Yowls sounded from ThunderClan at their deputy's words.

"Kill him!"

"Blind him!"

"Drive him out of the forest!"

Fear filled Fireheart as he listened to his Clanmates responses. These were the cats had he lived with for seasons now, the ones that he shared dens with and they were so ready to believe he was capable of something so vile? His fear increased as he gazed out at the crowd of ThunderClan warriors in front of him, he was alone with them now and his Clanmates wanted him dead.

Would they not even give him a chance to say his side? Tigerclaw had said he did not want Fireheart dead in that moment, could he have been waiting to kill him in front of the Clan now? He heard the tabby's rumble from above him, "No, we will not kill him. That is too little of a punishment for a traitor like him."

Fireheart felt his head get forced to ground with the other toms' large paw, Tigerclaw's voice got closer to his ear as he snarled. "We, however, cannot let a cat who would murder his leader walk freely. Who knows what sort of havoc he might start?" Fireheart could feel the other warriors' spit hit the top of his head. A flash of anger overcame him at this. This was all a farce and Tigerclaw was making a show of it, making it out as though he was not the one that had truly murdered Bluestar. "Darkstripe, Longtail take him to Brokentail's den, it would seem he has company."

"Brokentail is dead." Attention was shifted to Yellowfang as she spoke. There was an unreadable look in her eyes as she gazed at Fireheart and Tigerclaw from where she stood just outside the medicine cat den. When had Brokentail died? Fireheart wondered; he had seen the former ShadowClan leader fighting on the side of the rogues earlier. He must have been killed in the fight.

At least Fireheart would not have to live with that wretch of a cat now that he was dead. If he was being brought to Brokentail's den, then he was being kept prisoner. That wasn't the best situation, but it was better than what it could have been. He could get out and find his way to Graystripe. From there they could work out what to do next.

"Very well," Tigerclaw's voice showed no detection of emotion at this news. After he had plotted with this evil cat, did he have no other opinion of him? Did he only use Brokentail as a way to get to the rogues and create this ploy? "Put this traitor into the den. Longtail, you will be guarding him for the rest of the day. After this, Darkstripe will start his new role as deputy." The dark tabby puffed out his chest at Tigerclaw's words. Fireheart felt the paw on his head lifted, a few moments later he felt claws press against his side as he was encouraged to his paws.

Fireheart's legs were shaking as he rose, he could see the blood from the wound on his belly beneath him and feel the blood dripping down his face as his swollen eye pulsed. His head spun as he watched the two warriors move towards him. This could not be it. He needed to speak, he needed to say his side. They had to believe him.

"What Tigerclaw says isn't true," Fireheart began. Longtail and Darkstripe moved up to him, Darkstripe disappearing from his vision for a moment before a shoulder was shoved against his own. Fireheart let out a snarl as the two warriors began to shove him across the clearing. The warrior struggled against their hold. "He's lying! What reason would I have to kill Bluestar?"

"Why don't we hear Fireheart's side?" Fireheart recognized Sandstorm's voice, there was a slight tension in it as she spoke. Her eyes were on him, he could not quite read what she was thinking. She continued, "If it is nothing but lies, then there's no reason not to hear them." Hope filled Fireheart at his friend's words. Would he be allowed to speak or would Tigerclaw see this as a threat against him as he had seen Graystripe's words? Sandstorm was more liked amongst the Clan than Graystripe had been after everything with Silverstream. While she was still a young warrior, what she said carried some weight to it. More so than what Fireheart or Graystripe's word would.

There was a moment of silence before Tigerclaw responded, "Very well." Whether Tigerclaw was unnerved by the idea of allowing Fireheart to speak was not relieved in his tone, but he was allowing Fireheart to speak. Hope sparked in Fireheart's chest, ThunderClan would hear his side and they would believe him! They had to believe him. After all, what reason would he have to lie? "Darkstripe, Longtail stop. Let us hear what lies the murderer has to say."

Both warriors stopped at Tigerclaw's command and Fireheart was able to get a footing. His head was spinning as he thought over what he was going to say. Fireheart began again, "What Tigerclaw says is not true." He gazed weakly around the clearing at his Clanmates, "As I said, he killed Bluestar! He led the rogues here! This is not his first crime against our Clan either." It was getting difficult to stand. Difficult to talk. It took all of his concentration but Fireheart had to keep going. He took a step towards the rest of the Clan, earning a hiss from Longtail. Fireheart ignored it.

"Tigerclaw killed Redtail! Ravenpaw told me he did!" There were murmurs from the crowd at his proclamation. Sandstorm's eyes rounded at his words and she took a few steps back from Fireheart.

"What reason would Tigerclaw have to kill Redtail?" Runningwind meowed, "He did not kill him, Oakheart did!" The disgust ThunderClan had been showing towards Fireheart seemed to further, he felt a new wave of hatred coming from his Clanmates.

"Yes, he did!" Fireheart said, "Tigerclaw wanted to be leader, so he killed Redtail to become deputy. He didn't kill Oakheart, Oakheart died before Redtail! Oakheart died in a rockfall, ask any RiverClan warrior! They know the truth!"

