Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

1.1

Firestar sighed as he awoke, stretching on his incredibly soft bedding. This is nice.

His nose twitched when he couldn’t smell Sandstorm, opening his eyes only to immediately shut them again at how bright it was. Slowly opening them back up, he hissed softly as he realized he was in a twoleg den, his old twoleg den!

Jumping up, the ginger tom attempted to get the now unfamiliar collar off his neck, growling when it wouldn’t budge. Twisting around, a black part of the blue collar was in front of his teeth, and he bit down, releasing himself from the choking accessory. He needed to get back to Thunderclan! What would they think of him, seeing him now?

Though, as he made to run for the cat-flap, he stumbled over himself, off balance. It was like he was… smaller.

Smelling the air, Firestar realized his own scent had a kitten tinge to it, and he realized what was happening. Was he back? At the beginning?

A purr began to rumble in his throat. He could save so many cats! He just had to do some work!

Getting outside, he jumped the fence and walked into the forest, immediately smelling his friend about to pounce. Firestar dodged to the right, playfully batting at Greypaw’s head with his soft paws. Hopefully this time they didn’t think of him as too soft.

The two play fought for a little while before Greypaw laughed, and Firestar found himself giggling along with him. “You fight well for a non-clan cat!”

“Oh really? Cuz you fought like a 1 moon old kit!” Firestar snorted, and Greypaw squealed indignantly. “I DID NOT!!!”

“That’s enough.” Lionheart’s voice rumbled, and both younger cats sat up for attention as he came out of the foliage. Greypaw looked scared, and Firestar felt a pang of emotion when he realized the younger version of his best friend was fearful of the older tom’s apparent disapproval. “Lionheart I didn’t mean—”

“We know.” Bluestar’s voice admittedly sent a shiver up Firestar’s spine. It’d felt like forever since he’d seen her, and her intelligent eyes made him feel like he was being picked apart piece by piece. “You are curious, I did not think a non-clan cat was capable of fighting that well, especially one so young.”

You’re the one who taught me! He wanted to say proudly, but held his tongue, instead bowing his head respectfully. The molly nodded, and looked at him with interest. “Why were you entering the forest, little one?”

An excuse that wouldn’t anger her quickly came to mind, and he spoke quietly and politely. “I heard of a group of wildcats, and wanted to see.”

“So you have.” Lionheart dipped his head and Bluestar purred in amusement. “Would you be interested in joining Thunderclan?”

Firestar could practically leap for joy. “I would love to!”

Nodding, Bluestar spoke quietly in response. “We will meet you tomorrow at Sunhigh to bring you to our camp, see you then.”

As the three left and Firestar waved with his tail, he felt excitement and determination fill his chest. He would save Redtail, he would save everyone.

~

The forest was just how he remembered it as he weaved through the foliage, making his way to sunningrocks. This was where Tigerstar, or Tigerclaw, was going to kill Redtail, and Firestar needed to stop him.

He waited for the battle to occur, a pang running through his heart when he realized he hadn’t accounted for Oakheart’s death. I’m sorry Bluestar, he thought and before he knew it, the battle had begun, and cats were flying everywhere, attacking and shedding blood.

It wasn’t long until the rocks crumbled, and Oakheart was buried beneath them, making Firestar grieve for him silently as Riverclan retreated. Ravenpaw’s lanky form disappeared into the undergrowth quickly, and Firestar raised his hackles and waited for just the right moment. Tigerclaw crept up towards Redtail and slashed the tom's throat.

Firestar pounced, grabbing the tabby warrior’s neck and swiftly ripping it out, dropping fur to the floor as Redtail stared at him in horror and awe. Tigerclaw dropped to the ground, gurgling and coughing before lying still, and Firestar couldn’t help but feel.. Relief. He’d saved his clan from losing Redtail, he’d saved them from Tigerstar!

Though now that he remembered he had an audience, he crept towards Redtail, trying to keep his posture calm. “Are you okay?”

“Wha.. How…?” The tortoiseshell tom spluttered, before shakily standing and giving him a look over. “How old are you..?”

