Prologue Heather Heather paced the floor, she was terrified. If Bane found out that she was aiding her sister, Violet, her punishment would be to watch Violet die. They weren’t living together, but Heather occasionally brought her food, showed her to cover etc. Her muscles were tense, her empty stomach slack against her ribs. She hadn’t eaten in.. two? Three days? “Why hello, my dear.” Bone, her father came into view. “H-hello father!” Heather yelped. She wasn’t exactly scared of Bone, but was nervous he would tell Bane. Ice and Snake were his (Bane) right-hands, but Bone was Scourge’s old right-hand, so he followed BloodClan rules. She wondered about the old tyrannical leader. Bone had been so loyal to him. “Do you ever… miss Scourge?” Heather asked absent mindedly. Bone hissed. “Blood- I mean SmokeClan cats’ one rule is to never show weakness! You’re still soft, aren’t you?!” Bone narrowed his eyes and growled “No Bone, sir!” Not now Heather. This is not the time. Not the time to prove to them that I’m weak and unworthy of SmokeClan… “I’m going to.. Gather something for Bane, father” and Heather ran off to find something for Bane. She ran to the dumpsters as memories whisked her to another land. A warm twoleg nest, her mother licking her fur. She lie in a soft, warm nest, an orange and grey tortoiseshell cat licking her. A massive tom walked in. Silver and black fur over rippling muscles. He aggressively snatched up the kittens and took them back to where she stood now. She snapped out of her memories to focus on her task. Chapter One Poppyheart Poppyheart was a sweet cat. Those of Cederclan often said they didn’t deserve her. Honeystar herself loved Poppyheart’s presence so much, she was made Deputy when Eaglechaser retired. “Hello, Flarepaw!” Poppyheart greeted her apprentice. “I thought today, we could practice hunting more difficult prey!” Poppyheart chirped. “Okay! I’m down!” and Flarepaw followed. “Look!” he said in a hushed tone. Poppyheart nodded for him to go ahead. POUNCE! The squirrel fell. “Great job, Flarepaw!” Poppy called, alerting several birds and squirrels. Oops. “Fank Youl!” Flarepaw mumbled around the squirrel. “Let’sh take dis back to camp” Flarepaw decided. “Heheh! Good idea.” Poppyheart giggled. The whole way though, Flare’s head was down. He knew what was coming. Attention. Ugh. Chapter Two Flarepaw Flarepaw was a pretty good apprentice. His fiery yellow-tan-orange-red coat didn’t match his mellow personality. He was, of course, proud that he had caught that squirrel, but he hated being the center of attention. For CederClan apprentices, it wasn’t really a big deal to catch a squirrel, but apparently it was impressive because he caught it right off a branch. “Can’t believe you caught that squirrel!" His best friend Chillpaw, was-despite his name- the total opposite of Flarepaw. “Heh. yeah. I guess so.” Flarepaw chuckled as Chillpaw leaned into a play-crouch “Really, Chillpaw? You know I’m stronger than you.” Flarepaw streeetched and leaned down, about to pounce. “Well I’m bigger!” Chillpaw cried, wiggling his hind end. “Bigger, but I am the better fighter. By the way, this is our homework. I’ll get our mentors.” Flarepaw padded off to find Poppyheart and Kestrelflame. When he found Poppyheart, she was chatting with her mate, Robinmottle. “Uhh Poppy, I hate to pull you away, but Chillpaw wants to do our battle assignment now so can you come to the training grounds?” Flarepaw panted. “Heh. Of course, you go get old Kestrel over there, I think she’s with Goldendrop and Thrushpaw in the Medic’s den.” Poppyheart called as she trotted off to the training grounds to grade their fight. Flarepaw, though was so embarrassed, he was congratulated constantly. That proud feeling was quickly fading, he hated this…
