Snowcrystal: I'm glad you're enjoying it! Also I hope you're having fun on vacation! I've only been on an actual "vacation" once, and I loved it!
Chapter 10
Bluefur flattened her ears and hissed, narrowing her eyes at the opponent before her. For his part, Loudbelly looked unfazed. His tail lashed from side to side as he waited on her to make her move. Finally, she lunged. Loudbelly moved to sidestep her, and Bluefur spun on her front paws, not letting him get away from her. He cuffed her over the ear and Silverpelt danced in her eyes. Bluefur recovered with a quick shake of her head and attacked again, dodging his heavy blow and unbalancing him as she flitted past. Taking advantage, she tangled her forepaws with his hindpaws and pulled him to the ground. They tumbled over and over until Bluefur pushed her opponent into the ground, one forepaw on his neck.
"Well done!" Oakheart jumped to his paws, his whiskers twitching. Mistypaw bounced to her mentor's side as Bluefur let him up.
"That was amazing," she meowed eagerly. "Will you teach me that move? The one with your hind legs?"
"Sure," Loudbelly shook the dust from his pelt. "We'll battle train some more tomorrow. For now," he glanced at Oakheart, who nodded.
"Go meet the sunhigh patrol," he agreed. "Leopardfur's probably already waiting."
As the mentor and apprentice trotted away, Oakheart met his mate in the middle of the training clearing,
"Well?" Bluefur tilted her chin up proudly.
"You still can't beat me," Oakheart teased, "but I think you're ready to go to your first Gathering."
The thought sent a thrill through Bluefur's veins. She'd been working harder than she could ever remember working through the past moon; she'd learned to swim, how to dive for the juiciest fish, and how to fight alongside her Clan-mates in such a way that no cat could tell she wasn't born to RiverClan. She felt ready to see her old friends, even if they would be enemies when the moon set again.
"I think Crookedstar means to allow two of our kits to come, as well, but he hasn't told me which ones." Oakheart strolled to the edge of the clearing as he spoke, his tail waving.
"Really?" Bluestar felt a flash of pride. Her kits had been training nearly harder than she had—it would be hard for Crookedstar to decide which ones to take. "RiverClan will pose a strong force at this Gathering."
"We will," Oakheart features tugged into a smug expression. "With the showing we'll make, ThunderClan should think twice before trying to take Sunningrocks back."
Bluefur let out a satisfied purr in response, padding easily next to her mate as they made their way back to camp. They hunted along the way, unwilling to return empty-pawed when the new-leaf prey made itself so readily available.
By the time they reached the island Bluefur had a finch and a vole, and Oakheart carried a water vole that could easily feed two cats. Bluefur deposited her catch on the fresh-kill pile, but Oakheart kept his, asking her to share with him with a flick of his ears towards the warriors' den. Bluefur followed him to the sunny patch gladly, her stomach rumbling after a long morning spent working on battle training.
"It doesn't get better than this," Oakheart purred, stretching out and swiping his tongue around his lips.
Bluefur could only hum an agreement and she took the first bite of their meal. He was right, she realized as they ate. An air of peace filled RiverClan's camp. Milk-scent hung around the nursery, Sedgenose having kitted only two sunrises ago. Stonepaw searched the elders for ticks as they sunbathed, Silverkit tucked against Lilystem's belly as the old queen told tales of LeopardClan. Graypool was returning from a hunting patrol, Shiverpaw struggling behind her mentor with a fish nearly as big as she was. Whiteclaw followed them closely, his own jaws laden with fresh-kill and his green eyes sparking with amusement and sympathy every time Shiverpaw stumbled. Crookedstar watched over the camp from the shade of the Great Willow's roots, his gaze calm and contemplative.
"Thank you, Oakheart."
The red-furred warrior glanced at her, laughter and curiosity in his amber eyes. "What for? Being a great mentor?" He sat up and started grooming her still-ruffled fur.
"For asking me to come to RiverClan."
Oakheart froze, his tongue half-out. When the words finally processed, a thunderous purr rumbled in his chest. "Thank you for coming." He touched his nose to the top of her head. "I meant it," he murmured, so softly she almost didn't hear, "when I said I needed you. I still mean it now."
