"I'm not a kit anymore," Bramblepaw meowed, Fireheart nodded in agreement. he still looks like a kit, Fireheart thought. He was so young. He still had some kit fluff around his ears, and he was truly still a kit. An apprentice, yes, but still a kit. He didn't want to say this to a kit. He didn't want to tell the young tabby the truth. He wasn't ready to tell Bramblepaw yet, the ginger tom didn't think the kit was ready to hear the truth. But it had to be done.

"I know that – just let's go on a walk." Bramblepaw gazed passed his mentor at the cats behind him for a few moments before nodding, padding over to the orange tom. Fireheart turned toward the entrance of the barn, he glanced helplessly to the group of cats. His mind raced. What was he going to say?

As they left the barn, Fireheart noticed that there was no sign of rain. Why had Bramblepaw and the others been wet? Fireheart glanced at the smaller cat next to him, puzzled. He broke the silence as they walked, "why were you wet?"

"You weren't here when we woke up," Bramblepaw responded. His voice waivered a bit, "Cloudtail and Brightheart said that you were visiting your sister. Graystripe and Mistyfoot decided to take me with them for training. They showed me how to fish and I got to swim for a bit. Why does Cloudtail want to kill Tigerstar?"

Fireheart was surprised by that answer, they'd taken his apprentice fishing? Graystripe had been learning RiverClan techniques to train Stormpaw better. The idea of swimming and fishing disgusted Fireheart. That Graystripe was willing to learn both for his kits was impressive in the orange tom's eyes. He didn't think he would be willing to do that, although Fireheart did not have kits and didn't know what it was like. The orange tom mewed, "how was it?"

"Why does Cloudtail want Tigerstar dead?" Bramblepaw repeated, he looked expectantly up at his mentor.

Fireheart's ears went back as he twitched his tail nervously, "We'll get to that. I want to get somewhere first. Could you please answer my questions until then?" He didn't know where they were headed, they just needed to find a place to talk.

Bramblepaw was quiet for a moment before he mewed his agreement, "It was fine. It was cold and tiring. I was able to get the hang of swimming, I think, but I didn't catch anything. Stormpaw gave me a minnow he caught," Fireheart's whiskers twitched as the apprentice curled his lip up at the memory.

"Did you like it?" Fireheart turned around a corner of one of the Twoleg dens as he asked.

"I don't know. It was fun, I guess. I liked training with Stormpaw and Featherpaw," Bramblepaw shrugged. "Not that it matters, I'm ThunderClan and they're RiverClan. I won't be learning what they're learning. You're my mentor."

"Graystripe's ThunderClan and he's learning," Fireheart pointed out as they passed by a group of chickens pecking in the worn Twoleg path. Fireheart crouched before jumping up on a small wall next to the chicken's den, he paused as he waited for Bramblepaw to jump up next to him. Fireheart asked, "Do you want to keep learning to swim and fish?"

Bramblepaw was silent for a few heartbeats as he considered Fireheart's question. The older cat offered, "if you want, we can start joining their training sessions."

"We?" Bramblepaw echoed.

"Yes we," would he be willing if the apprentice said yes? The idea of going into the water willingly disgusted Fireheart. But if it was what Bramblepaw wanted, he could figure it out. He would do it. He blinked at the tabby, "we can train together. You can train more with Featherpaw and Stormpaw. If you'd like, I'll talk to Mistyfoot about it."

Bramblepaw looked up at him, "really?"

"Of course." Fireheart turned towards the chicken den, leaping up on to the dark roof of the structure. He turned, watching as Bramblepaw followed his lead. The apprentice jumped but he wasn't able to make it all the way up, instead, he was able to get his front end on to the dark surface. He scrambled to get his claws dug into the hard black surface. Fireheart's eyes widened and he quickly grabbed the cat by his scruff, dragging him on to the roof. Once he was on, Fireheart mewed, "I didn't realize that would be too high for you. Are you okay?"

Bramblepaw confirmed he was fine as he rose to his paws. He looked down at them, "I'd like that. I want to join Featherpaw and Stormpaw."

Fireheart nodded as he murmured, "I'll talk to Graystripe and Mistyfoot when we get back to the barn." He turned, signaling Bramblepaw to follow with a flick of his tail. They headed along the roof until Fireheart stopped in his tracks, sitting down near the middle of it. They could see a large portion of the farm from here. Fireheart spotted the male Twoleg coming out of a farm monster. He had never seen such a monster before coming to the farm, it was a lot louder than the ones that would race by on the Thunderpath in the forest. It was also a lot bigger than the ones in the forest and the ones he'd seen in Twolegplace, yet it was slow-moving.