“Uhm.. Six moons I think?” Redtail’s eyes widened in even more horror, and Firestar was swiftly grabbed by the scruff of the neck as the tom began limping towards Thunderclan camp. Trying to writhe and wriggle away, Firestar grumbled as he was dragged. This was totally unfair.

There were the loud voices of his clanmates, dead and alive, inside, and Firestar had to remind himself to keep his composure, no matter how much something in him wanted to squeal with glee. Being dragged into the gorse tunnel, all talk stopped as the two of them came into view. Bluestar stared down at him with surprise and confusion from the high rock, while Whitestorm and Lionheart looked at each other in surprise.

Redtail dumped him in the clearing, and he shook out his pelt before looking around. He saw so many familiar but now gone faces that he wanted to cry. Lionheart, Whitestorm, Spottedleaf, Runningwind, and just. Everyone. Silently, he grieved for the relationships that had once been before standing straight and facing Bluestar. “Hello, ma’am.”

“...Redtail, what is going on?” She completely ignored him, looking to her deputy for his explanation, which he quickly gave. “This kit saved me when Tigerclaw tried to kill me.”

There was immediate outrage, especially from Darkstripe and Longtail, and Bluestar sighed while rubbing her face with a paw before yowling for silence. Redtail began to speak, but Firestar started zoning out, looking around and thinking about how much the camp had changed when he was here last, mostly due to the fire.

Suddenly, he was shaken out of his reminiscing by Bluestar, looking directly at him. “How did you know my deputy was in danger, kit?”

Oh mouse-dung he didn’t think of this. Uh. UH.

“I had a dream…?” Was all he could come up with, and Spottedleaf lit up and stepped forward. “You had a dream? Explain it, if you would.”

“There was a tiger… and it was circling him over there.. And then I woke up and just… Moved. Like I knew exactly where to go.” It was the best he could come up with, and Spottedleaf’s eyes gleamed with interest and mischief.

“This kit is telling the truth, Starclan sent me a vision about him joining the clan.” There were surprised murmurs and some disagreements, before Redtail stepped forward himself, head held high and voice firm. “He saved my life. This scratch wasn’t from Riverclan, it was from Tigerclaw. Without this kit I would be dead.”

“Well, I believe this has been settled.” Bluestar looked down on Firestar and he sat upright, looking to her for what she would do next. Thankfully, all he found in her eyes was pleasant surprise and some pride. “What is your name, kit?”

“Fire. It’s Fire.”

“Then young Fire, I name you Firepaw, and you will train under all of us, including Spottedleaf, until you find your right path.” There were questions from the other cats, especially the more traditional ones about him not being made a medicine cat apprentice due to his “prophetic dream”, but Spottedleaf shook her head. “You cannot force things like this.”

A pang of pain flitted through Fire[star? paw?] as he thought of Cinderpelt, and how she was practically forced after the incident with the monster. That wouldn’t happen again if he could help it.

Though, as the clan began chanting his name, he stood in pride and already thought about how much he could help and has already helped. He was so excited!

1.2

Firestar was tired.

He’d done the last seasons over and over and over again and he was just so tired of it all. The orange cat had saved everyone numerous times, but he always just started again at the beginning. For Starclan’s sake, he’d even appealed to Tigerclaw’s love of his kits to stop him in an attempt to keep the tom alive, thinking that might be what’s causing the loops, but no luck.

This time though… something was different. In fact, most everything was different.

He wasn’t in the twoleg den, Firestar was instead in a hollow tree. Still being a kitten— though much younger, probably around 3 moons or so— he quietly padded out of the small hole that was the entrance.

The forest around him was way bigger than he remembered it to be, with trees stretching high into the sky as the bushes rattled and shook with the wind. A strong scent of fear encompassed the cat, and he swiftly scrambled back into the hollow tree on instinct. Something was very wrong.

Waiting in the tree for a while, Firestar perked up as the scent of Greystripe, or he guesses, Greypaw, came closer. The grey kitten tom squeezed inside beside him, laying his head on Firestar’s back as they curled up together. He didn’t say anything, and when the orange tom went to question him, a visceral fear exploding in his chest stopped him.

