Tallstar broke off from Fireheart and Sandstorm as they left the secluded corner of camp. Everything that had occurred that day was whirling in Fireheart's mind as he led the way across the hollow. The WindClan leader's main concern after it all was the threat of TigerClan warriors coming here, WindClan had yet to have been discovered truly and with such a breach in TigerClan, there was bound to be a reaction from them.

It had not seemed as though Fireheart and Sandstorm were followed across the Thunderpath, though. He was not sure what had stopped them from continuing their attack, but for now, it was welcomed. So far, they had not been followed.

Sandstorm matched Fireheart's speed, "Did every cat know about our meetings here?" He shook his head. This certainly was not the reaction that TigerClan had had when they had been found out but he had not mentioned it to everyone. The RiverClan and ThunderClan cats had been aware as well as a couple of WindClan. It was possible it had spread, it sure seemed like it had. Tallstar himself had been made aware early on.

Tallstar had caught Fireheart returning from one of his earlier meetings with Sandstorm. Well, caught was not the right way to say it. It was more so he had caught on to Graystripe's franticness about Fireheart returning to TigerClan territory. When Fireheart returned, the older warrior had been waiting for him with Graystripe.

They had discussed what he was doing. Tallstar had seemed fine with it as long as he was being careful. Fireheart remembered the knowing look the black and white tom had given him as he meowed, "no wonder you did not want to tell me who told you." Fireheart had been practically embarrassed at the leader's words.

Fireheart had not considered telling Tallstar about their meetings prior, he probably should have considering the danger he was bringing back with him each time he went. Now TigerClan had found out and this danger had been brought to light.

"Fireheart?" The warrior turned at the sound of his name, Bramblepaw was padding towards him with Gorsepaw at his side. Despite addressing Fireheart, the brown tom's eyes were on Sandstorm.

"Bramblekit?" Sandstorm stared at the apprentice; her eyes were wide, almost as though she was looking at a ghost. She might as well be, prior to earlier that day she had thought Bramblepaw was dead. Her gaze shifted to Fireheart, "So, you weren't lying."

Why would she think he was lying? Perhaps it was the shock that he had not only saved the son of Tigerstar's life but also decided to keep him? He was still a bit surprised he had done it himself. Bramblepaw meowed, "It's Bramblepaw. I'm not a kit."

"Right," Sandstorm shook her head, "Of course, it is. Your sister is an apprentice, too. I don't know if you remember me, I'm Sandstorm."

The tabby nodded, "Fireheart talks about you a lot." Fireheart's ears heated up at the apprentice's words. Sandstorm glanced at him; amusement lit her eyes. "And I know Tawnypaw is, I've seen her." Sandstorm looked puzzled by Bramblepaw's statement, she looked at Fireheart questioningly. He twitched his ear; he could explain this to her later. There was a lot he would need to explain.

Fireheart asked, "What is it, kit? Something the matter?" Bramblepaw bristled at his mentor's words, he began to protest when Gorsepaw cut him off.

"Onewhisker said we could borrow Bramblepaw for my assessment today? He wanted us to check in with you before we left." The ginger and white tabby shifted on his paws excitedly. Right, Gorsepaw's warrior assessment. That was today. With everything that had happened, Fireheart had forgotten about it. Gorsepaw was long overdue for his warrior's assessment. He was worthy of receiving his name; the assessment was more so a formality than anything else and they had wanted to use one of the other apprentices for it.

With the other apprentices being Stormpaw, Featherpaw, and Bramblepaw, Fireheart had offered his own apprentice for it. He had wanted to see what the assessment would be and why they needed another apprentice, but now he had to settle in Sandstorm. The danger of TigerClan crossed his mind. After a moment's thought, Fireheart nodded, "Right. Go on ahead, tell Onewhisker you can have him." Fireheart shifted his attention to Bramblepaw, "Listen to Onewhisker and be careful."

With that, both apprentices took off towards Onewhisker. Fireheart watched them go, Bramblepaw could tell him what happened later. What Fireheart had learned about WindClan during his stay with them had intrigued him, the differences in hunting and fighting alike from ThunderClan and what he had learned of RiverClan were interesting and useful.

"About time you joined us here." Cloudtail's voice came from Fireheart's side, he turned to see the white tom and Brightheart padding up, followed by Graystripe. Sandstorm mewed a greeting to her former ThunderClan Clanmates. Although they could be counted as new Clanmates.

"I hardly doubt it was on purpose." Brightheart meowed, touching muzzles with Sandstorm.

"Yeah," Graystripe spoke up, "I truly apologize for Stormpaw, Sandstorm. He knows better."

"It's fine." Sandstorm replied, "You know how apprentices are, he was defending his territory." Fireheart twitched his tail; it was not fine. Sandstorm could have gotten hurt. The kits could have gotten hurt.

