When Fireheart opened his eyes next, he was lying in a clearing in the forest. He could see trees surrounding him, brambles and bracken lining the small hollow. The pain he had felt was completely gone, there was a newfound energy in his muscles as he pushed himself off the ground. The spasms he had become used to in his belly were gone. There was no more pain and no more hunger, it was almost like he was in a new body.
Fireheart pushed himself up on his forepaws, looking around the clearing for a moment before a familiar scent hit his nose. He sprang to his paws, turning where the scent was coming from. He exclaimed, "Spottedleaf!"
Fireheart bounded quickly over to her, touching his muzzle to her shoulder. He not seen any StarClan cat since Bluestar visited him a moon ago, he had not seen Spottedleaf in quite some time.
Why was she here now? A thought went there the warrior's head, making a shiver run down his spine. Had he died? That would make sense, he was weak the last time he opened his eyes. He had been slammed against the Highrock, too, that had to be deadly. It would certainly explain how he felt so much better. He pulled away from the tortoiseshell she-cat, taking a step away from her as he asked, "Am I dead?"
He couldn't be dead; this was not supposed to happen. Bluestar had told him that he would be the cat that stop Tigerstar. How would he do that if he were dead? A hopelessness filled his chest, if he had died then he had failed. He had failed Bluestar and he had failed ThunderClan. Cloudpaw came to his mind. At least, through this, the apprentice might regain some dignity in the Clan. Tigerstar might even be impressed by Cloudpaw's actions. Spottedleaf shook her head.
"You are not dead." Fireheart let out a relieved breath, letting his shoulders relax. He had not failed yet. Thank StarClan. The former medicine cat continued, "That blow certainly did not help strengthen you, however. You must have faith, Fireheart. Not only in StarClan but in yourself."
Frustration flashed through Fireheart's mind; he felt his pelt heat up as his tail lashed. How could they expect him to have faith after what had happened? After what Tigerstar had been putting him through, they had to know what was going on, right? He was trying, trying to do something but it was to no avail. Spottedleaf's golden eyes softened as she spoke, almost as though he had read his thoughts. "Remember what Bluestar told you, you were brought to our Clan – to the forest for a reason. This is that reason, you will defeat Tigerstar. You are the fire that will save the Clans."
The words that Bluestar had told him after she had died ran through Fireheart's head. Trust the sapling beneath the twisted tree and you shall save the Clans.
What did that mean? What could it possibly mean? He had joined ThunderClan because Bluestar invited him. Because he wanted a different life from those that he saw around him, a different life than the one he had been born into. It had nothing to do with a prophecy – at least on his part.
Was that prophecy the reason he was invited into ThunderClan? She had told Fireheart that she was unsure as to what that fire prophecy meant, but could she have thought of this before? Was that the only reason he was invited into the Clan? Had it not been for this prophecy, would he still be a kittypet, blissfully unaware of what lay in the forest just outside of his garden? Fireheart opened his mouth, ready to respond when the dream began to fade around him.
As Fireheart watched Spottedleaf and the rest of the starry forest fade to darkness around him, he felt anxiety take hold. His chest tightened as he thought over what both StarClan cats had told him. What if StarClan was wrong? There was that original prophecy – the one Bluestar had gotten prior to him joining the Clans, but this seemed to add more to it. This new prophecy made it seem as though it was more than just fire that was needed. What tree was it talking about? How could a tree help him? He needed to find whatever this prophecy spoke of and quickly.
Fireheart awoke to pain, it clung to his body like water. He slowly opened his eyes, letting out a groan as it hurt to lift his head. His head was pounding like he never experienced before. The warrior blinked a few times, recognizing the bramble screen in front of him. Dread filled him; he knew where he was. He was back in this all too familiar place. He was back in his prison.
He was facing the opposite direction he normally lay, Fireheart realized, rather than facing the front of the den he was facing the back wall. Brambles filled his view. They probably dragged me in here and just dropped me, he thought as he started to shift around.
The warrior forced his legs to move, hissing at the pain that filled him. His throat hurt, his mouth never having felt drier before and his throat was sore. He dragged his aching body around to face the front of the den, not caring as the ratty nest beneath him was torn by his movement.
Fireheart froze at the sound of movement at the entrance of the den. He looked blearily towards the hole which led out of the den. His chest tightened as he saw a tabby face peering in at him. He blinked, forcing himself to focus his gaze as he recognized it was Brindleface who was looking in at him. Past her, Fireheart could see that it was dark. Through what he could see of the trees that lined the ravine around camp, Fireheart could make out the sparkle of the stars which made up Silverpelt.
The tabby she-cat turned away from him, calling out to some unknown cat, "He's awake."