Can’t talk can’t make noise silence silence silence or else they will hear and i’ll be killed—

…

Something was very wrong.

They lay there for a while, Greypaw continuing to stay silent as Firestar forced himself to do the same. His mind was clouded, swirling and shifting with images and emotions he couldn’t understand other than pure Fear.

His stomach rumbled audibly, causing Greypaw to startle slightly. Food. They needed to find food.

Getting up, he grimaced as Greypaws ears turned backwards, getting out of the hollow tree and opening his mouth slightly to taste for prey. The bigger kitten quietly exited with him, flicking his bushy tail to the left before beginning to silently pad into the brush, Firestar following quietly.

The scent of mouse overtook the orange cat, and he quietly crept forward towards it, forcing himself to continue even as his heart sped up frantically in fright. One more step out into the clearing, and he’d have it. The hunger ramped up, rumbling in his stomach with a pure need to eat.

Firestar pounced, killing the mouse with a bite and scrambling back into the brush, staying silent as he stayed next to a shivering Greypaw, the mouse held firmly in his jaws even as he desperately wanted to dig in.

The world shook as a large, so very large creature came closer. It was blue, with deer-like antlers poking out of its furred head; a mane swaying majestically in the soft blowing wind as its face was pulled into a permanent frown. Water fell from its eyes, and Firestar wanted to keen as he recognized the scent.

Bluestar.

Bluestar shambled about in the clearing, her mouth opening to reveal rows upon rows of sharp teeth jutting out. She lay down with her back turned to them, and Firestar felt Greypaw move backwards, back towards the hollow tree.

He wanted to say that it would be ok, that Bluestar was fair and wouldn’t hurt them, but he couldn’t be so sure.

Quietly, he followed his friend with his mouse hanging from his mouth, keeping an ear out for any noises.

This was going to be a long loop.

1.3

Fire, he was going with Fire for now, gently placed another rock on top of the pile, eyes narrowing happily as the pile stayed up. Just two more and he’d beat his record.

Searching for another stone, he blinked slowly as Frostfur watched from afar, waving his tail in greeting. She waved her tail in return, carefully padding towards him as he continued to search. “.... What are you doing?”

See, Fire had been making himself out to be a special type of kittypet descendant. So of course, he couldn’t just say what he was doing, he had to have fun with it. Looking at his friend with a small smile, he began to weave a tale.

“Where I’m from, this is how we honor the twolegs who take care of us. They find our towers beautiful, and will give us more as long as we make more. It’s said that if you make one twenty rocks tall, you will be blessed with the ability to talk to dogs.”

Frostfur looked at him in shock and confusion, looking back at the stone tower with a wary look. He was at nineteen.

Taking his final rock, Fire carefully placed it on the top of the pile before moseying off back to camp, leaving Frostfur to stare at the pile with a struggling and afraid expression.

He had to tell Smudge and Princess when he got the chance so they could spread it around.

1.4

Fire was lounging on the fence as he thought about what to do this loop.

He’d already befriended Scourge in a loop, he’d messed with the clans in another, and he’d saved them from Tigerstar, Brokenstar, and even Leopardstar once. Maybe he could tell stories of that one loop with the silence? Say it’s an old kittypet tale…

Sighing, he looked out at the forest, wondering if he should just try and redo what he did at the very beginning. Maybe that would stop the loops. Maybe.

Grumpily getting up and preparing to jump down from the fence, Fire stopped when a scent came rushing forwards from the trees and undergrowth. Greypaw perhaps? No no, it was too old to be the apprentice's scent.

A familiar but surprising cat came out from the forest, looking up at him with fear before relief.

“Runningwind?”

He spoke without thinking, utterly flabbergasted at the deviation from the norm. The other tom seemed equally confused, blurting out something revealing in return.

“Fireheart?!”

The stench of Tigerclaw and his cronies came closer, so Fire motioned for Runningwind to follow him before heading back into the twoleg den through the catflap. Smelling the others presence behind him, the orange tom sat down and looked up at him, quietly wishing he wasn’t kitten height.

