Fireheart shook himself as he padded into the Twoleg nest after Ravenpaw. The flakes of snow that had scattered his ginger fur falling off as he did. It had started to snow just before sunrise. The snow was light, barely more than a thin covering had formed but it was still snow. Snow meant that prey would be hiding, making it harder for the WindClan warriors to find prey when they returned. The dog's presence would have made it hard enough without it being leaf-bare. In addition, it would be covering their Clanmates they had to leave behind the day prior. WindClan would need to return soon.
After him, came Graystripe and the three apprentices. All of them had mice in their jaws, Ravenpaw leading the way to where the fresh-kill pile had been made. Fireheart set the prey he had down, he could feel cats' watching him. After the prior day, he was not surprised. How much was known by the WindClan cats was a mystery to him, he had yet to figure out how much the farm cats had told. They had all seen him react to Graystripe and run out and that was more than he ever wanted them to know.
Picking one of the mice up, Fireheart padded away from the pile as a few of the WindClan warriors moved forward. He nodded to Onewhisker as the tabby moved by him with a slight limp. The wound, caused by a bite to one of his hind legs, was one of many the remaining WindClan cats had to deal with. And the brown warrior had gotten off easy. Even without the snow or the dogs, the Clan would not be able to defend themselves presently. They would need the cats at the farm's help.
Fireheart knew he would help out the Clan, if given the chance, he was certain the others would as well. It was simply a matter of whether or not WindClan would accept their help.
He moved away from where the other cats had gathered, followed by Graystripe. Since Fireheart had told the gray tom the truth, he had been tense towards him. The betrayal he had felt by the others' lie had affected him; Fireheart was not surprised by this nor did he blame the other cat. When Fireheart told Graystripe about his fight with Tigerstar, that seemed to affect the warrior the most and was the root of this tension. He was grateful that they were talking, at least.
Fireheart dipped his head to Tallstar as he made his way over to the WindClan leader, setting the prey in front of him. The injured tom murmured his thanks, lowering his head to sniff at the creature before taking a bite. The ginger warrior moved a few steps back, sitting next to where Graystripe had stopped.
The obvious pain Tallstar had been in the day prior seemed to have lessened, while he was still healing, he looked to be in better health than he had been when Fireheart had left him last. His eyes were clearer and not every movement was met by pain. The black and white cat had his eyes on Fireheart as he spoke, "How do you feel?"
"Better." It was true, the poppy seeds had helped. His head did not feel as though it was clogged with mist any more and he had had a restful sleep. More restful than he could remember having. There were none of the nightmares he was accustomed to, it was almost like he had blinked and it was suddenly sunrise. His muscles still ached, but that was to be expected. Fireheart asked, "how do you feel?"
"Barkface will not let me leave my nest," Tallstar replied dryly. "I do feel better." His gaze shifted off behind Fireheart and Graystripe, "I sent out a patrol not too long ago to check out our territory, once it is certain that we can return and there are no more dangers, we will be on our way. I thank you all for your assistance, it will not be forgotten." He took another bite of the mouse as he finished.
The two warriors dipped their heads in response. Can Tallstar make it back to camp now? Fireheart wondered. The trek to the Twoleg nest was hard enough, he could not imagine that Barkface would allow for him to travel again so soon. It might be a few more sunrises before the leader of WindClan would be able to return, but at least the rest of WindClan could return and tend to their fallen.
A yowl caught Fireheart's attention, he turned to see a cat burst through the entrance of the den. The orange-brown warrior made her way quickly to Tallstar, the two outsiders moving out of her way as she did. Her fur bristled and tail lashed, she panted as she wildly exclaimed: "TigerClan has marked off our borders! They've claimed our territory!"
Growls and hisses of alarm came from the WindClan warriors. How could they have done it so quickly? Certainly, they knew about WindClan's defeat from the cats that had joined, but to go so quickly and claim WindClan territory as their own? It all seemed too fast. They knew Tallstar and the rest of WindClan were still alive, why make the grab? It was to the point where it was insensitive.
"Tawnyfur, what happened?" Tallstar had pushed himself up so he was sitting, tail lashing and face full of alarm. Barkface began to protest the leaders' movements. He glanced at the medicine cat, "I won't stand." Before Barkface could reply, Tallstar turned his attention back to Tawnyfur.
"We smelled them on the way in," The brown warrior explained. "Tornear said that we should keep going, so we did. As we did, we ran into a patrol not far past the border. Leopardstar is leading it, they wanted to speak with you. Tornear sent me ahead to warn you." Alarm flashed through Fireheart at the warriors' words, TigerClan cats were coming here. What did they have to say? They had already claimed WindClan territory as their own, what more could Tigerstar possibly want?
If Leopardstar was leading them, that meant that Tigerstar had not come. Fireheart searched the present cats quickly, looking for the brown tabby coat. As he did, more yowls of outrage came from the WindClan cats at Tawnyfur's words. When he spotted the apprentice, Fireheart called Bramblepaw over to him.
