Fireheart was grooming himself the second morning after the flood when a patrol returned. Petalstream hurried into camp. "We found Reedtail!" she called. "Where's Mudfur and Yellowfang?"

Reedtail? Fireheart paused in his grooming and looked up. Behind Petalstream, Mossfrost and Mallowtail were on either side of Reedtail, supporting the warrior as he walked. He was a bedraggled mess, limping, and caked with mud, but he was alive.

Yellowfang emerged from the Medicine Cats' Den, ears pricked. "Reedtail?" she rasped.

A heartbeat later, Beechflower padded out from the den, bristling. The young tom looked uncharacteristically furious. "We aren't done talking!" he snarled.

Fireheart glanced towards him, alarmed by his harsh tone. Beechflower? What happened?

Yellowfang huffed without looking back at him. "I've said my piece, youngster." She padded across camp towards the patrol.

Other cats let out excited yowls at the sight of their Clanmate, but Fireheart turned away to head for Beechflower. It's not like him to be this angry… he thought. He intercepted Beechflower as the tom was about to make a beeline for Yellowfang.

"Beechflower!" Fireheart meowed. He stood firmly in his friend's way. "What's going on?"

Beechflower's lips were curled back. "She wants me to retire," he spat out. "I'm not an elder!"

Fireheart blinked. "Retire?"

"It's minnow-brained!" Beechflower spat out. "I won't accept it!" His short tail lashed back and forth. "I'm a warrior!"

Fireheart's mind was spinning. Why would she want him to retire? He's so young… he's just a little older than I am. Something nagged at him. He's been sick for a little while now. Is he not getting better? "Slow down," he meowed. "Just sit down and tell me what's going on. Yowling at Yellowfang won't help."

Beechflower gritted his teeth, but after a moment, he sighed loudly and sat down with a thump. He fell silent for a few moments, and Fireheart studied him closely. The tom looked tired. His eyes were dull, and his whiskers drooped. Beechflower lifted his chin to meet his gaze. "I… I'm not getting better," he whispered. "I don't feel horrible every day, but I keep being so tired and some days my stomach feels like crow-food…"

"Beechflower…" Fireheart felt a stab to his chest. It hurt to see his friend like this.

Beechflower closed his eyes tight. "Yellowfang doesn't think it'll ever go away. She went and talked to Barkface and… he said another cat in WindClan had something similar a long time and she didn't ever stop being sick. She says I won't ever stop being sick because of this stupid other random cat I've never even heard of…" his voice trailed off, and he gritted his teeth again.

Poor Beechflower… Fireheart thought, feeling a pang of sympathy. He moved closer and touched his nose to Beechflower's shoulder. Beechflower sniffed and rested his head on top of Fireheart's for a brief moment. "I don't know what to do," he admitted. "I don't… I don't feel good, Fireheart. Sometimes my belly feels okay and I think I could patrol but then I'm just so tired."

Fireheart curled his tail around Beechflower. "What do you want to do?"

"I… I don't know." Beechflower lowered himself into a crouch, his head bowed. "I don't want to be an elder. I want to… I want to do something."

"Maybe you could train with Yellowfang and Mudfur?" Fireheart half-heartedly suggested. "Being a medicine cat seems less strenuous, but it's still something—"

"No!" Beechflower blurted. "I can't do that. I don't want to be a medicine cat. And besides, they…" He shook his head. "They can't have mates."

Fireheart frowned. Medicine cats can't have mates? He wasn't sure he had known about that rule before. Why are there all these rules about who you can and can't be with? I guess medicine cats always seemed sort of… separate… from the rest of us, but… never allowed to take a mate?

They paused in their conversation as Yellowfang and Mossfrost led Reedtail past them towards her den. Beechflower watched them go, his ears flat. "I can't be a medicine cat. So what else am I supposed to do?"

Fireheart frowned. There's not a lot of options, are there? His gaze trailed towards the Elders' Den. Beechflower is so young to be retiring. But if he can't be a warrior, and he doesn't want to be a medicine cat…

"Get out of my territory!" a kit's yowl pierced the air. Lichenkit and Dipperkit came tumbling out of the nursery, wrestling. Lichenkit batted playfully at Dipperkit's face. "ThunderClan trespasser!" she cried.

