A few days after Hawkkit and Redkit were apprenticed, Frostkit and Icekit were apprenticed, their names being Frostpaw and Icepaw, to Russetstripe and Cinderfall as newleaf turned to greenleaf. Larchcloud retired to the elders' den, joining the remaining cat, Patchshine, after her denmate, Deerheart, passed away. Waspberry had returned to the warriors' den, although tensions flew between her and Lightningtalon. Brambledusk was always able to keep the peace.
Russetstripe was lost in her thoughts as she walked towards the training clearing with Frostpaw in tow. Cinderfall and Icepaw were behind her. As the four cats approached the flattened grass that made the training clearing, Russetstripe could see Blackdove and Heathercloud with their apprentices, practicing battle moves.
"Oh?" Russetstripe tilted her head, glancing over at Cinderfall. "You told me the training clearing was empty."
"When I was last here, it was," Cinderfall meowed. "Plus, what's the problem with training with friends?"
Russetstripe let a low growl. "The problem with that is that they distract each – oh, look, I was right." The ginger she-cat looked over her shoulder to see Frostpaw dashing towards the clearing and racing towards Hawkpaw. Hawkpaw, who had been practicing a battle move with Redpaw, turned on her heel to greet her friend excitedly. Russetstripe rolled her eyes. By all the gods…
"Frostpaw!" Russetstripe barked. Frostpaw turned around, her tail on edge, her blue eyes wide at her mentor's sharp, piercing voice. "What have I told you about being distracted?"
"Starve your distractions, feed your focus…" Frostpaw meowed, guilt bubbling in her eyes.
"Good." Russetstripe felt her tail twitch. "And what is Hawkpaw?"
"A distraction," Frostpaw answered, glancing at Hawkpaw.
Hawkpaw sniffed in irritation.
"What's your focus?" Russetstripe inquired, stepping closer to her apprentice.
"Training," Frostpaw replied.
"Very good." Russetstripe knew that Scorchstar had chosen her as a mentor because she did not allow any sort of slacking off. "Now come here and train with Icepaw."
Frostpaw nodded to Hawkpaw, and Hawkpaw turned back to Redpaw, who was watching the two she-cats with an irritated scowl spread on his face. Heathercloud clicked her tongue, and Blackdove let out a heaving sigh. The two she-cats turned back to their apprentices and worked with them, while Frostpaw finally reached Russetstripe.
"Stop getting distracted!" Russetstripe chastised her. "I know that Hawkpaw is your friend, but do you really think you're going to be a warrior if you play with her rather than focus on your training?"
"No…" Frostpaw lowered her head.
"Good." Russetstripe felt her fur bristle. Cinderfall watched them worriedly. The ginger she-cat took a deep breath, feeling the anger melt away, and then she sat down as Frostpaw walked over to Icepaw. The two she-cats gazed at each other, and then Russetstripe spoke. "Frostpaw, Icepaw is a ThunderClan warrior. What are you going to do about it?"
Frostpaw crouched down, narrowing her bright blue eyes as she circled Icepaw. Icepaw let out a low hiss, tensing her muscles. Frostpaw stalked around her sister. Seconds turned into minutes, and Frostpaw didn't move. Icepaw tilted her head, confused.
"Frostpaw, the ThunderClan warrior would've killed you by now!" Russetstripe snapped. "Get a move on!"
The silver tabby nodded quickly, and then crouched down before lunging at Icepaw. Icepaw leaped over Frostpaw, avoiding her blow, but Frostpaw rose on her legs and grabbed Icepaw's back leg, bringing her down with them. The two she-cats broke apart, and Frostpaw suddenly let out a horrified yowl.
"Wha…?" Icepaw jumped back.
"Icepaw, did you hurt her?" Cinderfall demanded, leaping to his paws. Russetstripe's ears flattened at Frostpaw's yowl, and the pair of mentors training their own apprentices on the other side of the clearing turned their heads to look at the commotion.
"No!" Icepaw exclaimed. "My claws weren't even out! And I didn't bite her!"
"Frostpaw, what's the matter?" Russetstripe demanded.