The sound of approaching pawsteps quickly followed, Fireheart caught Darkstripe's scent before the dark tabby moved past Brindleface. His eyes were narrowed slits of yellow as he looked in at Fireheart. "You sure took a long nap, didn't you, kittypet?" He shifted his attention to Brindleface, "Go get Tigerstar, I'll stay with him."
As Fireheart heard Brindleface move away from the den, going about the task that the deputy had sent her on, he began to force himself up. Every muscle in him screamed not to, he could feel his legs trembling from the effort it took for this movement. Despite the difficulty he was having, Fireheart persisted. He would not be laying down when Tigerstar came.
As he forced his foreleg straight, locking them into place as they straightened out completely, Fireheart thought over what Darkstripe had said. How long had he been asleep, he wondered. It had felt no more than a heartbeat between the fight and being knocked out and seeing Spottedleaf. No more than a heartbeat from his dream to awakening again.
Yet it had to be, it was early morning when he had been dragged out of his den to face off against Cloudpaw and now it was night. Well into the night as well, there was no way to tell how much time had passed. Could it just be the following night or had he slept through a few more sunrises?
All his thoughts disappeared as Fireheart caught a flash of brown tabby fur, a moment later Tigerstar pushed past Darkstripe and forced his way into the den. There was a gleam in his amber eyes as he looked at Fireheart. The warrior held his stare, determined not to be intimidated by the other cat. Even so, his heart was racing. Had Tigerstar been waiting for him to wake up? He had to have been, or else Darkstripe would not have sent for him right away.
There was something familiar about the way the ThunderClan leader was looking at Fireheart. The look Tigerstar was giving him was almost like a kit would regard a plaything, Fireheart realized. A plaything that he had lost and rediscovered. Fury lit up the warrior's pelt.
Was that why Tigerstar had kept him alive? Did he see him as a stupid plaything? A toy to be knocked around and used for his own enjoyment? Another wave of anger heated up Fireheart's fur.
"So, you chose to live." Tigerstar's rumble drew Fireheart away from his thoughts. "We were certain you would die, kittypet." The smaller warrior opened his mouth, ready to respond to the ThunderClan leader but nothing came out of his throat but a croaking noise.
Surprise took hold of Fireheart, his eyes widened and ears went back. He had certainly not expected that. In turn, Tigerstar's eyes widened as well, seemingly just as surprised by the sound his prisoner had made. The brown tom let out a mrrow of laughter in response, Fireheart closed his mouth as he did. A wave of humiliation came over him, he had only heard the other cat truly laugh a few times before and he was laughing at Fireheart over this of all things.
"Pathetic as ever, Fireheart." Tigerstar's eyes narrowed into slits of gold, "Just as well, considering you went through that fight for nothing." Fireheart tensed at the other warrior's words. What did that mean? Had Tigerstar gone and punished Cloudpaw further after their fight? Had he banished him? A chilling fear came over him at his next thought. Had Tigerstar killed Cloudpaw after everything?
If Tigerstar was going to punish the apprentice further, why make them fight? Why did he put them both through that fight? Was it simply to turn kin against kin? For Tigerstar's own amusement? The leader continued.
"Cloudpaw has decided to go back to his kittypet life." Tigerstar stuck his muzzle closer to Fireheart as he spoke, "He did not even tell any cat he would be leaving; just like the sniveling coward he is." Fireheart's eyes narrowed; he could feel the fur along his back rising. Tigerstar sighed, "I don't know how I ever expected him to be any different. He is your blood, after all."
Fireheart forced out a growl through his parched throat, it hurt to do but he persisted through the pain. Through the pain as he forced his hind legs to push his haunches off the ground. His muscles there screamed in resistance. Tigerstar snorted.
"Ah, Fireheart, I would watch what you do. Remember what happened last time you disobeyed me?" Fireheart forced away that memory as the other cat spoke. "You are here and alive because I let you, I could have had you killed in an instant. I could have you killed now, but I will not. You should be grateful to me for keeping you alive." His glare bore into Fireheart as he spoke, "You are not ready for a fight. After a kittypet apprentice beat you, I would destroy." Tigerstar sneered at the other warrior, "Now get down before you get hurt."
Fireheart remained where he was, he held the other tom's threatening leer. Thoughts raced through head. What should he do now? If he listened to Tigerstar's demand, the other tom would see it as him giving up. It would be a small victory over Fireheart and a show of just how weak he truly was. There was also the possibility of what had happened when he disobeyed the ThunderClan leader before happening again. A tension formed in his chest at the thought but he pushed it away. He needed to do this.
"You cannot even speak right now, submit before I force you." Tigerstar's words fueled Fireheart's anger.
He knew Tigerstar was right, Fireheart would not win in a fight against him today. He was shaking as it was, it was hard to stand and Tigerstar was correct, he could not speak. However, he would not admit defeat. Not to this cat. The ThunderClan leader wanted obedience from his prisoner and Fireheart would rather be struck down.
