Dust swirled in the air as Snowpaw and Brightpaw tumbled over and over, wrestling for dominance. They were in the Sandy Hollow, ThunderClan's training site. Sandstorm sat to the side of the clearing, her eyes wide as she watched her apprentice's mock battle. It was the first time he had practiced battle with another apprentice. Crowfur sat beside her, watching with interest. Other mentors and apprentices were crouched around the clearing, waiting for their turn.

"Come on, Brightpaw!" Mosstail yowled. "Pin him down!"

Sandstorm frowned. This was the tricky bit of battle practice—she couldn't exactly shout out encouragement or advice to Snowpaw. She kneaded her paws as she watched him flail out with a paw and try to knock Brightpaw across the face.

"Heh. He's not doing so bad, you know," Crowfur chuckled. He glanced sidelong at her. "Don't worry so much."

Sandstorm eased the tension in her shoulders. "I know, I know." She returned her gaze to the fight just in time to see Snowpaw wrench himself free of the tussle and regain his footing. The fluffy tom pounced before Brightpaw could recover her balance and knocked her to the ground. Sandstorm sat up and grinned. "That's the way!" she purred.

Snowpaw pinned Brightpaw firmly with both forepaws to her shoulder. Brightpaw groaned loudly. "Aw, fox-dung!" she meowed.

Snowpaw laughed quietly and stepped off of her. He stamped his paws proudly and looked over his shoulder to Sandstorm. Sandstorm beamed at him and nodded her approval.

"Better luck next time," Mosstail told Brightpaw, as the young apprentice approached her mentor. Mosstail glanced towards Sandstorm and Crowfur. "Er—how do I sign 'good'?"

Crowfur quickly showed Mosstail. They glanced towards Snowpaw and tapped the ground to get his attention. Snowpaw glanced towards them and they repeated the sign to him. Snowpaw beamed and let out a loud purr.

Sandstorm couldn't help but smile. It's good to see some other cats are starting to learn signs, she thought. Snowpaw was already a pleasant young cat, but he was always excited when other cats began to sign with him.

"That was good work," a deep voice said. Sandstorm started as Tigerstar emerged from the woods across the clearing. A heartbeat later, Thornpaw padded along to join his side. She blinked quickly. How long has he been sitting there?!

Tigerstar chuckled quietly. "Apologies. I didn't want to disturb the session while they were fighting." He nudged Thornpaw. "Thornpaw and I came to join the sparring practice."

"I want a rematch!" Cinderpaw loudly meowed. She had lost in her last sparring match with Thornpaw. She glanced at Mistyfoot. "Can we, Mistyfoot?"

Mistyfoot snorted softly. "Alright, Cinderpaw." She looked over to her leader. "Alright with you if Cinderpaw and Thornpaw practice together?"

Tigerstar dipped his head. "Of course." He sat down and wrapped his tail around his paws. "Go on, Thornpaw."

Thornpaw nodded silently and stepped forward. Sandstorm regarded him curiously. The young tom had become more and more reserved as his apprenticeship progressed. Ravenpaw, Tigerstar's last apprentice, had been afraid of his mentor's very shadow—she wondered how well Tigerstar and Thornpaw got along. As Cinderpaw hurried out to the center of the clearing, Snowpaw padded over to Sandstorm to join his mentor.

Thornpaw doesn't seem afraid or nervous, Sandstorm thought. Just… focused. Tigerstar must work him hard.

"Begin!" Tigerstar ordered.

Cinderpaw darted towards her littermate with a wild grin. She charged him and leaped, but Thornpaw sidestepped her easily. Cinderpaw landed clumsily, but recovered quickly. She spun on her paws, scattering up dust once again, and charged a second time. Thornpaw danced to the side and struck a blow across her flank, putting her off balance again.

He's quick, Sandstorm thought. Even though he doesn't look it. Thornpaw was a stocky tom, but he was avoiding his sister's attacks with ease. Then again… Cinderpaw is pretty predictable. She just rushes cats with no strategy.

Cinderpaw let out a growl of frustration and tried to pounce once more. This time, Thornpaw held his ground, looking like he was about to take the full force of her attack. Before she could land on top of him, he reared up with a snarl, wrapping his forelegs around Cinderpaw's shoulders as she flew towards him. She yelped loudly as he fell back, using the force of her attack to throw her clear over his head. Thornpaw landed on his back with a grunt, and Cinderpaw crashed to the ground in a heap.

