"I want to help you," Fireheart blinked in surprised at Sandstorm's offer. She continued, "I'm part of TigerClan, I know what's going on in the Clan. Other cats don't like what's going on – especially now that he killed a medicine cat. I think Leopardstar has started to realize what's going on. I could spy for you."

"No," Fireheart shook his head, after what had happened with Cinderpelt he couldn't put Sandstorm in danger as well. Cinderpelt hadn't even been in contact with Fireheart before that day. If Tigerstar found out about Sandstorm, that she was actually working with Fireheart, there would be trouble. it would certainly be more dangerous than Cinderpelt had faced.

The she-cat's eyes narrowed, "Fireheart-"

"No," he repeated. "I can't let you do that. You're in enough danger as it is, just being here now. Going back would be even more dangerous. I can't let you end up like Cinderpelt." The orange tom rose to his paws, "come with me. You'll be safe, we can figure this out then."

Sandstorm didn't respond for a heartbeat, taking a deep breath. She slowly shook her head as she responded, "I'm not leaving my Clanmates, you might have been able to but I can't."

Fireheart's ears flattened at the she-cats' words. He hadn't chosen to leave, he was forced. How could she think that? What else could he have done? Waited for ThunderClan to return to camp? He could have died. What use would he have been dead? Was he supposed to follow the Clan to ShadowClan territory? Go back to Tigerstar with his tail between his legs to continue his wrongfully given conviction?

"You think I had a choice in this?" He lashed his tail in frustration, "Sandstorm, I would never have left ThunderClan willingly! I haven't left ThunderClan! Had I left; I wouldn't be here now. I could have gone anywhere but here. If I wanted to be, I'd be long gone. I want nothing more than to restore the forest to what it once was. I am loyal to ThunderClan until the end." She stared at him a moment before murmuring her agreement.

"I suppose you had no choice. I'm still not leaving; I need to be here for my Clanmates." She paused, "I can tell you what I know." Fireheart considered her offer for a heartbeat, if Sandstorm was so willing, it would be good to know what she knew already. He wouldn't ask her to spy, but if she already had some information, he could figure out how to use it. He agreed.

She explained, "like I said, not every cat is happy with what's going on. Some of the senior warriors seem hesitant to follow his orders. No one has spoken out but it's tense. Goldenflower isn't too happy with him, things had been strained between them since Bramblekit's death and now with Cinderpelt's." Bramblepaw. Should he tell Sandstorm about him? That Bramblepaw was alive and safe? No, that would just be another secret that she would have to hide, it wouldn't benefit anyone.

Sandstorm continued, "I think it's telling that his mate doesn't agree. Cats from all Clans are unnerved by Cinderpelt's death. No one has spoken against it, it's not like anyone can speak their opinion on killing her. Tigerstar labeled her as a traitor."

"If there's so much doubt, why doesn't anyone stand up to him? You said Leopardstar was beginning to realize the issues, she could lead the cats against Tigerstar." That could be their solution, for the first time in moons Fireheart felt a glimmer of hope. If they could get Leopardstar to turn against him then they could get others.

"He's too powerful. More cats support him than don't. The ones against him are too scared to do anything. Not that it matters. He's our leader, we're supposed to listen to him. It's in the warrior code." Fireheart clawed at the ground beneath him in annoyance, like Tigerstar cared about the warrior code! He had broken it enough times getting into power and continued now. This couldn't be StarClan's will.

Sandstorm was right, because of the warrior code they had to follow his orders and many of them would. It was what they had been taught to do since they were kits. A thought occurred to Fireheart. Was the code flawed? Tigerstar was abusing it to benefit himself and his Clanmates were forced into listening to him by following the code. Fireheart pushed away that thought, that was ridiculous. It couldn't be. It was only bad because Tigerstar was leader, it did not make the code flawed.

Sandstorm continued, "he has some plan against WindClan – I'm not sure what exactly. I'm not part of his inner group. Tallstar keeps refusing to join TigerClan, I think Tigerstar's gotten tired of it." What could Tigerstar be planning? An attack? It was the most logical conclusion, but of what kind? The gathering was in a few days, would the TigerClan leader dare attack WindClan on a full moon? It would be three Clans worth of cats against one, WindClan would be slaughtered.

