Tigerclaw scraped a small pile of snow over the mouse he had just caught, eyeing the small creature in disdain. It was scrawny, but he supposed it would have to suffice. He shook his head. Prey was hard to come by, and he knew he should have been more grateful to StarClan for allowing him to catch this mouse, but it was hard to be thankful for anything when he knew it wouldn't be nearly enough to feed his Clan.

Although I'm sure RiverClan is nice and well-fed, he thought scornfully as he continued along the Twolegplace border. I don't think they've ever gone hungry once in their entire lives.

The dark tabby let out a sigh. Of course, it wasn't RiverClan's fault that they had an abundance of prey from the river, but he couldn't help feeling bitter. They had more food than any other Clan in the forest, yet they were also the most greedy, always trying to take Sunningrocks even though they were poor land hunters and only ever used the rocks for sunbathing.

At least the rocks belong to us right now, Tigerclaw thought, trying to cheer himself up. And I'm sure Sunstar plans to keep it that way for a long time. RiverClan should never have been given those rocks in the first place.

"Tigerkit? Is that you?"

Tigerclaw stiffened at the voice, his fur prickling. It had been several seasons since he had last heard it, and time had clearly taken its toll, but it didn't matter. He would recognize his father's voice anywhere. Not only that, but there was only one cat he knew of that would still be calling him Tigerkit. Exhaling slowly, he turned his head to meet the eyes of the former ThunderClan leader.

"It is you," Pinestar meowed, eyeing his son. Was it just Tigerclaw's imagination, or did his father seem almost wary of him? "Although I suppose you must have earned your warrior name by now."

"I have. My name is Tigerclaw," he answered. Unable to keep a note of resentment out of his voice, he added, "It's good to see you, Pinestar–although I suppose you must have a different name by now."

If Pinestar was at all bothered by Tigerclaw's clear disdain, he didn't show it. Instead, he replied simply, "I do. I'm known as Pine now–that's the name I gave myself. My Twolegs probably have another name for me, but I haven't figured out everything about their language."

Tigerclaw just flicked his tail in acknowledgment. Part of him almost felt guilty; he knew he should have been happier to see his father alive and happy. The past was the past and it wasn't as if Pine's abandonment had ruined his life. But he just couldn't forget the way his father had so easily chosen the life of a kittypet over his Clan–over him. There were some things that could never be forgiven, and this was one of them.

He was about to leave when he remembered why he had chosen to hunt near Fireheart's old home in the first place. Gritting his teeth, he turned around to speak to Pine again, who looked at him in bewilderment.

"Do you mind," he meowed, exhaling slowly before continuing, "do you mind gathering a flower for me from your garden?"

"Why?" Pine asked, obviously confused.

"It's for Fireheart," Tigerclaw replied.

"Who's Fireheart?" Pine inquired curiously.

"She's my mate," he answered shortly, wincing internally at how callous he sounded. Fireheart was more than just his mate–but he wasn't about to dive into every detail of his personal life with his traitor of a father. If he wanted to know more about him, he should have stayed in ThunderClan. "I mean, I could always get her one from our territory, but the only ones I've been able to find are the same yellow ones, and I wanted to give her something different today."

"I see," the reddish-brown tom meowed, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Very well, then. I'll be right back."

Tigerclaw nodded and waited as his father jumped back onto his side of the fence, his paws crunching in the snow as he headed in what Tigerclaw presumed was the direction of his home. When he returned, he was carrying a beautiful purple flower in his jaws. He placed the flower at Tigerclaw's paws, who picked it up gingerly.

"Thanks," the dark tabby meowed.

"You're welcome," Pine answered. As Tigerclaw turned to leave, he added, "Be careful, Tigerclaw. I don't know who this Fireheart is, but if you're coming to Twolegplace to pick flowers for her, she must be special. Don't lose her."

Tigerclaw glanced over his shoulder one last time. "Don't worry," he replied. "I won't."

Long after Tigerclaw had already disappeared, Pine remained seated on the fence, staring out at what used to be his territory. It was bitterly cold out, yet the reddish-brown tom hardly felt it. Seasons of being fattened up on kittypet food had done wonders–the leaf-bare chill never seemed to bother him anymore. Briefly, he wondered how his old Clanmates were faring. Leaf-bare was already a difficult season, but there was something about this one that seemed especially harsh and unforgiving.

Contrary to what most probably believed, there were times that Pine missed his life in the forest. Indeed, he hadn't wanted to leave in the first place–he simply didn't have a choice. What was he supposed to do when StarClan kept urging him to murder his son? He couldn't disobey his warrior ancestors and he couldn't ignore the visions they were sending him of his son's future, but he also couldn't murder a kit. Besides, what would Leopardfoot think if he told her that they had to kill their only surviving child because StarClan had told Pine that he was destined to destroy the Clans? She would never have believed him and ThunderClan probably would have chased him out of the territory for being utterly out of his mind.

Yet talking to Tigerclaw today, Pine found it hard to believe that he would even think of doing anything to harm ThunderClan. His son's only concern seemed to be providing for his Clan and bringing his mate gifts to make her happy. Maybe StarClan's warnings had been wrong. Surely a cat who cared so deeply for his Clan wouldn't want to hurt anyone.

Did I leave for nothing?

Not that it mattered anymore if he had, Pine realized. He couldn't very well go back now. ThunderClan would never accept him back–as well they shouldn't. He was too old and out of shape to be able to hunt or fight anymore; if he went back, he would be regulated to spending his days in the elders' den. The Clan wouldn't take in someone who couldn't do anything to provide for them anymore, especially not in the dead of leaf-bare.

Shaking off his thoughts, Pine jumped off the fence and headed back over to his Twoleg's nest. It was too late for regrets now. He had made his choice, and now he had to live with it until it was his time to join StarClan–that is if he would even be accepted into their ranks after his betrayal.

When Tigerclaw was in a bad mood, there was usually only one thing–well, one cat–that could cheer him up. No matter what, Fireheart always seemed to know exactly what to say to make him feel better. It was an amazing trick of hers, really. He would have to ask her how she did it sometime.

That said, coming home and seeing Bluefur chase Fireheart around the camp while Stormkit, Mosskit, Mistykit, and Stonekit shouted various swear words at the top of their tiny lungs got the job done as well.