Fireheart was losing any fragment of support he had left in the Clan, fear struck him at the realization. Why weren't they believing him? He watched Sandstorm look away from him as Frostfur curled her lip at him. He was their Clanmate, how could they believe he was capable of this? Fireheart was telling the truth. He continued, "Tigerclaw also set up a trap for Bluestar by the Thunderpath! Cinderpaw got caught in it instead!"

There were murmurs from the crowd at his words. His head was spinning, he couldn't identify who had spoken as he heard a growl. "Using his own apprentice's accident to frame Tigerclaw, how horrid!"

"No, it wasn't, i-it wasn't an accident! You've got to believe me! I'm innocent, Tigerclaw did it all!" His voice cracked, "I-I never would have harmed her!" Fireheart turned at the sound of Tigerclaw snorting.

"Is that all you have to say on this? Is that all the lies you've come up with?" Tigerclaw's gaze on Fireheart was steady, his amber eyes glowing. The dark tabby shook his head, "Next time you choose to betray your Clan, come up with some better excuses." Tigerstar flicked his tail, "Stick him in the den."

Darkstripe's teeth dug into his scruff and Fireheart let out a hiss of protest. He tried to jerk from his and Longtail's hold as he was forced forward, dragged towards the den. Fireheart cried, "Tigerclaw's lying! I am innocent! I never would have hurt Bluestar!"

He could feel the burning gazes of his Clanmates digging into him as Fireheart was forced across the clearing. When he had first joined ThunderClan there had been distrust. He had been an outsider, it was expected. They had not known him and did not know whether he was worthy of trust. However, Fireheart had never felt hated by his Clanmates before. There was Tigerclaw, and perhaps Darkstripe, who had hated him but never these many cats.

By the time he was at the den, his struggles had weakened. Fireheart's head was continuing to spin and he was panting as Darkstripe forced him forward, pushing him beneath the bush that had once been Brokentail's den.

Fireheart groaned, stumbling into the nest on shaky legs. He groaned again as he tried to readjust himself, his wounds ached. The slightest movement made his belly hurt and his eye continued to pulse. He moved onto his side, letting out a hiss at the pain.

Fireheart rested his head down, staring at the entrance of the den. There was an emptiness in his chest. His Clanmates did not believe him, they believed he was capable of what Tigerclaw had said. What he and Graystripe had said meant nothing to them.

What is Tigerclaw going to do with me now?

Fireheart felt himself slipping away, it took everything in him to keep his eye open as he lay there. The blood loss had made him increasingly tired but he could not go to sleep. Not yet. He needed to know if something more happened. So far, he had been shoved into the den and forgotten. The only thing that indicated they were still aware of him was Longtail, who Fireheart could see just outside the den.

Suddenly a growl caught his attention. "Get out of my way, I am a medicine cat. I will care for those that need me." He heard Longtail protest before Yellowfang pushed past him, blocking the entrance to the den as she entered, orange eyes locked onto Fireheart. He slowly lifted his head as the old she-cat made her way into the cramped den, moving to his side. There was a bundle of herbs in her jaws and cobwebs on one forepaw which she set down. Longtail came in after her. She turned towards him, eyes narrowing as she hissed, "Get out, I need room to work. I know how to take care of myself, I can take him if need be."

"But Tigerclaw –"

"Did he say for you to come in here? For you to watch me?" Yellowfang grunted, "From what I heard you are supposed to be sitting outside this den. Now get out." The dark gray medicine cat glared at Longtail. The pale warrior looked at Fireheart for a moment before looking to Yellowfang again. Fireheart could practically see his mind working.

After a few more looks between the two cats, Longtail sneered, "If he attacks you, don't say I didn't warn you!" He shot Fireheart one last glare before turning away, leaving the den.

Once Longtail was gone, Yellowfang shifted her attention back to Fireheart, muttering, "Like you could start a fight in this state!" There was a sadness in her gaze as she regarded Fireheart. The tom lowered his head back down, resting it on the edge of Brokentail's nest. His tail tip flicked nervously; he had no idea what Yellowfang thought after all of this. She could believe Tigerclaw, just like everyone else. There was no reason for her not to believe him.

Yellowfang put a paw on his side, moving Fireheart further onto his back as she started to inspect his belly. "He should've let Cinderpaw have a look at you if he wanted to keep you alive." Alarm flashed through Fireheart at her words, Yellowfang grunted.

"Don't give me that face, you'll live. I'll make sure of it." She took some of the cobwebs, pressing them against the gash on his belly, Fireheart let out a hiss, jerking away on instinct. "Stop fidgeting." He froze at her command, his mind racing. Why wasn't she saying anything?

As the blood flow began to slow, Yellowfang spoke, "Fireheart, I want you to tell me the truth. Did you murder Bluestar?" Fireheart was surprised by the question. After seeing what had just happened, after having the entire Clan scorn him, she wanted to ask him whether or not he killed her? Yellowfang had already heard the truth, how would she respond to hearing it again?

