Chapter 18: Harsh Words

Chapter 18:  Harsh Words

     Flamestar woke up in a pathway, with a gorgeous forest on one side, and a dark one on the other.  Two cats were facing him. "Who are you, and where am I?"  Flamestar asked them.  "I am Skullstar, and this is Mapleleaf,"  a black tom growled.  "We want to make you the best leader you can be,"  Mapleleaf said.  "Really?"  Flamestar asked.  The cats nodded.  "In order to do that, you need to listen to us more than you listen to StarClan,"  Flamestar stared at them.  "What!?"  he yowled.  "You don't know StarClan as well as you think,"  Mapleleaf said.  Suddenly Flamestar's vision went to a blue-gray she-cat saying:  "I don't know more than you do,"  Flamestar stared at them.  "Look,"  he growled.  "I don't know who you are, and I don't know who that gray blue cat was,"  Mapleleaf rolled her eyes.  "That was StarClan's leader, Bluestar.  She was talking to someone about territory.  "What?"  Flamestar's eyes widened.  If we can't trust StarClan to guide us...  "Well, how do expect to do better?"  Flamestar asked.  "Simple,"  Mapleleaf said.  "Do as we say,"  Skullstar looked at him.  "Do you promise?"  he asked Flamestar.  "I promise,"  Flamestar said.  Mapleleaf looked into Flamestar's brown eyes.  "All right then,"  she said.  "You wake up, and we'll guide you along,"
     Snowfur and Grayfur had just returned from their search seconds ago.   They hung their heads, meaning they had come back with nothing.  "We left some prey at the end of their trail,"  Grayfur said.  "We'll continue the search in the morning,"  Flamestar nodded.  Then Grayfur turned to Snowfur.  "Can I sleep with you tonight?"  Grayfur asked.  "Please,"  Snowfur replied with a sigh.  The two sisters walked off toward the nursery together.  Flamestar sulked into his den.  Just as he was curling up to sleep, Mapleleaf appeared.  "What do you want?"  Flamestar growled.  "I want to sleep!"  Mapleleaf rolled her eyes.  "I just came to say that you need those two cats to help in camp.  You can't have them searching the whole time!"  Flamestar stared at her.  "We need those kits back!"
"You need prey and herbs,"  Mapleleaf replied.
"Don't order me around!"
"You made a promise, remember?  You're not about to break it, are you?"  Flamestar looked at her.  "No,"  he said quietly.  "Now get some rest,"  Mapleleaf said.  "You're going to need it,"  Flamestar did as the she-cat said.
                     End of Chapter 17