This is a fanfic I had on the back of my head for a while. But I never had the proper means to start it because I had spent all my time with Temptations of an Uninterested Tom. But now that that's done, I can freely start on this without distractions from another complicated story ^^

I can't ensure this'll be updated as often, but I do plan on finishing this at some point. Cheers, and enjoy.

A full moon bathed ThunderClan in its soft and glowing light. Shadows crepped under swaying branches. Everywhere Fireheart looked he could see his Clan-mates' eyes glint in the dark. They were restless, excited to leave at once for the gathering. He switched his gaze to a particular pair of eyes. One looking out the medicine cats den.

Cinderpaw's face, twisted in regret, watched as her clan-mates prepared themselves to leave for the Gathering. Fireheart felt a deep ache in his heart. The day the monster hit Cinderpaw marekd the end of her life as a warrior. He still didn'tk now how to make her feel any better. Yellowfang seemed to be the only cat that's keeping the young she-cat posiitive.

"Hey, Fireheart!"

A gray tom lightly head-butted him to the side. "Come on, you slowpoke, before Tigerclaw finds some excuse to keep you here!" Graystripe meowed lightly.

Fireheart raised his eyebrows. "Just by standing here?"

Graystripe shrugged. "You never know."

Fireheart nudged his friend playfully and scooted away to follow after his retreating Clan mates, through the gorse bush and into the forest. The whole forest looked pale and bland under a full moon. During the trek Fireheart allowed his thoughts to drift as he followed the scents and sounds of his clan mates. In no time they had arrived in the large clearing that housed the four large oak trees.

ThunderClan spread out and in a few moments mingled with the other Clan cats. At the moment all he could see were ShadowClan and WindClan cats. RiverClan must be late.

"Fireheart!"

"Hello Deadfoot."

A black tom with a scarred muzzle approached the ThunderClan warrior. He kept one of his paws carefully off the ground. The broken paw that marked his couldn't help but feel some admiration of the tom. To be so crippled with a broken paw, yet so powerful to become deputy of WindClan.

"How is ThunderClan?" Deadfoot asked. He stopped by the ginger tom and began grooming his pelt.

"Not so good," Fireheart admitted. He hesitated. Bluestar would tell the rest of the Clans what happened. They couldn't keep Cinderpaw's injury a secret forever. "Cinderpaw got his by a monster."

"Deadfoot paused midlick. "Is she alright?" he asked, concerned. As he said this his eyes rove around ThunderClan, trying to find the small gray apprentice.

Fireheart nodded. "She's fine now." Yellowfang fixed her up as best as she could." He didn't mention that fact that she had disobeyed an order in the first place to end up in this mess. She didn't need that hanging over her head. "But she won't be able to become a warrior again." And he explained about how her leg was twisted in away that prevented her from ever completeing her apprentinceship.

When he finished Deadfoot sighed and closed his eyes. "For such a young cat to find their hopes and dreams shattered is not something easy to get over, he murmured." He opened his eyes. "I give Cinderpaw my sympathies. And hope she makes as swift recovery.'

Fireheart thanked him and turned back to the rock as Nightstar yowled for silence. Crookedstar was standing beside him. That must mean RiverClan arrived. Tallstar began to speak.

It was nothing special. WindClan was recovering nicely and are stronger than ever. Crookedstar came next and announced that Shadekit and Silverkit were now apprentices. Nightstar said few words. He merely gave Bluestar an ugly look.

Fireheart toned out the rest of their speech. He instead turned his gaze back to Deadfoot. The deputy was staring intently up at the leaders, ears pricked. A small frown on his face.

"Deadfoot?"

"Mmh?"

"Fireheart shifted uneasily from paw to paw. "Ca... can I ask you a-a favor?"

Deadfoot turned his head away from the leaders. He squinted at Fireheart. "Depends," he answered lightly, his voice edged with curiousity.

Fireheart looked around and lowered his head. "This may come to a bit of a shock, but I don't know who else to ask of this."

"What are you trying to ask me?"

Fireheart explained. When he was done, Deadfoot sat there, stunned.

"What? Fireheart, do you know what you're asking of me?"

"Yes, I do."

"We're from different Clans. I understand that you helped my Clan, but this is going too far. It's against the Code for-"

"Please!" Fireheart pleaded. "I know this is asking a lot, but you're the only cat I know who can help me. I don't know anyone else to share in this."

Deadfoot's eyes hardened. "Oh, I see now." He held up his broken paw. "It's because of this, isn't it? This marks me as the perfect candidate, not for my skills?"

Fireheart reared back in shock. What was his problem? "No, I mean yes. But only because-"

Deadfoot silenced him with a wave of his tail. "Look, this won't solve a thing! Look where I'm at now. It was hard, but I got where I am now because I tried."

"But it could have been easier, could it?" Fireheart meowed quietly. He furrowed his eyebrows. "You had a mentor that didn't understand your weaknesses, someone to relate to."

"We worked around it," Deadfoot replied stiffly. He stood. "No more of this preposterous request. or you'll hear more than just my words," he growled, turning away.

Fireheart could do nothing but watch the one opportunity to help him limp away.

((_endpage_))

"Fireheart, why are we here?" Cinderpaw complained.

The ginger red tom placed a paw to his mouth for silence. The faint traces of an almost full moon glinted down at them from the cloudless sky. It bathed their clearing in soft white, making them almost ghost-like. Fireheart looked around, ears pricked. Where was he? They couldn't be here forever.

Thought it wasn't exactly against the rules to come here, it still wouldn't do if a cat found them out late at night. Especially Tigerheart and his followers-

A nudge from Cinderpaw jogged the tom out of his thoughts. "Fireheart! Up there," she whispered, her pelt bristling and eyes wide with fear.

Fireheart followed her gaze. He watched a cat limped into view from WindClan's border. The black tom slid out of the shadows, his powerful muscles moving strongly despite a broken paw. His amber eyes nodded to Fireheart as he stood before the two ThunderClan cats.

Cinderpaw balked. "Deadfoot?" Her previous hostility was put to rest. She instead regarded the tom curiously. What are you doing here?"

The WindClan deputy shot Fireheart a look. "You didn't tell her?"

"I didn't know how she'd take it."

"Take what?" Cinderpaw looked from Fireheart to Deadfoot, her blue eyes prickling with curiousity.

Deadfoot shook his head. "I still can't believe I agreed to this," he muttered.

"Agreed to what?"

"It doesn't have to be permanent," Fireheart said quickly. Deadfoot's figure looked unsure. He cast a glance over his back, into the shadows where WindClan lay. Fireheart felt his heart drop. "Just see where it takes you and if you think you're up for it, keep doing it."

"Do what?" Cinderpaw meowed loudly. She stamped a gray paw in frustration. She didn't like being ignored.

"Shh!" Fireheart hissed. His apprentice shot him a half-annoyed look.

"Cinderpaw," Deadfoot meowed to get her attention. "Fireheart has asked me a favor. One I think would only work if I asked you first."

"What is it?"

He regarded her for a moment. The fluffy gray she-cat had her head tilted to the side. Her obvious twisted hind leg dragged beside her. He sighed, his breathe tickling his whiskers. Was this really the right thing to do? he wondered for the umpteenth time. There would be no telling what the consequences would be if they were caught. Dire, and most likely very very ugly.

He grimaced.

"Deadfoot?" Cinderpaw prodded.

"Cinderpaw."

She blinked in confusion. "What were you going to ask me?"

"How would you like to be my apprentice?"