StarClan's sake, he's strong! Sandstorm winced as she watched Cinderpaw's landing. That's a pretty advanced move.

Cinderpaw groaned as Thornpaw rolled to his paws. He took the opportunity to pounce on her and pinned her down. Though she was pinned, Cinderpaw hissed furiously and tried to keep fighting on. She lifted her foreleg to strike him across the face. Thornpaw reared up on his rear legs as Cinderpaw rolled onto her back to strike him. As soon as her underside was exposed, he brought his paws down, slamming them into her belly.

Cinderpaw wheezed with pain and went limp. Sandstorm's eyes widened. Was that necessary?

Thornpaw pinned her again, this time pressing a paw to her throat. He looked up at Tigerstar.

Tigerstar smiled and nodded. "Very good, Thornpaw!" He flicked his tail, and Thornpaw released his sister.

Mistyfoot darted forward to check on her apprentice. "Cinderpaw!" she meowed. "Are you alright?"

"Just… winded…" Cinderpaw gasped. She gritted her teeth. "Fox-dung."

Tigerstar watched as Cinderpaw rose and padded off to the edge of the clearing. "Anyone else up for battling my apprentice?"

Snowpaw cast a nervous look at Sandstorm. 'Do I have to?' he signed.

Sandstorm hurriedly shook her head. No way am I making him fight Thornpaw yet. She felt somewhat unsettled by how easily Thornpaw had crushed his sister. He sat down beside his mentor, expression unreadable, as he waited for the next match.

'Let's watch,' Sandstorm signed back. She lowered herself into a crouch. He can still learn a lot by observing.


The sky was starting to darken when Tigerstar called the training session to an end. "Good work, all of you," he told the apprentices. His amber eyes glowed with pride. "I'm very impressed with everyone's progress."

All of the apprentices perked up at his words. Every apprentice had continued to spar and practice moves for the rest of the afternoon, and they were all dusty and exhausted. Swiftpaw's tongue swiped across his lips. "Can we go home and eat, sir?"

Tigerstar nodded. "Of course. You've worked hard today."

Sandstorm rose and stretched. Although she didn't have Snowpaw battle Thornpaw, he did face off with a few of the other apprentices. He didn't win another match since his first fight with Brightpaw, but it was to be expected. He's still new, she told herself. But he has some skill. I'll get him into better fighting shape.

"Sandstorm," Tigerstar called. "A word?"

Sandstorm blinked. "Of course." She glanced at Crowfur. "Do you mind going back with Snowpaw without me?"

Crowfur nodded and signalled for Snowpaw to follow him. Tigerstar and Sandstorm watched as the other mentors and apprentices slowly left the clearing. When all had gone, Tigerstar turned to Sandstorm. "Snowpaw is doing well," he meowed. "I hadn't gotten the chance to observe his training yet." He smiled slightly. "You're doing well with him."

Sandstorm nodded gratefully. "Thank you, sir." She resisted the urge to frown despite the praise. Is that all he wanted to talk to me about?

Tigerstar lifted a paw and inspected his claws casually. "Ravenpaw tells me you're expecting kits."

A jolt went through Sandstorm. She felt her throat tighten. Fox-dung. She looked up slowly to meet Tigerstar's gaze. He lowered his paw and regarded her. His expression was neutral—he seemed neither angry nor pleased. Exactly how much does he know?

"Well?" Tigerstar prompted. "When are they due?" His expression continued to betray nothing.

Sandstorm swallowed back the lump in her throat. "T—two moons, I think." Saying it out loud made her stomach swirl. I was trying not to think about it. "Maybe a moon and a half, by now."

"I see," Tigerstar replied. He looked thoughtful. "So you've got another half-moon of training before you'll need to move into the nursery."

Sandstorm's heart pounded in her chest. She prayed he couldn't hear it. StarClan, please let him not know! It was impossible as ever to tell what he was thinking. "Yes," she meowed. Quickly, she added, "I'm sorry."

Tigerstar's eyes glinted with interest. "Why would you be sorry?"