Brambleflower came hurrying out of the nursery. "Kits!" she exclaimed. "I told you to stay in the nursery!"

Fireheart watched her usher her kits back inside, and an idea flashed in his mind. "What about helping out in the nursery?" he asked, glancing back at Beechflower. "There's going to be more kits soon, and I'm sure the queens would appreciate extra paws with them."

Beechflower blinked. He sat up slowly, looking thoughtful. "You know… I never thought about that. I like kits, obviously, but…" He looked towards the nursery. "Being a queen is kind of a temporary thing, usually." He cracked a small smile. "Do you think they'd want me to help? I mean… it sounds like a nice idea."

"Why don't you ask them?" Fireheart suggested. "I'm sure they'd love to have you."

Beechflower stood up. "Yeah… I'll try." He quickly turned to Fireheart and butted his head against his shoulder. "Thanks, Fireheart." He flashed his friend a smile, looking relieved, before he turned and headed right for the nursery.

Fireheart watched him go, uncertainty swirling in his belly. I'll be glad for him if that works out, but… Worry nagged at him. Is he going to be okay? He felt strangely useless. There's nothing I can do to help him, is there? I just have to hope he'll be okay.

Yellowfang's sharp voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Come here, youngster."

Fireheart lifted his gaze to look at the old molly. She stood half in the mouth of the den, watching him. He narrowed his eyes and padded over towards her. "Why did you tell Beechflower he has to retire?" he hissed.

Yellowfang flattened her ears. "Keep it down! You think Beechflower wants you yowling his condition to the whole Clan?" She lashed her tail. "It's his decision when to talk about it and with who. It's his choice what he does, too. I just told him my recommendation." She shrugged and sighed. "I feel for the lad, I do. But the work of a warrior might make his condition worse. With proper rest and care, he can live a full life." Yellowfang's eyes darkened, and she looked almost sorrowful. "I was a warrior once, you know. I didn't choose to become a medicine cat. My Clan needed one. It doesn't bring me joy to tell young cats their dream won't work out for them."

Fireheart's tail twitched. She's mentioned that before, he remembered. But she's never told me about it. "I told him he could help the queens," Fireheart meowed. "What about that kind of work?"

Yellowfang blinked. "Hm. Well, I can't say I know of a tom who's done it, but ShadowClan isn't known for its maternal nature, either. You RiverClanners care a lot more about everyone raising kits." She paused and looked thoughtful. "Perhaps it could work out. Entertaining kits takes time and effort, but it isn't the same as patrolling and fighting."

So he could be okay, Fireheart thought, relieved. It feels wrong to lose him as a warrior, but… if he wants it and it would keep him healthy, then it seems like it's for the best.

"It's been a while, youngster," Yellowfang softly meowed. Her gaze was searching. "You've been quite distant lately. Is something going on?"

Fireheart blinked rapidly. "What? I'm fine. I mean—the flood was hard, and losing Crookedstar…" he shook his head. "I don't know. I think it's the same for everyone."

"Hm." Yellowfang seemed dissatisfied with the answer, her eyes narrowed. "I've been seeing odd signs of late," she muttered. "Dangerous ones. It worries me."

"Dangerous signs?" Fireheart swallowed. He still felt guilty about when he had ignored her interpretation of the crows before a battle.

"Yes." Yellowfang sat down and closed her eyes. "Strange dreams… about the river flowing with blood. Piles of bones in the forest… the scent of death and fire." She shuddered. "StarClan is never explicit in their words, but with the signs so clear, I fear more death is coming to the Clans."

Fireheart felt his chest tighten. "Why?" he breathed. "We just lost so much."

Yellowfang opened her eyes. "There are dark forces at work," she meowed. "They aren't clear to me yet." She fluffed out her pelt, as though trying to shake out the visions. "Just promise me you aren't doing anything stupid, Fireheart."

