Fireheart glanced back and forth between Silverthorn, Lily, and Sawyer. Silverthorn stood squarely on top of his father. Behind Lily, kits no older than three moons were beginning to cluster behind her, curiously sniffing the air. Moments ago, Silverthorn had been ready to kill Sawyer for murdering his mother… but now, she was standing right in front of him, perfectly alive.

It took a few long moments for Silverthorn to regain his senses. He blinked as he stared at his long-lost mother, his eyes growing teary. He leaped off of Sawyer and stood in front of her, sniffing at her gingerly. "Mother?" he meowed. "What are you doing here? We thought—I thought—but—you were dead!" He stood in front of Lily and whirled upon Sawyer, bracing himself as though to defend her. "Did he make you stay here?" he snarled, casting his vengeful glare upon his father.

Sawyer stood up slowly, groaning. His cheek and nose were bleeding, but he seemed to be otherwise fine. "What are you talking about?" Sawyer asked. He looked over Silverthorn again. "Are you… you're Lily's kit from the Clans, aren't you?" He wiped a paw over his bloodied nose. "You're my son." He commented on it like it was unsurprising and only minimally interesting.

Fireheart padded closer, hoping that he could prevent any further violence. As he approached, Lily shook her head. "He didn't force me to do anything, my darling. I love him."

Fireheart narrowed his eyes. Silverthorn glanced over his shoulder to stare unblinkingly at her. She did leave him! Fireheart curled his lip. RiverClan cares so much about family… and she abandoned him. He raised his chin. "You left him, didn't you?" he demanded. "You left him to come live with your mate."

Silverthorn began to shake. Fireheart wasn't sure if it was from rage or grief. "Tell me that's not true," Silverthorn whispered. "Tell me."

Lily looked away. "I'm sorry," she meowed, softly. "I can't tell you that. I came here willingly to be with Sawyer." She looked back up at Silverthorn. "It was better for you to stay there."

Silverthorn let out a snarl. "Everyone told me you were dead!" He recoiled away from her. "Why didn't you take me? Why didn't you stay with me?"

Lily looked a little ashamed. She lowered her gaze. "I loved you so much," she said. "But RiverClan wouldn't have understood if I kept seeing Sawyer. They wanted me to end it with him when they all found out." She shook her head furiously. "I couldn't just do that! A Clan of romantics wanted to tell me how to love someone." She flicked her tail. "We faked my death together. Made it look like Sawyer mauled me and dragged me off somewhere into town. No one in RiverClan wanted to come after me—that's on them!" Lily lowered her voice again. "If I brought you with, they would have followed me. Leaving you behind was the only way you could be a warrior and I could be with the one I love."

Silverthorn hissed wordlessly and stumbled back. "I thought you were dead," he repeated. "I thought he killed you!" He shut his eyes and choked out, "Do you know how that's made me feel?"

Fireheart moved to stand by his side. He said nothing, but fixed Lily with a furious glare. Everything Silverthorn believed was a lie, he thought. He grew up so angry for nothing.

Silverthorn let out another snarl. "I've spent my entire life waiting for this moment!" He looked at Sawyer. "Waiting to punish him for what he did to you!" He panted with anger. "And now what? You're just a big happy family?" Silverthorn bowed his head, his legs buckling. "You were happy to forget about me?"

Lily shared a glance with Sawyer. "I never forgot about you," she meowed. "But I couldn't come back for you, either. Can't you understand?" She flattened her ears. "Your littermates all died so young. I couldn't do anything to help them. You were better off without me." She sighed softly. "Can't you see that?"

"No!" Silverthorn spat. He turned on his paws and raced away, fleeing from the yard.

"Silverthorn!" Fireheart yowled. Fox-dung, he's going to get himself hit by a car! "Wait!"

Silverthorn didn't stop. He shot across the road and kept on running down the street.

"Fox-dung!" Fireheart swore. He rounded on Lily and Sawyer. "You—you—" his pelt puffed out with anger. "You're horrible!" he blurted. Lily's eyes widened. Fireheart lashed his tail and spat, "You're a horrible mother! You abandoned your son when he was younger then they are!" He jabbed a paw towards her litter for emphasis. "Silverthorn's thought about you every day, angry and hurt because he lost you, and you're sitting here without so much as a 'sorry'!" He heaved in a few breaths, winded by his shouting. "What's wrong with you?!"