A feeling of glee and hope came over him as he looked the warrior up and down, smiling happily as he spoke.

“You… remember. You remember!”

“Fireheart what in Starclan’s name is going on?! Why are you a kitten again? Why are cats who are dead alive again? Why was Tigerclaw anywhere near Thunderclan?!”

Oh. Right. This was his first loop. He didn’t know.

“What’s the last thing you remember before being back in camp?”

The warrior winced, and shook his head as he spoke, voice catching slightly on air as the memories seemingly came rushing back.

“Mousefur, Thornpaw and me were patrolling and… we saw Tigerclaw and his rogues. They attacked us and there was pain and suddenly I… I was back in camp.”

Interesting… he didn’t remember being in Starclan. Fire purred in an attempt to soothe, looking up at him with a hopefully reassuring face.

“We’re in a loop. For me it’s been going on for seasons upon seasons but this is your first. Time is repeating a–and I don’t know how to stop it, but I’ve been trying the best I can to help everyone. Though… I guess I just wanted a break this loop, but that’s not happening haha...”

Runningwind processed it slowly, but eventually nodded, his tail flicking to sit next to Fire’s.

“So… when did time restart for you?”

“After we defeated Bloodclan!”

“What is Bloodclan?”

“... UH.”

Chapter Text

2.1

Fire was quietly sorting the herb stores, ear flicking as Spottedleaf worked in the background as well. They had plenty of poppy seeds, but they should really look for more cobwebs and marigolds, as they were running out of those. Perhaps some dandelions as well?

His tail flicks as he calculates, eyes narrowing.

This was boring, but important, he reminded himself. He needed medicinal knowledge to help properly. Not everything could be solved with violence, and he didn’t want to do that anyhow.

Over the loops, he’d had a hard time with his own morality and mortality. After all, what is death to someone who will come back from it?

Runningwind had been concerned for him. Mainly because of his willingness for killing. It was unwarrior-like, as warriors do not need to kill to win their battles. Fire kept himself calm, listening to the other loopers points. They were good points, if a little clumsy, and Fire breathed out as he thought about what the other had said next.

“What happened to the friendliest and most stubborn cat I knew?”

…Fire didn’t know.

He didn’t know why or when he became like this. He barely remembered the first run through.

Maybe it was Tigerclaw, because it is always Tigerclaw, but no. It could’ve been Clawface, back when he was pining over Spottedleaf. Maybe Scourge. The point was, he’d lost sight of who he was; who he truly wanted to be.

Spottedleaf approached, her smell worried and concerned. “Are you alright, Firepaw?”

He hums, tail curling inward against his paws. “Just thinking… Could I go for a walk?”

“Of course, take an escort though, ok? And if you find any cobwebs, bring them back, we are close to running out.” Nodding with a thankful purr, Fire stretched a paw before heading out of the Medicine Den, looking around for a specific cat.

Greypaw waved his tail happily at Fire, and he waved back, but he was not the person Fire was looking for. Mousefur was chatting lightly near the nursery with Goldenflower, and he contemplated asking one of them, but decided against it. They were too pushy, too territorial. He needed someone calm.

Blinking, he decided on Whitestorm.

Heading towards the other, tail held high as he interrupted the other tom’s and Lionheart’s conversation. “Whitestorm, could you escort me while I search for herbs? Spottedleaf says I need one.”

“Of course, Firepaw. What sorts of herbs are you looking for?” The elder tom waved his tail goodbye to Lionheart as they headed for the entrance to camp, speaking warmly. Fire purred lightheartedly. “Cobwebs, marigold, perhaps some borage for Frostfur… Nevermind the fact I have a bit of a feeling…”

“Well now… Where is this feeling telling you to go?”

Closing his eyes, the looper sniffed around before heading towards the path to the Thunderpath. It was around when Yellowfang would be in their territory, so he should likely go pick her up. “Keep an eye out for herbs as we walk, please.”

Whitestorm did as told, stopping Fire to gather cobwebs and marigold, though they hadn’t found any borage yet. The warrior was dutifully following him, until he stopped, and Fire was assaulted with the stench of crowfood. There she is.

