Well my followers, how have you liked the series so far? Enjoying them? Or do you hate them and want me to stop? (well I refuse to do the last part, so just forget about it!) I hope you follow and favorite and love this one as much as you did the last two! Enjoy and review!
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The icy wind whirled snow into Fireheart's face as she struggled alongside her apprentice down the ravine toward the ThunderClan camp, the mouse she had just killed gripped firmly in her jaws. The flakes were falling so thickly that she could scarcely see where she was going. Her apprentice, Cinderpaw, was a ball of covered gray furred snowball, her paws stepping high above the snow as she trotted alongside Fireheart. Cinderpaw sent a respectful glance at her mentor, her clear blue eyes alight with admiration.
A glow of pride briefly drove off the chill from the snow that matted her sleek flame-colored coat that had finally thickened out, and her tail was once again plumbed and her injury that she had endured by saving Cinderpaw was hardly noticeable now. Fireheart recalled the battle that had taken place three days before. She had joined the other ThunderClan warriors to help support WindClan when the moorland cats were attacked by the other two Clans in the forest. Many cats had been injured in that battle, so it was even more important for those who could still hunt to bring home prey.
Fireheart found it a little amusing, also recalling her dream with Rock who explained about a part of her destiny, a moment of joy as to find herself pregnant with the tom she loved, and bringing more kin to ThunderClan filled her. Tigerclaw had been just as happy as she had, She suspected the only reason Tigerclaw didn't barricade her in the nursery was because of the fact she was willing and needed to help as much as possible during this leaf-bare.
As Fireheart pushed her way through the gorse tunnel leading into camp with Cinderpaw just behind, she dislodged snow from the spiky branches above, and she flicked her ears as the cold lumps fell on her head. The thorn trees around the camp gave some shelter from the wind, but the clearing in the center of the camp was deserted; all the cats preferred to stay in their dens to keep warm when the snow lay this thick. Broken tree stumps and the branches of a fallen tree poked above the covering of snow. A single line of pawprints crossed from the apprentice's den to the bramble thicket where the kits were cared for. Seeing the trail, Fireheart could not help remembering how she had brought Cloudkit into camp, even though her sister Princess was the one to give birth to him, Fireheart felt that she was the mother to the young kit, spending as much time as she could with the white pile of fur.
Trotting across the snow into the heart of the camp, Fireheart dropped her mouse on the pile of fresh-kill near the bush where the warriors slept. Cinderpaw followed her example, dropping her magpie on the pile as well. The pile was pitifully small. Such prey as could be found was thin and scrawny, hardly a mouthful for a famished warrior. There would be no more plump mice or any other prey until newleaf, and that was many moons away.
Fireheart shared a glance with Cinderpaw, both she-cats turning away, both ready to go back on hunting duty, when a loud meow sounded behind her. She whirled around, she shuddered from ear to tail tip as she recognized the voice.
Shouldering his way out of the warriors den was the Clan deputy, and Fireheart's mate, Tigerclaw. "Fireheart!"
With a flick of her tail Fireheart sent Cinderpaw back to her den, Cinderpaw raced off, sending Fireheart an amused look over her shoulder. Fireheart padded through the snow toward him, respectfully lowering her head, but coming to nuzzle Tigerclaw's cheek as well. Pulling back Fireheart stared into the huge tabby's amber eyes, his eyes were filled with warmth as the he gazed at her. The deputy was strong, respected, and an outstanding fighter, but Fireheart knew of the terrible deed he had done.
"You don't need to go out hunting again tonight," Tigerclaw meowed, returning Fireheart's warm gesture. "Bluestar has chosen you and Graystripe to go to the Gathering." Fireheart's ears twitched with excitement. It was an honor to accompany the Clan leader to the Gathering, where all four Clans met in peace at full moon.
"Although you don't have to go if you don't want to," Tigerclaw put in casually, Fireheart couldn't suppress her purr of amusement. Ever since she found out that she was expecting kits, the whole Clan was treating her with special attention, Even Dustpelt hadn't insulted her and even surprising her with offering his last catch.
"Of course I'm going, I'm not round enough yet to be laying around in the nursery just yet!" Fireheart retorted, watching Tigerclaw's eyes flicker with amusement.
"You had better eat now," sighed the dark-coated deputy. "We leave at moonrise." He looked fondly at Fireheart, a spark of pride in his amber orbs. Tigerclaw had to be the most proudest of being a future father, Fireheart never saw this side of Tigerclaw at all and she was happy to draw it out of him.
"If you don't feel well, or want to go back to camp, I'll have one of the warriors escort you back," Tigerclaw promised over his shoulder as he began to stalk across the clearing toward the Highrock, where Bluestar, the Clan leader, had her den. Fireheart watched him go, her feet felt light and she felt like she was floating. Until she caught the dark gaze of Darkstripe and instantly crashed back on the ground.
Fireheart glared at the dark warrior, her mind flashing back to the battle in the WindClan camp. Fireheart had allowed a RiverClan warrior to flee without a scratch, but not out of cowardice or disloyalty as Darkstripe accused of her. The warrior had been Silverstream. Unknown to the rest of ThunderClan, Fireheart's best friend, Graystripe, was in love with her, and Fireheart could not bring herself to wound her.
Fireheart had done her best to talk her friend out of visiting Silverstream-their relationship went against the warrior code and put both of them in grave danger. But Fireheart also knew that she would never betray Graystripe. Even if it meant lying to her mate, she internally sighed. Tigerclaw had always been a strong willed cat, and Fireheart found it surprising that her passion to exploit Tigerclaw's manipulating and murderous ways, had turned into something more. Her feelings had changed from hate to love in a matter of moons with Tigerclaw, finding a side to him that she had never thought existed. Now she had him as a loving mate and a father to her kits. But Fireheart still saw the desire's in his eyes time to time, and the murder of Redtail, the previous ThunderClan deputy, fell on her mate's shoulders.
Fireheart also knew with a wince, that Fireheart's friend Ravenpaw, Tigerclaw's own apprentice, had witnessed the murder of Redtail. Tigerclaw had tried to kill him to keep him quiet, so Fireheart had taken him to live with Barley, a loner who lived near a Twoleg farm on the other side of WindClan territory. Fireheart had tried to tell Ravenpaw's story to Bluestar, but the Clan leader refused to believe that her brave deputy could be guilty of such a thing. Fireheart was torn of being grateful of not being believed, and slightly concerned of what Redtail's injustice will cause in the future. She felt so torn, as if a tree had fallen and pinned her to the ground.
Fireheart turned away from Dirtstripe and instead watched as Graystripe poked his head out through the branches. "How are you this morning?" Graystripe asked, shaking out his gray pelt as he began to wash.