Frostpaw pointed with her tail, and Russetstripe followed her gaze. The ginger she-cat stepped back in horror as the dark, swollen clouds of the day rumbled with thunder. Then, faster than a cat could blink, a bolt of lightning hit the ground, a groan tearing the earth apart. It disappeared back into the sky, but just as the clouds swallowed it, another bolt of lightning – larger, wider, and fiercer – shot towards the ground. Just as it hit, a ball of orange flames followed its strike. Angry red flames detonated from the smite and started to swallow the moorland.
"Fire!" Cinderfall barked. "And it's spreading!" Frostpaw yelped with fear, and Icepaw's ears flattened as she stared at the flames in horror. Russetstripe's breath was caught in her chest, and she couldn't breathe. Hawkpaw let out a horrifying cry, and Redpaw's body was trembling. The cats turned to Heathercloud, the senior most warrior, to wait for her orders.
"Back to camp," Heathercloud ordered. "Fast! I'm sure Scorchstar will be evacuating every cat. He'll have a plan on where to go, and we need to follow him. Apprentices, go first!"
The apprentices let out shaky nods and bolted off into the direction of camp. The four warriors stayed behind, exchanging nervous glances. Russetstripe looked over to see the fire continuing to spread and consume the moorland. The world was turning hot around them, and as the fire continued to roll towards them, the temperature just got hotter.
"When was the last time there was a fire?" Cinderfall croaked out.
"When I was a young warrior," Heathercloud said. Her voice was icy calm in comparison to the stark heat of the flames around them that was beginning to worsen. "It killed many cats."
"So we need to go," Blackdove insisted, fear making her black fur fluff up. "Now."
"You're right." Heathercloud nodded and sprang away on her paws. The warriors were after her, and the only thing Russetstripe could hear was the pounding of her own heart. The fire was spreading more by the second, and it was coming increasingly close to the four cats running. What would they do if it reached camp? Where will we go? Where could they go for shelter?
Just as the cats reached the hollow that made WindClan's camp, Russetstripe could see cats starting to retreat in a panic. The fire hadn't reached the camp yet, but it was only a matter of time until it did. But there's no sign of Scorchstar! Russetstripe whirled on Heathercloud. "Heathercloud, take care of things from here!" she ordered. "I need to find my brother."
"Dovewillow!" Heathercloud barked at the tawny she-cat who had climbed over the ridge, joining the retreat. "Where are you all going?"
"Scorchstar has ordered us to the RiverClan border!" Dovewillow cried out. "The flames are spreading towards camp, and the marshes are the closest!"
"RiverClan?" Heathercloud gasped. The short gray she-cat shook out her fur. "Where are Scorchstar and Brambledusk?"
"They're back in camp," Dovewillow said, tossing her head over her shoulder to look back at the hollow. Then her head snapped around to glance at the furious orange-and-red flames that lapped at the air, threatening to close onto the camp at any moment.
"I'm going after them," Russetstripe told Heathercloud. "Go. Lead them."
Heathercloud nodded. "Blackdove, Cinderfall, with me." The senior warrior raced off. Blackdove shot Russetstripe a worried glance, but she didn't protest, following Heathercloud into the moorland. Russetstripe watched them go and leaped down into the hollow. Just as she looked up, she could see the rings of fire, so close to consuming the camp. No!
"Scorchstar! Brambledusk!" Russetstripe yowled, marching through the hollow and trying to search for their pelts. "Where are you two, you complete and utter idiots?"
Silence. Russetstripe's breath caught in her chest. Where were they? Where had they gone? Were they in camp?
Scorchstar's voice cut through the clearing, sending a swamp of relief through Russetstripe. He's here! "I just helped Wildheart and Mallowkit out of camp!" he exclaimed.
"And I just brought Patchshine," Brambledusk said, his brown tabby pelt barely visible past plumes of smoke, but Russetstripe could tell where he was thanks to his voice.
"So what are you waiting for?" Russetstripe snarled, lashing her tail.
"We're coming now!" Scorchstar cried out. Russetstripe spotted Violetheart's gray fur rushing through the camp, with Sedgepaw's pale tabby fur behind her. But the fire was spreading too rapidly, and when Russetstripe looked up, she saw its ominous flames pouring into camp. The heat was blistering and Russetstripe was starting to breathe in the smoke.
