Claws were dug into Fireheart's side when he woke up. Alarmed and his dream still fresh in his mind, the ginger tom tried to scramble away from the opposing force. When he found that he was pinned, unable to move away, panic filled him. His instinct took over and he lashed out one unsheathed paw into the darkness surrounding him, towards whatever was holding him down.

A furious hiss sounded as an unsheathed paw made its way to his head, it slammed his head against the caked earth. Fireheart saw flashes of white through the darkness at the blow. Dazed, he remained still as he tried to recover from the blow. He could taste blood in his mouth. The shape above him moved and a voice snarled into Fireheart's ear, "try that again and I'll have your tail."

Teeth dug into his scruff as the claws disappeared from his side. He was pulled towards the entrance. He recognized the cats' scent, it was Mudclaw. There was no fresh scent of any other cat, they were alone. Fireheart regained his footing as the brown warrior let go of him, he took a few shaky steps towards the tunnel. His mind was beginning to clear, he needed to tell Tallstar. Fireheart prayed the WindClan leader would listen this time. There was no time for him not to.

The ginger cat moved into the narrow passageway, tensing as its walls brushed against his side. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. He needed to tell Tallstar. Once he went through this tunnel, he would be in the open air. He would be out. He could do it. Suddenly claws slashed at his haunches, causing Fireheart to jerk away and yelp. He could feel Mudclaw's warm breath on his back. The dark brown tom was closer to him than Onewhisker had been, he was practically on top of Fireheart. "Go."

The ginger warrior let out an annoyed hiss, causing another slash at his leg. He fell silent before obeying Mudclaw's order, turning away from him and continuing further into the tunnel. Relief washed over Fireheart as the early morning sun began to leak in. He quickened in his pace, squinting as he moved out of the fox den and into open air.

It was barely dawn; the light of the sun had barely moved from where it had been when his dream had ended at Snakerocks. In the dim light, Fireheart could see that Tallstar stood not far from the entrance of the den, waiting along with a few other warriors and Barkface. Mudclaw followed Fireheart out of the tunnel, shoving him forward as he came out. The ginger warrior ignored the hostile tom, his eye locked onto the WindClan leader.

There was a mournful look in the black and white cat's eyes, catching Fireheart off guard. Why was he looking at him like that? He didn't understand what was going on with Tallstar. It was the only thing about the leader that gave that feeling away, he looked composed otherwise. Ready to take Fireheart to TigerClan and his doom.

Tallstar eyed his captive up and down, a troubled look came to his face as he let out a sigh. "Barkface, make sure his leg is fit to travel, please. Tornear help Mudclaw hold him." He turned his attention to the brown warrior as both cats approached Fireheart. "Mudclaw, I told you not to hurt him."

"He attacked me first," The brown tom grunted as he came to Fireheart's side. I wasn't the one with my claws in a sleeping cat, Fireheart thought, flicking the end of his tail back and forth, irritated. Mudclaw continued, "It's not like Tigerstar will care that he's hurt, why should we?"

This did not matter, the wound on his leg did not matter. They did not have time for this, Fireheart needed to tell Tallstar about the pack. Tornear came to his other side as the medicine cat moved around Fireheart. The ginger warriors' ears went back and he started moving away from Barkface, his gaze had not left Tallstar. Both WindClan warriors shouldered him back again, Fireheart let out a hiss at them both, he was fine, this was not necessary.

Fireheart exclaimed, "they're coming! Please Tallstar, listen to me! The pack is coming right now." He stared desperately at the WindClan leader, imploring him to take this seriously. Fireheart continued his begging, "everyone's lives are in danger, we need to get out of camp! Quickly!"

Cats began to gather around, watching the commotion he was creating. He jerked away from Tornear and Mudclaw, trying to get out from between them. Fireheart's vision was beginning to blur as he was forced to the ground. A paw was placed on the wound Mudclaw had given Fireheart's leg. He hissed at the pain, jerking his leg away. His own voice was muffled, "My leg is fine! This is ridiculous, we need to get out of camp! You need to listen to me!"

The WindClan leader did not respond. Barkface muffled meow came from behind him, "it's nothing serious, he just needs some cobwebs to stop the bleeding."

"Get on with it then, I don't want any more delays." The leader's tone was steady as he watched Fireheart's struggle. Barkface moved away from them, heading towards the medicine cat den.

Fireheart gasped, "I had a dream from StarClan! Spottedleaf showed me, Tigerstar's leading them here now – with rabbits! There's a trail of rabbits from ThunderClan territory. You need to believe me!"

Tornear put his paw on the orange tom's head and forced it down to the cold earth, "why would StarClan share a dream with you? Shut up."