"I'm fine, just has I have been the last time I was asked." Fireheart purred back, it was appreciated their concern, but it could be a little overwhelming at times.
"You know, these kits are important, especially coming from Tigerclaw and you, any Clan would want the kits as warriors." Graystripe retorted, making Fireheart reel in surprise. Of course Fireheart knew that Tigerclaw was a well respected and feared warrior, he was known by every cat in the Clan's to be the best ThunderClan warrior there was. Would her kits really be that treasured enough for everyone to think that they would be a blessing for any Clan to have?
"They will be loyal strong warriors of ThunderClan, that's for sure." Fireheart agreed, a sense of warmth for her not yet born kits already forming. "Come on; let's eat." Fireheart said, changing the subject. Graystripe pushed the rest of the way out and bounded toward the pile of fresh-kill. Fireheart followed him, picked out a vole, and carried it back to the warrior's den to eat. Graystripe crouched beside her, near the outer curtain of branches.
Whitestorm and a couple of other senior warriors were curled up asleep in the center of the bush, but otherwise the den was empty. Their sleeping bodies warmed the air, and barely any snow had penetrated the thick canopy of branches. Fireheart took a mouthful of vole. The meat was tough and stringy, but she was so hungry that it tasted delicious. Even though Tigerclaw took extra care to what she ate, it was still leafbare a time of scares prey, it was gone far too quickly, but it was better than nothing, and it would give her the strength she needed to travel to the Gathering.
When Graystripe had finished his meal in a few ravenous gulps, the two cats lay close together, grooming each other's cold fur. It was a relief to Fireheart to share tongues like this with Graystripe again, after the troubling time when it seemed that Graystripe's love for Silverstream would destroy her friendship with Fireheart. Even though Fireheart still worried about her friend's forbidden affair, since the battle she and Graystripe had rekindled their friendship so it was as close as before. They needed to trust each other if they were to survive the long season of leaf-bare, and even more than that, Fireheart needed Graystripe's support with her growing worries about Tigerclaw.
"I wonder what news we'll hear tonight," she murmured in her friend's gray ear. "I hope RiverClan and ShadowClan have learned their lesson. WindClan won't be driven out of their territory again."
Graystripe shifted uncomfortably. "The battle wasn't just greed for territory," he pointed out. "Prey is even scarcer than usual-RiverClan are starving since the Twolegs moved into their territory."
"I know." Fireheart flicked her ear in reluctant sympathy, understanding that her friend would want to defend Silverstream's Clan. "But forcing another Clan out of their territory isn't the answer."
Graystripe muttered agreement, and then fell silent. Fireheart knew how he must've felt. It was only a few moons since they had crossed the Thunderpath to find WindClan and to bring them home. Yet Graystripe was bound to sympathize with RiverClan too, because of his love for Silverstream. There were no easy answers. The shortage of prey would be a desperate problem for all four Clans, at least until leaf-bare relaxed its cruel grip on the forest.
Growing drowsy under the steady rasp of Graystripe's tongue, Fireheart jumped at the rustle of branches outside the den. Fireheart purred as Tigerclaw entered, and upon seeing Fireheart stepped towards her to nuzzle her head. The warm greeting was ruined as Darkstripe brushed by harshly settled in a huddle closer to the center of the bush. Longtail followed him, but stepped around the three cats, wary of touching Fireheart at all. Tigerclaw went to join their little huddle, and Fireheart found it shockley easy to imagine what they might be talking about.
"What's the matter?" asked Graystripe, lifting his head. Fireheart stretched, trying to relax again. "I'm just worried is all," Graystripe gave her a confused look, but understanding crossed his face as she flicked her ears in the direction of Tigerclaw and the others.
"I don't blame you," meowed Graystripe. "If Tigerclaw ever found out about Silverstream…" He shuddered.
Fireheart pressed closer to her friend, comforting him, knowing that wasn't the real issue she had in mind. She was still afraid that Tigerclaw would continue on this path of power, and that she would be unable to help him. Fireheart took a glance over at the trio, her breath stuttered in her throat, a fourth cat had joined them, but none but Fireheart assumed to see him. It was small, dark, dappled tortoiseshell tom with a distinctive bushy ginger tail, as red as fox fur, and feathered ears. Fireheart knew only one cat that looked like that, that had star's in its pelt.
Redtail
Fireheart looked away quickly, and stared down at her paws. Could she really forget what Tigerclaw had done to achieve to become deputy? Redtails death and Ravenpaw's attempted one. Don't they deserve to have their justice?
"I want to talk to Ravenpaw again," Fireheart meowed softly, gaining Graystripe's attention.
"Why?" Graystripe asked in confusion, tilting his head to regard Fireheart.
"I want to make sure Ravenpaw was absolutely correct about Tigerclaw and what happened at the battle where Redtail died," Fireheart whispered, her heart sinking at the mere thought of how the conversation would go.
"But Ravenpaw lives at the Twoleg farm now. You'd have to go all the way across WindClan territory. How would you explain being out of camp for so long? Especially in your condition!" Graystripe retorted uneasily.
Fireheart knew she was willing to take that risk, it was important. She had never asked Ravenpaw for any details about how Redtail had died in the battle against RiverClan all those moons ago. At the time it had seemed more important to get the apprentice out of Tigerclaw's way. Now she knew that she had to find out exactly what Ravenpaw saw.
"I'll go tonight," Fireheart mewed softly. "After the Gathering, I'm going to slip away. If I bring back fresh-kill, I can say I've been out hunting."
"You're taking a big risk," mewed Graystripe, giving Fireheart's ear a quick and affectionate lick. "But you're my friend. If you're determined to go, then I'm coming with you."
"Thank you," Fireheart whispered, her eyes glancing up briefly, once again seeing the outline of Redtail in the clearing, but with a blink of an eye he was gone. Leaving not a trace that he had been there, if only Fireheart could get rid of her worries as well.
The snow had stopped and the clouds had cleared away by the time the ThunderClan cats, Fireheart and Graystripe among them, left the camp and headed through the forest toward Fourtrees. The snow-covered ground seemed to glow in the white light of the full moon, and frost glittered on every twig and stone. It dazzled Fireheart as she looked around, she suppressed a murmur of amusement as she spied Tigerclaw shooting her glances from where he padded alongside Bluestar.
A breeze blew toward them, ruffling the surface of the snow and bearing the scent of many cats. Fireheart shivered with excitement. The territories of all four Clans met in the sacred hollow, and at every full moon a truce was declared for the Clans to gather beneath the four great oaks that stood in the center of the steep-sided clearing.
