Firestar looked at Scourge, 'Is he being serious right now? there is no way I am related to him.' Scourge got off the ground, never leaving Firestar's gaze while he came closer to the ginger tom.

"That is beside the point, you are just one reason I am here," Scourge gave a cringed look as he turned his face from Firestar, "I...I want to join your clan."

Greystripe was the first to respond with a witty remark, "Haha, now that is funny, Scourge a Thunderclan warrior. He can't really be your brother Firestar," Greystripe crept slowly towards Scourge, "He is a murderer, no different than Tigerstar!"

Scourge arched his back and hissed, "I am nothing like that rotten cat!" his tone and expression showed that he was offended from Greystripe's remark, "I have hated that cat longer than you might think."

Firestar stopped paying attention to the argument, his mind was already whirling with the thoughts on what Scourge told him. His father told him about his old mate during the few times he was even there to help his mother, Nutmeg, with his siblings. The worst thoughts although, were about his fight with Scourge. If Scourge really was his brother and Firestar did kill him, 'I almost killed my own brother.'

Sandstorm noticed the ThunderClan leader's silence, "Firestar, you okay?"

Scourge looked at Firestar with an unreadable expression, yet it lacked the malice the tom saw when Scourge declared war against the clans. Sandstorm stepped between the two toms before Firestar could notice the spotted she-cat behind Scourge.

"Firestar, you can't really be thinking about what Scourge just said right?" the sandy she-cat asked.

"Honestly, Sandstorm, what he says makes sense," Firestar whispered to his mate, "Jake had two mates, and he did lose a kit that made him want to be there for my littermates."

"You can't be serious!" Sandstorm snarled, "The only way we can prove it is if one of our kits has one white paw like him!"

"Are you two done, I need to get him to camp to finish treating him!" Cinderpelt interrupted, "You can decide what to do with him after he recovers!"

Firestar and Sandstorm looked over at Scourge before Sandstorm turned away with a deep sigh. Firestar went closer to his possible brother and leaned into his ear, "Even though you may be my brother, I won't hesitate to do anything to protect my clan. You will stay as a prisoner until I see you can be trusted in the clan, just don't expect a warm welcome."

Firestar ordered the patrol to return to camp, carrying Scourge with them, the treck felt longer than usual with Scourge being carried by Sandstorm and Greystripe. It was already moonrise when they arrived in camp.

That night, Cinderpelt got Scourge situated in her den while Firestar kept a close eye on his every move on their way. The camp was, for the most part, asleep, Firestar couldn't sleep. He looked into silver pelt, asking for answers to his questions.

A sweet scent soon filled the area around Firestar who recognized it as Spottedleaf's right away, her eyes shone with love and longing. The two had feelings for each other and even though Spottedleaf accepted his love for Sandstorm, the feelings between the two cats were unchanged.

"Spottedleaf, what am I supposed to do?"

"Trust your heart, Firestar," Spottedleaf purred, "You are fire, the fire to save the clans."

"My heart tells me to give my "brother" a chance, but everything else tells me otherwise," Firestar sighed deeply, "I could have killed my brother, but I ask how is he alive?"

Spottedleaf's gazed into Firestar's eyes, "The fire must not fear the frost's grasp," she continued, "For the frost brings the newleaf."

Firestar pondered over her words as the calico she-cat turned and left. 'Was that wisdom, or a prophecy?' the tom asked himself. He curled up in his nest with Sandstorm and at last fell asleep.

The next morning the first thing the Thunderclan leader did was check on Cinderpelt and Scourge. The tom was groaning about having to depend on others while Cinderpelt treated the wound on his chest. Firestar held back a smirk, remembering how Cinderpelt fussed over him after he lost his first of his nine lives.

"What are you looking at?" Scourge growled as he met Firestar's gaze, "Do you enjoy watching cats get tortured by plants?"

Cinderpelt's fur fluffed up when she heard Scourge's comment, "If it hurts then it means its working! Do you want that wound getting infected, its a miracle that it hasn't already!"

Firestar purred in amusement, "I remember Yellowfang having a similar, although a bit sharper, tongue, she taught that to you I guess."

"Well this cat just keeps squirming when I try to treat him, I am all out of patience with him!"

Scourge rolled his eyes, "So what are you in here for?"

"I have made my decision, you will be allowed to join Thunderclan..." Firestar mewed, Scourge was about to reply but Firestar continued, "You will start as an apprentice, but if you pull any tricks then you will go back to Twolegplace."

"Thank you, Firestar," Scourge replied half-heartedly.

Firestar knew his clanmates will not be too pleased with his decision, but he learned from training Bramblepaw that he should give others a chance even if this cat did cause the bloody battle. Firestar climbed onto the Highrock and called a clan meeting.

"All cats who are old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the highrock for a Clan meeting" Firestar yowled, his clanmates gathered below him soon after with Cinderpelt and Scourge poking their heads out of the medicine cat den.

"Is that...Scourge"

"Why is that piece of fox-dung here?"

"How is he alive?"

Firestar heard the words, he forgot to tell the clan that Scourge was here the night before so their words were understood, "You must be wondering why Scourge is here, for the moment he is our prisoner and will be watched carefully. He wishes to join our clan, but he must earn our trust."

"You are letting that murder join?" Bramblepaw hissed in disbelief. Longtail pushed his way forward to state his objections soon after.

"He was the leader of BloodClan, he took one of your nine lives!" Longtail spat, "He knew about Tigerstar's plan with the dogs, the plan that got MY apprentice, Swiftpaw, killed!"

Other cats joined in the toms' disagreement stating why Scourge should be killed.

Firestar looked over at Scourge who looked down at his paws his expression remorseful, the Thunderclan leader was told to follow his heart and that was exactly what he would do.

"Scourge will start as an apprentice, but until he can be trusted he will remain within the camp," Firestar hoped he wouldn't regret this as he started the apprentice ceremony, "...until the day you earn your warrior name you will be known as Frostpaw, you will train alongside Bramblepaw with me."