Why had StarClan come to Fireheart? No cat was listening to him. What purpose was there in showing him the pack and warning him when WindClan were the ones that needed to be warned? He let out a hiss of frustration as Barkface returned, Fireheart let the medicine cat tend to his leg without a struggle.

Suddenly the sound of barking came from outside the hollow, the scent of dogs came soon after. Before any cat could react, one of the giant creatures came barreling through the gorse barrier. Fireheart watched in horror as it grabbed the first cat it saw, shaking it as the cat screeched. More dogs followed it closely behind, barking excitedly as they saw all the cats.

Tallstar screamed, "get to the tunnels!"

Cats scattered as the dogs continued on their rampage, grabbing what cats they could. Mudclaw and Tornear had let go of Fireheart at this point, running away from the oncoming dogs. The orange cat sprang to his feet, watching the attack in horror.

Cats disappeared into holes along the sides of WindClan camp. A dog stuck its head into a hole grabbing a cat that was too slow to get away and pulled it out, the warrior turned on the creature clawing at it but the dog ignored it. It shook the cat, before hitting it against the ground with a snap.

It was too many dogs, WindClan stood no chance. Fear overtook Fireheart. He moved quickly towards one of the holes he had seen cats disappear into when he heard a screech not too far from him. He turned to see that one of the dogs was holding a smaller cat by the scruff, shaking its massive head back and forth rapidly.

Gorsepaw. He couldn't leave the apprentice to die, Fireheart raced towards the dog letting out a screech as he leaped into the air. He launched himself at the side of the creature, claws digging into its side. The massive creature opened its jaws, letting out a yelp as it dropping the ginger and white apprentice to the ground. Fireheart yowled, "run!"

Gorsepaw turned and scurried into one of the holes the other WindClan cats had gone into as Fireheart slashed at the dogs' black and tan body again. He saw fury in the creature's brown eyes as it started to try and shake the cat off. It opened its giant jaws, jerking its head around to bite at his flank. The ginger cat's eyes widen and he let go, letting the dog throw him to the ground.

Fireheart sprang to his paws, dashing away from the dog's next lunge. The large creature missed him, moving as fast as it could to snap at him. He rushed into the hole Gorsepaw had gone down. The dog stuck its massive black and tan head into the hole after Fireheart, he could hear it start to dig with its forepaws as it barked furiously after its lost prey.

Fireheart moved further into the passageway, panting. He could smell other cats' fresh scent and fear. He couldn't find any other cats, however. Tallstar had mentioned tunnels, Fireheart recalled. There must have been some sort of tunnel system under the camp.

He picked up Gorsepaw's scent. After a moment's hesitation, Fireheart headed forward into the narrow tunnel, following the apprentice's scent. A heaviness came to Fireheart's chest as he grew more unnerved. The apprentice surely knew where he was going, avoiding different tunnels that shot off in different directions and moving with certainty but Fireheart had no idea. All these tunnels seemed the same to the flame-colored tom, it was nothing but darkness. If it was not for the other cats' scents he would get lost down here. There could be any number of things in the darkness of these tunnels, the WindClan warriors were one thing to worry about but badgers and foxes went underground as well.

He also did not know how the WindClan cats left would respond to his presence. Gorsepaw seemed to be moving with intent, heading somewhere where other cats would be. The fresh scent of more cats filled his nose as he kept moving. The other holes in WindClan camp must lead to these tunnels, Fireheart realized.

Back when Brokenstar had led ShadowClan on a siege on WindClan, this must have been how they escaped their attack. How strange it was that he had never heard of these tunnels before, they seemed to at least encompass some of WindClan territory.

Light began to show in the tunnel – at last a way out! Fireheart moved quickly towards it. He heaved a sigh of relief as he burst through the tunnel entrance and into open air.

The tunnel had led outside of WindClan territory, Fireheart was not sure where precisely but it had to be close to Ravenpaw and Barley's farm, on the other side of the territory form the other Clans territory. Around him were a few WindClan cats. They had turned their attention to him and were staring at him, surprised. Fireheart ignored their looks as he scanned the group. There were not many cats, not even close to the number that WindClan had had prior. Barkface was hovering over a cat, blood-soaked the area around the warrior. The cat's back and rear legs were covered in gaping wounds from the dog's crushing bite and tearing teeth.

He spotted Tallstar talking quietly to Gorsepaw. The apprentice's mother stood close to the two, anxiously fretting over the ginger and white tabby. Fireheart needed to talk to Tallstar. He needed to find out what was going on next, they had to know he was telling the truth now. They needed to come up with a way to get rid of the dogs.

An idea came to Fireheart, they could lead the dogs to the gorge. Lead them to jump into it, it would get the pack off of WindClan territory and the Clan could return home. No other cat would get hurt. The tunnels seemed to lead all over the moors, at least from what Fireheart had seen, there must have been other entrances. Cats could slip in and out of them to continue leading the dogs to the gorge. No cat would have to run for too far. This could work. He needed to tell the WindClan leader. Fireheart took a few steps towards the WindClan leader.