“Hello, I’m Firepaw. You are?”

She grumbles, looking him up and down before snorting and laying down, clearly exhausted. “Fool boy, you a healing apprentice?”

“Yes, I am—” He began to say, but was interrupted as Whitestorm gently nudged him away to speak with the old hag. “Yellowfang? Why are you on Thunderclan’s territory?”

“Had to run.” Was all she said in response to the warrior, looking to Fire. “Fetch some goldenrod for my leg. Don’t want it getting infected, if it isn’t already.”

Nodding, the orange tom sniffed out some nearby goldenrod, beginning to chew it as he came back to the black and white cats. Putting a paw on Yellowfang’s side to keep her still, he began applying the poultice. In between his applying, he speaks to Whitestorm. “Could you find some ragweed? It’s tall, yellow, grows by water and smells a lot. Should be able to help her get to camp so we can treat her more.”

“Firepaw we shouldn’t—”

“I was meant to find her. Starclan wants her alive, so please follow my requests.” Fire lightly bit back, before going back to what he was doing, pleased when the senior warrior followed his instruction and went towards the river.

Yellowfang huffed a laugh, twitching as he sniffed the wound before beginning to chew on some of the gathered marigold. Infection was already creeping in. “Did you not wash this in that swamp of yours?”

“No,” she muttered, “too focused on running.”

He hummed in response, ear flicking as more scents came closer. Right, Whitestorm probably ran into a patrol. The familiar scents of Runningwind, Tigerclaw and Sandpaw came towards them, and Fire let his tail lash.

“Firepaw, What is the Meaning of this?” Tigerclaw growled, and Fire ignored him, looking to the all white senior warrior who thankfully placed some ragweed in front of him. More than enough, actually. “I am doing my job, Tigerclaw.”

“You’re wasting resources on this… this Rogue!”

“I am helping a sick patient. We do not adhere to warriors and their silly disputes, do we, Yellowfang?” He blinked up at her, and she stuck out her jaw. “Darn right.”

Sandpaw made a disgusted noise, and Runningwind came forward as Fire got Yellowfang to eat and chew on the yellow flowers of ragweed. “He’s right, Tigerclaw. We don’t hurt Medicine Cats, and she’s already injured. She should at least be able to see Bluestar and Spottedleaf; they’ll decide what to do.”

The brown tabby looked between them with a growl before sighing angrily as he realized this was a fight he would not win. “Fine, but if she tries anything I’m chasing her off myself. Sandpaw, help Firepaw carry the remaining herbs, Runningwind and Whitestorm will help… Her.”

Fire was fine with that.

He moved to rewrap the remaining herbs, nudging the full leaf towards the other apprentice before taking his own. The sandy molly made a grossed out noise as she picked up the plants, making him purr a laugh behind his herbs. “‘ey ‘on’t ‘as’e ‘at ba’”

“No one can understand you, kitty.” Runningwind snorted, helping to keep Yellowfang stable as they got up to walk back to camp.

The walk was quiet, and they soon reached camp, going in one by one with Yellowfang limping in the middle. There were surprised voices as they went in, but Fire was too busy leading Sandpaw to the medicine den to drop off the herbs.

Spottedleaf hummed as he placed the herbs down, leading him and the other apprentice back into the clearing where Yellowfang had sat, Bluestar staring from the High rock. “Whitestorm? Why is Shadowclan’s Medicine Cat here?”

“She said she had to run from Shadowclan.” Her nephew supplied, tail waving towards the dilute tortie. Yellowfang tried to sit at full height, blinking up at the leader. “I am here to request sanctuary, as my clan is no longer safe.”

There were mutters of questions and hissed grumblings, but Bluestar yowled for silence. Jumping down from her position, the blue leader approached and looked at the hag, silently looking her over. She evidently did not like what she saw, and looked to Fire and Spottedleaf. “I will discuss this with you later, for now you will be taken care of by Spottedleaf and her apprentice. I will discuss it with the elders now.”