Fireheart fell in behind Bluestar, who had already dropped into a crouch to creep the last few tail-lengths to the top of the slope and peer down into the glade. A rock reared up in the center of the clearing between the oaks, its jagged outline black against the snow. As Fireheart waited for Bluestar's signal to move, she watched the other Clan cats greeting one another below. She could not help noticing the glares and raised hackles as WindClan faced the cats of RiverClan and ShadowClan. Clearly none of them had forgotten the recent battle; if it weren't for the truce, they would be clawing one another's fur.
Fireheart recognized Tallstar, the leader of WindClan, sitting near the Great Rock, with his deputy, Deadfoot, beside him. Not far away, Runningnose and Mudfur, the medicine cats of ShadowClan and RiverClan, sat side by side, gazing at the other cats with eyes that reflected the moon. Beside Fireheart, Graystripe's muscles were tense, and his yellow eyes glowed with excitement as he stared down into the glade. Following his gaze, Fireheart saw Silverstream emerge from the shadow, her beautiful black-and-silver coat rippling in the moonlight.
Fireheart suppressed a sigh. "If you're going to talk to her, be careful who sees you," she warned her friend.
"Don't worry," Graystripe meowed. His front paws kneaded the hard ground as he waited for the moment when he could be with the RiverClan cat again.
Fireheart glanced at Bluestar, expecting her to give the signal to descend into the clearing, but instead she saw Whitestorm pad up and crouch beside Bluestar in the snow. "Bluestar," Fireheart heard the noble white warrior murmur, "what are you going to say about Brokentail? Will you tell the other Clans that we're sheltering him?"
Fireheart waited tensely for Bluestar's answer a shiver going up her spine. Brokentail had once been Brokenstar, leader of ShadowClan. He had murdered his own father, Raggedstar, and stolen kits from ThunderClan. In retaliation, ThunderClan had helped Brokenstar's own Clan to drive him out into the forest. Not long after, Brokenstar had led a band of rogue cats to attack the ThunderClan camp. In the battle, Yellowfang, the ThunderClan medicine cat, had scratched his eyes, and now Brokentail was a prisoner, blinded and defeated. Even though the former leader had been stripped of his StarClan-given name, and was kept under close guard, Fireheart knew that the other Clans would expect ThunderClan to have killed him, or driven him out to die in the forest. They wouldn't welcome the news that Brokentail was still alive.
Bluestar kept her gaze fixed on the cats in the clearing below. "I will say nothing," she replied to Whitestorm. "It doesn't concern the other Clans. Brokentail is ThunderClan's responsibility now."
"Brave words," growled Tigerclaw from where he sat on the other side of Bluestar. "Or are we ashamed to admit what we've done?" Fireheart saw the way his eyes blazed, Tigerclaw didn't want Brokentail in their camp, and Fireheart didn't want a kit killer in the camp either, but Fireheart respected Bluestar's order's and would do nothing to harm Brokentail needlessly.
"ThunderClan has no need to be ashamed for showing mercy," Bluestar retorted coolly. "But I see no reason to go looking for trouble." Before Tigerclaw could protest, she sprang to her paws and faced the rest of the ThunderClan cats. "Listen," she meowed. "No cat is to talk about the attack by the rogue cats, or mention Brokentail. These are matters for our Clan alone."
She waited until meows of agreement came from the assembled cats. Then she flicked her tail to signal that the ThunderClan cats could join the other Clans below. She raced down through the bushes, with Tigerclaw just behind her, his huge paws scattering snow.
Fireheart bounded after them. As she slid out of the bushes into the clearing she saw that Tigerclaw had stopped close by, and was giving her an inviting look. "Graystripe," Fireheart hissed quietly over her shoulder, "I don't think you should go off with Silverstream tonight. Tigerclaw's already-" Fireheart suddenly realized that Graystripe was no longer beside her. Looking around, she saw her friend disappearing behind the Great Rock. A heartbeat or two later, Silverstream skirted around a group of ShadowClan cats and followed him.
Fireheart sighed. She glanced at Tigerclaw, wondering if the deputy had seen them go. But Tigerclaw was simply staring at her, but Fireheart simply dismissed him with a playful look, without words telling him to go on ahead. Tigerclaw looked torn for a moment, then nodded and padded away to join Onewhisker from WindClan, and Fireheart let out the breath she been holding.
Pacing restlessly across the clearing, Fireheart scanned the scatter of cats. She saw a glimpse of her apprentice, Cinderpaw, along with her brother in a center of WindClan apprentices. With a jolt Fireheart realized this was her apprentices first Gathering. With a inward murmur of amusement at her apprentice's energeticness, Fireheart found herself near a group of elders-Patchpelt from ThunderClan, and others she did not know, crouching beneath a glossy leaved holly bush, where the snow did not lie so thickly. Keeping one eye out for Graystripe, Fireheart settled down to listen to their conversation. As she sat down she felt tired, her paws were a little achy and her stomach, although not yet showing, still felt sensitive.
"I remember a leaf-bare even worse than this." It was an old black tom who spoke, his muzzle turned to silver and his flank scarred from many a fight. He had the scent of WindClan on his short, patchy fur. "The river was frozen for more than three moons."
"You're right, Crowfur," a tabby queen agreed. "And prey was scarcer, too, even for RiverClan." For a heartbeat Fireheart felt surprised that two elders from recently hostile Clans could talk calmly without spitting hatred at each other. But then, they were elders, she reflected. They must have seen many battles in their long lives.
"Young warriors today," the old black cat added with a glance at Fireheart. "They don't know what hardship is." Fireheart scuffled among the dead leaves under the bush and tried to look respectful. Patchpelt, crouched close to her,and gave her a friendly flick with his tail.
"That must have been the season when Bluestar lost her kits," recalled the ThunderClan elder. Fireheart pricked up her ears. She remembered that bit of information, Bluestar had kits! But...who were they again? They were born just before she became deputy, right? Fireheart racked her brain, she knew this, but she just couldn't remember, She realized with alarm.
"And do you remember the thaw that leaf-bare?" Crowfur interrupted Fireheart's alarming thoughts, his eyes unfocused as he lost himself to his memories. "The river in the gorge rose nearly as far as the badger sets."
Patchpelt shivered. "I remember it well. ThunderClan couldn't cross the stream to come here for the Gathering."
"Cats were drowned," the RiverClan queen remembered sadly.
"Prey too," Crowfur added. "The cats who survived nearly starved." Listening to these elder tales made Fireheart's fur want to stand on ends, what if her kits weren't strong enough to survive? But then shook the notion away, her kits will be strong, just like Tigerclaw and Cloudkit are. From both lineages she was sure her kits would be strong and healthy, or she prayed to StarClan that they were.