A body tackled into him with a furious snarl. Claws tore into Fireheart's pelt as he let out a hiss of pain. He was thrust to the ground, he clawed blindly up at the cat on top of him. Some yowls sounded from the WindClan cats present, one rang clear above the others: "Stop it, Mudclaw!"

The attacking cat was pulled off of Fireheart, Tallstar moved between the two cats. Fireheart rose to a crouch, panting as he glowered at the cat who attacked him. Tallstar turned his attention to the orange warrior, he had a look of surprise on his face: "How did you make it here?"

"I followed Gorsepaw's scent," Fireheart replied, looking to where Mudclaw had clawed his side. Once he was certain that there was no blood and he had only lost fur, he looked back to the WindClan leader. He meowed rapidly, "I've got an idea. I think I know how to get rid of the dogs."

Mudclaw hissed, his tail lashed rapidly behind him: "You were the one who brought them here! Why do you care? Do you think you can get on WindClan's side for this? Become a hero?"

"What?" Fireheart stared in disbelief at the brown warrior. How could Fireheart have brought the dogs here? Mudclaw had pulled Fireheart out of the fox den himself, he knew that he had spent the night there.

"You clearly set up the dog attack, how else would you have known they were coming? Then you came, trying to be some sort of hero by warning us. You did it trying to get us on your side, didn't you?" The dark warrior spat, he bared his teeth at the other cat: "Well that failed didn't it, Fireheart? Not much of a hero now, are you?"

"How could I have accomplished that?" Fireheart exclaimed, his tail lashing. "I was in that den all night! Onewhisker would have seen me leave!"

Mudclaw rose to his paws as he snarled, "you set it up before or had some other cat do it for you. I don't know, but it was you. I know it was." He took a few steps towards him, claws unsheathing and hackles rising. Fireheart flattened his ears, his fur bristled as he let out a hiss at the opposing warrior. His muscles tensed, ready to spring into a fight if need be. This was all ridiculous, why did the WindClan warrior want to blame him so badly?

"Both of you quit it!" Tallstar snapped, his tail lashed as he looked back and forth between the two warriors. The dark tabby sheathed his claws, keeping his eyes trained on the other cat. Fireheart forced his muscles to relax and his fur down. Ignoring Mudclaw's glare, the outsider looked up to the WindClan leader. Tallstar had his attention on Fireheart, he asked, "you said you had an idea?"

Before Fireheart could respond Mudclaw let out a sneer, "you are going to ask for his advice? You're willing to follow his advice? The wretched traitor who murdered his leader? Who clearly had something to do with this attack?" The brown tom scoffed as he shook his head, "I cannot believe this." His eyes narrowed at Tallstar, "WindClan is finished, if you are willing to listen to a cat like him then it is gone. I can't see how you could be so blind."

The dark warrior looked around at the other cats that were watching, "I am going to join TigerClan. We should have done it in the first place, they could have helped us with this situation." Mudclaw jerked his head towards Fireheart, "We should have given him to them the first time, this would never have happened. If any of you have any sort of sense you would join me."

Tallstar stared at the dark tom, eyes wide. "Mudclaw -"

Mudclaw ignored him, turning away from his leader, there was a stark silence as he started to stalk away. After a few moments, a few cats rose. Hesitantly they followed where the WindClan warrior had gone, the Clan cats left watching on in shocked silence. The silence was broken by a sudden exclamation: "Ashfoot no! You can't!"

Onewhisker was staring, round-eyed at a gray she-cat. She held a dark gray kit in her jaws. Her ears were back and there was a strange look in her eyes. She set the kit down on the ground before speaking, "Onewhisker, I'm sorry but I need to." She looked around at the cats watching her, "Downkit and Hillkit are gone. Deadfoot is missing, I need to raise our son in a Clan. I don't think I can do that here. I need to give Crowkit the best life I can."

Onewhisker looked to Tallstar desperately, the WindClan leader shook his head. He meowed, "I cannot stop any cat from joining TigerClan." His voice was strained, "I do discourage it, however. This is still WindClan, we will fight for our territory and our Clan. Ashfoot, I am sorry if you feel the need to leave. If so, I have failed you and WindClan as a leader."

There were gasps and murmurs among the remaining WindClan cats. Tallstar dipped his head to the gray queen. Ashfoot stared at the black and white tom for a heartbeat before she nodded back, picking up the kit in her jaws, and turning away from Onewhisker. She headed off where Mudclaw and the others had gone. Fireheart felt numb as he watched them disappear over the hill. WindClan had even fewer cats now.