Fox-dung! Sandstorm gritted her teeth. She desperately wanted the ground beneath her paws to open and swallow her up. "Because of Snowpaw," she hurriedly answered. "I don't want to interrupt his training—"

"There's no need to worry over that," Tigerstar interrupted. "If you wish, you can continue training him after your kits are born." He paused, before adding, "Unless you'd rather focus on the kits, of course."

Sandstorm shook her head. "No! I mean—I don't want to give up his training. I would just need a short break, that's all."

Tigerstar nodded. "Very good. I'm glad to hear that." He was quiet for a few unnerving moments. He studied her carefully. "I must admit, I am curious," Tigerstar meowed. "Who is your mate? The most obvious would be Dustpelt or Graystripe, certainly, but I've hardly seen you around either lately."

Sandstorm's stomach flipped, and her mouth went dry all over again. "I—no, not either of them. He—" She felt her chest clenching with anxiety.

The light was fading rapidly around them. Tigerstar's amber eyes stared back at her through the gray twilight. "You can tell me anything, Sandstorm," he meowed. "I am no fool. I will be far kinder to you if you are honest than if you try to deceive me." His long claws glinted in the last rays of sunlight.

Sandstorm began to tremble. He knows. She crouched low to the ground, bowing her head with shame. Her legs shook terribly. "I—I'm sorry!" she blurted. She couldn't hold it back any longer. The weight of her terrible secret had been tearing at her for so long. "He—the father—he's not—"

"He's not ThunderClan, is he?" Tigerstar finished. He nodded slowly. "Yes, I figured as much." He strode closer to her until her breath could stir the fur on his paws. "I know you've been paying visits to the river."

"Yes," she whispered. "I'm sorry." Sandstorm shut her eyes tight, waiting for the blow that never came.

"Thank you for telling me this, Sandstorm." Tigerstar sat down. He reached out with a paw, touching a single curved claw to the underside of her jaw. He lifted her chin up, and she opened her eyes. "Rise, Sandstorm. This trembling act is unbecoming of you."

What? Sandstorm looked up at him fearfully. His great head was bowed towards her. She had expected him to slice her throat open for her transgression. She sat up slowly, still shaking. "I—but—I broke the code," she blurted.

"Yes," Tigerstar nodded. "That much is true." His tail twitched. "But I have no interest in punishing you." He sheathed his claws. "Quite the contrary. A great change is coming to our Clan, Sandstorm. One that will likely benefit you, as well as all of ThunderClan." His amber eyes glowed. "So it would be in your best interest to support it when it comes."

Sandstorm blinked rapidly. "I don't understand."

Tigerstar smiled. "You will when the time comes." He stood up. "Just remember that everything I do, I do for my Clan." He started to turn in the direction of camp. "Great change is coming, Sandstorm," he repeated. "I just hope you remember the right side to be on when it comes."

Sandstorm watched as he padded away, his thick tail swaying from side to side. When the dry brambles had finally rustled behind him, she sucked in a deep breath. StarClan's sakeSilverpeltI thought I was about toI thought he was going to— She gritted her teeth. What on earth did he mean by change? She started to shake all over again. He didn't kill me, she thought. But if I don't support this… whatever it is… he just might.


"Get up!" Minktuft hissed.

Fireheart woke with a start. Sunlight was streaming in through the mouth of the den. Minktuft jabbed him urgently. "Get up!"

"What's going on?" Fireheart grunted. He yawned and looked up at her. Her eyes were wide. He sat up quickly and frowned. "Minktuft, what's wrong?"

"I don't know!" Minktuft exclaimed. "All of ThunderClan just showed up here! Tigerstar called a Clan meeting!"

Fireheart squinted. "He did what?"

"Just come out here!" Minktuft demanded. She turned and began to prod at the few other cats who were still asleep.

Fireheart still felt half-dazed from sleep, but the urgency in Minktuft's voice was forcing him to try and shake it off. He shook his pelt out quickly and hurried out of the den.

Fireheart stopped dead in his tracks as soon as he stepped outside of the den. What in Silverpelt's name is going on?

The camp was practically bursting with cats. Countless strangers—ThunderClanners, clearly—were seated throughout the camp. RiverClan warriors were out as well, all sitting closer to the dens. Many ThunderClan cats seemed nervous or confused, but some were sitting tall, heads held high.

