Into the Fire

It was very hot and humid in ThunderClan that day. It seemed that there was a storm impending.

We all knew, of course. One of the cats in the Clan, Lightningstripe, was always down whenever a thunderstorm was about to start.

"I don't feel well," she whimpered to me.

I am the medicine cat apprentice, Amberleaf. My mentor, Flowernose, went out into the forest to get some herbs.

"Hmm…. do you have a headache?" I asked kindly.

"Yes," she whimpered. "Can I get some poppy seeds, please?"

"Certainly!" I purred. "Wait right there."

I scampered into the herb storage and came out, holding three poppy seeds.

"Here, three should be enough," I said, holding my paw out to Lightningstripe. She obediently licked up the little seeds.

"Thanks…. I feel better already." Lightningstripe sounded relieved.

"Would you like to stay here?" I offered. "It's nice and cool in here…. maybe it won't feel so oppressive in here. Because, you know…. outside is worse than inside; if a rock wall is surrounding you, maybe it won't be so bad!"

"Thank you," Lightningstripe agreed. "That would be nice, please…. it gets stronger every with every heartbeat." She touched her paw to her forehead. "I know that the storm is coming on, and fast. We should prepare. It hasn't rained for half a moon…. what if a fire starts?"

"Yes, that's my worry, too," I agreed. "But it should all work out!" I added optimistically.

"Oh…. I don't know…." murmured Lightningstripe.

****

Later, a storm actually did start.

Cats were hiding in their dens to hide from the lightning and thunder when, all of a sudden, one of the elders, Volefire, screeched "FIRE!!!"

I gasped. "Everybody, get out of the camp! Now!" I screeched, running into the middle of the clearing.

Lightningstripe got up, with a gasp. "What's wrong? Am I needed? Should I help?"

"I-I don't actually know," I confessed. We raced out of the camp. Outside the camp, the leader was doing a head count.

All of a sudden, a queen screeched, "Applekit is missing!"

"What?!" I startled. I raced back into the camp, Lightningstripe on my heels.

"I'll save her!" Lightningstripe yowled, leaping forward to the wall of fire in front of us.

"No, don't go into the fire!" I yowled. But it was too late.

Lightningstripe had disappeared.

I raced out of the flaming camp, and got into the forest clearing where everybody was gathering.

I sat down and sighed. Now, she was gone. Lightningstripe had felt that she had to save Applekit…. but there was nothing she could do. And, besides, they were probably dead now.

"Oh, Lightningstripe," I murmured. "To save Applekit, you had to go into the fire…."