"Me?" Fireheart demanded. "You think the dreams are about me?"

"No, lizard-brain," Yellowfang scoffed. "I just don't want to see you get hurt." She shook her head and huffed loudly. "I need to help Mudfur finish with Reedtail." She hurriedly turned away and retreated into her den.

Despite the odd warning, Fireheart felt himself smile. She cares about me, in her own way. Still… his smile faded. Yellowfang's signs weren't wrong before. What does she mean by 'dark forces'?

Fireheart leaped from the last of the Stepping Stones onto the riverbank. He shivered in the cold wind. Winter had set in again that night, and snow was falling slowly from the sky. He padded along the river, heading for his usual meeting place with Sandstorm.

She was already waiting for him. The ThunderClan molly was stretched out under the willow tree, washing her face with her paws. Feeling a burst of playful energy, Fireheart fell into a crouch as he crept up to her. Despite all the recent stressors of RiverClan life, he felt as excited as a kit when it came to his meetings with Sandstorm. He snuck up, inch my inch, until he was nearly within pouncing distance.

Sandstorm paused in her washing and glanced his way. "I hear you, you know."

Fireheart jolted upright. "What?" he protested. "I almost had you!"

Sandstorm rolled her eyes. "You RiverClanners do not know how to be sneaky. Come here, mouse-brain."

Fireheart let out a loud sigh, feigning offense. "Fine," he meowed. "You win. Anyway, how are you? You weren't here last night—"

A sharp hiss from behind him pierced through the night. Fireheart leaped high in the air, and Sandstorm scrambled to her paws, eyes wide.

"What. Is. This."

Fireheart whirled on his paws, his heart racing.

Silverthorn was standing a few fox-lengths away, his fur standing on end and his eyes narrowed to furious slits. "What are you doing?" he demanded.

Fireheart's jaw fell open. "I—" He searched desperately for an excuse. Sandstorm was silent, her eyes wide with shock. Fireheart couldn't come up with anything. Lamely, he shot back, "What are you doing here?"

Silverthorn's tail lashed back and forth as he stared him down. He bared his teeth and let out a snarl. "You traitor!" he spat. "What are you doing with her? She's an enemy warrior!"

Fireheart bristled. "Sandstorm isn't my enemy," he growled.

Sandstorm stood up, her back arched nervously. "I should go."

Silverthorn took a step towards Fireheart. "ThunderClan is our enemy," he snarled. "She's ThunderClan. There's only one reason you'd be meeting like this. Don't try and tell me it's something else!"

Fireheart felt himself deflate as he stared back at Silverthorn. He had never considered that someone would discover their secret meetings—even after he had so easily found Silverstream when she had been sneaking off. He'd never prepared some cover or a good reason for seeing a warrior of another Clan. So he simply bent his head.

"What do you want me to say?" Fireheart asked, softly.

Something dark flashed in Silverthorn's eyes. "You've said enough," he hissed.

Sandstorm took a step towards them. "We're not doing anything wrong," she growled. "We're just friends."

Fireheart shot her a look, feeling a flash of hurt. That's not true, is it?

"Fox-dung!" Silverthorn snapped. "Friends don't skulk around the edges of our territory like they know they're doing something wrong!" He leaned towards Fireheart, his lip curled with disgust. "Give me one good reason I shouldn't turn you over to Leopardstar. She'll banish you in a heartbeat, and you know it!"

Fireheart narrowed his eyes. Feeling strangely bold, lifted his head and flattened his ears. "Fine," he spat. "I could still tell the whole Clan about how you tried to murder me." Silverthorn's eyes widened, and Fireheart continued. "Besides, you need me, remember?" I'm not taking you back to the town if you're going to be a rat!

Silverthorn gritted his teeth. His eyes flitted from side to side as he thought. Finally, he met Fireheart's gaze again. "Alright," he hissed. "I won't tell her. But you aren't getting out of this now. We go tomorrow. And after that, we're even." He started to turn away, his tail lashing. "I won't need anything from you, and you don't get anything from me."