The last thing they needed was TigerClan knowing about the young cat. "Get out of here." Fireheart told Bramblepaw after he made his way to his mentor, "You need to get back to the barn. Make sure no cat from TigerClan sees you, stay there until someone has come for you."
"But –" Fireheart silenced the protest with a hiss.
"There is no time for this. Go." The apprentice nodded, panic lighting up his amber eyes as he turned away from Fireheart and bounded quickly to the entrance of the den. When Bramblepaw had disappeared, Fireheart glanced at Tallstar, "No TigerClan cat can know he is here."
The idea of that discovery alone made Fireheart dizzy, it would certainly cause a fight and there was no way they could win in a fight with TigerClan right now. Especially over Tigerstar's son. The dark tabby would flay Fireheart for this. Tallstar nodded, "No one will mention him." He promised.
"What about you?" Graystripe's mew came as a surprise, Fireheart turned his head so he could see the other cat. The gray tom was eying him, an unreadable look in his yellow eyes.
"They know my scent better than his, they'd smell my fresh scent and come looking. It's better not to hide." Fireheart twitched his tail as he mewed, how the TigerClan cats would respond to see him was unknown. It was possible they would start a fight.
Some hisses sounded from the entrance of the nest, the cats inside turned their attention to it. After a few moments, Tornear came in, Smokefang, and Morningflower following after him with the TigerClan cats between them. After them came Cloudtail, Mistyfoot, and Barley. Fireheart figured they must have met outside. Cloudtail glared at the TigerClan cats as Mistyfoot made her way over to Featherpaw and Stormpaw. Barley looked nervous, hurrying over to Ravenpaw.
Leopardstar had her head held high, she was pointedly not looking at any of her former Clanmates. She scanned her surroundings before her golden eyes landed on Tallstar. She followed the WindClan warriors over to the black and white tom. Fireheart stepped back, sitting next to Tallstar as he moved out of the RiverClan cats' way. The golden she-cats' gaze went to Fireheart for a moment, he saw a flaming disgust in her glare.
With her were Darkstripe, Sandstorm, Heavystep, Mousefur, and Tawnypaw. Sandstorm was not returning his look, it made sense to Fireheart as to why she would. Even so, he couldn't help but feel a twinge in his chest at her avoidance. He knew it was different than before, but it still felt the same.
While Sandstorm kept her attention away from Fireheart, Tawnypaw was staring at the warrior. A familiar mixture of curiosity and fear filled her green eyes. Bramblepaw had given him the same look all those moons ago in the cave. How strange it was, Fireheart knew this apprentice's littermate so well and yet he could not remember seeing her more than once or twice before. He nodded to the young tortoiseshell, causing her eyes to round and Mousefur to let out a threatening hiss at him.
Fireheart shifted his attention away from Tawnypaw and back to Leopardstar and Tallstar. "Greetings Leopardstar." While he could not see the other cat, Fireheart imagined the WindClan leader dipping his head as he watched the TigerClan she-cat doing the same a heartbeat later. There was a tension in Tallstar's rasp, "You have taken our territory and now you want to talk to me? What about?"
"Tigerstar has sent me to discuss WindClan returning to the moors." Leopardstar replied, "When some of your warriors came to us for sanctuary, we heard about the dog attack." Fireheart twitched his tail, as if they did not already know the plan! At least some of TigerClan had to have known about their leaders' scheme if Fireheart had to guess Darkstripe had prior knowledge. Whether Tigerstar would tell his fellow leader was unknown to the orange warrior. "It grieves us all to think of the good warriors lost from that attack. He wants us to discuss what will happen next and to offer our help." Tigerstar was offering help to the displaced WindClan? There had to be a catch to this. What was it?
"Tigerstar has sent you?" Tallstar echoed. "I thought you were as much of a leader as Tigerstar is, Leopardstar. Perhaps it is that you have not been leader long that you word it so, here is my advice to you. Take claim for your Clan doings, for you are a leader of TigerClan as well." The fur along the golden tabby's spine bristled at Tallstar's words.
"I need no advice from you!"
"And yet you have taken my Clan's territory in less than a sunrise of us being gone. Does TigerClan need new hunting grounds that badly?" Fireheart heard Tallstar shift, the black and white cat growled. "What sort of help have you to offer after all of this?"
Leopardstar hesitated a moment before responding, "We are willing to give WindClan your territory back, TigerClan is willing to assist in WindClan's restoration. Our warriors will be under your command for however long you need them."
This all sounded like a good deal to Fireheart, he was certain that many of the WindClan cats present thought so too. The matter only remained.
"What do you want from us?"
"We ask for nothing difficult. It is nothing that will affect your Clan." Leopardstar reassured the other leader, "In fact, from what I heard you already had it prepared." The TigerClan leader shifted her gaze to Fireheart, "Tigerstar wants him." Fireheart's heart began to pound against his chest, of course, he was what Tigerstar wanted.