"Scorchstar! Brambledusk!" she cried out, losing vision of them in the smoke. As she looked around the camp, searching for them, a horrified gawk escaped her as she watched flames engulf Scorchstar's den. Russetstripe gasped as the Tall Branch began to creak ominously. Their voices came from there! Suicidal, stupid, and idiotic, Russetstripe lunged towards the Tall Branch. As she looked up, she could see the leaping flames swallowing the Tall Branch, and it was starting to tremble. A wall of flames separated Russetstripe from Brambledusk and Scorchstar, and she couldn't see them thanks to the fire. But she could definitely hear.
Then, it happened.
The Tall Branch creaked one last time, and it plummeted down from the tree.
"Watch out, Scorchstar!" yowled Brambledusk. Russetstripe could hear a yowl from Scorchstar and a hiss from Brambledusk. What happened?! Russetstripe crouched down, and with all the strength in her body, sprung from her paws and scaled the walls of flaming, landing on the other side. The fire singed her belly fur and sent a rush of excruciating agony through her nerves. But it didn't matter as Russetstripe landed next to a cat. She looked over her side to see Scorchstar, staring with horrified eyes at a cat beneath a collapsed branch. Russetstripe felt sick as she recognized the cat.
Brambledusk was trapped underneath the burning Tall Branch. No! Russetstripe stared at him, horrified as the Tall Branch smothered him. She stared at Scorchstar, and then kicked herself. What am I doing, standing here like a dazed rabbit? I've got to get him out! But the Tall Branch was on fire, and Russetstripe knew that moving it would inflict some serious injuries. I don't care. I don't care! I've got to get Brambledusk out of there!
Scorchstar shared the same thoughts as Russetstripe as the two cats threw their paws against the burning branch. Both cats yowled in agony, their paws burned alive by the flames, but with their combined strength, they were able to push it off Brambledusk. But as the burning branch rolled off Brambledusk, Russetstripe could see the damage had already been done. Several burn wounds decorated Brambledusk's back, and the tom was barely moving. The only time he moved was to cough.
"Brambledusk!" Russetstripe cried out.
"I've got him!" Scorchstar sank his teeth into Brambledusk's scruff and hauled him on the back. The two siblings turned to stare at the wall of flames. The entire camp was consumed in flames, and the only place that was spared were the part they were standing in. But Russetstripe was sure it would be seconds until the flames would burn there, as well.
"What do we do?" Scorchstar asked Russetstripe, fear making his voice high-pitched.
"The tunnels!" Russetstripe gasped as the idea came to her in seconds.
"Tunnels?" Scorchstar echoed.
"Follow me!" Russetstripe leaped over the burning Tall Branch and over a boulder in camp. Thanking the gods that the tunnel she and Blackdove used to sneak Emberflame out was right behind Scorchstar's den, she clawed away the gorse that draped over it and forced Scorchstar inside, ignoring his meows of shock. As Scorchstar entered, Russetstripe leaped in after her. Seconds after, a low groan echoed from behind them, and Russetstripe turned to see the last branch of Scorchstar's den collapsing and crashing on the ground where all three cats had been just half a second earlier.
"What in all the hells…" Scorchstar looked around as they entered the tunnel.
"Forget about it!" Russetstripe snapped. I've got to get us out of here! She glanced at the barely moving Brambledusk on Scorchstar's back. Of course, this seemed all too familiar, but that wasn't the point. They had to get out of here, no matter what. Russetstripe tried to put herself into Blackdove's paws. She had been in the tunnel with Blackdove only a couple of times – when Blackdove led her out, what had Russetstripe noticed about the exiting tunnels?
There was a draft in each of them, Russetstripe thought. And I could smell the landscape from wherever we were. When we snuck Emberflame out, I could smell the forest. When she brought me to camp, I could smell the moorland. But where do I go? Russetstripe shut her eyes. Oh, whatever gods are out there if you can hear me, please help me. Russetstripe sniffed the air and started to follow the tunnel.
Scorchstar was no longer asking questions, and Russetstripe silently thanked him for it. Instead, the two siblings ran side-by-side through the tunnels, with Russetstripe twisting and turning wherever the tunnels split when she could scent even the slightest draft. The rocks clattered underneath their paws and several pebbles fell from the roof. Russetstripe kept running north in the tunnels – surely some of the tunnels had to lead towards RiverClan territory.