"May StarClan grant it's not too bad this season!" Patchpelt mewed fervently, and Fireheart couldn't help but think elder was looking at her as he said this.
Crowfur spat, "These young cats would never cope. We were tougher in those days."
Fireheart could not help protesting. "We have strong warriors now-"
"Who asked your opinion?" growled the cranky old tom. "You're hardly more than a kit!"
"But we-" Fireheart broke off as the air filled with a shrill yowl and all the cats fell silent. She turned her head to see four cats on top of the Great Rock, silhouettes in the silver moonlight.
"Shh!" hissed Patchpelt. "The meeting's about to start." He twitched his ears at Fireheart and purred softly. "Take no notice of Crowfur. He'd find fault with StarClan." Fireheart gave Patchpelt a grateful look, tucked her paws under her, and settled down to listen.
Tallstar, the WindClan leader, began by announcing how his cats were recovering after the recent battle against RiverClan and ShadowClan. "One of our elders has died," he meowed, "but all our warriors will live-to fight another day," he added meaningfully.
Nightstar flattened his ears and narrowed his eyes, while Crookedstar let out a threatening growl from deep in his throat.
Fireheart's fur prickled. If the leaders started to fight, their cats would fight too. Surely not even Nightstar, ShadowClan's bold new leader, would risk the anger of StarClan by breaking the sacred truce!
As Fireheart apprehensively watched the bristling cats, Bluestar stepped forward. "This is good news, Tallstar," she meowed smoothly. "All of us should rejoice to hear that WindClan grows strong again." Her blue eyes glowed in the moonlight as she glanced at the leaders of ShadowClan and RiverClan. Nightstar turned away from her gaze, and Crookedstar dipped his head, his expression unreadable.
It had been ShadowClan, under Brokenstar's cruel command, who had first driven WindClan away, so that they could extend their own hunting grounds. RiverClan had taken advantage of their exile, Bluestar had convinced the other leaders that the life of the forest depended on all four Clans, and that WindClan should return. Fireheart shivered as she remembered the long and difficult journey she had made with Graystripe to find WindClan and bring them home to their bleak upland territory.
That reminded her of how she meant to cross the uplands again to find Ravenpaw, and she shifted uneasily. She was not looking forward to the journey. But I have to, she thought. Its for the best.
"ThunderClan's cats are also recovering," Bluestar went on. "And since the last Gathering two of our apprentices have become warriors. They will now be known as Dustpelt and Sandstorm." Yowls of approval came up from the mass of cats below the Great Rock-mostly, Fireheart noticed, from ThunderClan and WindClan. She caught a glimpse of Sandstorm, sitting with her pale ginger head raised proudly.
The Gathering proceeded more peacefully now. Fireheart remembered the previous Gathering, when the leaders had accused one another of hunting outside their own territory, but no cat mentioned this now. A group of rogue cats, led by Brokentail, had been responsible, but the news that these rogues had attacked the ThunderClan camp, and had been soundly defeated, did not seem to have spread. Bluestar's secret about blind Brokentail was safe.
When the meeting was over, Fireheart looked around for Graystripe. If they were going to see Ravenpaw-, they needed to leave soon, while the other ThunderClan cats were still in the hollow, and would not notice which way they went, and avoid Tigerclaw as well.
Fireheart caught the eye of Swiftpaw, Longtail's apprentice, sitting in the middle of a group of young cats from ShadowClan. Swiftpaw looked away guiltily. At any other time Fireheart might have called him over and told him to find his mentor for the journey home, but right now all she cared about was finding Graystripe immediately. She forgot Swiftpaw as soon as she saw her friend weaving his way toward her. There was no sign of Silverstream.
"There you are!" Graystripe called, his yellow eyes shining. Fireheart could see that he had enjoyed the Gathering, though she doubted that her friend had listened to much of the tail.
"Are you ready?" she asked, checking around for Tigerclaw, she knew if he spotted her then their whole mission was over.
"To go and see Ravenpaw, you mean?"
"No so loud!" Fireheart hissed, anxiously looking around.
"Yes, i'm ready," Graystripe mewed, more softly. "I can't say I'm looking forward to it. Still, anything to get Tigerclaw out of my fur-unless you've had a better idea?"
Fireheart wanted to rebuke him for the insult to her mate, but shook her head instead, this was too important, and it was about Tigerclaw murdering Redtail. "This is the only way." although she wished it wasn't.
The hollow was still full of cats, preparing to leave in four directions. No cat seemed to pay any attention to Fireheart and Graystripe until they had almost reached the slope that led to WindClan's upland territory. Then a meow sounded behind them.
"Hey, Fireheart! Where are you going?" It was Sandstorm.
"Er…" Fireheart shot a desperate glance at Graystripe. "We're going the long way around," she improvised quickly. "Mudclaw from WindClan told us about a warren of young rabbits just inside our territory. We thought we'd bring back some fresh-kill." Suddenly alarmed by the thought that Sandstorm might offer to come with them, she added, "Tell Bluestar, will you, if she asks where we are?"
"Sure, and I'll tell Tigerclaw too!" Sandstorm yawned with a micifice look, showing a mouthful of sharp white teeth. "I'll think about you, dashing after rabbits, when I'm curled up in a nice warm nest!" She padded off with a flick of her tail.
Fireheart felt somewhat relieved, she didn't' like lying to Sandstorm, she was her friend after all. "Let's go," she meowed to Graystripe. "Before any other cats sees us."
The two young warriors slid into the shelter of the bushes and crept up the slop. At the top, Fireheart paused for a moment, looking back to make sure they had not be followed, although for a moment she thought the light of the moon shown a gray pelt through some bracken, but shrugged when she caught no movement. Then she and Graystripe bounded over the rim of the hollow and raced toward the moorland and, beyond that, the Twoleg farm.
This is the only way, Fireheart repeated to herself as she ran with the wind blowing in her face. She had to confirm her anxious thoughts, she had to bring justice not just for Redtail and Ravenpaw, but for the sake of the whole Clan. they needed to be shown justice...she just wished it wasn't at the price of her heart.
They raced until somewhere familiar came into sight, slowing down Fireheart stopped to sniff warily at a path they had found where the snow had been trampled down by Towlegs. Lights shone from the Twoleg nest, and somewhere close by she could hear a dog barking. She remembered Barley telling her that the Twolegs let their dogs off the chains at night. She just hoped that she could locate Ravenpaw before she and Graystripe were noticed.
Graystripe slipped through the fence and padded up to her. The icy wind flattened his gray fur against his body. "Smell anything?" he asked.