The crowd dispersed, and Fire helped Runningwind lead the still limping Yellowfang towards the healing den.

Getting her into a nest, Fire stretched and moved towards the prey pile, humming in acknowledgment as Spottedleaf hummed in approval. Runningwind helped him pick out a pigeon before heading to talk to Mousefur about what happened, and Fire carried the bird towards the hag.

Pushing it towards her, he sniffed quietly as she sniffed the prey in turn, checking for something. When she was satisfied, she swiftly dug into the bird, loudly chewing and crunching. As she did so, Spottedleaf looked over her injury, sniffing it.

“Well done, Firepaw. After you are done can I give you some poppy seeds for the pain, Yellowfang?”

“Would kill you if you didn’t, fool girl.”

Purring in amusement, the Thunderclan healer picked up some poppy seeds and placed them close to the elder cat, who ignored them for now in favor of her pigeon.

Fire huffs quietly, moving to sort the herbs he had gathered as his mentor focused on their patient.

He could feel their stares, but he ignored it. He had work to do.

“Strange apprentice you’ve got there.” Yellowfang muttered, and Spottedleaf hummed. “He is good, a very fast learner.”

“So I can see… Stars have said anything?”

“They led us to him, bless their hearts.”

Ah yes, Starclan.

Fire had seen it in his first life, but not much in his next. It was almost as if they were muted or.. dare he say… Afraid.

Curiouser and curiouser.

“Firepaw?”

Oh, he had paused. “Just thinking, Ma’ams.”

The two grown cats blinked before beginning to bicker again.

Fire found he didn’t mind this.

2.2

Fire hummed as the warmth around him shifted, mumbling something as he lay his head on the others side.

The short fur of his friend tickled his nose, especially since it was shedding season as New–Leaf began. His sister behind him was snoring slightly, a whistling of breath inhaling and exhaling. Yawning, he opened his eyes to watch as Greystripe headed back into the Warriors den.

He really shouldn’t say anything.

Turns out, he didn’t have to, as Smudgesight spoke up in his place, voice just barely above silent. “How was it?”

Graystripe startled, looking at the two of them fearfully before motioning for them to quiet down. Sapsong breathed out again, this time much more deliberately. So she was awake.

The three stared at the gray tom, and he whimpered quietly. “It… it was a nice walk.”

“Mhm… real nice.” Fire, or Firedrift this loop, muttered in return, making his kithood friend and sister stifle laughter.

Huffing, the grey tom moved to curl up to sleep, muttering an apology as Longtail hissed at them to shut up.

It was interesting how much changed when Fire wasn’t the only outsider.

He had convinced Smudge and Princess to join him in Thunderclan, and they had all been accepted, though not without a fight. Thankfully, his two fellow ‘kittypets’ had a few tricks up their sleeves for the tests that were given to them.

Smudge had told them all he knew about the growing power in the town, which he knew a lot about from rumors and discussions, something that Bluestar found invaluable. While Princess had helped to reinforce camp walls and had recommended a new style of crafting to make toys for kits and stronger defenses. She called it weaving, saying her human used to do it a lot, and she picked it up.

Fire’s test was a fight, of course, and he won easily against his opponent, Tigerclaw.

He hadn’t managed to stop Redtail’s death, so that was still a problem, but he knew the brown tabby tom now had a respect for him. As did most of his clanmates. Beating a ‘claw’ in battle was a sight to behold to them.

Speaking of, he had to nudge his friends in the right direction for this.

As morning rose, and most cats got out of the den, Fire nodded towards Tigerclaw, purring as Sapsong and Smudgesight blinked back curiously. He motioned a pounce, and they lit up, nodding devilishly.

Lionheart clearly noticed them creeping up on the brown tabby, but said nothing. Tigerclaw didn’t see it coming.

The three of them pounced, tackling the older warrior to the ground with laughs as he grumbled. “You three are going to be the death of me.”

“You love us!” Sapsong giggled, purring up a storm as Lionheart huffed his own laugh. Yawning, Fire got up and stretched before being pulled into a lying position, Tigerclaw clearly accepting his fate and trying to groom the orange tom’s unruly fur. “You should take better care of yourself.”

