Chapter 15
Flame groaned, and pushed herself up from the snow. She looked around, swishing her tail.
Flash looked over to her. "Flame! Are you okay?" He meowed, then coughed.
Flame blinked, and nodded slowly. "Yeah, I'm alright…"
Heather flattened her ears. "Why did you attack her!? I know you don't like her, but even that's a little much!"
Flame flattened her ears. "Attack her? No, I just wanted to see if she had a symbol on her paw as well! Do you think I'm stupid?" She snapped, lashing her tail.
Heather flinched back, stung by her comment.
Grass narrowed his eyes. "I don't think you should've done that."
Flame rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Flight deserved it. Anyway, I did see a symbol. It was a circle, with six triangles around the outside, so it resembled the sun."
Grass flattened his ears. "That doesn't justify your actions. You could've just asked her!"
Flame bristled, and stepped forward, each pawstep melting the snow around her paws. "What's done is done." She growled.
"Guys… Please don't fight…" Heather squeaked, her pelt pricking with nervousness.
Flame jerked her head toward her. "This doesn't involve you, so be quiet!" She snapped.
Heather shrunk down, scared.
Grass hissed, and lashed out, raking his claws along Flame's cheek. "DON'T talk to my sister that way!" He snarled, fluffing out his fur.
Flame turned her head towards him, eyes blazing in fury. "Why you-" She lunged forward, only to be stopped by Flash, who had darted in front of her, and was glaring at her defiantly.
Flash lowered his head, lashing his tail. "You need to calm down." He meowed in a low tone.
Flame drew back, fluffing out her fur. "I can't believe you. Siding against your own sister!"
Flash narrowed his eyes. "I'm siding with my sister and brother."
Flame widened her eyes, and jerked her glare away, glaring at the ground. She tried to cover up her hurt, but Flash saw right through it.
Flash widened his eyes slightly. "Flame, I didn't mean-"
Flame shoved past him, heading for the camp entrance rapidly.
"Flame!"
Flame ignored her brother's call, striding toward the entrance. Suddenly, something yanked sharply on her scruff, causing her to fall backwards. "Ow!" She yelped, then glared up.
Flash was staring down at her. "Stop. Just, just stop."
Flame narrowed her eyes, but pushed herself up into a sitting position. She gazed at Flash, her eyes dull. "What do you want?"
Flash flattened his ears, and sat down. "Flame, I didn't mean to hurt you. But you were, are, being irrational. You really need to stop and think about what consequences your actions will bring."
Flame flattened her ears, and looked at the ground.
Flash flicked his tail. "Now, go apologize to Heather and Flight."
Flame narrowed her eyes, glaring up at Flash. "You aren't my mom!"
Flash narrowed his eyes. "Flame…"
Flame flattened her ears, and scoffed. "Fine! Whatever." She stood up, and padded over to Heather and Grass. "...Sorry." She muttered, swishing her tail.
Grass glared at her, but dipped his head, accepting her apology.
"Now Flight." Flash meowed.
Flame rolled her eyes, and stalked toward the den. Reaching the entrance, she called in. "Flight? I'm sorry I grabbed your paw." A moment of silence passed, then Flight emerged from the den, her eyes red from crying.
"It's… it's okay. I'm sorry I attacked you." Flight murmured back.
Flash smiled. "See? That wasn't so hard."
Flame glared at Flash.
"Hey, I have an idea. Let's all go hunting." Grass suggested. "The fresh-kill pile is looking low, and there still might be prey out."
Flash nodded. "That sounds great. I'll stay and guard the camp."
Grass nodded, and looked over to Flight.
Flight nodded as well. "That's fine. Just, stay safe, alright?"
Flash nodded, and watched as they all departed.
Once outside the camp, Flame glanced around, taking in the surroundings again.
Flight flicked her tail in the direction of the river. "Let's try over there first."
The group padded along, and were eventually able to find some prey, two squirrels and a thrush. Heather had caught the squirrels, and Grass was able to catch the thrush. When they were just starting to head back to camp, Flame caught a strange scent on the air. She paused, and lifted her head, nostrils twitching.
Flight looked over to her. "Flame?"
Flame lashed her tail. "Shush." She pricked her ears, and crept forward, following the scent trail. Ahead of her, some bushes rustled. The orange she-cat narrowed her eyes, and sprang into the bushes, hoping to land on some prey. Instead, a bewildered tom stared up at her.
Flame drew back quickly in surprise, staring at the cat in front of her. She had never seen him before. She flattened her ears, and hissed.
"Flame?" Flight came out of the bushes behind her. "What did you…." She trailed off, seeing the tom. A moment of silence passed, then recognition lit up the she-cat's gaze. "Fish!"
Fish blinked, and pricked his ears. "F-Flight? I haven't seen you in forever! How've you been? How's Leafclan? How's Moss?" He began to move forward.
Flame hissed at him, bushing out her fur.
Fish stopped abruptly, eyes flicking down to Flame. He flattened his ears, swishing his tail.
"Flame, back down. Fish is an old friend of mine." Flight meowed gently, attempting to calm her down.
Flame glared at Flight. "Gee, real reassuring, am I right?" She spat, dripping with sarcasm.
Hurt flashed across Flight's face. "Flame…."
Flame drew her lips up in a snarl, but stepped aside, tail lashing. "See if I care if he kills you." She growled.
Fish raised an eyebrow, looking over at Flight.
Flight cleared her throat, and looked back over at Fish. "I've been doing well." She responded, putting on a smile.
Fish nodded. "That's good. Uh, by the way, who are these three?" He gestured to Flame, Grass, and Heather, who had followed Flight.
Flight blinked. "Oh! Right, you wouldn't know. Fish, this is Heather, Grass, and Flame. Heather, Grass, Flame, this is Fish. Fish, these are my kits, Heather, Grass, and Flame. Flash isn't here right now, but he's also one of mine. Fish is an old friend of mine. We met way back when, in Leafclan."
Fish smiled at them. "Pleasure to meet you." He dipped his head.
"Would you like to come back to camp with us?" Heather asked, tilting her head.
Fish pricked his ears. "As a matter of fact, I would! It's been so long since I've seen Moss…" He drifted off, seeing their expressions. "What? Did something happen?"
Grass fidgeted his paws. "We… we aren't currently living with the clan."
Fish looked stricken. "W-What? Why not?"
Flight sighed. "It's...it's a long story. How about we go back to camp, and I'll tell you when we get back."
Fish nodded absentmindedly. "Sure…" He ducked behind the bushes behind him, bringing out a robin.
Flame narrowed her eyes at the tom, and lashed her tail. She started to stalk back to camp, annoyance simmering beneath her pelt.