Fireheart lifted her head to taste the air, and almost at once she caught the scent she was searching for, faint but familiar. Ravenpaw. "This way," she meowed, another scent also invaded her nose, but she ignored it for the excitement of finding Ravenpaw's trail. She crept along the path, the hard surface icy under her paws. Cautiously she followed the scent to a gap at the bottom of a barn door where the wood had rotted away.
She sniffed, drinking in the smell of hay and the strong fresh scent of cats. "Ravenpaw?" she whispered. Where there was no reply, she reaped, louder, "Ravenpaw?"
"Fireheart, is that you?" A surprised mew came from the darkness on the other side of the door.
"Ravenpaw!" Fireheart squeezed through the gap, thankful to be out of the wind. The scents of the barn flowed around her, and her mouth began to water as she detected the smell of mouse. The barn was dimly lit by moonlight filtering through a small window high under the roof. As her eyes adjusted, Fireheart saw another cat standing a few tail-lengths away.
Her friend looked even sleeker and better fed than when Fireheart had seen him last. Fireheart realized how scrawny and bedraggled she must look in comparison.
Ravenpaw purred happily as he padded over to Fireheart and touched noses with her. "Welcome," he mewed. "It's good to see you."
"It's good to see you," Graystripe meowed, pushing his way through the gap in the door after Fireheart.
"Did you get WindClan back to their camp, safely?" Ravenpaw asked. Fireheart and Graystripe had stayed with him during their journey to bring WindClan home.
"Yes," mewed Fireheart. "But it's a long story. We can't-"
"Well, what's going on here?" Another cat's meow interrupted them.
Fireheart spun around, flattening her ears, ready to fight if this newcomer was a threat. Then she recognized Barley, the black-and-white loner who had willingly shared his home with Ravenpaw. "Hi, Barley," Fireheart meowed, calming down. "We need to talk to Ravenpaw."
"So I see," Barley mewed. "And it must be important, to bring you across the moors in this weather."
"Yes, it is," Fireheart agreed. She glanced at the former ThunderClan apprentice, the urgency of her mission prickling her fur. "Ravenpaw, we haven't any time to waste."
Ravenpaw looked puzzled. "You know you can talk to me as much as you want."
"I'll leave you to it, then," Barley offered. "Feel free to hunt. We've plenty of mice here." He gave a friendly nod to the visiting cats, and squeezed under the door. For a moment Fireheart thought she heard Barley speaking with someone, but became distracted as Graystripe interrupted her thoughts.
"Hunt? Really?" meowed Graystripe. Fireheart felt a sharp pangs of hunger grip her belly, and thought that was no good for her kits. But still…
"I don't know…" Fireheart said slowly, glancing uneasily at a confused Graystripe.
"We haven't eaten all day," Graystripe whinned out a protest. "Beside's you're eating for more than one after all." Fireheart couldn't help but look as Ravenpaw's eyes widened in surprise, his whispers twitching in realization.
"You're having kits!" Ravenpaw exclaimed, his voice filled with shock and if Fireheart was looking for it, a bit of dejection. But with a shake of his head, Ravenpaw seemed to come to a resolve. "So, who have you decided to select as your mate?" Ravenpaw asked, a good nature look in his somewhat happy eyes.
"Er…" Fireheart felt uneasy as she thought about telling him, she didn't bother seeing as Graystripe's big mouth said if bluntly.
"Tigerclaw, if you can believe it." Fireheart fliched as the look of horror passed over Ravenpaw's face, a flash of emotions played out over him, but then it settled on acceptance.
"I'm happy for you," Ravenpaw meowed, flopping down on his stomach and glanced up at Fireheart with a somewhat sad look.
"I'm sorry Ravenpaw," Fireheart said softly, licking his head and settled beside him while Graystripe hunted for all three of them. "But I'm here to ask if you're sure that Tigerclaw killed Redtail."
0o0o0o
"I know Tigerclaw killed Redtail," Ravenpaw insisted. "I was there, and I saw him do it."
The three cats were crouched in the hayloft of the Twoleg barn. Hunting had not taken Graystripe very long. After the desperate struggle to find prey in the snow-covered forest, the barn seemed to the hungry ThunderClan warriors to be overflowing with mice. Now Fireheart was warm, and her stomach felt comfortably full. She would have liked to curl up and sleep in the soft, fragrant hay, but she knew that she had to talk to Ravenpaw right away if she and Graystripe were to get back to camp before their absence was noticed. "Tell us everything you remember," she urged, giving Ravenpaw an encouraging nod.
Ravenpaw stared ahead of him, his eyes dark as he journeyed back in his mind to the battle at the Sunningrocks. Fireheart could see his confidence beginning to ebb. The black cat was losing himself in his memories, reliving the fear and the burden of what he knew.
"I'd been wounded in the shoulder," he began, "and Redtail-he was our deputy then, as you know-told me to hide in a crack in the rock until it was safe to get away. I was just going to make a dash for it until I saw Redtail attack a RiverClan cat. I think it was that gray warrior called Stonefur. Redtail knocked Stonefur off his paws, and looked as if he was about to sink his claws for serious injury."
"Why didn't he?" Graystripe put in.
"Oakheart came out of nowhere," Ravenpaw explained. "He sank his teeth into Redtail's scruff and pulled him off Stonefur." His voice shook as the memories flooded through his mind's eye. "Stonefur ran away." The cat paused, unconsciously crouching down as if he were scared of something very close by.
"What next?" Fireheart prompted gently.
"Redtail spat at Oakheart. He asked him if RiverClan warriors were unable to fight their own battles. Redtail was brave," Ravenpaw added. "The RiverClan deputy was twice his size. And then...then Oakheart said a strange thing. He told Redtail, 'No ThunderClan cat will ever harm that warrior.'"
"What?" Graystripe narrowed his eyes until they were yellow slits. "That doesn't make sense. Are you sure you heard him right?"
"Positive," insisted Ravenpaw.
"But the Clans fight all the time," meowed Fireheart. Feeling frustrated. "What's so special about Stonefur?"
"I don't know." Ravenpaw shrugged, shying away from their searching questions.
"So what did Redtail do after Oakheart said that?" asked Graystripe.
Ravenpaw's ears pricked up and his eyes widened. "He flew at Oakheart. He bowled him right off his paws and underneath a rocky overhang. I...I couldn't see them, though I could hear them snarling. And then I heard a rumbling sound, and the rock collapsed on top of them!" He stopped, shivering.
"Please go on," Fireheart mewed. She hated putting Ravenpaw through this, but something felt off about this information she was being given, why were there now gaps in her memory? Has she changed that much to forget this important detail?