Fireheart looked to the top of a pile of stones. Leopardstar and Tigerstar both stood atop it. The leader's log had been washed away in the flood, but the rocks and stones that the floodwater had carried had created a new mound for leaders' announcements. Fireheart's eyes narrowed. Why is he up there?

Fireheart hurried over to join the RiverClan cats. He sat down beside Silverstream. "What's going on?" he demanded.

Silverstream looked just as confused as he felt. "I don't know," she whispered. "They just showed up here hardly a few moments ago." She leaned in close to him. "Tigerstar and Leopardstar talked and then they both went up there."

Leopardstar threw her head back. "All cats of RiverClan, gather beneath the Rockpile for a Clan meeting!"

All cats? The wording was different from usual. Fireheart's pelt began to lift with worry as he looked over the ThunderClanners. What are they doing here?

His heart caught in his throat. Sandstorm was among them.

Oh, StarClan.

Sandstorm was sitting close to the front, looking up at Tigerstar. She had that same serious expression that she often had. Her soft tail was curled tight around her paws, her eyes narrowed in the slightest. The apprentice Tigerstar had announced at the Gathering, Snowpaw, sat to her left.

He wondered if she had looked for him. He wondered if she was trying not to.

Fireheart could have watched her forever, but a jab in the side pulled him out of his trance.

"What is this?" Silverthorn hissed. "Why is ThunderClan here?"

"I just got up," Fireheart replied. "I—I don't know."

Silverthorn turned to look over the intruding Clan. His eyes widened. "Frog-dung, look! That's Blackfoot!"

Fireheart sharply glanced back towards ThunderClan. A massive black-and-white tom was seated close to the Rockpile. Fireheart's eyes widened in recognition. "Blackfoot!" he gasped. So Rainfoot wasn't imagining things! He curled his lip. "Wasn't he Brokenstar's deputy? What's he doing with ThunderClan?"

Silverthorn met his gaze. "Fireheart, what's happening?"

Fireheart didn't reply. He looked back up to the Rockpile. Tigerstar's gaze was sweeping the gathered cats. "Is that everyone?" he asked.

Leopardstar nodded. "I believe so."

"Good." Tigerstar cleared his throat before he raised his voice for all to hear. "Cats of ThunderClan! Cats of RiverClan! Listen to what your leaders have to say!"

Beetleclaw curled his lip and spat out, "You have no place here!"

Dawnwhisker looked up at Leopardstar, her one eye dark with confusion. "What's going on?"

More cats began to cry out with dissent and confusion. Tigerstar let out a wordless yowl to silence them.

"Enough!" Leopardstar shouted. "You all will hear what we have to say!"

Tigerstar stood tall. "Leopardstar and I are sick and tired of the fighting between our Clans. Between all Clans. The time for disagreements and rivalry is over."

"We know that," Mousefur of ThunderClan growled. "But why are we all here?"

"Yes!" Birchfoot agreed. "You brought us all here without a word! What's going on?"

Suddenly, Blackfoot rose from the group and whirled on Birchfoot. Without a single word, he raised a massive paw and struck him across the face. Birchfoot crumpled to the ground. Cats shrieked and gasped with surprise. "Shut up!" Blackfoot snarled. "You will hear your leader speak!"

Fireheart's breath caught in his throat. Did he just kill him? He let out his breath as Birchfoot slowly rose. The blow had been without claws, at least.

Tigerstar's eyes narrowed. "There is no need for such violence, Blackfoot." His tail lashed once. "But what I have to say concerns the future of both our Clans. I come with a proposal—an unprecedented one, I know—but it will ensure the prosperity of all of us." He glanced at Leopardstar, and she nodded in the slightest, as if encouraging him to go on.

"Our two Clans shall become one," Tigerstar declared. "There will be no more RiverClan, and no more ThunderClan."

A shock went through Fireheart. What?!

Silverthorn let out a hiss. "He can't do that!"

Silverstream's eyes were wide. "Leopardstar would never agree to that," she breathed.

"Leopardstar!" Petalstream gasped. "Send him away! This is madness!"