Lily blinked a few times, stunned. "I—I'm sorry," she lamely replied. "I tried to explain, but—"

"Don't tell me you're sorry!" Fireheart snapped. "I don't care!" He whirled around and began to pad away quickly.

"Wait!" Lily called. Fireheart paused, but he didn't look back. "Tell him he can come back if he ever wants to. I want my kits to know a real warrior. I want him to know his siblings and his father."

Fireheart looked back over his shoulder. Sawyer's ears were flat, his expression emotionless. "I don't think he wants to know your son," he spat. "And I don't think you do, either, or you would have come back sometime." With that, he hurried off, anger burning in his chest.

I can't believe it, he thought. All the anger, all the hatred… it was for nothing. Fireheart watched as a silver tail disappeared around the corner of the block, and he picked up his pace to follow. Poor Silverthorn.

Silverthorn was clearly running without thought for direction or danger. Every time Fireheart managed to round a corner, he found Silverthorn far ahead barreling down some alley or back across the busy road. Fireheart was gaining on him, but he was getting nervous as they went deeper into town. The buildings were taller and more tightly packed, the cars driving far faster than he was used to. There were more humans out and about, with dogs on leashes or their young running beside them.

Up ahead, he finally saw Silverthorn slow to a halt just outside of an alley. The tom was panting heavily, eyes wide. He stumbled towards the alley as a human started to walk towards him.

"Silverthorn, wait up!" Fireheart yowled. He charged ahead, dodging a hand from the curious human as he raced into the alley.

He skidded to a halt and froze. Silverthorn was still in the alley—but he was facing a number of cats, all bristling and advancing towards him. Two on either end moved to flank Silverthorn, clearly hoping to surround him.

"Whatcha doin' around here, stranger?" A skinny tom demanded.

"Is he one of ours?" another wondered.

"Nah," a big molly replied. She had a kittypet collar around her neck. "Doesn't smell like it. That means he's a trespasser."

Fireheart blinked, confused. This must be the city now, he thought. Do city kittypets care about territories? He hurried forward, calling out to them. "Hey!"

The cats who were trying to sneak around Silverthorn froze as Fireheart approached. "He's got a buddy!" one of them hissed.

Silverthorn glanced over his shoulder. He looked confused and disoriented.

At least he doesn't have it in him to insult them, Fireheart thought. He bounded forward to stand by Silverthorn's side. Just be nice. They'll let us go. "Is this your territory?" Fireheart asked, lifting his tail in a friendly gesture. "We're very sorry. I haven't been in town in a while. I never knew any kittypets that kept territories."

A few of the cats shared amused looks. Most of them began to chuckle.

"Kittypets, huh?" the burly molly snickered. "You really must be new in town." She took a step forward. "Since you dunces seem behind on the rules, I'll make it simple for you." As she lifted her head, Fireheart noticed three jagged objects sticking out from her collar. He swallowed as he realized they were teeth.

"The city is BloodClan territory," she meowed. "All of it." She lifted a paw, unsheathing long, dangerous claws. "And you either stick around and give us tribute for the fine protection we provide, or…" Her voice trailed off into a meaningful hiss.

Fireheart gulped and stepped back. BloodClan?! What is she going on about? I've never heard about a BloodClan! "I—we really aren't from around here," he meowed. "We're not here to take your territory. Just let us go and we'll go home."

Silverthorn seemed to be coming out of his daze, for he arched his back and let out a hiss. "We're warriors," he snarled. "You might think you're tough, but rogues can never match the strength of us!" He lashed his tail. "So you better back off and let us go!"

The BloodClan cats burst out into guffaws of laughter.

"Thinks he's so tough!" the big molly cackled. "These guys are hilarious!"

One of her companions glanced at her. "If they think they're so strong, we should keep them around for entertainment!"

"Bone would rip them in half in a heartbeat," the skinny tom snorted. "What's entertaining about that?"

A cat called out from behind the BloodClan warriors. "What's going on here?"

Fireheart watched as a fluffy white molly padded forward. She was pretty and well-groomed, with a long, plumy tail. The molly seemed out of place in this garbage-ridden alley beside the scruffy BloodClanners. But as she padded forward, they made room for her to pass, all quieting down as they watched her.

When no one answered, she looked towards the big molly. "Well?"

Though the burly cat could have probably clawed the dainty cat to pieces with little effort, she kept her gaze respectfully low. "Found these two skulking around," she reported. "They say they're from out of town."

"Oh?" The white cat glanced towards them. She narrowed her eyes, looking curious.

"Say they're warriors," the skinny tom emphasized.