"I heard a screech from Oakheart and I saw his tail sticking out from under the rocks." Ravenpaw closed his eyes, as if he wanted to shut out the sight, and then opened them again. "Just then I heard Tigerclaw behind me. He ordered me to go back to the camp, but I'd only gone a little way when I realized I had no idea if Redtail was okay after the rockfall. So I crept back, past all the RiverClan warriors that were running away. And when I got to the rocks, Redtail was charging out of the dust. His tail was straight up and his fur stood on end, but he was alright, not a scratch on him that I could see. And he ran straight into Tigerclaw, who was in the shadows."
"And was that when-" Graystripe began.
"Yes." Ravenpaw's claws flexed as if he was imagining himself back in the battle. "Tigerclaw grabbed Redtail and pinned him down. Redtail struggled, but he couldn't break free. And…" Ravenpaw swallowed, and stared at the floor. "Tigerclaw sank his teeth into Redtail's throat, and it was all over." He dropped his chin onto his paws. Fireheart moved closer to Ravenpaw, trying to comfort him, glancing at Graystripe who also looked upset about their friend.
"Tigerclaw killed Redtail," Ravenpaw whispered, seeking comfort in Fireheart's sleek red fur. But all three cats jumped with their claws unsheathed as they heard a small gasp coming from the straw.
"Who's there?" Graystripe hissed, Ravenpaw looked like he was jumping out of his fur, while Fireheart scented the air. It took Fireheart just a second to figure it out just as the shocked gray she-cat came from her hiding place.
"Cinderpaw!" Fireheart gasped, staring into her apprentice's wide blue eyes that were clouded in disbelief and horror.
"Tigerclaw was the one to kill Redtail?" Cinderpaw mewed shakily, Fireheart flinched internally, her apprentice must have followed them without them noticing, and overheard their conversation this whole time. Now she realized that familiar scent.
Fireheart shared a glance with her companions and with a sigh, sat back down and beckoned her apprentice to join them. Cinderpaw walked hesitantly towards them, eyeing Ravenpaw suspiciously and uncertainty. The dark gray apprentice sat on the other side of Fireheart, looking up intensely at her mentor.
"Cinderpaw, what I'm going to tell you, only cause you need to know the importance of this, must stay a secret between just us, alright?" Fireheart waited till her young apprentice nodded her head, before going into detail about what has happening with the concerns of Tigerclaw. When the explaining was finished, Cinderpaw's eyes were wider than even the moon.
"B-but Tigerclaw…" Cinderpaw looked lost for words, her eyes were troubled and her whiskers were twitching in a confused manner, it was like what she believed in was all a lie, in a way it was.
"Tigerclaw is a strong warrior, he's easy to look up to and admire," Fireheart whispered quietly. "But there are things that he has done, that must be sought as justice."
"But you…" Cinderpaw trailed off, looking uncertain.
"Sometimes we have to do things, that we really don't want to for the sake of bringing justice for those that need it most. I believe this is what StarClan and Redtail would want." Fireheart murmured, remembering seeing Redtail in the warriors den, and also the clearing.
"So…" Cinderpaw began hesitantly, still looking uncertain. "Oakheart died when the rocks fell on him? It was just an accident, no cat killed him. But Tigerclaw…" Cinderpaw didn't finish her sentence, a shunder raking her small form.
"That still doesn't prove that Tigerclaw killed Redtail," Graystripe pointed out. "I don't see that ny of this helps us at all." Graystripe flickered his gaze at the young apprentice, a little unsure that Cinderpaw should be involved. Fireheart herself didn't think Cinderpaw should be involved either, but there wasn't much she could do about it. Cinderpaw knew now.
"Yes, it does," Fireheart began slowly, her thoughts clicking together. "If we can prove the rockfall story, it shows that Tigerclaw was lying when he said Oakheart killed Redtail, and when he claimed to have killed Oakheart in revenge."
"Just a minute," Graystripe interrupted, making the other three cats in the room look at him. "Ravenpaw, at the Gathering you didn't say anything about falling rocks. You made it sound as if Redtail killed Oakheart."
"Did I?" Ravenpaw blinked, and struggled to focus on Graystripe. "I didn't mean to. This is what really happened, I promise."
"And that's why Bluestar wouldn't listen to us," Fireheart sighed, talking about this was draining her emotionally. "She couldn't believe that Redtail would have killed another deputy. But Redtail didn't kill him. Bluestar will have to take us seriously now." Fireheart muttered out.
Fireheart's brain was whirling with everything they had discovered. She was so confused by it, and wanted to ask Ravenpaw more questions, but she could smell the fear-scent on her friend, and saw the old haunted look in his eyes, as if telling his story had brought back all his unhappy memories of ThunderClan. "Is there any more you can tell us, Ravenpaw?" she mewed gently.
Ravenpaw shook his head.
"This means so much to the Clan," Fireheart told him, although she felt sick, and not just from the kits this time. "Hopefully now we can convince Bluestar about Tigerclaw's wrong doings."
"Is she listens," Graystripe pointed out. "It's a pity you told her Ravenpaw's first story," he added to Fireheart. "Now he's changed everything," Fireheart protested, as Ravenpaw flinched at Graystripe's irritable tone. "We misunderstood, that's all. I'll convince Bluestar somehow," she added, although she wished none of this was happening. "At least we know the truth now."
The black cat looked a little happier, but Fireheart could see he didn't want to think about the past anymore. She settled more closely to Ravenpaw, purring encouragement, and for a while the four cats shared tongues, introducing Fireheart's apprentice, Cinderpaw, to Ravenpaw.
Then Fireheart pushed herself to her paws. "It's time we were on our way," she mewed, glancing at Cinderpaw she added. "Did you eat while you could?" Fireheart asked, and with a somewhat guilty look, Cinderpaw nodded. But Fireheart didn't scowled her, simply flicking tail tip acorr the young apprentices ears.
"Take care," Ravenpaw mewed, looking sad to see them leave. "I hope things work out for you."
"Don't worry," Fireheart assured him. "Things will work out." 'I hope' Fireheart thought on quietly. With Graystripe and Cinderpaw behind her, she slid under the door and ventured out into the snow.
"It's freezing out here!" Graystripe grumbled as they bounded down to the fence at the edge of the Twoleg farm.
"My paws are frosted over!" Cinderpaw added, flickering snow off her paws.
"We should have taken a couple more of those mice to feed the Clan," Graystripe added on.
"Yeah, right," Fireheart retorted, shaking her head at her friend and apprentice. "And what would you tell Tigerclaw when he asked you where you found such fat mice in this weather?"