Fox-heart, Fireheart thought. He watched as Silverthorn silently padded back upriver. The tom returned to the Stepping Stones and crossed them, pausing briefly halfway across. Silverthorn glanced back out across the river towards Fireheart, before he turned away and finished crossing.

Fireheart turned back to Sandstorm. "I'm sorry about that," he meowed. "I guess I really am bad at sneaking."

Sandstorm's fur was bristling. She looked away, clearly unamused by the joke. "I… I think I need to go."

Fireheart blinked. "What? Why?" His heart sank. "Because of Silverthorn? I really don't think he'll tell."

"You trust him?" Sandstorm demanded. She shook her head. "For StarClan's sake…" The ginger molly looked back towards the forest. "I… I just need to think." She glanced Fireheart's way again, worry clear in her green gaze. "I've had a hard couple days, and I can't—I've already been worried about my Clanmates finding out about us." She flicked her tail and looked away. "I need to think."

Fireheart felt his heart race. Does she regret coming here? His throat tightened, and he stepped closer to her. "Sandstorm," he meowed. "It's okay. It was just unlucky that he followed me. I'm sorry you've been having a hard time. Do you want to talk about it?"

Sandstorm shook her head. She avoided meeting his gaze. "No. I just need to go." She turned her back to him and began to pad towards the treeline. "Don't follow me. I'll come back tomorrow, I promise, I just need to think." Without waiting for his response, she darted away and disappeared into the forest.

Stunned, Fireheart stared at the swaying undergrowth where she had crashed through. He blinked a few times, feeling strangely hurt. He sat down, his mind spinning. Silverthorn knows about us now, he thought. Is he going to do anything about it? Sandstorm seemed really upset about it… He hung his head. How do I fix this?

Fox-dung, fox-dung, fox-dung! Sandstorm bounded through the forest, her heart pounding. I thought I was being so careful! She gnashed her teeth. No—I just wasn't thinking at all! Of course we were going to get caught! What is wrong with me?

She slowed down to a hurried pace. The forest was silent, dark, and cold. Sandstorm fluffed out her thick pelt. Anxiety made her belly churn. Silverthorn has always seemed like a fox-heart, she thought. What if he does report us? Tigerstar will have my pelt.

I can't go home yet, she thought. Sandstorm shut her eyes for a moment and took a shaky breath. I need to clear my head. She started walking again, wandering through the forest. Though the night was considerably dark, as there were thick clouds overhead, there was a small part in the clouds that allowed moonlight to light patches of the woods here and there. A path seemed to have been laid out before her by the moon, and without thinking, Sandstorm followed it.

A distant murmur of voices made Sandstorm's ears flick to one side. Instinctively, she turned towards the sound. Intruders? She dropped into a crouch, eyes narrowed. Sandstorm couldn't discern any particular words, but it sounded like a conversation was happening. She crept towards the source of the sound, taking care to step quietly. A wisp of a sentence reached her ears.

"...Will work with us…"

Tigerstar? Sandstorm frowned. The deep voice could only be his. The tom had returned early that afternoon after receiving his nine lives the previous night. She creeped towards a large boulder up ahead and ducked behind it, catching sight of another cat's back. Sandstorm peered out from around the side of it.

Tigerstar was sitting in a small clearing with a number of other cats. Sandstorm narrowed her eyes as she tried to make them out. Jaggedtooth and Blackfoot sat on either side of him. Though half the clearing was obscured from view, she easily recognized Darkstripe's sharp voice.

"I don't get it," the tom meowed, a complaining tone in his voice. "What do we need these stupid rogues for?"

Sandstorm expected Jaggedtooth and Blackfoot to snarl, but instead, they nodded, shooting a pointed glare at a cat Sandstorm could not see. Tigerstar sighed. "Darkstripe, there's no need to be rude to our guests. They helped us get rid of Thistlestar, after all."

"Yes," a deep voice replied. "We did. Scourge says to remind you of our deal."

Tigerstar's tail flicked. "Scourge needs to be patient," he retorted. Annoyance flickered across the leader's expression. "I told him before this would be a long process."