What Leopardstar was offering was a compelling deal, he would not blame Tallstar if he took it. If he did not, it would put WindClan in more danger. It could put the cats at the barn in danger as well if TigerClan put the connection between the abandoned Twoleg nest and the barn. To protect WindClan and his friends, Fireheart decided he would go with the TigerClan patrol. The thought made his chest tighten; he had no idea what Tigerstar had planned for him.
He certainly would be punished for his escape and the other crimes that he had been blamed for; however, Fireheart doubted the sentence would be death. Tigerstar seemed to want him to be alive for some reason. What the punishments might be instead began to cloud his mind and his vision blurred, Fireheart pushed it away as the tightness in his chest increased.
He could try to escape; Fireheart had an advantage that he did not have last time: Sandstorm. She would make escaping easier than it had been last time, he had Yellowfang before but she could not help him. Sandstorm would be his guard at some point, she could help him.
But what would happen to WindClan? If he escaped, Tigerstar might pull out of this deal, perhaps it would be better to stay and endure the punishment and secure WindClan's safety than to escape.
Leopardstar continued, "Considering everything you know he did prior; I was surprised to see him walking freely. Especially near you in this state." Her eyes narrowed, "Considering everything he has done since the last sunrise, I would have thought that WindClan would want to see him dead. The fact that he is not, at least, under guard after leading the pack to your camp is startling. Either you are foolishly lenient when it comes to your prisoners or Fireheart is not one at all."
Tallstar growled, "Of course, Fireheart is not a prisoner. He did no such thing. Without his help, we might not have been able to get the pack off of our territory."
"Mudclaw was right! The traitor has you all swayed to his side!" Darkstripe exclaimed, taking a step towards Fireheart, eyes ablaze, "Quite the heroic act, saving them from something you caused, kittypet!"
"Tigerstar did it, and you know he did." Fireheart held the dark warriors' leer, "Why else would we have scented him on WindClan territory?" The deputy's fur bristled and he let out a hiss. Graystripe tensed next to Fireheart, letting out a returning hiss. He looked ready to come to his friends' defense if need be, Fireheart was grateful for his friend. The orange tom twitched his ear at Graystripe, signaling him to relax.
Leopardstar turned her gaze on Darkstripe, "Stand down, we are not here to start a fight." Darkstripe let out a disgruntled grunt as he stepped back.
"It's just like you to be blaming Tigerstar for your crimes. How many more will you blame him for, huh, kittypet?"
Leopardstar shot the TigerClan deputy another glare, "What did I just say?" Once Darkstripe had stopped his taunting, she shifted her gaze back to Tallstar. "We are willing to help WindClan in whatever way you may need for as long as you need. All that we ask is the ability to act upon justice for both of our Clans."
"I'll go with you." The attention in the nest was shifted from the two leaders to Fireheart. He saw a flash of alarm appear in Sandstorm's eyes as Graystripe turned towards him, a horrified look on his face.
"What do you mean you'll go?"
"I'll go with the patrol without a fight." Fireheart dipped his head to Leopardstar, "if it means WindClan gets their territory back and things become peaceful, I will go with you." The pressure on his chest was growing and his brain was beginning to get foggy again, Fireheart turned his head so he could see Tallstar. "If you want me to go, I will go."
The WindClan cat had a shocked look on his face, He had risen to his paws and his yellow eyes were round as he stared back at Fireheart. He meowed, "No, I will not allow an innocent cat to be punished for something he did not do."
Relieved, Fireheart let out a breath. He would not have to go with Leopardstar back to TigerClan. What would happen next? TigerClan was stronger than WindClan, how would they get their territory back? Leopardstar looked around the den at the other cats for a few moments before her stare landed on Fireheart, "If he is so willing, why not accept the deal? You are only delaying the inevitable."
Tallstar repeated, "I will not allow for an innocent cat to be punished."
An idea came to Fireheart. "Leopardstar," he meowed, "If I go with you right now, against Tallstar's wishes. I would be turning myself in, WindClan would not be turning me over. Can you give WindClan the same deal you just offered?"
Graystripe let out a hiss as Tallstar exclaimed, "I will not allow this!" He limped a few steps towards Fireheart, "You will do no such thing! I forbid it!" Fireheart ignored them both, his eye on Leopardstar.
She looked hesitant as she thought over his question. The tightness in Fireheart's chest increased. His mind was spinning, "Do we have a deal? Will WindClan get their territory back?"
"Why are we wasting our time on this?" Darkstripe snarled, "We should just take him!" He moved towards Fireheart, Graystripe moved in his way, the gray cats' fur was bristled as he spat at the TigerClan deputy. Fireheart heard some more hisses coming from the farm cats.
Leopardstar shot a glare at Darkstripe, "What don't you get by stand down?" the dark tabby curled his lip but moved back from the opposing warrior. The RiverClan cat opened her mouth to respond, after a few heartbeats she responded: "why would we make a deal with a traitor?" Her glare darkened, "I cannot say that Tigerstar would agree to that deal."
Fireheart murmured, "then he should have been here for himself." He raised his voice, "I am not turning myself in for something I did not do for no good reason." He could feel his heart beating against his chest.
"Tell Tigerstar if he wants me so bad, he can come and get me himself."