The moon was close to setting, and soon the sky would begin to pale toward dawn. The chill of the snow soon penetrated Fireheart's winter-thick fur, even colder after the warmth of the barn. Her legs were aching with weariness and soreness; it had been a long night, and they still had to cross WindClan territory before they could rest in their own camp. Fireheart could not stop thinking about what Ravenpaw had told them. She was beyond sure about the information she was given, but still things were missing. Besides Bluestar had already refused to believe Ravenpaw's original story.
Yet that was when Fireheart thought Redtail had killed Oakheart. Bluestar could not accept that Redtail would kill another warrior unnecessarily. Now Fireheart understood the real story, that Oakheart had died by accident...But how could Fireheart accuse Tigerclaw again unless she had something to back up what Ravenpaw had told her? And most of all, Fireheart was slowly beginning to regret going against her mate, why did these things have to fall on her? Why did Rock choose her? Why couldn't he have sent another? All this seemed wrong...But this is the will of StarClan. And this was the last thing that she wanted was to go against Tigerclaw.
"The RiverClan cats would know," Cinderpaw chattered out through a puff of foggy breath. Fireheart stopped for a moment, pausing under a rocky outcrop on the moorland slope, where the snow was not so thick.
"That's right, they would…" Fireheart whispered out, eyeing her apprentice with a flash of respect.
"What?" meowed Graystripe, padding up to them to share the shelter. "Know what?"
"How Oakheart died," Fireheart explained. "They must have seen Oakheart's body. They would be able to tell us whether he died from a rockfall, and not a death blow from a warrior."
"Yes, the marks on his body would prove it," agreed Graystripe, flashing an understanding look towards them.
"And they might know what Oakheart meant when he said that no ThunderClan cat should attack Stonefur," Fireheart added. "We need to speak to a RiverClan warrior who took part in the battle, maybe Stonefur himself."
"But you can't just walk into RiverClan camp and ask," Graystripe protested. "Think of how tense it was at the Gathering-it's too soon after the battle."
"I know one RiverClan warrior who would welcome you," Fireheart murmured. Glancing pointedly at Graystripe.
"If you mean Silverstream, yes, I could ask her," Graystripe agreed.
"Why would Silverstream want to see you?" Cinderpaw pipped up, making both Fireheart and Graystripe look at her, both warriors almost forgetting about the gray apprentice.
Both Fireheart and Graystripe shared a look, both internally knowing that they could not lie to this apprentice. She would have to know in order to understand the importance of what this was all about.
"Let's talk and walk," Graystripe meowed. " so that we can get back to the camp before my paws freeze completely!"
The three cats padded onward, telling Cinderpaw in turns what has happened in their lives, they moved slowly now as weariness made their limbs heavy. They were within sight of Fourtrees when the spotted three other cats climbing the hillside. The breeze carried the scent of WindClan patrol to Fireheart. Not wanting to explain their presence in WindClan territory, she looked swiftly around from cover, but the snow streched smoothly on all sides, with no rocks or bushes nearby. And it was clear that the WindClan cats had already seen them, as they changed directions to meet them.
Fireheart recognized the familiar uneven gait of the Clan deputy, Deadfoot ,with a tabby warrior Torear, and his apprentice, Runningpaw.
"Hello, Fireheart," called Deadfoot, limping up with a puzzled look in his eyes. "You're a long way from home."
"Er…" Fireheart racked her brain for a suitable explanation, but her crafty apprentice was ready.
"I picked up a ShadowClan scent, and followed it all the way up here. Fireheart and Graystripe had to run after me!" Cinderpaw replied, with a respectful dip of the head to the WindClan deputy.
"ShadowClan on our territory!" Deadfoot's fur began to bristle.
"I reckon it was an old scent," Graystripe put in hastily, while Fireheart shot a surprised look at Cinderpaw, her lying skills coming in handy lately. "Nothing to worry about. We're sorry we crossed your border."
"You're welcome here," meowed Tornear. "The other Clans would have destroyed us in the last battle if your Clan hadn't helped. Now we're sure they'll keep away. They know they have ThunderClan to reckon with."
Fireheart felt embarrassed at Torear's praise. She and Graystripe had helped the WindClan cats in the past, but this time she was uncomfortable with the thought that any cats from WindClan had seen them on their territory. "We'd best be getting back," she muttered. "Everything seems quiet enough up here."
"May StarClan light your path," meowed Deadfoot gratefully, an appreciative look in his eyes as he looked at Fireheart. The other WindClan cats wished Fireheart and Graystripe good hunting, and went on toward their own camp.
"That was bad luck," Fireheart growled as she and her companions padded down to Fourtrees.
"Why?" asked Cinderpaw. "The WindClan cats don't seem to mind us being here." Cinderpaw said, looking confused.
"Yes, but what if Deadfoot mentions that he saw us to Bluestar at the next Gathering? She's bound to wonder what we were doing out here!" Cinderpaw's eyes widened in understanding.
"Mousedung!" she huffed, lashing her thick tail. "Didn't think of that!" Graystripe shared a look with Fireheart over the top of the apprentice's head.
Fireheart shrugged. "Let's just hope we can settle all this before the next Gathering. Now come one; we ought to try to catch something to take back with us."
She set off again, picking up the pace until the three cats were racing over the snow. As they skirted the hollow at Fourtrees and entered their own forest territory, she relaxed a little, pausing to drink the air in the hope of picking up the scent of prey. Graystripe and Cinderpaw copied her, and looked downhearted by not finding anything.
"Nothing," Cinderpaw grumbled, her paws shuffling in the snow.
"Not a single mouse-not even a whisker!" Graystripe threw in.
"We haven't got time to keep looking," Fireheart decided. She saw the sky was already growing lighter above the trees. Time was running out, and their absence from camp was more likely to be notice with every heartbeat, especially with Tigerclaw. She wondered how he will take it about her not being in their nest last night, she also wondered if he was worrying about her safety as well. He's been doing that a lot lately.
The dawn light was growing stronger as they reached the ravine. Limbs with weariness, muscles stiff with cold, Fireheart led the way silently between the boulders toward the gorse tunnel. Thankful to be home at last, she bounded into the tunnel's dark mouth. As she emerged into the camp, she skidded to a halt so abruptly that Graystripe skidded sideways to avoid hitting her, Cinderpaw stopping herself a kit step behind.
"Move, you big furball!" Graystripe gave a muffled mew. He landed on his side, his nose pressed into the snow.
Fireheart didn't reply. Cinderpaw also was standing beside Fireheart silently. Sitting a few tail-lengths away, in the middle of the clearing, was Tigerclaw. His head was sunk below his massive shoulders, and his yellow eyes blazed with anger and annoyance.