Bluefur pressed her muzzle into his chest fur. "I know," she hummed. It's mutual. I never could have made it without you, and without Willowbreeze. So thank you…
Oakheart stood at Bluefur's shoulder as they waited for the last of the Gathering patrol to join them. Crookedstar sat patiently at the entrance, and Graypool stood on Bluefur's other side. Shiverpaw hovered anxiously near her mentor, Whiteclaw at her side. He was chatting quietly with her, his tail-tip occasionally brushing her flank in a small gesture of reassurance. Sorrelpaw looked ready to spring out of his fur. He worked his claws in the ground as he stood by Leopardfur. She looked mildly amused with her eager apprentice, rolling her eyes when he asked for the hundredth time when they would finally leave. When at last Brambleberry and Mudfur joined them, Crookedstar raised his tail and the patrol filed out of the camp.
The sky was clear, and the full moon stained everything its light touched silver. Bluefur couldn't help the gasp that escaped her when they approached the river. It looked to be made of starlight, sparkling as it splashed and rippled towards the gorge. It was beautiful, and Bluefur found that—truly—she loved it. She loved the fine mist that rose from it as they crossed the twoleg bridge, leaving tiny pearls of waters on her blue-gray coat; she loved the fish that came from it, and the shells and stones, and some days she even truly enjoyed swimming.
Amused with how taken Bluefur was, Oakheart pressed his flank to hers. "It's a different sight from this side, isn't it?"
With purr, Bluefur murmured back, "Not from this side, from your side. Standing beside you makes everything more beautiful."
Oakheart seemed to choke on the breath he was taking. When he'd recovered, his whiskers were twitching. "That's my line," he hissed playfully.
Conversation ebbed as they approached Fourtrees. Crookedstar stopped at the edge of the hollow for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts, and then raised his tail and plunged through the undergrowth out into the sacred clearing. RiverClan streamed out behind him and into the mix of gathered cats.
By the looks of things, only WindClan had arrived. Bluefur found herself with Leopardfur, listening to the dappled golden she-cat recount a border skirmish with ThunderClan—another victory for RiverClan. The two WindClan warriors looked impressed, and both commented on how strong and healthy Sorrelpaw looked. The red-furred apprentice took the praise with a gracious dip of his head, though after that encounter he strutted about as if he had just been made a warrior.
A mighty yowl announced ThunderClan's arrival, and Bluefur felt her heart stutter in her chest. They're here. She watched as Sunstar led the patrol into the clearing, surprised by how small their representation was. Murmuring a quick, "Excuse me," to Leopardfur and the WindClan warriors, Bluefur started weaving through the crowd. She caught sight of Whitestorm almost instantly.
"Whitestorm!" She called, beckoning him with her ears and tail. Whitestorm gave another cat a nudge, and the two approached her. Bluefur's spirit soared. "Rosetail…!" She rushed forward and pressed her muzzle to her friend's, then touched noses with Whitestorm. "It's so good to see you both."
"It's good to see you, too, Bluefur," Rosetail purred. Her eyes were bright with curiosity. "So Whitestorm tells me your kits have been apprenticed? Are any of them here?"
"Two," Bluefur didn't try to cover the pride in her voice. "I'll introduce you, wait here. I'll be back before you can say 'minnow.'" Bluefur disappeared into the crowd again, seeking out her kits. She caught sight of Graypool, who was talking with a WindClan queen, Shiverpaw at her shoulder. The small apprentice seemed to be trying to avoid every cat's gaze, keeping her eyes downcast and her tail curled defensively at her side.
"Fire."
The fur along Bluefur's spine bristled, and she whipped around to face Goosefeather's familiar leer. "Goosefeather, I don't…"
The old tom laughed, shaking his head. "Bluefur, Bluefur. I was wrong, you know."
"I know," the blue-gray warrior hissed.
Between one breath and the next, Goosefeather's demeanor darkened. His eyes glazed as he leaned closer. "You are not fire," he whispered, bitter amusement dancing along his tongue. "But the fire lives on. Only embers now, but growing. Kindling. And one day water will not be enough to contain it. And when that day comes, fire will blaze through the forest, but Bluefur, I wonder, as StarClan cannot see yet—will this fire save it, or destroy it?"
"Goosefeather, that's enough."
Bluefur felt something brush her flank. She vaguely recognized Featherwhisker's sweet, herbal scent, but she couldn't move so much as a whisker. She was frozen in place, watching in Goosefeather's dark eyes as a fire leapt across the river and consumed the entire forest, leaving nothing in its wake but ashes.
"Bluefur?" A gentle nudge freed her from the spell, and she blinked rapidly. Gossefeather was gone. Featherwhisker was beside her, his eyes dark with concern. "I'm sorry about that. He's… not been himself since you left ThunderClan."