"Gah…" Russetstripe could hear Brambledusk's broken, shattered voice. "It… it hurts…"
"I know it does," Russetstripe soothed the pale tabby tom. "Don't worry. We'll bring you somewhere where you'll be safe." At least he's awake! Relief gave Russetstripe the strength she needed as she ran through tunnel after tunnel. Just as she entered the middle tunnel where a network split into three, she began to catch the scent of moorland. Almost there. Russetstripe quickened her pace, ignoring the burns she had sustained while in the camp. She reached the last tunnel and ran out, catching the expanse of the piece of territory that was unharmed by the fire.
Scorchstar burst out after her, and just as Russetstripe landed on the ground, she could catch a glimpse of several cats racing away. She would recognize these cats anywhere – there was Blackdove's sleek pelt, Heathercloud's gray fur, Sedgepaw's lithe figure, Dovewillow's thick fur…
"They're there!" Scorchstar gasped.
"Go to them," Russetstripe ordered. "They need you. I'll help Brambledusk."
"Russetstripe…" Scorchstar stared at his sister worriedly. "But…"
"Do those ears work?" Russetstripe snapped, lashing her tail. "Do as I told you!"
Scorchstar gazed at her and helped Brambledusk down from his back. Brambledusk staggered, and Scorchstar urged him next to Russetstripe. Brambledusk leaned against Russetstripe's shoulder. Scorchstar touched his nose to his deputy's shoulder and bounded away towards the patrol.
"Hold onto me, Brambledusk," Russetstripe told him. "We're going to get there."
"Russetstripe…" Brambledusk whispered.
"Shut up." Russetstripe allowed the brown tom to lean on her as she led him towards the WindClan cats. Her pace was quick, and she noticed that Brambledusk was trying to keep up with him, although pain glazed his eyes and made his movements stiff. Russetstripe had no idea how he was walking – the injuries that stained his back were horrifying to look at. His pale tabby fur was blistered with dark red burns that started to ooze. He let out a horrifying cough, one that chilled Russetstripe to the bone.
The two cats finally reached the WindClan patrol, and the scents of RiverClan became thick as the WindClan cats traveled. Russetstripe could still smell the flames and hear the crackle of the fire in the distance as she joined the WindClan cats. She could hear a small gasp from the patrol and spotted Violetheart slipping through the warriors and approaching Russetstripe.
"Brambledusk!" Violetheart gasped when she took in the sight of the injured deputy.
"Violetheart," Russetstripe whispered. "He's… he's really hurt."
"Leave him to me." Violetheart pushed Russetstripe away and called out to Sedgepaw, who joined her immediately. "Go to the patrol, Russetstripe."
"The fire is still raging!" Russetstripe gasped.
"We'll be with you soon," Violetheart said.
Russetstripe knew better than to argue with Violetheart. Giving Brambledusk one last worried glance, she raced away to join the WindClan patrol, out of breath. She approached Scorchstar as he led the patrol. Fear blazed in the tom's yellow eyes as he looked over his shoulder towards Russetstripe.
"Is Brambledusk okay?" he hissed at her.
"Violetheart and Sedgepaw are with him," Russetstripe told him in a hushed voice. She looked behind her to see Wildheart holding Mallowkit in her jaws. Hawkpaw and Redpaw were at her side. Icepaw and Frostpaw were in front of Waspberry, and Skypaw was next to her mentor, Harewhisker. Dovewillow and Heathercloud were right behind Scorchstar, and Aspenstep and Sandfall kept the sides. Buzzardwing, Lilystream, and Lightningtalon held the rear.
"But is he going to be okay?" Scorchstar pressed.
"I don't know." Russetstripe shook her head.
"Russetstripe…" Scorchstar murmured. "I was the one the branch was supposed to fall on. I was standing under it, and it was on fire, and it was creaking. I looked up, and it was falling. Brambledusk pushed me out of the way, and it fell on him, instead."
Russetstripe swallowed the lump in her throat. One day, Brambledusk had tried to kill Scorchstar. Now, Brambledusk had put his own life in danger for him. Scorchstar knew that too, and it was hanging in the air between both of them. None of them spoke. Instead, Scorchstar continued to lead his cats towards the RiverClan border. The scent of the marshland became thicker, nearly blocking out the scent of the fire, and just as they approached the scent lines, Russetstripe could sight a line of RiverClan cats walking towards the border. She sighed heavily as she recognized three of Dapplestar's most important warriors – Shimmerwing, Shellfall, and Runningflame on the patrol.
