Chapter Seven: Scent of Smoke
A/N: Yay actual plot.
It had been four moons since Nightpaw's apprentice ceremony, and Alderleaf's warrior ceremony. Alderleaf. Starpaw still missed him, missed his cheerful mew, and missed his beautiful green eyes. But she respected that he loved Swiftstream and would never love her the same way.
Starpaw edged her way around the silly Twolegs' pelt-dens and fires. Fire. Why would the Twolegs play with such a dangerous thing? The smoke from the contained fires rose high into the clear air.
Starpaw didn't like the smell of smoke. It just smelled so- smoky.
A sudden gust of wind blew ashes into the air. Starpaw coughed, eyes watering. A Twoleg yowled, and others took up the cry. Starpaw realized why.
She watched with horror as a hot coal blew out of the fire and started its own fire. It quickly ate the pelt-dens and licked at the bottoms of trees. The dry leaf-bare plants took quickly to the flame and the inferno blazed higher. Starpaw was rooted to the spot, wide-eyed as fire raced toward her.
She snapped out of confusion. The fire was moving straight towards the camp, with no river to separate it from the flames!
Twoleg kits were mewling and big Twolegs were putting water and soil on the fire, but it spread too quickly to stop.
Starpaw fled for her life and her Clanmates' knowing that if she waited any longer, she would be too late. She reached the camp and screeched "FIRE! FIRE!"
Poolstar jumped to his feet. "Kits and elders out of the camp! Warriors help younger and older cats! Every cat into the river!"
Starpaw ran to Poolstar. "A coal ignited near the Twoleg pelt-dens! What can I do to help?" she panted.
"Warn the patrols!" ordered Poolstar. "Stormwave, Duskfeather and Icepaw are on border patrol near WindClan border. Alderleaf, Swiftstream, and Coalfoot on hunting patrol near Sunningrocks. Get Stonepaw and Stripepaw to help you," he meowed hastily and returned to his warning cry of "All cats into the river! Every cat into the river! Kits and elders first!"
Starpaw hurried to Stonepaw and Stripepaw, who were helping Sunpaw, Nightpaw and Leap-paw escort the leaders and kits out of their dens and into the river.
"Come with me," she huffed. "Have to… find patrols," she wheezed. "Split up, go to Sunningrocks," she finished quickly. "Get Alderleaf, Swiftstream, Coalfoot! Go!"
Stonepaw and Stripepaw nodded and ran towards Sunningrocks. She sped to the WindClan border. She remembered Owlclaw's warning, but now was not the time for petty disputes among Clanmates.