Love All Over Again

Ridgefeather woke with a start. His throat and lungs burned, and the air was thick with smoke. He coughed, prodding Maple.

"Get up! We have to leave, now!"

Maple opened her eyes, and immediately shut them as the smoke stung them. Ridgefeather quickly nudged his two kits awake. They were five moons old now, and they mewled in pain. He grabbed Ink, and Maple blindly grabbed Oakkit. Ridgefeather bolted for an exit, any exit. He gasped. The window was open a smidge. He put Ink down, and stuck his head through the gab, pushing up with his shoulders. The fresh Fall air filled his burning lungs. He breathed in deeply, pushing up as hard as he could. The window moved enough for the kits and Maple to get out, but Ridgefeather's shoulders were too broad. In the time he had been a kitty-pet, he had grown more, becoming more like his father in shape.

Maple leaped up to the window, squeezing through carefully with Oakkit. He then handed her Ink. She looked back at Ridgefeather with worry. His ears flickered backwards, as his mind shot to the twoleg. He sighed, and bolted up the stairs. He could feel the heat of flames, and he could barely breathe. He was stopped at the top by roaring fire. He shook his head, ears flat against him.

"No..."

He almost breathed the word, before bolting back down the stairs. He could hear the fire getting more intense, and the wail of sirens far in the distance. He struggled against the window frame, pushing with all his might, desperate to get away from the heat. He saw Maple leap up onto the fence, she looked back. Now he couldn't take it. He growled, and lunged upwards. The window moved with a huge grunt, and he sprang free. He leaped up beside Maple, taking Ink in his jaws, and running away. Maple followed him. She didn't know where he was going, but she trusted him.


Ridgefeather breathed heavily as he came to a stop by a river with many pebbles. He breathed in the clean scent, and setting Ink down, whose eyes were as wide as the moon, he turned to Maple.

"The two-leg... I was too late."

Maple dipped her head, trying to not linger on her sadness.

"Where are we?"

They were at the mouth of a huge cave.

"The MoonCave. It'll be safe until we figure out where to go."

He bent down by the river, taking in large gulps of water. He nudged the two kits forward with his tail, and they bent down too, before crawling into the shallow water, breathing sighs of relief as they washed away the smokey smell. He shook his head in exasperation.

"You're going to be cold now. Come on."

The kits clambered out, shivering in the cool air. He nudged them into the cave, padding beside Maple.

"Stay here. I'll get some prey and moss."

He whispered in her ear, giving her a swift lick. Then he quickly padded out, tuning in on the small forest. He could see the fire dying down in the distance, but he knew there would be nothing left for them.


He quickly came back with enough prey for them all, and fresh moss for bedding. The cave wasn't overly warm, but they could use some of the rabbit's fur to help warm them. Maple layed down, Ink and Oakkit flopping down beside her, closing their eyes as sleep came over them. Not much time had passed since they had fled their home, but the moon was already falling.

"Where are we going to stay Ridgefeather? We can't stay here."

Ridgefeather closed his eyes.

"I don't know where."

She sighed.

"What about your clan?"

Ridgefeather went stock still.

"T-they wouldn't accept me. I broke the warrior code. I took a mate, had kits, and became a kitty-pet. Three broken rules, especially for a medicine cat!"

She looked at him sorrowfully.

"If they love you, they'll take you back."

He shook his head.

"Nestflame hates me... My mother must think I'm dead, as I doubt Nestflame said anything about me. Did you know this was where I found my father, dead? This is a sacred place to my clan, and someone murdered my father, and put him here. It was a threat. Then, they almost killed me. I saw Starclan, my ancestors. They were right there. I saw my father."

Ridgefeather choked on his words, tears filling his eyes. He shook his head.

"I couldn't go back..."

Maple sighed, then glared at him.

"Then I'll be going by myself. It's the safest place to raise our kits Ridgefeather... I lost my home. It was your home too, but you still have a home to go back to. I don't. I'm leaving at Sun-high, whether you're coming or not. I'll find my way there somehow."

Ridgefeather looked taken aback.

"M-maple..."

She shook her head, then closed her eyes, showing the subject was over and she had made up her mind. Ridgefeather's mind shot back to when he first met her. They had both still been young, only 4 seasons old. She had been inquisitive of him. Still young. They both had been. He had just received his full name, and now. Now he had kits. He had a mate, and he had lived as a kitty-pet for another 4 seasons.

He padded up to her, and licked her cheek gently, before wrapping himself around her, his tail covering the two kits by her stomach. She looked up at him, loving him all over again. She put her head on his paws, and he laid his head over her shoulders, sighing deeply.

::---::

When they woke up again, the sun was already high in the sky. Ridgefeather nodded at Maple, and they got Oakkit and Ink up. The two kits yawned, suddenly remembering what had happened. Their tails dropped, and they looked at their parents.