"Warriors?" The white molly's ears pricked with interest. "From the forest? How fascinating!" She strode forward. "What are you boys doing so far from home?" She looked back and forth from one to the other, but when her gaze settled on Fireheart, she stiffened.

Does she know about the Clans? Fireheart wondered. Why's she looking at me like that?

The molly was squinting strangely at him. "You…" She padded forward, sniffing at him curiously. "There's something…" She came closer and closer, her whiskers twitching.

Fireheart instinctively started to back away, but his nose twitched as her scent fell upon him. I know that smell, he thought. He paused and leaned towards her as she approached him, sniffing her in return.

I remember… Wisps of memories long buried were stirring in the back of his mind. The scents of milk and mother and littermates and the warmth of the fire in his first house. "You…"

The white molly straightened up, eyes wide. "You're my brother!" She was smiling wide now. "I thought I knew that smell!"

Fireheart gasped. Silverthorn shot him a startled look. "You know this cat?"

Fireheart blinked rapidly as he looked at her. "I mean—we were only together for a little while—but I remember how she smells." He felt his tail beginning to twitch as excitement bubbled up inside him. "What are you doing here?" he asked, feeling countless questions brimming in his mind. "What's your name? Do you live here? Who are all these—"

"My name is Princess," his sister cut in. She flicked her tail from side to side. "These are my friends! My new family, you might say." She glanced sidelong at the big molly, revealing a worn blue collar around her neck, partially concealed beneath her long fur. Many teeth and claws protruded from it. The hideous thing seemed so contrary to her pleasant demeanor. "What happened to you, brother? You're a warrior? Isn't that what the forest cats call their own?"

Fireheart nodded. "I'm a warrior, yeah. My name is Fireheart now." He took a step closer. "I don't get it, though. Are you all kittypets?" And what's with the teeth?

Silverthorn shot Fireheart a look. "I don't like the look of these cats," he muttered. Silverthorn was still panting quietly. His eyes had taken on a distant look again.

Fireheart felt briefly torn. Silverthorn needs to get out of here, he thought. After what he's just learned… He glanced towards Princess. But I just found my sister.

Princess sighed softly. "I was a kittypet," she meowed. "It didn't work out. My humans moved and left me behind one day." She shrugged. "I didn't know how to fend for myself on the streets." Princess smiled. "But BloodClan found me. I wasn't the first of our litter to meet them."

Fireheart's eyes widened. "What? More of our kin are here?"

Princess nodded. "Our brother."

Fireheart felt dizzy with giddiness, though he tried to contain it for Silverthorn's sake. StarClan… I have an entire family out here! "Where is he?"

Princess flicked her tail. "Not far from here," she meowed. "Do you want to meet him?" She let out a soft purr. "My son is with him, too."

Her son? I'm an uncle? He kneaded his paws eagerly at the thought of meeting more of his kin. Fireheart nearly agreed, but a glance at Silverthorn made him hesitate. I… can't. He felt himself deflate. After what happened with Silverthorn's parents, I can't go prance off to meet my kin. Fireheart looked back towards Princess. I have to bring him home. "I can't right now," he meowed. "I want to—but our Clan is going to be wondering where we went."

Princess frowned, but she nodded in understanding. "Of course. Well, come back whenever you like. I'd love to get to know my brother." She smiled again. "If you run into any of BloodClan when you come back, just tell them you know me. They won't give you trouble."

Fireheart eyed the surrounding BloodClan warriors. They certainly look like trouble… but maybe they look scarier than they are. I always heard living on the streets was harder on cats. He stepped closer and touched his nose to his sister's. "I'll come back when I can," he promised. "I'm really glad I ran into you."

Princess beamed at him. "So am I!"

Fireheart quickly touched noses with her. "I'll see you soon."

"I hope so," Princess replied. She stepped back, turned around, and flicked her tail. As though it were a command, the BloodClan cats silently flanked her and walked down towards the other end of the alley.

It's like she's in charge of them, Fireheart mused. Princess… I'd almost forgotten all about my littermates. How many did I have? He frowned to himself. At least two more, I think… or was it three? He had been separated so early from his kin that it was hard to be sure.

"Thanks for not sticking around with them," Silverthorn mumbled, snapping Fireheart out of his thoughts. Fireheart glanced at him. The tabby warrior's head was low, his eyes dim. Now that the threat of attack had passed, he just looked… sad. "Can we go home?"

