Meet Flarepaw! You saw a bit of him in Shallowkit's chapter but here's more of Flarepaw's grumpy self. You might even end up liking my grumpy boy after you get a glimpse of why Flarepaw is the way he is!
"But it hurts when you dissaprove all along. And now I try hard to make it. I just wanna make you proud. Im never going to be good enough for you. Cant pretend that Im alright. And you cant change me." -Perfect by Simpleplan
Chapter 6: Flarepaw
Sunlight dappled the ground of the training hollow, as leaves crunches under the apprentices paws. Despite the sun, a cool breeze chilled the young apprentice who fluffed up his fur against the cold.
"Try again." His golden furred mentor commanded from across the hollow.
The silver Tom at once leapt forward, striking his mentor on his muzzle and then dodging the Tom swiftly, slipping under the larger toms belly and pummeling him with his paws causing his mentor to lurch forward and fall to the ground. The silver Tom puffed his chest out in triumph at how good he had gotten at the new fighting move. Suddenly his mentor charged him, pushing the apprentice to the ground and pinning him while the smaller Tom let out a mew of protest.
"Never let your guard down to gloat Flarepaw." His mentor meowed sternly, stepping aside to allow the apprentice to rise to his paws.
"Yes Lionblaze." The silver Tom grumbled, shaking the dust off his silver fur.
"You did that move perfectly. I'd think twice before I messed with you." Lionblaze praised with a nod of approval.
Flarepaw immediately brightened and flicked his tail in satisfaction. The other clans better watch out! He was a force to be reckoned with! Lionblaze led his worn out apprentice back to camp, seeming as the sun was starting to sink below the trees. Lionblaze worked him hard but Flarepaw didn't mind. Lionblaze was the best fighter in the clan which meant Flarepaw would be an excellent fighter as well.
"Get yourself something to eat. You've earned it." Lionblaze mewed before padding off to join his mate who stood by the warriors den.
She purred and nuzzled her mate in greeting as they began to chat about their day. Now that Cinderheart's kits were apprentices, she was back to her warrior duties. The apprentices den had never seemed so cramped. Flarepaw turned his head in the direction of the nursery as he spotted Dovewings kits playing by the entrance. Their little squeals of excitement caused Flarepaw to sneer. His mother had taught him from the day he first set eyes upon those kits, that they were no good half clan kits. Ivypool had told them about Dovewings forbidden romance. She had also told her that since Dovewing was always the special prophecy cat, she was always overlooked which had ended her up training in the Dark Forest. In the end Ivypool had helped the clans and Flarepaw knew it was all Dovewings fault that his mother had almost betrayed the clans. Dovewings kits were just as bad as her, being half clan fox hearts. They didn't deserve to be part of Thunderclan. Flarepaw also knew that before his mother, his father had fancied Dovewing, making Ivypool come in second. Again. Even now Flarepaw could spot Bumblestripe watching Dovewings kits, his expression unreadable. How dare he even look at those mousebrained kits? Flarepaw felt anger surge up, making his pelt begin to bristle. He knew because of Bumblestripes previous involvement with Dovewing, his parents had never been as close as other mates. Bumblestripe had also never paid that much attention to his own kits and Flarepaw blames it on Dovewings kits. Bumblestripe probably wished Fernkit and Shallowkit were his kits instead. Flarepaw also noticed Ivypool watching Bumblestripe with narrowed eyes, padding over to him and saying something sharply. Bumblestripe's attention quickly snapped to her as he offered her the prey at his paws although his eyes kept darting back to the two half clan kits. Flarepaw finally couldn't contain his anger any longer as he stalked over to the two unsuspecting kits.
"Hey runt!" Flarepaw sneered, his eyes lighting with anger as his fur fluffed out.
Shallowkit at once whipped around to face his bully, his ear laying flat across his head, baring his teeth
"Runt? I'm 5 moons old!" Shallowkit growled.
"You're still a runt mousebrain." Flarepaw jeered, his lip curling into a snarl.
