The WindClan leader's voice was faint, barely more than a whisper. Fireheart crouched next to the black and white cat as he mewed, "I thought this was your last life, I thought you were gone."

"Not quite," Tallstar croaked. He readjusted himself, sitting up so he was facing the other more directly. He let out a hiss of pain. Fireheart's eyes widened, they'd need to get to Barkface as soon as possible. Could he make the journey to the barn? Tallstar was in bad shape, Fireheart might have to get the medicine cat himself.

The black and white tom continued, "I saw you go over the edge and the dogs scattered. I was able to get myself here before I lost that life." How many lives did he have left? Fireheart wondered; it could not be many. Tallstar pushed himself up on shaky forelegs. He let out a hiss and Fireheart could see the pain in the older cats' eyes.

"Lay back down, I'll go get Barkface. You shouldn't move." Fireheart rose from his crouch. He couldn't leave the other cat out in the open, one of the dogs could come back or any other danger could happen upon Tallstar. He needed to get him somewhere safe and then he could get Barkface and all would be fine. Fireheart spotted a bush not far from them, he could stay there and wait for the cats to return.

"Stop." He froze at the order, looking back to the other warrior. Tallstar had sat up and was looking at Fireheart. His sides heaved, there was a determined look in the WindClan leader's amber eyes: "I can walk."

Fireheart doubted the leader's words. "I don't think that's a good idea, let's get you to cover and then I can go." Tallstar could lose another life if they were not careful, Fireheart could not risk that. He dipped his head respectfully to the other cat, "I'll be quick. I will get Barkface, he'll know what to do."

"You will not." Tallstar's tone was commanding, there was no room for Fireheart to disagree, "we will go in a moment. Sit." Despite his better judgment, the ginger tom followed the command. He sat on the brown grass in front of the other cat. What did he have to say? Tallstar readjusted himself again, shooing Fireheart away at his attempt to help him. He meowed, "I told you to head to the farm. Why were you at the gorge?"

"I realized that there was no way for you to deal with the pack without going over. I couldn't leave you to that." Tallstar was silent for a few moments after Fireheart's response.

He murmured, "So you decided to do it yourself." His meow grew louder, "How did you survive? I watched you fall off that cliff. I would have thought you were crowfood." Fireheart explained what happened to the WindClan leader. When he finished, Tallstar studied him for a heartbeat, "You certainly are lucky. StarClan must have been on your side."

Fireheart mewed his agreement, it seemed as though they were. He had no idea how he had managed to survive it all. If only they were helpful elsewhere. Tallstar meowed, "You said that you had a dream from StarClan last night, concerning the dogs?" Fireheart nodded, there was a curious glint in the black and white cats' eyes. "Do you get those often?"

"I've been getting them since I was a kit," Fireheart replied. Why did Tallstar care? Clan cats share dreams with StarClan all the time. Perhaps it was because he used to be a kittypet? "I get them every few moons or so. That was the first one since I…" He paused, "left ThunderClan."

Tallstar murmured, "since before you joined ThunderClan." There was a moment's silence before Tallstar rose shakily to his paws, "let's get going." Fireheart followed his lead quickly moving to the older cats' side, offering his shoulder. After a moment's hesitation, Tallstar leaned against the orange tom. He let Fireheart help him out forward, across the open moors. The black and white cat glanced at Fireheart, "before we go to the farm, we are going to stop by camp."

Tallstar needed to see Barkface right away they did not have time for any delays. For all they know, the dogs could have gone back to camp. Fireheart opened his mouth, ready to protest when the WindClan cat shot him a warning look. "I know what you are thinking, I need to see what has become of my Clan."

There was a sorrowful hint to the WindClan leaders' tone. Fireheart hesitated a moment before he meowed, "Yes, Tallstar."