"There's one more thing, that's a bit strange." Fireheart's ears pricked in interest at this, what could stand out in the TigerClan leader's action to Sandstorm for her to think it was strange?

"What is it?"

"He keeps leaving the Clan," she shook her head, "No, he disappears. I know he heads into ShadowClan territory, but he's disappeared for days at a time. He's left Darkstripe and Leopardstar in charge, I don't know what it is he's doing but it's over in ShadowClan territory."

That certainly was strange. What could be going on in ShadowClan territory that would cause Tigerstar to leave his Clan for days at a time? He couldn't be leaving for no reason; Tigerstar was leader. There had to be a reason for his motives. Perhaps it was something that could only be found on ShadowClan territory? Something to do with his plan against WindClan? Fireheart expressed his thanks to the TigerClan she-cat.

Sandstorm nodded in acknowledgment, glancing at the sky, "I think I should head back to camp before I'm missed." Sandstorm rose to her paws, "Which way are you going? You were at the Twolegplace border last time. Are you living in Twolegplace?"

"No, but I need to head over there. I wanted to check in on my sister." Fireheart explained.

"I'll walk you to the border." Fireheart shook his head, what if they were caught? Sandstorm would be in danger; it would be better if he went alone. That way, at least, it would just be Fireheart. Sandstorm's ear twitched, "you think that was a request? I'm walking you to the border." She turned, padding towards the trees, "two cats are more likely to notice an oncoming patrol than one, and if we find one, we can make it look like a fight. I'll let you go with a few scratches."

She certainly wasn't given him much room to argue. Fireheart followed Sandstorm out of the clearing and up to the trees that had once formed ThunderClan territory. The two cats moved quickly through the dark forest; anxiety pooled in Fireheart's stomach. This seemed too easy, what if some cat had found out about his and Sandstorm's meeting? He could be leaving her to a fate similar to Cinderpelt's.

When they got to the fence, the pale ginger she-cat turned to face him, "Let's meet again. In half a moon."

Fireheart hadn't expected Sandstorm's request, this meeting alone was dangerous, with any more there would be an increased danger to the TigerClan warrior. I won't let you end up like Cinderpelt. Fireheart replied, "I said I didn't want you to spy. I'm not putting you into that danger."

"I didn't mean for spying, mousebrain." Sandstorm took a few steps towards the tom, "I want to see you again." Oh. A warmth came to Fireheart's chest at the thought of seeing her again. It disappeared quickly as the dangers this proposition posed whirled in his mind, they could get caught and this would have a lot worse of a chastisement than spying. If the TigerClan leader found out about this, it would be a lot more personal. They'd both be crowfood.

"Yeah – sure!" He spluttered a moment, "I want to see you again. We can meet again. I'd like that." His pelt heated up with embarrassment but it disappeared as he looked into her pale green eyes. There was a softness in them that he hadn't seen before.

Sandstorm slowly approached the tom, hesitantly pressing her muzzle against the side of his face. Her scent overcame him as he pressed his muzzle back against her. He could feel a purr building in his chest. Fireheart wasn't sure if he should, she had been ready to claw him earlier that night. Whether she would accept that level of affection quite yet was uncertain. After a few heartbeats, the she-cat pulled away from him, blinking as she mewed, "I think it's time you go. Goodbye, Fireheart."

"Goodbye, Sandstorm." Stay safe. He looked at her a moment longer before turning to the fence that marked the end of TigerClan territory and the beginning of Twolegplace. Fireheart crouched, springing up on the fence, he looked back towards the dark forest he had just left, watching as Sandstorm turned away from him and disappeared into the forest.

Fireheart turned back towards the garden; this was where Princess lived. He jumped down into the small clearing. He didn't know when his sister would be allowed out of the nest, but it certainly wasn't now. It was still dark she wouldn't be out for some time. It was quite possible that her Twolegs might not even let her out at all. How he had lived this life willingly was strange to him. He could never see himself choosing the life of a kittypet again.