Fireheart nodded. "Yeah. And… I'm sorry about your parents." He hesitated a moment. "I know we're not really friends, but if you need someone to… you know… talk about it with—"

Silverthorn initially let out a dismissive hiss, but after a moment, his shoulders slumped. "I don't know what's real anymore," he blurted. "Everything was a lie." Silverthorn lashed his tail and let out a snarl. "I just don't understand! I've thought about her every day since she died—since she left—I wanted to bring her back! I wanted to make him pay!" Silverthorn shut his eyes. "She just didn't want me." His voice grew quieter. "I guess I'm just that worthless."

"Don't say that!" Fireheart exclaimed. We've never gotten along… but it's hard to fault him for the way he is after everything he believed. "You're not worthless, Silverthorn!" Maybe he can change now that he knows the truth. "She was wrong to leave you behind." He gently touched his tail to Silverthorn's side.

Silverthorn looked up at him with tears in his eyes. "You of all cats should think I am," he choked out. "I wasted all this time hating him—hating kittypets—and it didn't even matter. I was so, so angry!" He dug his claws into the crumbling asphalt. "I'm still so angry!"

"I don't blame you for that," Fireheart quietly meowed. "I would be if I was in your paws."

Silverthorn sat down heavily, trembling. "I'm sorry," he blurted. "You probably hate me. I'm a horrible cat."

Fireheart hesitated again. I can't just say "Oh, don't worry, Silverthorn, you were never horrible!", but…

Before he could respond, Silverthorn bowed his head. "I don't want to be like this anymore. I'm so tired. I don't have anybody. No one likes me… not really." He coughed out a harsh laugh. "You're the closest excuse to a 'friend' I've got, and we're hardly better than enemies. How pathetic is that?"

Silverthorn… Fireheart couldn't muster any of his old anger for the tom anymore. He just felt pity. He silently watched as Silverthorn's claws slid in and out, as his tail lashed agitatedly from side to side.

"You should hate me," Silverthorn spat out. "After everything I've done." He stared at Fireheart like he was waiting for his confirmation.

"I used to hate you," Fireheart quietly admitted. "I couldn't understand why you treated me the way you did."

"Used to?" Silverthorn echoed, clearly doubting his words.

"Yeah." Fireheart shrugged. "You made my apprenticeship really hard, you know? I never wanted to work with you. You were pretty awful to me for a long time."

"I'm sorry," Silverthorn repeated. His gaze slid back down to his paws, his ears flat and eyes dull.

Fireheart was quiet for a moment. He hasn't been as mean to me lately, he thought. Just… grumpy. But we've had some good times together, like when we went fishing. "I don't hate you anymore," Fireheart meowed. "If I'm being honest, I don't know if I've totally forgiven you for all of it. But I don't think you're a horrible cat. I think you've been through some really unfair things."

Fireheart sat down beside Silverthorn. His tail still brushed against his side. It was the longest the pair had ever touched without violence. "I think some of that made you act the way you did. And when you told me about your father… I don't know. I couldn't hate you anymore, not after I understood."

Silverthorn glanced wordlessly at him. Fireheart paused before he went on. "I think you're just really, really lonely. And angry, yeah." Fireheart sighed. "I don't want to be enemies, Silverthorn, but you've never made it easy to be friends."

"Yeah," Silverthorn murmured. "I guess I haven't."

They sat without speaking for a few moments. Fireheart drew his tail back around his paws. "Maybe we can start over," he offered. "From scratch."

Silverthorn looked briefly hopeful. For a moment, there was a glimmer of warmth in his eyes. Then he clearly hesitated and looked away. "I can't just forget that you're a traitor," he grumbled.

"Traitor?" Fireheart blinked. Oh. Fox-dung! I forgot all about last night… he knows about Sandstorm. Fireheart gritted his teeth. "Why does that even matter to you? I'm not hurting anybody."

"Minnow-brain," Silverthorn muttered. "It's against the warrior code for a reason. Forbidden relationships always end badly, especially for the kits." He frowned deeply. "Just look at how I turned out." With that, he stood up. Silverthorn began to pad towards the exit of the alley, back to the main street.

Fireheart wanted to groan. That's it? He thought. I almost thought we were getting somewhere. Whatever. He rose and followed after Silverthorn. Fireheart briefly glanced over his shoulder, looking deeper into the alley. The BloodClan warriors were long by now. Princess… I'll be back to see her. He tried to push aside his frustration towards Silverthorn. I have more kin than I ever dreamed out here!