"On the way, tell me about that day." That day? What day was Tallstar talking about? He gave the WindClan leader a puzzled look. Tallstar murmured, "the day Bluestar died. Tell me about it." Oh, that day. Memories filled Fireheart's mind. Why would Tallstar want to know about that? He had heard Tigerstar's version of events, why would he want Fireheart's? No cat believed his side. No one wanted it. Tallstar continued, "I know what Tigerstar has told me. What happened from your point of view?"

He wanted his version of events. Why did Tallstar care? No cat has asked him explicitly since Yellowfang did all those moons ago. Sure, other cats had learned some version of the truth and believed it but no cat had asked before. They moved forward, slowly towards WindClan camp, Tallstar's weight against the ginger warrior's side. Fireheart spoke quietly as the memories came back.

"My apprentice was out hunting when he spotted Tigerclaw talking to one of Brokentail's rogues." He felt Tallstar stiffen at the former ShadowClan leader's name, "Cloudpaw came to tell me. I knew that he'd been going into Twolegplace before, I figured Tigerclaw must have been planning an attack with the rogues." Fireheart paused a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing: "we went quickly back to camp, to find that the group of rogues had attacked. I realized I could not see Tigerclaw or Bluestar, so I went to her den. I had to fight my way through," a heaviness was forming in his chest. He murmured, "when I got there, she was dead and he was standing over her."

If only he had been quicker, then he could have saved her. Grief filled Fireheart, if he had been quicker and able to stop Tigerstar, they would not be in the mess they were in now. WindClan would be fine, there would be four Clans, Bluestar would be alive, and there would have been no Tigerstar. He never would have gotten into power and the forest would be as peaceful as it could be. Fireheart would be with his Clanmates and no longer a rogue. If only he had been faster.

"We fought and he gave me a chance to follow him, but I refused. The blame was put on me. He told everyone I killed Bluestar. I tried to tell my Clanmates the truth, but they wouldn't listen." The words the TigerClan leader had said echoed in Fireheart's head.

He murmured, "after all, who would believe a kittypet over the new leader of ThunderClan?"

"Only Graystripe was on my side. He defended me so Tigerclaw labeled him as a traitor. He banished him. When I wasn't banished, I didn't know what he was going to do with me." His voice began to shake, "I don't know why he didn't kill me. I don't know why I'm still alive, I do not understand Tigerstar's motivation for keeping me alive." From what Fireheart could remember in those moons, it seemed as though Tigerstar had seen the whole thing as a game and Fireheart had been his toy of choice.

That didn't matter, he was getting off topic. Fireheart stammered: "I-I didn't kill her; I would never have even thought about hurting her. She was my mentor, my leader. I would never have done that. Tigerstar killed her."

Tallstar was silent as Fireheart came to a finish. He felt his pelt twitch, what did the WindClan leader think? Did he believe Fireheart? Barely anyone did, while he wasn't sure what exactly Tallstar had heard from Tigerstar he could guess. There was no reason for Tallstar to believe him about any of this. A long moment passed before Tallstar replied hoarsely, "What reason would Tigerstar have to kill her?"

"He wanted to be leader," Fireheart meowed. "He killed Redtail as well on his quest for power. Ravenpaw saw him, that's why he had to leave ThunderClan, Tigerstar was threatening him." Fireheart spotted a shape ahead of them, through the ever-prevalent scent of dog and Tallstar's blood he could not smell anything. He saw fur, his blood ran cold as he realized it was too big to be a rabbit.

They were not far from camp. Had the dogs dragged some cats out of camp? Why was the body here? They were on the other side of camp from the entrance. He heard Tallstar murmur, "take me to his body." Fireheart obeyed, helping the injured cat up the small hill and over to the cat. The black and white tom signaled him to stop a few tail lengths from the cat. Fireheart felt Tallstar's weight lift from his side, he began to protest when the other cat shot him a warning look. He fell silent as he watched as the WindClan leader staggered towards the fallen warrior, lowering his head and touching his nose to his side when he got to it.