Fernkit trembled and his behind her brother as usual.
"Just leave us alone Flarepaw!" Shallowkit hissed.
"Not a chance half clan. Your mother made a mistake having you and I'll be here to remind you everyday." Flarepaw retorted, looming over the smaller Tom.
"You're a mistake!" Shallowkit blurted out in anger and then his eyes widened as he realized what he said.
"What did you call me?" Flarepaw hissed, his eyes narrowing as he looked like he was a heartbeat away from pouncing on the kit.
"Flarepaw!" A stern voice came from behind Flarepaw as he averted his attention to his father. "How many times do I have to tell you to not pick on the kits?"
"They're half clan scum!" Flarepaw protested, suddenly sounding more like a whining kit than a warrior apprentice.
"That's enough! I've had it with you attacking them for no reason!" Bumblestripe exclaimed in exasperation, his eyes glinting angrily.
"They are the reason you don't love me or Dewpaw or mom! You wish THEY were your kits!" Flarepaw exclaimed suddenly, bubbling over with resentment.
"Is that really what you think?" Bumblestripe asked softly, his eyes softening in pity towards his angry son.
"You never spend any time with us! You haven't since we were little and it's all because of them." Flarepaw glared at Dovewings kits, hatred in his eyes.
Bumblestripe's eyes hardened as he snarled, "They have nothing to do with it!"
Flarepaw stiffened. Bumblestripe has basically admitted he didn't love them and it stung, Flarepaw stalked away from his father, seething with anger and pain.
"Now you've done it!" Flarepaw heard Ivypool hiss.
He stalked past the lingering apprentices by the fresh kill pile as they averted their gazes trying to pretend they hadn't just witnessed the heated argument between father and son. Lionblaze had also witnessed it and gave Flarepaw a look of concern but Flarepaw just pushed through to the apprentices den, glad Dewpaw was still out with his mentor so that he didn't have to witness the awful scene. Flarepaw angrily curled up in his nest, tail wrapping around his muzzle as he finally let out a small whimper of sadness, drifting off into an uneasy slumber.
"Flarepaw." A voice sounded close to his ear.
Flarepaw's whiskers twitched irritably. "Go away." He grumbled but the voice persisted in calling his name so Flarepaw reluctantly opened his eyes.
He at once sat up, his eyes widening as he realized he wasn't in his nest anymore. He found himself in a forest and there before him was a blue furred she cat, her tail twitching with impatience.
"Where am I? Who are you?" Flarepaw blurred out.
"Starclan. I'm Bluestar." The she cat replied calmly.
"Am I dead?" Flarepaw wondered out loud, wondering if he had somehow died in his sleep.
"No you are just visiting. You still have a destiny to fulfill." Bluestar replies with a knowing glint in her eye.
"Destiny? What are you talking about?" Flarepaw asked, beginning to get irritated with her short responses.
"From the kin of the four, there will be born 6. Darkness will rise and all will be lost when the shadows swallow the light. The six hold the fate of the clans in their paws." Bluestar meowed, her meow echoing through the forest.
"What are you going on about? I'm definitely not one of the six whatever that means. Could you be anymore cryptic?" Flarepaw burst out, lashing his tail in annoyance.
Bluestar just gazed at him and said commandingly "Don't ignore the prophecy."
At once the dream melted away and Flarepaw woke up in his own nest, just as angry as he had been before he went to sleep. Ivypool was his mother who was Dovewings sister which made him kin of the four.
"What a load of fox dung! They must be mistaken or maybe I just imagined it all. I don't want anything to do with this mousebrained prophecy!" Flarepaw spat, his fur fluffed up in defiance.
He decided that Bluestar must be mistaken or maybe the dream had just been a dream, not a prophecy from Starclan themselves. He didn't want any of it. Maybe they even had the wrong brother. Dewpaw would love to be a part of the prophecy, he loved being the center of attention. Flarepaw curled up once more, willing this to all be one bad dream. He didn't want this and he never would.