Bluefur swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. "I see." She managed to rasp.
"Ah, there's a puddle over there," Featherwhisker herded her towards it like a frightened kit. Shrugging the medicine cat away, Bluefur crouched and lapped at the cool water. When she sat up again, Featherwhisker was bowing his head apologetically. "I'm sorry again, Bluefur. I'm really glad to see that you're doing well."
Before she could answer, the medicine cat turned and padded briskly away—probably to save another cat from Goosefeather. Bluefur was in a daze as she padded to Graypool's side.
"Can I borrow your apprentice?" She tried to force an edge of cheer into her voice. "There's someone I'd like to introduce her to."
Graypool let out a hum of understanding. "She's all yours."
Shiverpaw glanced curiously up at Bluefur. "Someone you'd like me to meet?"
"Yes," Bluefur purred. She caught sight of Sorrelpaw and called him to her. He bounded over quickly.
"Yes?" He was full of a breathless excitement.
"Come with me for a moment." She led her kits back to Whitestorm and Rosetail, pleased to see they had waited. "I'm sorry about that," she apologized quietly. "Goosefeather caught me and…" She shook her head firmly. "Never mind that. Whitestorm, Rosetail, these are two of my kits. Sorrelpaw and Shiverpaw."
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you," Whitestorm purred.
Shiverpaw pressed against Bluefur's flank, shying away from the ThunderClan warriors' curious gazes and warm greetings. Sorrelpaw tilted his chin up proudly though.
"We've only been training for a moon," he boasted.
"A moon and already at a Gathering?" Rosetail gasped with mock-awe. "You must be training very hard."
Whitestorm and Bluefur shared an amused glance, their whiskers twitching.
"They're a lot like you," the big white warrior finally murmured. "And a lot like Oakheart, too."
"Yes," Bluefur agreed affectionately. "It's a shame you couldn't meet Stonepaw and Mistypaw tonight. They look much more like me…"
ShadowClan arrived with a caterwaul from Raggedstar as he launched into the clearing and immediately up onto the Great Rock. News was shared, the sky clear and bright, but Bluefur hardly heard it as her wandering gaze met Goosefeather's again.
The fire lives on. Only embers now, but growing. His words echoed in her head. That fire will blaze through the forest, but… the question is… Will it save it, or destroy it?
As if she were diving, Bluefur felt her next thought crash into her like a wall of cold water, chilling her to the very bone.
He means my kits.
"This wasn't meant to happen."
A gray and white she-cat bowed her head. "I know."
The first cat to speak, with white fur and a scowl on her flattened muzzle, narrowed her eyes. "And yet…"
"Cloudberry, have faith." The gray and white she-cat stretched out a forepaw in a gesture of comfort. Stars glittered in her eyes, clung to her pelt like a fine mist. "They've all been given fitting mentors, and…"
"And what Milkfur?" Cloudberry lashed her tail, sending moonlight scattering from the grass. "Those kits should never have been born—even if he misinterprets every single other sign we send, for once Goosefeather has it right. Bluefur was to be our fire. She was to become deputy, then leader, and those kits would never have been a problem. But now…"
"Thistleclaw's path is a bloody one," Milkfur admitted regretfully, watching as the arrogant tom was greeted by all the gathered Clans as the new deputy of ThunderClan. "But there is hope, for your Clan and for mine."
"This is bigger than our Clans," Cloudberry growled. "Broken, shared between four kits, the fire that would have once saved the forest may now leave it as not but a pawful of ashes. And all we can do is wait and see." With her ears flattened bitterly, Cloudberry whipped around and stalked away. Milkfur lingered, watching as RiverClan grouped up to leave the Gathering.
"Kindling embers turn to flame, roused by brazen rapids," she whispered, "Fire alone can save our Clan… and fire alone can destroy it."
~Fin.
Well you guys... That's it. This is the official end of "Fire Alone."
So what do you think? I am already working on the sequel, which will follow Oakheart's and Bluefur's kits as they grow into their destinies, and I would love to hear any and all feedback not only on Fire Alone, but on what you think might come about in the next installment!
I appreciate you all so much, and I hope the sequel will get just as much love and support from you guys!
Love you guys!
EDIT: THE SECOND INSTALLMENT IS UP!
If you loved (or even just kinda liked) Fire Alone and would like to read what happens next, check out part two: "Fire Rising"