Shimmerwing's blue eyes narrowed as she spotted the WindClan patrol, heading straight towards them. The she-cat's claws unsheathed, but when she studied the patrol for a few more moments, it seemed like she recognized they weren't a threat, and she sheathed her claws. Scorchstar coughed roughly as he landed on the scent lines, and the cats came face-to-face with the RiverClan cats. Shimmerwing flicked her tail back-and-forth. The WindClan cats faced the RiverClan cats. Tension sparked in the air between both Clans – each of them remembering the last battle very well.
"Scorchstar," Runningflame growled. "What is going on here?" The ginger-and-white tom swept his gaze across the patrol, and when he caught the glimpse of Russetstripe, he halted. Russetstripe let out a low growl through her throat as she flexed her claws, remembering both times she had fought the tom in battle – and the both times she had lost. She had wanted to rip the smug expression off his face, but she couldn't afford angering him. They needed shelter, and starting a fight would guarantee they wouldn't have it.
"Runningflame, Shimmerwing," Scorchstar said, addressing the two cats, who exchanged narrowed glances. "Fire has swept through our territory. Our camp is in flames. We had to evacuate." The ginger-and-white tabby tom was clearly trying to conceal a cough, but it seemed to fail, for he broke out in a coughing fit.
Runningflame and Shimmerwing said nothing.
"My cats are hurt and badly injured," Scorchstar explained. "We need shelter. Please, will you grant us help?"
Russetstripe winced, suddenly realizing how hard it would be to convince Dapplestar to allow one of her greatest enemies to shelter in her camp. Gods, this isn't going to end well.
"Is the great WindClan leader begging?" Runningflame taunted Scorchstar.
Are you kidding me? Russetstripe lashed her tail. An entire Clan of bedraggled, injured cats, including young cats and elders, were in front of a stronger Clan, begging for help for their injured cats and their ruined home. And Runningflame had the gall to mock them for asking help?
"Hold on, Scorchstar." Shimmerwing stopped Runningflame from instigating the fight any further. "I can't just let you into my territory. I have to speak to Dapplestar about this." The big tawny she-cat turned to Shellfall, who met her gaze steadily. "Will you please fetch Dapplestar?"
"Of course." Shellfall nodded, and was off in seconds, with the speed of a WindClan cat. As Shellfall disappeared, Shimmerwing turned back to look at the WindClan cats, her keen blue gaze studying every inch of them.
"You made the right choice to evacuate," Shimmerwing remarked dryly.
"No kidding," Scorchstar growled, shaking the ashes from his fur. Russetstripe could see the fear in her brother's eyes. "It was our pride or our lives. I had to make the right choice. Will you let us in?"
"I told you, I've got to ask Dapplestar," Shimmerwing growled.
"So why didn't you?" Scorchstar inquired.
"Shellfall will." Shimmerwing wrapped her tail around her paws. "He'll be back."
Scorchstar let out a sigh. WindClan and RiverClan waited in silence. Russetstripe could hear her Clanmates' heavy breathing and scent the cinders and ashes on their fur. They breathed out they smoke they inhaled, and Russetstripe wondered who else was injured, other than Brambledusk. Russetstripe looked over her shoulder and spotted the lithe but small bodies of Violetheart and Sedgepaw. Brambledusk was limping between the two cats, but his movements were forced and stiff, and his pale eyes were lost.
As the cats waited, Russetstripe kept her gaze onto the marshland for Shellfall. When would he come back? The fire was still raging in the distance – she could hear its roar and still smell its treacherous remains. As the sun hit its peak, Russetstripe could see it outline the gray pelt of Shellfall, and the tom plunged down the marshland, heading towards Shimmerwing. He urged the she-cat away from the cats and whispered something to her. Shimmerwing's blue eyes widened, and Russetstripe wondered what they were talking about. Had Dapplestar denied them permission? Would Dapplestar really let them suffer in their own waste-ridden home?
Shimmerwing walked over to the WindClan cats and addressed Scorchstar. "Dapplestar has given you permission to stay in our camp," she told him.