Graystripe mewed an agreement. There was a glow in his eyes. "Congratulations as well, I look forward to getting to meet them." He glanced at Fireheart, "I took care of patrols this morning for you. I think we'd all like an explanation of what happened and why you were not here earlier."

Fireheart mewed his thanks as Sandstorm shot him a quizzical look, "Why are you making patrols? Are you deputy?"

Fireheart scoffed, "Why would Tallstar make me deputy? I'm not WindClan. It's a long story, I'll tell you it later." There was a whole list to tell Sandstorm now. Right now, they had to explain what happened that morning to the others. Before he could begin, a yowl sounded.

"TigerClan!" Fireheart turned towards the noise. Tawnyfur was standing near the entrance, looking as though she had just raced in. Her fur bristled, "There's at least a Clan's worth!" Alarm filled Fireheart; they must have been followed. A tightness came to his chest as he gazed quickly around, relief filling him when he was that Onewhisker had not left with the apprentices yet. He called Bramblepaw over.

Once he had come over, Fireheart ordered, "You are going to hide in the nursery until I come and get you."

"No!" Bramblepaw exclaimed, "I can fight! Let me fight! Please!" Fireheart shook his head, feeling faint at the idea. The apprentice narrowed his eyes, a fury was lit up in them. He hissed, "then why teach me to fight?"

Fireheart's fur bristled. "If it was any other enemy, you could fight. They cannot know you're here." The apprentice began to protest again. Fireheart stuck his face towards the young cat, growling, "if your father finds out you are here, he is going to force you to return and shred the rest of us, at the very least. Either you're hiding or turning us all to crowfood." Bramblepaw closed his mouth, ears back. "Now, do as you're told and go to the nursery."

"Why the nursery?"

"Because I said so." He nudged the apprentice forward.

Fireheart glanced at Sandstorm. Her eyes narrowed, "Don't even say it."

His ears flattened, he lowered his head to Sandstorm before turning back to Bramblepaw, encouraging the apprentice towards the nursery. Once everything was situated there, Fireheart rushed over to where Tallstar was. The black and white tom was jumping off the Lookout Rock as he approached, his long tail lashing wildly. Tallstar hissed, "Why can't they just leave us alone?"

A feeling of guilt hit Fireheart; this was his fault for not being more careful. They should have covered their scent in some way. Why hadn't he thought of that?

Tallstar was speaking to Tawnyfur, "I want you to get Smokefang, Cloudtail, Onewhisker, and Gorsepaw." The light brown she-cat nodded, turning away to follow the leader's order. He glanced at Fireheart, "I am going to take a patrol out to them."

"That's not nearly enough warriors to take them on." The fur on Fireheart's back rose, they should either barricade or run. TigerClan had almost four Clans worth of cats and there was maybe a Clans worth in WindClan. Not every TigerClan warrior may be there, but they could easily send for reinforcements. Why hadn't he been more careful? "I'm coming with you; this is my fault. I can take care of them."

"No, you will not." Tallstar's gaze hardened on him. "You are to remain here."

"You can't go, Tallstar!" Fireheart heard Barkface's voice at his side, he heard the brown tom's paw steps as he drew closer. The WindClan leader had shifted his attention to his medicine cat. "You have not even named a deputy, for StarClan's sake! You can't go!"

"A deputy." Tallstar echoed, his eyes shifted to Fireheart. His voice rose, loud enough for every cat in the clearing to hear. "It is time for WindClan to get a new deputy." That was good, Fireheart thought. It was long overdue; the Clan would finally have a deputy. Who would it be?

Why was Tallstar staring at him?

"I say these words before StarClan." Tallstar had not taken his eyes off Fireheart. Oh. The realization hit him. "So that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice." Fireheart stared back at the other tom, not knowing what to say as shock filled him. Why was Tallstar looking at him? They weren't even part of the same Clan!

"The new deputy of WindClan is Fireheart."

Silence filled camp at Tallstar's proclamation. Fireheart's mind raced. What did WindClan think of choosing a fugitive ThunderClan warrior as their deputy? He whispered, "I'm not WindClan."

"Half of us aren't. I am entrusting my Clan to you. I have told you before that you would make a great leader and I stand by it. Stay here with everyone else, I managed to talk Tigerstar down before I might be able to again." Tallstar paused, "Do what you think is necessary."

"Yes, Tallstar." Fireheart dipped his head to the other warrior. Tallstar lay his muzzle to the top of his head for a moment before pulling away. There was an unreadable look in his eyes as he turned to the patrol he had had gathered. He raised his tail before leading them out of the tunnel.

Fireheart stared after the patrol for a long moment. Tallstar had made him deputy and left. What happened if he did not return? How many lives did he have left? From Barkface's words, Fireheart would guess one. Fireheart could be made leader today. He felt numb.