He padded through the short Twoleg grass; eying a bush near the fence. While he waited for his sister to come out, Fireheart could get some rest. But could he? Fireheart twitched his tail anxiously; he hadn't been in a den like that since the fire. He hadn't been in such an enclosed space since his imprisonment.

Fireheart took a few steps towards the bush, taking a sharp breath. It wasn't that den; it was just a bush. Fireheart shook his head. No. No, he couldn't. He turned away from the bush, looking around the small clearing. There had to be someplace sheltered he could spend the night. Anything but a bush.

He spotted a dark Twoleg thing by the nest, it had four black sticks at the bottom, holding up something big at the top. Fireheart didn't know what it was, but it had some shelter and was more open and welcoming than the bush. He trotted over to it.

The orange tom settled down beneath the overhang it created and began to lick the smell of garlic off of his pelt. He curled his lip at the taste the plant left on him as he did so. As he finished his grooming, Fireheart settled himself on to the soft ground, heaving a sigh. He rested his head down on his front paws as he curled up.

When Fireheart awoke next, he could see the light of the sun creeping through the trees at the back of the garden. He slowly sat up, turning to lick down the fur that had been ruffled in the night.

Once it was settled, Fireheart padded a few steps away from his shelter cautiously. Princess could be in the garden, but so could her Twolegs. There was so much smell of them in the garden that it was hard to tell if the scent was fresh or not. It was confusing. He scanned the garden for any signs of danger. Once he was certain there was none, he padded through the frost-covered grass towards the Twoleg nest's entrance.

Fireheart took in the scent around him, he could make out Princess' fresh scent through the stench of Twoleg. He was relieved, he wouldn't have to wait for the Twolegs to let her out. The tom followed her scent around the front of the Twoleg nest and into another front garden. He spotted her on a fence, talking to a tortoiseshell cat.

As he approached the two cats, the tortoiseshell kittypet spotted him first, her eyes widened with terror as she let out a startled gasp. The kittypet turned quickly and disappeared into the garden. Princess looked surprised for a moment; her head facing where the other cat had gone before she looked towards Fireheart.

The tabby kittypet's eyes widen and he saw a flash of fear in them before recognition overcame it. She jumped down from her perch and headed across the grass towards him, "Fireheart? What happened to your face!"

Fireheart almost flinched, the memory of that day flashed through his mind. He had gotten used to cats not talking about it. His eye was just a fact of life now, he had adapted to the hindrance and that was it. Princess looked horrified at the sight of his face, "What happened to your eye? Is this why you haven't been around? How's Cloudpaw? Is he alright?"

"He's doing good, his name is Cloudtail now. I apologize that neither of us have been able to see you, some things happened that prevented it." He pressed his muzzle against hers as he spoke.

"Cloudtail?" The brown kittypet echoed as she pulled away from him. Pride shown in her eyes, "he's a warrior then? That's great! Why didn't he come, too?" Was he a warrior? Fireheart had given Cloudtail his name and he was not a leader. Whether StarClan truly recognized the name he had given the white tom, or if they recognized any of the cats as true Clan cats was unknown to him.

Fireheart shifted on his paws. How could he explain what was going on in the forest to his sister without scaring her too much? How could he explain that he and Cloudtail no longer lived with ThunderClan? How he had failed Princess in protecting her son? "There have been some issues in the forest, he couldn't come. He's safe. I'm safe as well but," He paused. How was he going to word this to her, "there are problems and it's best if you and your friends don't go into the forest right now."

"Is this related to that fight? They were forest cats, right?" Fight? Was she referring to the fight that Stonefur had died during? There was concern in Princess' face, "I didn't see it but some of the other house cats saw it, I heard a cat was killed during it. They left his body. I heard that it was forest cats, but I thought you were better than to leave the cat there. Was it forest cats?"

It had to be Stonefur. Tigerstar had left the RiverClan cats' body there. Fireheart felt a flash of anger, they hadn't even given Stonefur a burial. Fireheart replied, "Yes, I think I know what you're talking about. Do you know what happened with his body?"

"I know the cat whose Housefolk buried it. Fireheart, are you and Cloudtail truly safe?"

"Yes, you have no reason to worry. I'll keep him safe." Fireheart promised, "Do you know where he was buried?" He needed to visit Stonefur's grave. If nothing else, he could acknowledge the RiverClan warrior's sacrifice.