He heard Bramblepaw settle next to him, Fireheart watched the Twoleg disappear into its nest before turning his attention to the tabby. He turned his head so he could see the apprentice. Bramblepaw had followed Fireheart's gaze and was looking at the Twoleg nest as well. Where should he begin? His mind spun, there was so much he had to explain to the young tom. There was so much he never wanted to tell him. He took a deep breath, "how much did you hear of what Cloudtail was saying?"

"I heard his voice getting louder," Bramblepaw replied, "I heard him call my father a foxdung eating mange-pelt." Ah, that's what he heard. The apprentice continued, "I came over then. Stormpaw and Featherpaw tried to stop me, but I have to know. Why?"

"I have a few more questions before I can get to that," Fireheart explained. The tabby's ears went back, his pelt twitched as he looked to his paws for a heartbeat before nodding. Fireheart continued, "how much do you remember of ThunderClan? Back before we came to the farm?"

Bramblepaw looked out in front of him towards the rest of the farm. There was a thoughtful look in his eyes as he considered Fireheart's question, "I remember the nursery." His ears twitched, "I remember Goldenflower, Tawnykit, Tigerstar." The apprentice's ears went back and his voice shook as he meowed, "I remember the fire." The fire. That was where this all had started. Fireheart had made his escape from ThunderClan, from his prison and had rescued the cat sitting next to him now. He still didn't know what he was doing with Tigerstar's son after all this time.

A strange look came to the young tabby's face, his claws dug into the hard surface below him. Had that day affected him so greatly? Fireheart hadn't realized, it would make sense, any cat with any sense was scared of fire. Bramblepaw had been a kit, too. Left behind by his Clan to face the fire alone. Saved by a cat he had been taught to fear. Leaving him behind hasn't been on purpose, of course, but it was a huge error for the ThunderClan cats to make. Fireheart touched his nose to the tom's shoulder, "it's alright. Its over, that won't happen again. Is there anything else?"

Bramblepaw slowly nodded, "I remember being told to stay away from you." He blinked; a puzzled look came to his face. "I think I remember seeing you a few times, you always had other cats around you. I think you were usually with Tigerstar? I remember a den that would have a cat outside of it always, I think that was yours?" He looked curiously at Fireheart.

His prison. "Yes, I was kept there." He confirmed, the memory of that place caused a dreadful feeling to form heavy on his chest. Fireheart took a deep breath, pushing away the feeling, blocking out memories of that place. He asked, "do you remember why?"

A few heartbeats passed before Bramblepaw responded slowly, "I think you were being held prisoner?" Alarm flashed in the tabby's amber eyes as the realization hit him. He sprang to his paws and turned to face his mentor, "why was that?"

"You're right, I was being held prisoner." Fireheart paused in his speech, considering where he should go from here. He continued, "as were Mistyfoot, Stonefur, Featherpaw, and Stormpaw just a quarter moon ago. You asked me why they were in the same state I was in when we left ThunderClan, that is why. Do you know who Stonefur is?"

"Wasn't he Mistyfoot's brother?"

Fireheart nodded, "your father made them prisoners because they were born. They are half-Clan and Tigerstar didn't trust them because of it." It was a strange reason to imprison cats considering Tigerstar was trying to combine the Clans. What would he do with TigerClan cats? Could former ThunderClan cats only have kits with ThunderClan cats? ShadowClan with ShadowClan? RiverClan with RiverClan? It seemed counterintuitive.

"Is that why you were imprisoned, too?" Bramblepaw twitched his tail back and forth, "I thought you were a kittypet, like Cloudtail."

"I was a kittypet when I was a kit," Fireheart confirmed. He shifted on his paws as he explained, "I was accused of killing Bluestar. Tigerstar imprisoned me for it."

"Did you do it?" There was a tinge of fear in the apprentices' voice as he spoke, eyes widening as he looked at Fireheart. The older cat shook his head.

"No, of course not! I was set up, Tigerstar imprisoned me falsely."

"Why would he do that?" The apprentice cocked his head to the side, "did you tell him it wasn't you? Why didn't he believe you? Who killed her?"