Guilt sat heavy in Fireheart's stomach. He should have been able to do something to prevent this. Anything. The orange tom watched Tallstar murmur something to the warrior's body. Tallstar raised his head, looking back at Fireheart. There was a glimmer of sorrow in his eyes as he rasped, "he was not killed by a dog."

No, the cat had not been. Fireheart padded up next to the leader, looking down at the body. The wound on its' neck was too clean to be a dog, a dog would have shredded the body. There was nothing but a wound across the cats' throat. He lowered his head to the warriors' body, taking in the scent. Over the reek of blood as well as the cats' own scent, there was another scent. One Fireheart knew all too well. Tigerstar.

Why had the TigerClan leader killed this warrior? If he had wanted to give the dogs a taste of cat blood, he could have put the body along the rabbit trail. There was no reason for it to be here. What had the warrior been doing in this part of the territory? What was the motive behind this killing? Tallstar meowed quietly, "after you were put in the den, I sent out extra warriors to keep an eye out. I told them it was in case of a TigerClan ambush, but it was because of what you said." Fireheart turned his head towards the leader, surprised by his words. Did the WindClan leader believe him all this time? "You sounded genuine; I knew you believed what you were saying. You were being honest."

"I did not know if it was real or if you had assumed. I could not say that I believed what you were saying, I don't think I did. Not that it mattered, my warriors would question me for following your advice. I sent them out on the lookout for TigerClan, but if any of them had seen a pack of dogs, they would have warned us." The WindClan leader shakily sat down, "this morning, I assumed you just had a dream." He closed his eyes, "why would you have received such a warning but not I or Barkface? I thought that if you were speaking the truth, the extra guards would have been able to warn us. I imagine they met the same fate."

"Did StarClan give you any sort of warning for the pack?" Fireheart asked. It seemed implausible that he was the only one in any capacity to receive a warning. If StarClan had known, why had they not told WindClan?

"Barkface was having nightmares about dogs." The black and white cat murmured, "but we have them so often in our territory it was brushed aside until last night. I thought the extra guards would have prevented this." He was silent a long moment before rising to his paws again, "we need to head into camp. We can bury him, along with the others, once WindClan has returned." There was a pause, "Could you carry him to camp, please?"

"What about you?" Tallstar flicked his tail dismissively.

"I'm still alive, I can make it to camp myself." There was determination in the leader's voice. Fireheart hesitated a moment longer before crouching next to the fallen cat, hoisting him onto his back. He followed the black and white tom down to the camp entrance carefully. Tallstar was tense as he staggered down the small incline and into the gorse tunnel. His pelt would twitch as he moved and the other cat could see him trying to hide the pain.

When they entered camp, the stench of blood and death filled the air. Fireheart gazed around the small hollow, sorrow and guilt filling him at the sight. The camp was destroyed, there was blood splattered on the snow around them. Broken bodies scattered around. The WindClan leader stopped in his tracks, gazing around the hollow silently. After a few heartbeats, he mewed softly, "set him down near the middle." There was a sadness which filled his mew. Fireheart nodded, making his way to the center of the hollow before setting the warrior's body down.

He turned his attention back to the WindClan leader. The older cat had made his way to a cat's body not far from the entrance. Fireheart recognized the dark shape as he padded up to it. Deadfoot. Tallstar was seated, shoulders hunched as he stared at his deputy's broken body. He touched his nose to his ragged pelt, murmuring something the ginger cat could not make out.

The lean warrior glanced at Fireheart, there was a heaviness in his voice: "Thank you, Fireheart." The orange tom dipped his head in acknowledgment. "Thank you for everything, you tried to assist WindClan again even though there was no reason for you to do it. There was motivation against it and you chose to come here and help. You got the pack away from our territory and I, and WindClan, thank you for it." He looked back at Deadfoot for a few heartbeats. Tallstar murmured, "I remember when I first saw Tigerstar at the Gathering as a leader. When he told me what you had done I…" He trailed off for a few heartbeats before continuing. "I did not think it was like you. I could not imagine the young warrior I had met doing anything so fox-hearted. Your actions today have proven me right."

