Chapter Text
Ember Star has lived her entire life (nearly a thousand years) in the secret home of the phoenix cats. With wings like fire, a tail like a phoenix's, and a lion's body of bright orange, red, and yellow fur with black markings and emerald green eyes, she's a perfect representation of her kind (even if she's still considered a teenager). Like all phoenix cats, she'll be immortal for ten thousand years, and her parents warn her about getting involved in the affairs of mortals. But her magic is warning her of trouble among the mortals. Trouble that could spread to her kind if left unchecked.
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"The affairs of mortals are of no concern to us," one of the council members said.
Ember Star growled under her breath. All these cats were roughly eight thousand years old (give or take a century) and ruled over the phoenix cats. When she had first sensed the growing threat, she petitioned the council to take action. But they didn't seem interested.
"You don't understand," she said. "The mortals are in danger."
"The mortals are always in danger, young one," another council member said. "Get a few more centuries under your wings, and you'll see that."
"This is different. There's something else at play here. I can feel it."
"You are nine hundred and seventy-five years old and have never been to the outside world. How would you know?" the first council member replied.
"If I may, my fellow council members," a third cat said. "Ember Star has powerful magic for one so young. It is possible that she can sense something."
"Your granddaughter would have us leave the safety of our home to help mortals who have never appreciated us before."
"We're immortal," Ember Star said. "How are we in danger by leaving our home? And you judge the mortals without knowing them. It has been thousands of generations since we last had contact with them. They may have changed."
"You dare question us? You are a cub. You have yet to take your place in our community. You know nothing of the mortal world."
"I know enough. And, if you won't help them, I will."
With that, Ember Star flew out of the council grounds. Her grandmother followed her.
"Do not act rash," she told her. "Give them time to see you speak the truth."
"We don't have centuries to wait for them to change their minds. The mortals need help now," Ember Star said as they landed on the edge of their home.
"I didn't think I could stop you. If I were a few millennia younger, I would join you. Just remember that you may be immortal, but that doesn't make you invulnerable."
"I'll be careful, Grandmother. And I'll be back. I promise. "