River Of Fire

From where he was standing, way above the camp, he could see into the far distance. An orange glow lit up the sky in the direction of SkyClan territory.

Fire!

Alderheart tried to work out exactly where it was. Dread filled him like rain filling an upturned leaf as he realized that flames could be devouring the SkyClan camp.

Forgetting to be careful, Alderheart launched himself down the slope. He slipped and skidded on mud and wet grass, desperate to reach the camp. Once, his paws shot out from under him, and he rolled over and over until he slammed into a jutting rock, the breath driven out of him. He picked himself up, then pelted on until he bounded through the thorn tunnel and into the camp.

“Bramblestar!” he yowled. “Bramblestar!”

Bramblestar appeared on the Highledge, his pelt soaked and plastered to his sides, as if he had just been making the rounds of the camp. “What is it, Alderheart?” he called.

“Fire!” Alderheart replied, gesturing with his tail. “Over there, near SkyClan!”

Bramblestar leaped down the tumbled rocks. By now the fire had risen so high in the sky that the orange glow was visible from the stone hollow. The Clan leader took one look, then dived into the warriors’ den, reappearing a moment later with Stormcloud and Leafshade.

“Go and find out what’s happening,” Bramblestar ordered. “Don’t get too close—just find out if it’s near a camp, and if any other Clan needs our help.”

“We’re on it,” Leafshade meowed.

The two cats bounded past Alderheart, who heard Stormcloud mutter, “This is just like old times!”

Alderheart remembered that Stormcloud had been a kittypet who had sheltered with ThunderClan during the Great Storm, and had decided to stay and train as a warrior. It must be tough for him, remembering what the last flood was like. Purdy told me his brother died.

Alderheart watched the two warriors go, then turned toward the medicine cats’ den. There might be nothing I can do about the storm, but I can at least find Jayfeather his watermint, and maybe that will shut him up for a while.

By moonhigh, the rain had almost stopped, and the clouds had cleared enough for a faint silver light to filter down into the camp. Alderheart’s fear receded, and he began to feel more confident.

Perhaps Jayfeather was right. Perhaps it was just a little rain.

Cats were out in the open, beginning to clear away the debris. Brackenfur was busy patching the nursery roof, with Twigpaw and Finpaw fetching bramble and ivy tendrils to help him. Already the gaping hole had almost vanished.

Things will be back to normal before we know it, Alderheart thought. At least, I hope they will.

He was about to head out of camp to tell Ambermoon and Sorrelstripe to bring Briarlight back, when he saw Stormcloud and Leafshade thrusting their way through the thorn tunnel. Alderheart was relieved to see them both returning unhurt, and took a pace forward to greet them.

Then he halted in surprise. Two cats Alderheart had never seen before followed his Clanmates into the camp. In the lead was a little tom with fuzzy ginger tabby fur, bouncing energetically around the warriors’ paws so that they almost tripped over him. Behind him, limping a little, was a she-cat with long, silky gray fur and amber eyes.

Wow, she’s a pretty cat! Alderheart thought.

She was holding something in her jaws; at first Alderheart thought it was a mouse, but then he realized it was just a scrap of fur. Why is she carrying that? he wondered.

While Alderheart hesitated, Bramblestar had appeared from his den, and he halted beside him with a disapproving glare. More of the Clan were padding over too, gathering around to stare curiously at the newcomers.

“What’s this?” Bramblestar demanded. “Strange cats?”

“They’re kittypets,” Leafshade explained. “We ran into them when we were on our way to investigate the fire. They say it’s in the Twolegplace over there, and they were running away from it.”

“My name’s Fuzzball!” the small, lively tom announced, bouncing confidently up to Bramblestar. “And my friend is called Velvet. She got burned, so we came to you to ask for help.”

“How do you know about the Clans?” Alderheart asked.

“Oh, I kind of knew where you were,” Fuzzball replied. “And I knew if anyone could help us, it would be warrior cats! I’ve heard how you fight, and stalk prey, and talk to the stars, and how you’re the bravest cats ever! I know how—”

“You’ll have to excuse Fuzzball,” Velvet mewed, dropping the piece of fur she was carrying. “There’s nothing between his ears except for dreams of Clan cats, so he’s very excited to be here.”