He paced anxiously in front of the camp entrance, pride keeping him from daring to enter the camp. After all he had left for battle, if he returned before everyone else than they'd think that he was weak. That he couldn't handle himself in a fight. He froze, focusing his gaze on the thick undergrowth ahead. They were back.

A steady stream of warriors padded through the undergrowth, arriving to the camp. Their footsteps were weary and exhaustion in their eyes, but their tails were raised high in victory. Leading the successful patrol was Tailfur. Who paused briefly to direct a fierce glare towards Firepaw. Its meaning clear. He hadn't forgot what he saw during the fight. Swallowing, the ginger apprentice took a hesitant step back. Even as the rest streamed back into the camp, sighs of relief and sounds of happy welcome coming from beyond the walls, he couldn't bring himself to enter. If he did go inside, Tailfur would probably confront him inside. And he didn't want anyone else to overhear their argument. Especially since it'd involve his meetings with Swiftpaw. "I just should've listened to Skypaw, then I wouldn't be in this mess," he knew that'd never happen. Even if he went back in time, knowing that this would happen, he would still keep meeting her. She was the one thing he could never give up.

"So Firepaw, what were you thinking befriending a CityClan cat like that?" the brown tabby mentor walked out of the camp, his pine eyes gleaming with irritation and disapproval. "You do realize you're putting the Clan in jeopardy by seeing her."

"All I'm doing is seeing her! I haven't told her any important FlameClan information," no, he was telling some other CityClan cat. One he didn't even know all because of Crimson. That low life... "We haven't done anything wrong!"

"She's your enemy! Maybe you're doing nothing wrong now but you'll find yourself torn between both sides sooner or later," his fur was beginning to bristle and there was a slight strain in his voice, like he was struggling to keep calm.

Ignoring the fact that Tailfur's patience was about to dry up, he retorted, "Oh please, we don't even have a reason to fight CityClan! All we're doing is shedding blood because of some foolish reason that doesn't even matter. If we'd just talk with CityClan than maybe…"

"Enough Firepaw!" his restraint disappeared, his lips curling back into a furious snarl and his claws digging deep into the dirt. He looked just about ready to lash out at the younger apprentice. "Flamestar made the decision to fight CityClan for a single reason, to keep FlameClan safe! You, apprentice, have no right to question Flamestar's leadership."

"I can say whatever or see whoever I want, whenever I want," the ginger tabby spat, his ears flattening and his tail bushing out. "And if you think you can stop me, then I… I'll just leave!"

"Go ahead, I won't stop you!" the two exchanged furious glares, hostility sparking between them before the apprentice turned and stormed off.

He paused, standing on the edge of Clan territory. Beyond the border was land unclaimed by all the Clans, and no one could really blame them. All there was, was grass. No trees. No shrubs. Just tall grass the billowed lazily in the breeze. Firepaw silently watched the grass, his eyes growing distant. Was it really a good idea to just leave? He didn't plan on leaving forever, just until he was certain that Tailfur had calmed down. Which for all he knew, could very well be forever. "And if I return, what then…" he'd still be punished. Tailfur would still be angry. And most likely, the rest of the Clan knew all about this by now. Skypaw would find out that he broke their promise. Flamestar and Dawnheart would be disappointed in him. No one would look at him the same. "Yeah just a couple of days. A couple of days to pretend everything's still the same."

He crossed the border, squinting against the glare of the sun. It felt strange not to have a canopy overhead. To feel the cool shade against his fur and to hear the gentle rustle as the wind above ran through the leaves. Firepaw focused his blue gaze on the sky, it felt strange to be able to see the vast dome above during the warm season of green leaf. And for some reason, he could have sworn it even looked different from the winter sky he was so used to seeing.

His ears perked, catching a strange cry. Something he never heard before. Looking towards the direction of the shriek, he froze. Mouth agape, he stared dumbfounded. What… what was that?