This was it, he had to tell Bramblepaw the truth. Fireheart took another deep breath, steadying himself before he spoke, "Bramblepaw before I tell you I want you to know that you're going to be a great warrior." He hesitated a moment, the apprentice was a decent fighter already and a quick learner. He had been hunting for himself for almost a moon now, he had potential. But would he ever be a true warrior? He could get his warrior name from Fireheart, like Cloudtail and Brightheart, but they weren't part of a Clan. Who knew if StarClan would recognize any of the cats as warriors. Fireheart continued, "you're a cat any Clan would be proud to have. This has nothing to do with you."

Bramblepaw looked confused by his mentor's words. Fireheart meowed, "Tigerstar killed her." The young tabby's eyes rounded, horror filling them. Fireheart turned his head away for a moment, murmuring, "He killed her, blinded and blamed me, banished Graystripe, and made sure I suffered for his crime."

Fireheart began explaining Tigerstar's crimes as best he could to Bramblepaw; Redtail's murder, Bluestar's, TigerClan, the half-Clan cats, Brightheart and Swiftpaw, Cinderpelt. He explained everything he was willing to tell the young apprentice.

Bramblepaw remained silent throughout his explanation, he lowered himself slowly to the den roof as Fireheart spoke. By the time Fireheart was finished, Bramblepaw was crouching, shoulders hunched with his tail wrapped around himself as he studied his front paws. A silence fell between the two cats for a long moment, Bramblepaw's pelt was twitching nervously. He glanced up at the orange tom, a disturbed look filled his amber gaze. He hesitantly whispered, "are your nightmares about him?"

The ginger tom hadn't expected that question, he hadn't talked about those with any cat. Fireheart carefully nodded. Bramblepaw continued, the older cat could barely hear his voice, "Is that why you're scared of me? Because I look like him? Because I'm his son?"

"I'm not scared of you," Fireheart reassured the young tom. "None of this is your fault, what your father did has nothing to do with you. No one blames you for your father's actions."

A flash of fury lit in Bramblepaw's eyes, one that Fireheart had never seen in the young cat before. He knew this look; he knew it all too well. It was the exact same expression Tigerstar would have. Fireheart's ears went back and his heart lurched as the apprentice hissed, "that's not true! You blaming me, right now you are! I can see it in your face!" The apprentice sprang to his paws, "You're lying! You're scared, you think I'll end up like him!"

He turned quickly away, heading back the way they came. Fireheart rose, following rapidly after him, "Bramblepaw!" The young cat jumped off the roof of the chicken den, quickly making his way down to the ground. Fireheart followed after him, calling again. This wasn't how he wanted the kit to respond.

The ginger warrior's eyes widen as he saw Bramblepaw heading straight for the group of chickens. Ravenpaw's warning flashed through his mind. Fireheart sped up, racing after the apprentice.

Bramblepaw disturbed the birds as he tore through where the flock was, most of them scattered, making loud noises of alarm as he made his way through. The feathers around the neck of a male chicken rose and it rushed towards the apprentice.

Fireheart's heart pounded against his chest as he sprinted towards the two, he hadn't realized how fast these creatures could move. The bird leaped into the air, flapping its wings noisily as its claws outstretched like a hawk. Bramblepaw turned towards the creature, amber eyes widening as he saw its approach.

The chicken knocked the young tom to the ground with a thud. It pecked at him as he let out a yowl, Bramblepaw swiped at the bird with an unsheathed paw. Fireheart raced over to them, forcing himself between the bird and Bramblepaw. His back stung as the creature turned its attack on him, squawking as its large wings flapped. Fireheart gasped, "run, get somewhere high. Quickly!"

Bramblepaw stared in disbelief for a heartbeat before nodding and took off towards another Twoleg den. He scrambled up a few boxes piled next to it. Once Fireheart was certain the apprentice was out of danger, Fireheart left the attacking bird behind. The chicken chased after him, falling short as he leaped up the boxes next to Bramblepaw. The bird paced below them. Its head was tilted as it strutted, one beady eye focused on the two cats.

A Twoleg yowl came from around the side of the den, fear filled Fireheart. He spat, "mousedung!" They couldn't be seen like this, the Twoleg wouldn't be pleased to see that they had bothered the chickens. He turned to Bramblepaw, "we need to move. Hop off the back and go."

