths away were two mice.
As quietly as he could, he lowered himself into the hunting crouch and slowly pulled himself forwards, briefly checking to be sure the wind was in the right direction. Once he was close enough, he began to waggle his haunches. He was about to leap when a tabby shape jumped in front of him, killing both the mice with a quick flick of it's paw. Fireheart recoiled in horror, he had run right into Tigerclaw.
The tabby turned to him and he realized in embarrassment that it wasn't Tigerclaw after all, but a young tabby she-cat with faint silver markings on her fur. Her Amber eyes were kind and full of warmth.
"Sorry, were you hunting them too?"
Fireheart was caught off guard. He had expected her to be hostile. His mind was blank, so he nodded mutely.
The young she-cat purred in amusement. "We can share, if you'd like?" She murmured, her eyes were pleading.
After a brief hesitation, Fireheart nodded and chose a mouse for himself. The she-cat purred, her tail tip twitched with delight. What an odd she-cat.
"My name's Poppy." She trilled as she tucked neatly into her mouse.
Fireheart swallowed his bit of prey. "Fireheart."
"Fireheart?" That's a strange name, are you-" She broke off, her eyes widening in surprise and excitement. "Are you a forest cat?"
Fireheart almost choked. "Yes," he hedged.
"What are the Clans like?" She prompted.
Great StarClan! How did she know about these things?
"Like living with any other big group of cats." He murmured. He didn't really want to delve too much into his past. Not when the memories were still as fresh and painful as a new wound. "Thanks for the mouse, I should be going." He meowed polity dipping his head before turning away.
Poppy seemed like a nice she-cat, but he was slightly uncomfortable with how she seemed to know about his old life. How could she know, anyways? Who would ever be able to tell her?
lineelineline
"Fireheart?"
The voice caught him off guard and he started at the appearance of a tabby she-cat with faint silver markings shot into the den.
"Poppy?" He stuttered. He had met the feisty tabby only six dawns ago while he was hunting. She hardly ever left his side now, though he would have preferred to live alone she provided good company. "What are you doing here?"
She tipped her head to the side and stared quizzically at him. "What, am I not aloud in here anymore?"
"I didn't say that," He protested. "I just didn't expect…"
Poppy purred. "Sorry. I just felt so bored so I decided to see if you were awake yet. Hopefully this rain will stop soon; it had the good grace to start off while I was on my way."
Bored already? It was barely after dawn! Looking out the mouth of his den, he realised it had indeed been raining. "It's already easing off," He murmured looking away from her.
"So it is." She trilled, bounding over to Fireheart with a look of delight. "So now that you're awake, what do you want to do?" She asked, prodding his flank with a sheathed paw.
Fireheart narrowed his gaze at her, she wouldn't understand if he said he'd like to be alone today, but maybe he would lose her later in the day? Better to get it over with.
"Whatever you want, Poppy." He sighed.
"Great! Since there's no rain I insist we go for a walk."
"Again?" During the past three mornings Poppy had come, she had demanded he take a walk with her.
Poppy snorted. "Yes again, you lazy furball; now get up, we have places to go and things to see."
Sighing, Fireheart brought himself to his paws and staggered out the den with Poppy right on his paws. Looking back at her he noted that her eyes were bright with determination.
"Do you ever do anything besides go for walks?" He teased lightly.
Poppy cuffed him over the ear. "Don't be a mousebrain, of course I do! It's just something I do every morning, and you should too." She added with a disdainful sniff.
Had it been any other cat, Fireheart knew he would have snapped out an indignant retort, but he knew Poppy was joking. The strange she-cat seemed to have a way with him, which slightly bothered him. He should be able to do what he wanted, but somehow Poppy always got him to go along with her.
As they padded along through the grassy fields he couldn't help think of Sandstorm. Did the fierce ginger she-cat still miss him? He wondered what she was doing right now.
"Come on, I want to introduce you to someone." Poppy hissed and Fireheart realized he had fallen several fox lengths behind.
Quickly adding a burst of speed Fireheart ran until he caught up to Poppy, and to her surprise he kept going. With a playful yowl, Poppy gave chase. He was caught off guard by how fast she was; she outran him in a couple of bounds and spun around to tackle him to the ground. In a few heartbeats she had him pinned down, making sure he was unable to move.
Fireheart was stunned. She had the makings of a great warrior, if only she could be bothered to live with another Clan or a large group of other cats for that matter.
Leaning down, Poppy breathed into his ear. "I thought you said you were a fighter, Fireheart." Before he could respond, the tabby she-cat jumped off him and waited for him to pick himself up again. "Come on, Fireheart. I want you to meet them before the day ends."
As his curiosity got the best of him, he pushed himself up off the ground and trudged after Poppy. He hadn't known she could fight like that. She was better even than Tigerclaw, and that was saying a lot. The dark tabby tom was a formidable fighter.
"We're nearly there," Poppy purred her voice lucid in her relief. It had taken both of them until well after sunhigh just to get where they were; in fact it was almost Sunset.
Looking around Fireheart saw a wide expanse of moorland stretching far into the distance and to the far right of it stood a barn, or at least he thought it was a barn. He was still to far away to be certain.
"Come on Fireheart!" Poppy yowled in excitement. "It's only a little further."
Fireheart growled. Why had he allowed himself to be dragged all this way? Reluctantly Fireheart went with Poppy as they made their way closer to the twoleg thing. The surroundings looked incredibly familiar, though he could not place why.
Once they reached the twoleg nest, it had indeed been a barn, Fireheart began to pick up a scent under all the musty odours of straw and mice, it too, was familiar. Why couldn't he remember?
"Hey guys, you here?" Poppy called.
Almost instantly three heads poked out of the doorway. Firehearts breath caught in his throat. He knew two of the toms very well, especially the small black tom who was staring at him and Poppy like a moon struck rabbit.
"Fireheart, Poppy? What are you doing here?"
What do you guys think of Poppy? I'd like to know.
Oh, tonight is the full moon!... or tomorrow. (Random much? Ha ha don't ask, I just luff the moon) .-.
The next chapter goes back to Sandstorm and the battle. I find her a little more easier to write, I'm not sure why.
***Remember to reveiw. If I get enough reveiws, I'll post the next part later today or early tomorrow.