“Maybe. Or you just worry too much.”

“With you I must worry.” The brown tabby grumbled as he found a part of a leaf. “You’re always getting into trouble. All three of you.”

“We’re not that bad—”

“Yes we are, remember when we raided Shadowclan for ol’ Yellowfangs?” Smudgesight flicked his tail as he spoke, and Fire snorted at the memory. They’d made Brokenstar run, even as apprentices. Bluestar thought they were stupid but when Shadowclan said they were in her debt, she had to get over it.

Got them their warrior names too.

After getting Goldenflower to like them, it was only a matter of time before Tigerclaw began seeing them as his own as well. He was a bit possessive, but they were slowly able to get him to focus on more important things. Like his family.

He hadn’t tried to kill Lionheart in a while, so that was a good sign. Fire hoped so, at least.

Though, as his friend and sister talked lightly amongst themselves, he felt Tigerclaw pause. “Do you know where Graystripe has been going?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Where is he going?”

“Blehhhhh.”

“... what?”

“Bleeehhhhhhhhh.”

“You are infuriating.”

2.3

Something was very wrong.

Fire felt awful.

His fur was wrong, his body was wrong, his eyes were wrong, everything was wrong.

He groaned, and that sounded wrong too.

Raising a paw to rub at his eye, Fire paused.

That was not a paw.

That was a hand.

Forcing his weirdly moving body to sit up, the looper had to pause from the vertigo, blinking at the patch of large flowers he was laying on. This… isn’t normally what happens at the start of a loop.

Taking stock of himself, Fire cringed as he felt naked, despite having fabric covering him, it just wasn’t the same as fur. His head hurt slightly, but that was it in terms of pain.

Looking down, he sighed and laid back down on the flowers.

He was a twoleg now.

This made no sense.

This wasn’t anywhere he recognized either, his face crinkling in confusion as he noticed he couldn’t scent that well. Makes sense that their sense of smell was bad.

Fire didn’t know how long he laid there, but eventually steps came closer. Welp. He might die here. At least it was pretty.

Looking as white and purple entered his vision on the edges, he stared incredulously at the thing that was rushing towards him once he was spotted. It was a weird, twoleg crossed with a… he doesn’t know what they’re called. Sheep maybe?

“My child! Are you alright?!”

Child? Who was this??

Forcing himself to make his mouth move, Fire looked at the thing and spoke. “... am I dead…?”

Was this Starclan’s punishment for him? He’d been nice in recent loops so he doesn’t understand why they’d send him to wherever this was. The sheep twoleg did not appreciate that, moving and helping him up. “No, no you are not dead— does it hurt anywhere? I will heal you, little one.”

Focusing on keeping himself standing, Fire mumbled a response even he couldn’t understand, blinking slowly as he tried to think.

Which was interrupted as the ground shook ever so slightly, making him hiss and duck away from the admittedly nice and warm touch of the weird twoleg. Stumbling, he almost fell again before something thorny kept him steady.

“Take a sec, kid.” Regrettably taking that advice, Fire breathed in and out before looking back at where he had been, frowning further as he saw not only the sheep twoleg.

But also a talking flower with eyes and a mouth.

“What…” Was all he could say, and the flower sighed.

“Let’s sit for this. The name’s Flowey, that’s Toriel.”

Sitting down awkwardly, Fire muttered his own name. “‘M Fire. Where am I? Why am I?”

“First off, has time been repeating for ya? Where you usually are, I mean.”

Fire paused, soaking in the fact that this flower was aware. “... Yes. This is… my … uh… it’s been a while.”

“What are you—” Toriel tried to interject but Flowey hissed at her to make her shut up, patting the flowers next to him. Reluctantly, she sat and kept quiet. Flowey got back to what he was saying. “You’re not normally a human, are you?”

Human? Oh he means a twoleg. “No… I’m usually a cat.”

“Welcome then, this is your first Fused Loop. Means you’re replacing someone from our loops, so the loops are now connected.”

“... what are you talking about…?”

“This’ll take a while, huh.”