The apprentice did as he was told and Fireheart followed after him. The two cats made it around the back of the Twoleg den without being spotted. Once he was sure the bird hadn't come after them either, Fireheart relaxed. He looked to his back; the stupid thing had taken a few tufts of fur out. He licked where fur had once been a few times before turning back to Bramblepaw.

The apprentice looked shaken by the experience. His fur ruffled and eyes wide. Once he was certain Bramblepaw was unharmed, Fireheart licked the young cat's ear hesitantly, mewing: "I can't believe we got attacked by a bird."

The apprentice didn't respond, rather he rested his head against his mentor's chest. They stayed like that for a long moment, Fireheart giving him soothing licks. Finally, Bramblepaw spoke, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have run off."

He sounded worn out as he mewed. Fireheart blinked at him sympathetically, "I don't blame you. What I told you, it's a lot." Bramblepaw heaved a sigh and closed his eyes. Fireheart continued, "we need to head back to the barn now. You can rest then."

Bramblepaw glanced up at Fireheart, slowly nodding before rising shakily to his paws. They set out on their way, careful to avoid the birds and Twoleg on their way to the barn. As they entered, cats looked up towards them. Graystripe sprang up from where he was and headed over to the two cats. He looked the disheveled cats over, "what happened?"

Fireheart touched his nose to Bramblepaw's shoulder, murmuring: "go lay down. I'll join you in a bit." He turned to Graystripe as the brown tabby walked away explaining quietly, "he didn't take it well. He ran off and got attacked by a chicken."

"Really? A chicken?" Graystripe stared at him in disbelief.

"They're faster than they look." Fireheart meowed.

"Did the Twolegs see you?" That was Barley, there was a concerned look in his gaze as he approached. The Twolegs didn't like the cats interacting with the other animals, Fireheart knew this. Bramblepaw knew this. It had not been intentional, it was nothing but an accident.

"No, we got away before they could see us," He dipped his head to the loner. This was his home; Fireheart and the others were guests here. This mistake had put the loner's life here in danger. Fireheart apologized to the black and white tom, "he didn't mean to do it. He knows better. I think he's learned his lesson with dealing with chickens."

"He'd better." Barley muttered. Fireheart looked back to Graystripe, he needed to talk to him and Mistyfoot about Bramblepaw's training. He spotted Mistyfoot and signaled her over.

The RiverClan she-cat padded over, a curious look on her face, "what's up?"

"How was Bramblepaw in training today?" Both cats gave Fireheart confused looks.

Mistyfoot responded, "he was good. He has the makings of a good swimmer if he keeps going at it. He didn't catch any fish today, but he had a good swing." Graystripe expressed his agreement.

Fireheart explained the conversation he had with his apprentice about training quickly to Graystripe and Mistyfoot. Mistyfoot nodded, "sure, I see no harm in letting you join in. It'll allow the apprentices more time to practice together."

Graystripe's eyes gleamed, "you want to learn how to swim?" Fireheart twitched his ear.

"If Bramblepaw wants to learn, then I'll help him." There was an amused look on Graystripe's face. Did he think his friend would do poorly? It couldn't be that hard.

Fireheart looked to Mistyfoot, he had to tell her about Stonefur. Fireheart continued, "there's one more thing. When I went to Twolegplace, I found where Stonefur was buried." The RiverClan warriors' eyes widened.

"He was buried?" Fireheart nodded in confirmation, Mistyfoot stared at him a heartbeat longer before asking, "Who did it?"

the ginger cat explained the situation quickly to the she-cat. A sorrowful look came into Mistyfoot's eyes as he spoke. He gently pressed his muzzle to her shoulder comfortingly, the burial was far from ideal. Mistyfoot murmured, "he's buried. That's what matters, he's buried."

Once everything was settled, Fireheart headed off in the direction where Bramblepaw had gone. He found the apprentice where the Clan cats had set up their nests. It had taken him a few moments longer than he expected to do so because Bramblepaw was laying in Fireheart's nest rather than his own. Fireheart climbed up to it, curling around the smaller cat as he laid down. He was tense, his ears lay flat. Fireheart felt a rush of sympathy as he looked at the younger cat.

He began grooming the dust out of the apprentice's fur. As he did, Bramblepaw slowly relaxed. Fireheart listened as the young tom's breathing slowed steadily as he fell asleep. He licked the apprentice behind his ears a few more times before resting his head on Bramblepaw's back.