His muscles were screaming at him to sit down. To lay down and rest, but Fireheart could not. His head was pounding and every bit of skin on his body felt as though it was on fire from the pain but he needed to do this. Anger roared through his veins and it was all directed at the cat in front of him.
Fireheart threw himself at the other warrior, his fury towards Tigerstar giving him the strength to push the larger tom out of the den and into the clearing. He heard Darkstripe make a sound of alarm as he moved out of the way of the two brawling cats. Fireheart dug his claws into his opponent's shoulders, letting out as much of a hiss as he could make through his sore throat.
Tigerstar's large paw disappeared from Fireheart's vision and a moment later he felt it slammed the side of his head. The pain he was already in increased as the ThunderClan leader pushed the weakened cat back, quickly slamming his head to the worn earth beneath them. Fireheart saw flashes of white and froze.
Fireheart was panting, his head spun as the paw that was not against the side of his face was placed on his ribs. He could not see the other cat, his seeing eye was against the dirt. Waves of frustration and helplessness over Fireheart. Why did the other cat have to put him in this state? Things would be better if he could just see.
Tigerstar growled, "So thick, so unbelievably daft. I never saw what Bluestar saw in you. There is nothing but arrogance and pride. If you were not such a featherbrain, you would have seen that attack was useless." Fireheart could feel the other cats' warm breath against his ear, he felt Tigerstar spit at him. "You are alive right now because I let you live. You don't think any one of my warriors would kill you if given the option? I am the only reason you are not dead, never forget that. Be grateful, you useless lump of crowfood."
The warm breath that had been against Fireheart's ear moved away as his head was pressed further against the dirt. Tigerstar's voice rose, "Yellowfang come make sure it stays alive."
The pressure holding Fireheart down disappeared as the brown warrior shifted off of him. As he heard Tigerstar take a few steps back, Fireheart forced himself to shift into a crouch. Every muscle was screaming at him to stay still. He turned his head, glowering up at the ThunderClan leader.
Tigerstar seemed unphased, looking back at him tauntingly. Almost daring Fireheart to try to fight him again. Past the ThunderClan leader, Fireheart spotted Yellowfang approaching them. Her glare was piercing and he could see her tail twitched irritably.
Fireheart's ears went back, embarrassment heating up his pelt. He had not considered what Yellowfang would think of his actions, of what any of the Clan would think of them. Past Yellowfang, he could see the shapes of a few cats at the edge of the clearing, watching through the darkness what was happening.
Yellowfang moved around Tigerstar, sticking her scarred muzzle towards Fireheart as she looked him over. He heard the gray medicine cat give a few sniffs as she did. After a moment, Yellowfang spoke, "He just needs rest, food, and water. He'll be fine." She moved around him, coming to his sighted side, "He will be sore if he wasn't already. He mustn't get into another fight anytime soon or there may be some consequence, but he should be fine."
Her glare hardened at the last sentence, Fireheart's pelt heated up again and he lowered his head. His tail twitched, the look Yellowfang was giving him reminding him of how it felt when he was a kit, being scolded by his mother.
"Very well," Tigerstar replied. "Brindleface, get what Yellowfang has asked for."
"Yes, Tigerstar." Fireheart heard the tabby warrior move away from them. He felt Yellowfang's short muzzle dig into his pelt, encouraging him to his paws. He rose shakily; his legs were trembling with the effort it took. Fireheart felt something nudge his shoulder.
It took him a moment to realize it was Yellowfang offering him to lean against her, he obliged, shifting his weight against the other cat. He could feel Tigerstar's amber gaze boring into him as Yellowfang helped Fireheart back into the den.
Once they got to the nest, Fireheart let himself collapse. It did not take long for Brindleface to appear, dropping a mouse in front of him before leaving to fulfill Yellowfang's other request. They were alone.
"Tigerstar is right. You are incredibly stupid for trying that." The old cat pushed the mouse towards him as he eyed it. "There's nothing wrong with it, he was convinced you'd die. Eat." She growled, "Remember what I told you? He is keeping you alive, he wants you alive. Use it to your advantage and rest and heal. You suffered a head injury for StarClan's sake, you can't just pick fights. Do you want to die?"
Fireheart shook his head, flinching as it hurt to do so. He stuck his muzzle towards the mouse, sniffing it before taking a bite. He let out a groan as its taste filled his senses. As he ate, Yellowfang sat down to watch him.
Brindleface returned not long after with moss dripping with water, that was set down in front of him as well. He looked at it a moment, reminded of just how parched he felt, before starting to lap at it. He let his shoulders relax as the water began to go down his throat. He thought over what Yellowfang had said, he was alive for a reason. What that reason was he was unsure of and it did not matter. Yellowfang was right, he could use this reason to his advantage.