"It'll be okay. We have a home to go to."

He glanced at Maple, and smiled slightly. He was scared to go back. How would they accept him? What would he be? He couldn't be a medicine cat, but could he be a warrior? He sighed, and they started to head out.

::---::

Earlier that night...

Burst padded close beside Ebonywing, nuzzling her gently from time to time. He loved her so much, he wasn't sure how his heart was able to contain it all. He was supposed to be evil, but how could he be when Ebonywing was making him nice?

"I love you..."

He whispered gently into her ear, and she purred in content. They sat down, leaning against each other, happy to know that the other was beside them. Burst stood up in a split second, his ears pinned back in anger. He spun around, waving his tail side to side as Singe and Flash padded out of the bushes. Singe's eyes were full of malice, his teeth bared in a snarl. Flash looked at him, sending him a message. I'm sorry brother. I tried to stop him. Explain that we could carry out the plan no matter what happened. But he wouldn't stop. Burst stiffened, and signaled to Ebonywing for her to get behind him. He bared his teeth, and Singe sneered.

"Lovely night, isn't it brother?"

His eyes shot to Ebonywing. How could Burst openly show his love for her? They had a mission. Singe felt himself more loyal to it, fighting his feelings for Silhouettegaze, forcing himself not to show them when others were around. He was loyal in that way. But Burst was appointed the leader of this mission. But he had strayed off track, seeming to have forgotten why they were here. In truth, Singe was envious of Burst's open love for Ebonywing. He was envious of Burst's power of leadership, and of how Burst was allowed to sow emotion for the cat he loved no problem. With no guilt. But when Singe did, his mind shot to the mission.

Burst glared at Singe.

"Why are you here?"

Singe smirked.

"Just wondering if you remembered the mission, brother. We were not here to... fraternize... with the cats we came to destroy."

Burst snarled, his fur standing on end.

"Speak for yourself!"

The two brothers were head to head, each fighting for the dominance they knew they each deserved. Flash stood up, his eyes shifting to Ebonywing. 

"She wasn't in the plan Burst. If you stop protecting her right now, she won't have to die."

At that, Burst lashed out with full force. His claws swiped down Singe's face, leaving deep marks. Burst attacked again, pinning Singe down. But Singe still remained calm.

"Don't you dare... hurt her! Or I will rip you to shreds, even if you are my blood."

Singe smiled.

"Oh, I wasn't planning on getting my paws dirty."

He pushed Burst away, and he stumbled backwards. Singe snarled.

"I had a whole different plan in mind...-"

Burst saw what was coming, and his eyes widened.

"Don't you dare!"

Singe continued.

"-Break."

A huge convulsion went through Burst. He spun around to face Ebonywing, his eyes flashing to red.

"Run! Run away from me!"

Ebonywing took a step backwards, tripping. Burst snarled, his voice filled with fear and worry.

"RUN!"

She spun around, kicking up leaves as she went. He crouched on the ground, pain going through him. A viscous snarl that was not his own, ripped through him. He stood up, his eyes blood red. He then took off after Ebonywing. He was faster then her, and quickly caught up. He leaped at her, tackling her down. But it wasn't his mind that was taking over. The mind of Burst was fighting against the walls in any way he could, but his evil side had a tight lock on him. Ebonywing looked up at Burst, who was currently Break. She smiled sadly.

"I trust you Burst. And I'll love you forever. Don't you forget that. I will always be yours."

Break's eyes seemed to shift quickly to blue. He yowled into the sky as his two sides fought for control. Through it all, both sides loved her with the same deep pang. But his evil side was trained to kill. He yowled in grief again, not able to control himself. He bit down deeply into her neck, ending her life in the same second he attacked. She was dead right away, no pain had went through her. He stumbled backwards. His eyes blue again. He sputtered, and he spit out the blood in his mouth. Burst stared horrified at Ebonywing's lifeless body. 

"No... No. NO!"

But he had killed her. Her blood pooled around her, and the scent of death lingered. He nuzzled her gently, staining himself red.

"Please no... Ebonywing, I love you. No. What have I done?"

He wailed loudly into the sky, his grief turning him cold. Silent tears rolled down his face as he pulled her away from the blood. He groomed her gently, cleaning off the blood until her fur was as black as ever, and her paws were pure white. He closed his eyes, and dug a hole big enough to fit her. He then gently lifted her into it, licking her swiftly on the cheek one last time. He choked on his tears, and looked away, then covered the hole quickly. He stood there for a long time, wracked in grief. Around him were rose bushes, and he picked one, careful of the thorns. He then layed down on her grave, the rose between his paws. His eyes were closed tightly as tears ran down his face.

"I'm so sorry. This should have never happened. I'll avenge your death. I'll get Singe back."

He lay there for the rest of the nights, unable to sleep. He didn't know it, but Ebonywing's spirit lay with him that night too.