Tallstar believed him. The leader of WindClan believed the truth. Fireheart's head felt light from the relief, this was great. He got a leader to believe him, this was more than he could have ever hoped for. Fireheart lowered his head to the other cat, "Thank you."

Tallstar nodded, he was quiet for a few heartbeats before he meowed, "Could you check the elder's den and the nursery for any sign of survivors? I do not think there are any out here." He twitched an ear towards two gorse bushes, "they are over there."

Fireheart nodded, heading over to the bushes. His tail twitched anxiously as he stared at it. The orange tom took a deep breath, it is only for a moment. Fireheart forced himself forward, ducking under the branches of the bush and into the den. A heaviness was forming in his chest as he entered. He could smell nothing but fear in that den. The ginger cat looked around the small den, there were no cats that he could see. If he had to guess, this one was the elder's den. Relieved, Fireheart quickly left the den.

When Fireheart made his way to the nursery, he hesitated longer than he had last time. The heaviness on his chest increased, he did not know what sight would greet him and was scared as to what he might see. The ginger warrior did not want to go in, a lot more so than the other den. He took a deep breath before slowly entering the den. He gazed around the den, there was blood on the floor. The trail led to the back of the den, where a cat lay. Fireheart could not see her side moving, she had to be dead. Grief filled him at the sight, she must have pulled herself in here before she died.

Suddenly, Fireheart heard a hiss. He turned his attention towards the sound quickly. It was coming from the direction of the WindClan she-cat. Fireheart padded towards the sound, as he did, he spotted a tiny kit. The kit's eyes were wide, its black and white fur fluffed up as it stared at Fireheart. The young cats fear scent was strong, the warrior took a tentative step towards it and got another hiss.

"Go away! I'll fight you!" The kit squeaked at him. Fireheart slowly lowered himself on to his belly and rested his head on the den floor, forcing himself to take a deep breath as he did. He mewed soothingly at the kit.

"I'm not going to hurt you. I can get you back to your Clan, what's your name?"

"I know who you are! Mama says you're bad, to stay away from you and that you'd hurt me if given the chance! Go away! I'm not leaving her!" He bared his tiny white teeth at Fireheart, why did all kits think he wanted to hurt them? He looked to the queen; this was the kits' mother then. He could not imagine what he must have gone through. The warrior blinked at the tom-kit.

"Tallstar's out in the clearing. Let's go see him," His head was beginning to spin. It was too small, he needed to get out. He needed to get this kit out of here.

"Did you kill him?" Fireheart shook his head; his breathing was getting heavy. He couldn't think of a way to respond. He needed to get out of here and he needed to take the kit with him. The kit squeaked, "I don't believe you!"

"Why don't you come see." Fireheart could barely hear his own voice, could barely feel himself as he rose to his paws, moving numbly over to the kit. He barely felt himself grab the kit by the scruff before rushing out of the den. The small cat let out a yowl of fear as he thrashed in the warriors' jaws. He felt the sharp claws of the small cat's hind paws dig into his chest.

Fireheart set the kit down, gasping for air. The kit moved back from him, fear scent as strong as it had been in the nursery. The warrior forced himself to take some deep breaths, he blinked, clearing his vision before looking back to the kit. The small tom-kit was shaking, Fireheart felt guilty. He hadn't intended to scare the kit. He simply needed to get out of there.

"Thistlekit?" The kit turned towards Tallstar's voice, racing over to where the WindClan leader was crouching when he spotted him. After a few moments, Fireheart followed the kit over to the other warrior. The kits' eyes rounded and he let out a hiss at the outsiders' approach. Tallstar blinked reassuringly at the kit, "he won't hurt you." Yellow eyes moved to Fireheart, "are you alright?"

"Yeah." His heart was pounding against his chest. Fireheart blinked a few times as he mewed, "I couldn't find any more survivors besides for him."

The WindClan leader was silent for a few heartbeats before he nodded, "let's get going to the farm then."