Scourge? Sandstorm frowned. Nerves made the fur on her spine bristle. It felt wrong to be watching her leader like this… but something about this private gathering was off.

The hidden speaker continued, "It doesn't matter if you need us for the rest of your plan or not. You owe us. You might as well take advantage of our services. It might speed up this 'long process' of yours."

"What services?" Addertail's voice caught Sandstorm's attention. The tabby was crouched farthest away from her, but she could just make him out in the shadow of a tree. The tom looked nervous, out of place among the other cats.

The stranger stepped into Sandstorm's view, standing in the center of the clearing. He was the largest cat she had ever seen. The massive black-and-white tom was larger than even Tigerstar himself. He had a blue collar bound tight around his neck, but it was faded and mangled. Dismembered teeth and claws protruded from it.

Sandstorm gasped softly, then scuttled back fearfully. That collar! It's like that other rogue… the one that killed Thistlestar! It seemed no one had heard her, so she peeked back out again.

"BloodClan is full of cats," the stranger meowed. "More than your Clan, that's for sure." His thick tail flicked, and he smiled wide, revealing sharp, yellowed teeth. "Enough that we could wipe out your enemies."

Wipe out? There was a dark certainty in his voice that made Sandstorm shudder.

"Extermination isn't the goal, Bone," Tigerstar growled. He straightened up, his amber eyes glowing in the moonlight. "The Clans will join together as one, ruled by a single leader."

"We don't care what your grand idea is, as long as we get what we're owed," Bone growled. "Half the Clans' territories will be ours."

"What?" Sandstorm breathed. Her mind was spinning. She felt her paws tremble. What in StarClan's name is going on? BloodClan? Extermination? Her stomach surged as she folded her ears back. How can Tigerstar promise to give away the forest? I don't understand!

Blackfoot's ear twitched. "Still," the tom grumbled. "I suppose BloodClan could prove useful in… convincing the other Clans to join us."

The nervousness on Addertail's expression reflected how Sandstorm felt. The tabby shot Tigerstar a panicked look. "Tigerstar…" he meowed. "I—I don't know about this—"

Tigerstar slowly glanced Addertail's way. He stared down the warrior for a heartbeat. "Are you questioning me?" he asked. "You're far too late in the game for that, Addertail. Don't think I've forgotten how you pleaded with me to do something about Thistlestar after that unfortunate incident at the river."

That time Thistlestar made Addertail get rid of that RiverClan body… Sandstorm gritted her teeth.

Addertail sat up, his eyes wide. "I didn't want this!" he protested. "I don't understand either, Tigerstar, why would we use these rogues at all? Forcing the Clans together? You never told me that was your goal!" His eyes flitted from side to side. "Just give them Tallpines or something and be done with it!"

Tigerstar stood up and turned to fully face him. "I am your leader now, Addertail," he growled. "Do you serve me or do you not?" His words were laced with a hidden threat.

Addertail visibly swallowed. He crouched down, lowering his gaze towards his own paws. "I—I'm sorry, sir," he stammered. "Of course I do. I spoke out of place. Forgive me."

Tigerstar was very still, his muscles bunched, as though he was prepared to spring. A moment later, he relaxed and sat back down. "Very well. Remember your place next time."

Sandstorm backed away, trembling. She couldn't bear to watch this any longer. Whatever slim hopes she'd had for Tigerstar as a leader were shattered. He's not like Thistlestar, she thought. He's so, so much worse… She stared down at her paws. What do I do? I can't tell the Clan, can I? Would they believe me? Her pounded in her chest. He has so many allies… and this "BloodClan"… would it even matter if the Clan disagreed with him?

Sandstorm crept away into the forest, her throat tight as she felt bile rise in it. Everything just keeps going wrong! I don't know what to do… When she was far enough away from the clearing, she paused a moment and looked up at the moon. Her stomach was still twisting and swirling. Silverpelt, StarClan… please help me. She closed her eyes as hot tears burned in her eyes. I don't know what to do!

No one answered her prayer. Sandstorm grit her teeth and bowed her head. She crumpled and retched while the moon stared down coldly on her.