Leopardstar was as collected as ever. She looked down at her Clan, her expression mild. "I have been discussing this proposal with Tigerstar for some time now," she meowed. "Believe me, I too found it ridiculous when he first approached me." Leopardstar lifted her chin. "But think of how much we have lost in war with ThunderClan. Their territory could have provided us shelter and prey after the flood. Together, our Clan will be the strongest that the forest has ever seen." She paused and narrowed her eyes, as though challenging any to speak against her. "I have already agreed to Tigerstar's plan. With time, you will all see that it is for the best."

Fireheart's jaw parted in horror. This can't be happening! Never in a thousand lifetimes would he have believed that Leopardstar would agree to merge with ThunderClan, of all Clans. He tore his gaze away from the leaders to look at the ThunderClan cats. Many were bristling in shock. Sandstorm's eyes were wide, but after a moment, her jaw seemed to set.

Did she know about this?! Fireheart's mind was reeling. He looked back up at the leaders, his jaw still hanging open.

Tigerstar sat down and curled his thick tail around his paws. "A leader's word is law," he declared. "And your leaders have spoken. From this moment on, ThunderClan and RiverClan are no more. Together, we shall be known as TigerClan."

Fireheart felt himself go cold. TigerClan?! All around him, cats fell into stunned silence. Silverstream's ears were flat. Silverthorn curled his lip in disgust. But no one spoke. Blackfoot and another tom were standing tall, their eyes scanning the gathered cats, as though ready for any sign of contention.

This… this can't be happening, Fireheart thought. TigerClan?

Tigerstar allowed a few moments to pass. He twitched his whiskers and meowed, "I know this may be hard to accept," he meowed. "But we want only to make our Clans stronger."

"This is madness," Mistyfoot hissed. "What are you doing? We are ThunderClan!"

Fireheart's eyes widened as Sandstorm stood and turned to face her Clanmate. "Mistyfoot, think," she meowed. Her eyes were dull. "ThunderClan and RiverClan are the two strongest Clans in the territories. With our resources together, we'll all be better off."

Tigerstar smiled with pleasure.

How can she say that? Fireheart stared at his former love in shock. She was always so proud of being ThunderClan! She hardly even looks like she means it!

"I don't want to lose my apprentice in any more mouse-brained battles," Sandstorm meowed. "Do you?"

Cats were quiet again. A white ThunderClan queen stood. She was trembling. "I've watched so many apprentices lost in battle over Sunningrocks," she quietly meowed. "If my kits can be spared that fate… I will accept this."

Fireheart looked back up at the Rockpile. Though some cats were hissing and muttering among themselves, no one else was bold enough to speak against Tigerstar. He wants to call us TigerClan! He thought. Does no one find that wrong? He doesn't want peace, he wants power! He gritted his teeth. I won't let him just take over our Clan!

Fireheart stood up. He narrowed his eyes to slits.

Silverthorn glanced at him. "What are you doing?" he demanded, his voice a whisper.

"This is wrong!" Fireheart yowled.

Leopardstar's eyes widened. She jolted her head in his direction, clearly surprised to hear any of her warriors speak against her. "Fireheart? What is the meaning of this?"

"This is wrong!" Fireheart snarled. He let his pelt bush up to its full size. "Are you all out of your mind?" He looked around desperately. "When has Tigerstar ever been a friend to RiverClan? How can you all possibly believe he has RiverClan's best interests in mind?" Fireheart lifted his chin. "He doesn't care about us! He just wants—"

Leopardstar's eyes suddenly seemed to bulge. She drew herself up like a snake. "SILENCE!" she shrieked.

Fireheart recoiled from the force of her ferocity. The dappled molly's claws slid out as she gripped the stone she stood atop with fury. The fur on Leopardstar's nape spiked up, and her yellow eyes burned with rage. "You dare speak against the will of your leader?!" she demanded. "The will of StarClan?!" She bared her teeth. "You are nothing!"

Fireheart crouched down. All the fight in him died. His ears pressed back. The venom in her voice burned him. "I—"

"You are a pathetic, conniving, worthless excuse of a warrior!" Leopardstar roared. "If you cannot have any respect for your leader—any respect for the warrior code—you have no place here!"

Fireheart blinked once. "Leopardstar—"

Leopardstar leaned down over the Rockpile, her eyes blazing with the most malice Fireheart had ever seen. "I banish you from TigerClan!" she shrieked. "GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"

For a very brief moment, all time seemed to stand still. Fireheart's eyes widened to their fullest. His heart stopped beating. His paws were stuck to the ground. All eyes were on him.