Fireheart replied, "No, it was Tigerclaw. I never would have hurt her; you've got to believe me." His mind raced, there was no reason for her to believe him. Yellowfang could completely disregard his words. Tigerclaw's words ran through Fireheart's head, he had been right. There was no reason for anyone to believe Fireheart over him.

Yellowfang did not respond for a few moments as she started to tend to a wound on his shoulder. Eventually she spoke, "I believe you."

Fireheart's eye widened in shock, she believed him? How had he gotten Yellowfang on his side but not the others? Why did Yellowfang believe him? The medicine cat continued, "It was not too long ago when I was falsely accused of something and you stood up for me." Her gaze shifted to his face for a moment, "I do not believe you are capable of murdering Bluestar."

Fireheart felt his shoulders relax, relief filling him. At least one cat believed him. He asked, "Could you talk to the rest of the Clan? Try to convince them that I am innocent?"

A paw was put on the side of Fireheart's face, he turned towards Yellowfang as she directed him to. "There is nothing I can do." She began to clean the blood off his face. "Why would they believe me over Tigerclaw? He's leader now. The only evidence that you did not kill Bluestar is your own word, which does not currently hold up. You've gotten yourself into quite the situation, Fireheart."

Fireheart dug his claws into the ground below him, his frustration building. The only evidence they had that it was Fireheart that had killed her was Tigerclaw's word. "Do you know what he is going to do with me?"

"I've been busy dealing with the rest of the Clan's wounds." Yellowfang growled, "Now stop fidgeting." The dark gray she-cat pulled away as she finished cleaning the wound. A troubled gleam came to her gaze as she examined his eye. Fireheart twitched his tail, why was she looking at it like that?

Yellowfang turned away, giving him another glance before seemingly coming to a conclusion in her head. "Tell me how your eye feels." Fireheart began to describe it as she picked up some of the herb she had brought in her jaws, beginning to chew it as the warrior spoke. Soon enough, she spat it out, picking it up on her paw before applying it to the wound on his face. Fireheart winced at the pain the application caused. She was silent as she picked up some more cobwebs, securing them to the wound over his eye.

Finally, Yellowfang spoke, "It's deep. There's a possibility that you could lose some, if not all, of your vision. I'll do what I can but we won't know until its healed."

"What?" Shock filled Fireheart; his mind raced as he thought over Yellowfang's words. How could this be? He had thought as soon as it had been looked it, it would be fine. It did not seem as though the eye injury had been on purpose either. If Tigerclaw wanted him blind, he could have easily had it done.

If he lost his vision, how would he fight? He needed to get out of here somehow, how would he? How could he escape and get to Graystripe? If he somehow managed to escape, how would he hunt? Fireheart's thoughts went to One-eye.

She had been a warrior and she must have been able to do her warrior duties with one eye. Prior to losing her eye, she had been blinded in her eye as an apprentice. He remembered that from the stories the elders had told – it was something about a badger. The specifics did not matter, what mattered was that One-eye had managed to do it. If she could do it, Fireheart could. He would need to in order to get out and get to Graystripe. Wherever he may be.

"Do not try anything rash quite yet," Yellowfang rasped, almost as though she was reading Fireheart's thoughts. "You are not fit to leave this nest, there is no way you could fight right now. What you need is to rest and heal, everything else can come later." she sat back on her haunches, "He is keeping you alive for a reason, take advantage of that reason and heal."

Yellowfang was right, Fireheart realized. He was still alive; this was better than the alternative. He could use whatever reason Tigerclaw was keeping him alive to his advantage. Fireheart rested his head down as he meowed, "I will, Yellowfang. Thank you."

She regarded him a few moments more before meowing, "I want you to stay in your nest for now. All that moving will do is reopen that wound on your belly. I will have Cinderpaw check in on you in the morning. I will be taking Tigerclaw to Highstones at sunrise."

Fireheart felt a shiver run down his spine. Tigerclaw would become Tigerstar. Everything he had worked towards had been destroyed. He had not been able to save Bluestar from his wrath and now Tigerclaw would get the power he wanted.

As Yellowfang disappeared out of the bush, Fireheart gazed around the den. It reeked of Brokentail. The former ShadowClan leader filled Fireheart's mind. His Clanmates saw him as on the same level as that terrible cat. Fear and guilt gripped him; how could he have allowed for this to happen?

He had no one – not even Graystripe. Thoughts of his best friend troubled Fireheart's mind. Would he be alright? Would Graystripe be able to make it out there on his own? He had never lived anywhere but ThunderClan, the rest of the world was unknown to him. Would he be alright on his own?

What about Fireheart's other friends? Yellowfang? Cinderpaw? Sandstorm? Cloudpaw?

Fireheart thoughts remained on his kin for a few heartbeats. Tigerclaw was bound to do something to the young apprentice, but what? Would Cloudpaw be safe? Had it been a good idea to bring the apprentice to ThunderClan when Fireheart knew the danger Tigerclaw posed?

Fireheart shuttered as he curled up in the nest as well as he could. The empty feeling in his chest grew, this was the most helpless he had ever felt in his life. His ears went back as he settled into Brokentail's nest. There was nothing else he could do now.