Princess stared at him a moment before nodded, "Yes, I can show you."

Princess led Fireheart across a few front gardens, before they entered an opening in the fence, in the garden an older tom was laying up on a clear surface, held up by a few sticks. Princess padded up to the surface mewing a greeting to the cat, "I didn't think you'd be out so early."

The orange tabby opened his eyes, he blinked at Princess, "just because I'm getting up there doesn't mean I can't come out. That new medicine the vet gave me has been doing wonders, anyway." He noticed Fireheart for the first time, yellow eyes widening in alarm. The tom jumped down and moved between Fireheart and his sister. He stuck his graying muzzle towards the orange tom, the orange tabby was old, older than One-eye if Fireheart had to guess. Fireheart could easily take the kittypet in a fight if need be. The tom wheezed, "you're one of those forest cats. I remember seeing you! You were there when that cat died. What are you doing with her?"

It was Stonefur. Princess turned to face Fireheart, she nudged the kittypet toms' shoulder gently, "relax, this is my brother. I've mentioned him before. His name is Fireheart. Fireheart, this is Hobbes."

"Yes, I remember you mentioning a Firesomething or other." Hobbes rasped, "strange name. You're one of those forest cats though, right?"

"Yes, I'm not with the cats that killed the tom," Fireheart dipped his head respectfully to the other cat. "He's a… friend of mine. I was hoping you could show me where he's buried?"

"If he's your friend, then why did you leave him?"

"We weren't able to go back for him." He was already scaring Princess enough with what he had told her, Fireheart didn't need to worry her anymore.

There was a moment of silence as the old kittypet considered Fireheart's answer. Hobbes eyes narrowed as he grunted, "fine. He's buried over there." The tom flicked an ear towards a low bush in the garden. Fireheart could see that the ground around it had been disturbed recently.

"Thank you." Fireheart stood and padded over to the shrub, the two kittypets followed after him. When they got to the spot, Fireheart sat and lowered his head. Stonefur hadn't been given a warrior's burial, a Twoleg had to bury him. Buried him on Twoleg land, far from RiverClan territory where he had called home. This should never have happened, the RiverClan warrior deserved better.

At least he had gotten a vigil and someone had buried him, even if it hadn't been a cat, Stonefur had gotten a burial. He had died a warrior's death in the protection of his Clanmates. Had Tigerstar not gotten Stonefur, perhaps the TigerClan cats would have continued to pursue them into Twolegplace. Fireheart closed his eyes. Thank you.

Fireheart sat at the gravesite a while longer. As the sun rose and the ground around him heated up, he knew it was time to return to the farm. Fireheart rose to his paws, it was getting closer to the deadline Fireheart had set for Cloudtail and Brightheart, he needed to get there quickly. He would need to move through Clan territory.

He had considered his options; it would be more dangerous than going around again but he would return before Sunhigh if he cut through the forest, it would also worry Princess more if he went by way of Twolegplace rather than right into the forest. He turned to face the two kittypets, "thank you both." He looked to Hobbes, "I know I can't thank them, but your Housefolk burying Stonefur means a lot."

It means that Stonefur wasn't just left to turn to crowfood like he had feared might have happened. Hobbes grunted, "They know what they did is right. It's not the first time they've buried a wild cat."

How often did cats die in the Twolegplace and were left for his Twolegs to have buried multiple cats? The idea made Fireheart uneasy. He dipped his head to the old tom before turning to Princess, "it's time I head back, remember what I told you. I don't know when I'll be able to see you again."

"Are you sure you'll be alright?"

"Yes," he lied, "I'll be fine." He blinked at her before he promised, "Cloudtail is fine, I'll be sure it stays that way."

Princess pressed her muzzle against his own, "tell Cloudtail I said hello and that I hope to see him soon. Tell him I'm proud that he is a warrior." How much he was lying to his sister hung to Fireheart as he mewed his agreement. Fireheart looked at Stonefur's burial place one last time before he turned towards the fence which bordered what was once ThunderClan territory. He sprang up on it, full of nervous energy. He was going to have to go through Clan territory.