Flamepaw coughed and opened her eyes. The apprentice den seemed... blurry.

Flamepaw sat up in her nest. She coughed again. Her blue eyes began to water and her heart leaped in her chest.

No! It can't be!

The crackling above her head proved that Flamepaw's horrible suspicion was indeed correct.

"Fire! Fire!" Flamepaw screeched as loud as she could manage.

Immediately, the camp erupted into cries and screeches of terror. Flamepaw pushed a surprised Dustpaw in front of her as she charged out of the den.

Sharppaw was already outside grasping Heronflight's kit, Willowkit, in her jaws.

Wolfstar was leading a group of elders, consisting of Dovewing, Mousewhisker, and Cherryfeather, up the ravine. Heronflight followed with Lionkit in her grasp. Swiftpelt held Petalkit, as he raced put of the flaming camp.

Flamepaw looked around for her mentor, Shadowheart. He was no where to be seen.

Hopefully he already has left the camp.

A scorched branch fell in front of Flamepaw, interrupting her desperate thoughts. The ground in front of her burst into flames, causing Flamepaw to scramble backwards in alarm.

Fur brushed Flamepaw's side, "Come on! We have to get out of here!"

Flamepaw nodded in agreement at Sharppaw's words.

"Go on! I'll be right behind you!" Flamepaw gasped, struggling to breathe through the thick smoke.

Sharppaw bounded up the ravine, careful not to touch any burning areas of grass.

Flamepaw saw Runningspirit race out of the camp, a long burn across her flank.

I don't think anyone knows that I'm still down here!

A pitiful cry made Flamepaw whip around. A small brown shape huddled beneath the highledge. Flames engulfed the area around it, making it hard to see the kit.

"Mudkit!" Flamepaw screamed, her voice hoarse from the fire.

I can't leave him to die!

Flamepaw pelted to the highledge and peered through the flames.

"Come as far as you can with out getting burned!" Flamepaw called to Mudkit.

Instead of following Flamepaw's instructions, Mudkit began to wail loudly.

He's not going to listen to me! We are both going to die!

Flamepaw looked around, desperate to find a way to save the kit, and herself.

Suddenly, she saw it. She would have to climb the highledge, drop down below, grab Mudkit, and claw her way back up. It was risky, but what other choice did she have?

Starclan help me!

Flamepaw scrabbled onto the highledge, her head feeling woozy from breathing in smoke. Flamepaw edged to the end of the ledge, and peered down. Not hesitating, she dropped.

Luckily, she landed on her paws. Unfortunately, her tail was on fire.

Screeching in agony, Flamepaw writhed on the ground, putting out the flames.

She sprung to her paws and grabbed Mudkit in her mouth and clawed her way to the top of highledge. Almost immediately, fire crackled right where they were previously standing.

Flamepaw leaped off of highledge, and dodged flaming branches and ferns. She saw what was left of the nursery. It was nothing but a blackened pile of branches and twigs.

Sadness pulled at her, but she pushed it away. Flamepaw had to get Mudkit, and herself, out of the camp!

The ravine loomed before them, a few small flames were around it, crackling on the soft grass that surrounded it.

Come on! I've come this far, I can't give up!

Flamepaw scrambled onto the first ledge, then the second. She leaped from ledge to ledge until she reached the top. Heronflight was waiting there, with a horrified expression on her face.

She grabbed Mudkit from Flamepaw's jaws, then bounded into the line of trees behind her.

Suddenly, the rocks beneath Flamepaw began to crack. The rocks crumbled and crashed to the ground, leaving Flamepaw hanging on, by a small sliver of rock.

The bushes beside her rustled, and a figure stepped out.

"Look here... a perfect little predicament your in, eh?"

Flamepaw growled at the voice, only to slip farther.

"Please, Shadowheart, help!" Flamepaw pleaded.

Shadowheart let out a hiss, "Oh, how nice. Once you are dead, the prophecy won't come true! At least not all of it. Oh, they'll find a different cat to get the job done, don't you worry."

What does he mean? A different cat?

Flamepaw struggled to hang on. Her paws were starting to bleed from all of the climbing.

"Once you are dead, my work will be almost complete!" He chuckled.

Flamepaw gasped. He wants me dead!

"Please Shadowheart!" Flamepaw cried, as one of her paws slipped. Now the only thing separating the barrier between her life and her death was Shadowheart.

Shadowheart laughed, "Ha! How pitiful," Shadowheart let out a snarl, "Enjoy your, destiny!"

Flamepaw didn't have time to do anything as Shadowheart reached forward, and pushed her off of the ravine...

...Down into the beckoning flames.

END OF BOOK THREE