Leopardstar's hate-filled yowl broke through his stupor. "Begone or I will have you killed!"

Fireheart stood and stumbled a few paces back. He looked around wildly, desperately. His gaze searched his Clanmates, pleading for their help. Silverstream stared back at him, her eyes wide with terror. Silverthorn was bristling with surprise. Dawnwhisker tore her gaze from him to look up at her mate. She darted to the base of the Rockpile. "Leopardstar!" she cried out. "Please, reconsider!"

"I have made my decision!" Leopardstar snapped. "If the exile does not leave now, TigerClan is ordered to deal with him as an intruder!"

Already cats were turning on him. Blackfoot's eyes glinted dangerously. The massive tom took a single step towards Fireheart.

That was all it took. Fireheart had no choice.

So he ran.

Fireheart leaped away from where he had stood, running with all he had. He raced past the gathered ThunderClanners—TigerClanners, now—barrelled through the broken remains of the reed barrier, and fled from the camp with all his speed.

Fireheart ran on and on, racing upriver. His heart was pounding out of his chest, and his muscles were screaming for him to stop. He'd hardly been awake, and now, because of his foolish mistake, he had to run.

His paws slipped in a melting snowpile and he stumbled, crashing to the ground. Fireheart lay there a moment in the mud, panting. He gritted his teeth, clenching as hard as he could. Grief and anger and confusion all tore at him together. How could she? Fear gripped at him as memories flooded him. He had to flee an entire Clan bent on blood before, when Thistlestar had wanted him dead. He had managed to outrun them—but could he do the same with his own Clanmates?

Fireheart knew what he had done was minnow-brained. The outcome was predictable, really. Leopardstar had never made it a secret she wanted him gone. All she needed was an excuse.

Tears fell. Fireheart rubbed them away with a paw. I have to get away. Theythey're going to— His heart clenched with pain at the thought of his Clan murdering him. RiverClan… what's going to happen to them?

Fireheart's ears swiveled back as he caught the sound of paws drumming on the earth behind him. Fear made his heart race again, and he scrambled to his paws and whirled around.

It was Silverthorn.

"What are you doing?" Fireheart demanded. He arched his back nervously. "Did Leopardstar send you after me?"

Silverthorn skidded to a halt and briefly caught his breath. He shook his head. "Don't be minnow-brained," he scoffed. "I'm coming with you."

Fireheart's stance fell. "What?!" He blinked rapidly. "Silverthorn—didn't… didn't you hear what just happened? She—I—She exiled me. Under threat of death."

"I know." Silverthorn's eyes narrowed. "I'm coming with you." He curled his lip. "I'm a RiverClan cat, not a TigerClan cat!" He bared his teeth. "She's out of her mind if she thinks she can just hand RiverClan over to him." Silverthorn sliced his claws over the ground. "You were right to tell her as much. You're not just going to give up, are you?"

"I—what?" Fireheart was still staring at him in disbelief.

Silverthorn's eyes narrowed. "You're not giving up on RiverClan, are you?"

"I…" Fireheart looked down at his paws. "I don't want to." He furrowed his brow. "But I don't know what to do. She'll kill me if I come back. This is exactly what she's always wanted."

Silverthorn nodded. "We'll figure it out. Leopardstar's got another thing coming if she thinks we're gone forever." He glanced over his shoulder. "But we should really get going. I, uh—called her a few unsavory things, and I honestly think she might want to kill me more than you right now."

Despite it all, Fireheart couldn't help but snort. Of course he did. He tried to think. We need to get out of here, fast. That Blackfoot… I don't want to run into him.

"What now?" Silverthorn meowed.

Fireheart took a breath. "You're right," he meowed. "We can't give up on RiverClan." He remembered Silverstream's fearful look. None of the others can stand up to her, he realized. They all have more to lose. We have to come back and stop this. "But we can't stay here."

"So where do we go?" Silverthorn asked.

"Let me think." Fireheart shut his eyes. What options did he have? Neither RiverClan nor ThunderClan territory was safe anymore. They needed somewhere close to the territory but safe from Leopardstar's vengeance. An idea struck him. He glanced at Silverthorn, hope flaring in his chest. "Follow me."

He knew what they needed to do.

END OF BOOK TWO