"Maybe you'd like to tell me where you've been?" he demanded. "And why it took you so long to get back from the Gathering?"
Tigerclaw came to stalk up to the trio, his fur standing on ends due to the frost that had clung to his dark tabby fur. Fireheart tried to search for the words that didn't seem to come. "Well?" Tigerclaw repeated.
"We thought we'd hunt." Fireheart said slowly, keeping eye contact with his amber gaze. "The Clan needs fresh-kill."
"But we couldn't find anything," Cinderpaw piped up beside Fireheart. Pressing against Fireheart a little as the flame colored she-cat saw a flash of fear in her young apprentice's clear blue eyes.
"Really?" Tigerclaw looked sharply at the young apprentice. "Then why did it take you so long to get back, and," He came forward to sniff the young apprentice, and then did the same to both Fireheart and Graystripe. "Why do the three of you smell like mouse?"
Fireheart felt guilty with that look up disappointment directed at her through his anger. But it seemed so long ago since they had hunted in the Twoleg bark, and she had forgotten that they might still be carrying the scent of the mice they ate.
"We ate the first prey that we caught," Graystripe meowed, shuffling snow off his thick gray pelt. "We ate it so we could keep our strength up to find more…"
"But we couldn't find anymore," Cinderpaw added, her ears flattened to her head, but she looked defiantly at Tigerclaw, her eyes blazing with an unreadable expression. Fireheart couldn't bring herself to say anything, her eyes were locked on with Tigerclaw's disappointed and angry one's. When no one said anything else, Tigerclaw gave a them an unreadable look and turned around sharply with his shoulders tense as he stalked towards the warriors den, and pushed his way inside.
"That was a close one," Graystripe breathed, his tail drooping in relief. But Fireheart felt her spirit plummet, her tail and ears drooping in self disappointment, sadness and regret.
"You should go get warm in your den, Cinderpaw," Fireheart said softly to her apprentice. Cinderpaw gave her a tired nod, before dragging her small crazy form over towards the apprentice den.
"Let's go get some rest," Fireheart sighed. She slid through the branches to see Tigerclaw settling himself into the nest near the center. The dark tabby ignored Fireheart, turning himself around two or three times before curling up to sleep. Tigerclaw clearly didn't want to speak to her right now.
"Free spot next to Sandstorm," Graystripe quietly told her, being helpful in some way. Fireheart spotted the place he was referring to, nearby Sandstorm and Dustpelt were stretched out together.
Sandstorm sat up at Fireheart approached. "Tigerclaw has been watching for you ever since we got back from the Gathering," she whispered. "He wanted to wait for you to get back, even when Whitestorm tried to get him to relax. Is everything alright?" Sandstorm inquired, looking from where Tigerclaw was curled up, and where Fireheart was approaching the empty nest beside her.
Fireheart felt comforted by the sympathetic look in her eyes, but she couldn't stop her jaws from gaping in a massive yaw. "I think I upsetted Tigerclaw," she mumbled. "I don't think he wants anything to do with me anymore."
"Don't be a mouse-brain," Sandstorm retorted quietly as she moved closer to Fireheart. "He loves you, anyone with half a brain could see that he does. I think he was just mad cause he was worried, he'll come around. Promise." Sandstorm pressed her fur against Fireheart's comforted by her friend, she closed her eyes.
Fireheart found herself on a long rolling expanse of moor. The wind was whipping in her face, she thought it was WindClan territory, but not the type of territory that was actually part of WindClan. Gazing around she headed off in one direction. The scent of rabbit filling her senses.
She knew this was a dream, but she still felt the prickle of anticipation for the hunt. She found herself racing across the grass, a rabbit white tail bobbing ahead of her. The wind flowing in her face.
Just as she was a mouse-length behind the rabbit, a flame pelt rushed out in front of her, Fireheart's eyes widened as she let out a surprised yowl. This flame colored she-cat that came out of nowhere was now in between her and the rabbit, it was like Fireheart was trying to catch this strange she-cat that has been haunting her dreams for so long. Fireheart raced after this strange she-cat, who was still chasing the rabbit. The disappeared through some tall grass, Fireheart raced after them, but she squealed as the grass beneath her paws gave way and she slid down the side and into a stream.
Fireheart yowled in need of help, her paws lashing as she struggled to stay above the water. Ask her eyes searched the bank she saw the she-cat from before. She was holding her catch, her eyes shimmering amber, Rock's voice that she could hear ran through her mind.
"Remember Fireheart," his voice said crisply. "Water can quench fire." Fireheart saw the she-cat begin to disappear through the grass, her tail flickering behind her, as though she did not see Fireheart's need for help.
"Fireheart! Fireheart!" A ca was nudging her. Fireheart tried to duck away, and heard her name called again. It was Graystripe's voice. Fireheart focused her eyes open to see the big gray cat crouched anxiously over her.
"Fireheart," he repeated. "Wake up. It's nearly sunhigh, let's go hunting. It will get Tigerclaw off our backs." Grunting with the effort, Fireheart hauled herself out of her nest. Pale, cold light was filtering through the branches of the den. Willowpelt and Darkstripe still slept closer to the center of the bush, but Sandstorm and Dustpelt had left already and so was Tigerclaw.
"You were muttering in your sleep," Graystripe told her. "Are you okay?"
"What?" Fireheart had not yet shaken off the dream. It was different this time, instead of mountains it was the moorland, what did that mean?
"It's nearly sunhigh," repeated Graystripe. "We should go out hunting."
"Alright," Fireheart mewed, fighting to wake up properly.
"Hurry up, then." Her friend gave her a final nudge before heading out of the den. "Meet you at the gorse tunnel."
Fireheart licked one paw and rubbed it over her face. As her head cleared, she suddenly remembered Rock's warning: "Water can quench fire." What was he trying to tell her? Why couldn't she remember this? As she followed Graystripe out of the den, Fireheart found herself shivering, and not from the cold. She could feel trouble gathering like rain-heavy storm clouds. If the water that was coming quenched fire, then what would save the Clan? Did Rock's words meant ThunderClan was doomed to be destroyed by water? With her friends and loved once be doomed? Fireheart looked down briefly, a glow of warmth came to her as she calmed down, her stomach was progressing fine, and she knew that in a few moons her kits would be here.
And I will protect them, even from StarClan themselves, Fireheart promised, no omen was going to destroy her kits.
0o0o0o
Okay, how do you like the first update of Forest of Secrets? Like it? Hate it? Well review if you want more! I want at least 10 review before I update again! Well enjoy!