Scorchstar's eyes widened, as if he hadn't been expecting to get such an easy agreement. Russetstripe glanced at Shellfall and could see the hint of craftiness on his face.
"If you dare think about invading our camp, I'll kill you myself," Runningflame growled at Scorchstar.
The WindClan leader fixed Runningflame with a stony glare. Russetstripe could see the old scar on Scorchstar's cheek, inflicted by the ginger-and-white tom. "Invading your camp is the last of my priorities. My sole focus is keeping my Clan safe."
Runningflame rolled his eyes and let Shimmerwing lead the way into their territory. Russetstripe stepped onto the marsh and remembered how this used to belong to WindClan. The Clan moved slowly as they followed the RiverClan patrol, their paws sinking into the wet ground and into various streams as they struggled to keep up with the RiverClan cats, who moved like otters in their territory. Winterberry bushes and bulrushes brushed against Russetstripe's pelt as Shimmerwing led them towards two streams which formed together to guard a triangle of land. An island, Russetstripe thought. She had seen it before, in the battle against RiverClan, but it had been ravaged then. Now it was stunning to look at.
"We have to cross the stream?" Hawkpaw asked from behind them as the RiverClan cats effortlessly swam through the water and landed on the other side.
"It's okay, Hawkpaw," Wildheart told her. Russetstripe could see Mallowkit sticking close to Wildheart's side. "You can hold onto me."
"No way!" Hawkpaw shook her head crossly. "I'll cross on my own."
"Scared of water, WindClan cats?" Runningflame taunted them.
Oh, I've had just about enough of you and your arrogance. "WindClan cats can cross the stream just as easily as RiverClan cats can!" Russetstripe snapped at the ginger-and-white tom.
Runningflame turned her head towards him, his green eyes glowing. "Oh?" he asked. "Then prove it."
"I will!" Russetstripe snapped at him. She approached the stream, looking down at the rippling waves. This is just like crossing the stream in the tunnels, she thought, unable to conceal the fear pounding at her heart. Wait, let me think about it like this. Do I want to burn in the fire or just put my paws into some water? I think I know the answer. Russetstripe slowly waded into the stream, wincing at the piercing sensation of the chilling water in stark comparison to the heat that had burned her paws and fur when she had been in camp, but she realized that it was also starting to ease the burns. She moved slowly through the water and pulled herself onto the island shore, glaring at Runningflame as she landed next to him. "Happy?" Noticing that their pelts were brushing together when Russetstripe got on the shore, Russetstripe stepped back immediately.
Runningflame chuckled and looked at the rest of the WindClan cats. "Can the rest of you?"
"I can!" Hawkpaw exclaimed. Russetstripe opened her mouth to warn the small she-cat of the danger, but she had already thrown herself into the water. Hawkpaw pulled herself through the stream, her entire body trembling, and just as she approached the shore, Russetstripe sank her teeth in her niece's scruff and hauled her onto the island shore. Hawkpaw shivered as she shot a grateful glance at Russetstripe.
"We'll do it," Scorchstar decided. Russetstripe gazed at her brother from the opposite side of the stream.
"You really have no choice," Shimmerwing meowed.
Russetstripe watched as Scorchstar daintily put his paw in the stream. He eased himself in and winced when his entire body was submerged, and then he paddled through the stream and onto the other side. Slowly but surely, the Clan began to cross. The apprentices went first, clearly not liking it one bit, judging by Frostpaw's hiss and Redpaw's groan. After, the senior warriors followed. Heathercloud didn't seem to mind, and Dovewillow only winced. The younger warriors followed, not complaining, and assisting the elders in their cross. Wildheart crossed with Mallowkit in her jaws. At the end, Russetstripe could see Violetheart and Sedgepaw with Brambledusk in between them. The two medicine cats jumped in the stream together, and holding Brambledusk, they swam through the stream and hauled him onto the shore.
Shimmerwing's ears twitched as she looked at Brambledusk, who scrambled to his paws, looking around. Russetstripe was sure that the water was good for his burns, and she hoped that he would be able to go back into the stream again. Shimmerwing turned around and walked into the island. Russetstripe followed her, taking a deep breath.
It was time to meet Dapplestar.