River Of Fire

“That’s all very flattering,” Bramblestar meowed, giving the little tom a harassed glance. “But the Clans don’t take in kittypets. It’s for your own good,” he added, as Fuzzball’s whiskers drooped dejectedly. “It’s a different life here in the forest, and kittypets aren’t prepared for the dangers. You’ll have to leave.”

Alderheart couldn’t bear to see the disappointment in the kittypets’ eyes, particularly Velvet’s. “Look at them,” he told Bramblestar. “The she-cat is wounded. They’re covered with soot, and obviously exhausted. They must have traveled a long way to ask for our help. At least let me treat Velvet’s wound before we send them back to their Twolegs!”

When Bramblestar still seemed undecided, Stormcloud stepped forward. “You took in kittypets during the Great Storm,” he reminded his Clan leader. “I know, because I was one of them. And that didn’t turn out too badly, did it?”

Bramblestar sighed. “I thought you might say that. . . .”

“Please,” Velvet begged him. “My burn is hurting a lot. A huge bolt of fire came from the sky, right outside my housefolk’s den. It hit a tree, and the tree fell onto the den, so that caught fire too. And so did all the dens around it. Fuzzball and I only just managed to get out, and I grabbed what was left of my favorite toy.” She reached out one paw and gave the scrap of fur an affectionate pat. “I suppose you wild cats think that’s silly, but it gives me comfort.”

Alderheart was aware that Leafshade and some of the other cats who had clustered around were suppressing amusement, but he didn’t think it at all funny that the beautiful she-cat had needed something from her old home to help her face the dangers of the forest. “It’s not silly at all,” he defended her.

“We’d go home if we could,” Velvet went on with a grateful glance at Alderheart, “but there were horrible wailing noises, and a huge monster showed up with its lights flashing. Our housefolk fled; we don’t even know where they are.”

“It would be cruel to turn them away,” Alderheart pointed out to Bramblestar. “They’ve got nowhere else to go, and they’re tired and wet from their journey.”

Bramblestar clearly wasn’t happy about letting in the two kittypets, but eventually he nodded. “I suppose you can stay until the fire is out and your Twolegs come back,” he meowed with a snort. “But not a heartbeat longer.”

Fuzzball let out a long, excited screech and began jumping up and down. “Thank you! Thank you!”

“Thank you,” Velvet mewed more quietly, her amber gaze warm. “I promise you, we won’t be any trouble.”

“See that you’re not,” Bramblestar grunted. “And stay out from under every cat’s paws.” With that he stepped back and gathered his warriors around him with a wave of his tail, beginning to give them instructions about checking out the camp after the storm.

“Come with me,” Alderheart directed the two kittypets. “My name is Alderheart, and I’m a medicine cat. You can stay in my den while—”

“What’s a medicine cat?” Fuzzball interrupted, gazing up into Alderheart’s face.

“I heal cats who are hurt or sick,” Alderheart explained, leading the way to his den, “and I’ll heal Velvet’s burn and check you over if—”

“Oh, I’m fine,” Fuzzball assured him. Alderheart wondered if he would ever be allowed to finish what he was saying. “I’d like to help. What can I do?”

Alderheart thought that the best way of shutting him up would be to give him a job to do. But what could a kittypet do to help Clan cats? Then he halted, blinking. I’ve just had a great idea!

“Come with me,” he told Fuzzball. “I’ve got the perfect job for you.”

“Great!” Fuzzball squeaked. “I’m going to be a Clan cat!”

On the way back to his den, Alderheart spotted Twigpaw carrying a bundle of wet bedding out of the nursery. He beckoned her over with his tail.

“Twigpaw, is the nursery okay now?” he asked.

Twigpaw nodded vigorously. “Brackenfur’s really good at repairs,” she mewed.

“We won’t disturb the kits until tomorrow,” Alderheart continued. “But when you’ve dumped that bedding, will you go up to the tunnel and tell Ambermoon and Sorrelstripe that they can bring Briarlight back? I’ll come and see her when she’s settled in the nursery again.”

“Sure thing!” Twigpaw responded, spinning around and bounding toward the thorn tunnel.

“Thanks!” Alderheart called after her.

He padded on, with Velvet and Fuzzball still following, gazing around at the camp with wide and wondering eyes. As he reached his den, Birchfall limped on three legs, holding up one of his forepaws. Cherryfall was just behind him.

“Alderheart, I trod on a thorn in all this mess,” Birchfall announced. “And I can’t get it out. Can you help?”

“And I slipped in the mud and wrenched my shoulder,” Cherryfall added.

“Okay, I’ll deal with you in a minute,” Alderheart responded. “Wait out here, and I’ll be back when I’ve seen to these kittypets.”