"Fireheart." He turned at the sound of Barkface's voice. "They're waiting for your orders." Fireheart gazed out across the hollow at the remaining warriors. They were all looking at him. He was deputy, and with Tallstar gone he was in charge.

"Right, I want," He paused in his speech as it came out high, almost as though it was a kits' before he cleared his throat. Fireheart continued, "I want everyone to be prepared, we might have to fight or we might have to run." His gaze landed on Tornear, "Tornear, I want you to watch from the Lookout Rock. If anything changes, tell me."

The tom nodded, bounding quickly to his position. The willingness to follow his order surprised him, a few moons ago all of WindClan would have shredded him if given the chance. Fireheart looked at Graystripe next, "Graystripe, I want you to make sure the camp is secure." His gaze shifted to Brightheart, "Could you help out Barkface with whatever he may need, please?" There was going to be injuries, at least they could try and prepare for them before it started.

Both warriors nodded and headed where they were supposed to, Brightheart meeting up with Barkface as they made their way to the medicine cat den and Graystripe calling a few warriors together to check the barrier.

The barrier was probably sound, it was newly made and after their last check, there would be no reason for any holes or anything wrong with it. That was mostly to calm the other's nerves as well as Fireheart's own.

Sandstorm was padding towards him; Fireheart felt his shoulders relax a bit at the sight of her. There was a look of concern in her eyes as she touched her muzzle to his, he felt the tightness in his chest ease a bit at her touch. He murmured, "I'm sorry."

"Why?" She meowed, "You have no reason to be."

"I put you in danger, I put everyone in danger." He looked towards the entrance, "I should be dealing with this. Tigerstar is angry at me, not WindClan."

"This isn't on you, if anything it's on both of us," Sandstorm replied. "Don't blame yourself. What could you do out there? All that would happen if you went is Tigerstar would take you back to camp."

"And there would be no bloodshed." Fireheart's mew was quiet, "He would leave WindClan and everyone else alone." He should go after the patrol. Sandstorm moved in front of him, her eyes round.

"You don't know that. Tallstar told you to stay here, do not even think about it." Fireheart's tail twitched anxiously, he had to stay here for these cats. For this Clan.

"Fireheart," Tornear's voice rang out, "Cloudtail's on his way back here." Cloudtail? Why only him? Fireheart pulled away from Sandstorm, moving quickly to the rock and jumping up next to the wiry tom. "They're in that dip over there, I can't see any other cats." The ginger tom followed the WindClan warriors' gaze, sure enough, he could see Cloudtail's white shape moving back towards the camp. There were no other warriors.

Murmuring his thanks, Fireheart jumped off the rock and began to pace by the entrance, his tail lashing as he waited for the white warrior to come. Why was just Cloudtail heading back? He stopped in his tracks as the tom came through the entrance, "What happened?"

Fury burned in Cloudtail's blue gaze, he looked ruffled and there was some blood on his pelt from a scratch on his shoulder. "Tigerstar sent me to get you."

The pressure on Fireheart's chest increased, his heart pounded. Why had he sent Cloudtail and not one of his own warriors? "What happened to the others?"

"Everyone's alive," Cloudtail assured him, growling. "Tigerstar has Gorsepaw pinned. He wants you to come."

"Not Gorsepaw..." Fireheart's throat felt tight, why did it have to be Gorsepaw? He heard a growl from behind him before Morningflower came within view a few moments later, her tail lashing.

"I'm coming with you."

Cloudtail shook his head at the she-cat's words. His fur was bristling. "He said only Fireheart."

Of course, he had. Fireheart pressed himself against Morningflower comfortingly. "I'll get Gorsepaw back," He promised. When Fireheart got there, Tigerstar should let Gorsepaw go. He looked at Cloudtail, "Let's go."

"You're going?" Fireheart turned towards Graystripe at the sound of his voice. Sandstorm was next to him, Graystripe was wide-eyed. He felt lightheaded as he walked up to them both, touching muzzles with his friend briefly.

"Of course."

"You don't have to!"

"You know I do." He pulled away from Graystripe and pressed himself against Sandstorm next. She was tense for a moment before relaxing against him. He murmured, "If I don't return, you've got Graystripe. He'll help you. I have to do this, I'm sorry."

She was silent for a moment before responding, "I know you are." He breathed in her scent deeply. After a few more heartbeats, Fireheart pulled away from Sandstorm moving towards Cloudtail and the tunnel leading out of camp. He stopped in his tracks, turning back to the remaining Clan.

"If neither I nor Tallstar return, Tornear is in charge." The leadership needed to go back to WindClan. He turned away before following Cloudtail back out of the camp.

It was silent as the two warriors made their way quickly back to where Cloudtail had been. The pressure on Fireheart's chest was growing stronger with each step. He could hear blood roaring in his ears. As they drew closer, a feeling of dread overcame Fireheart at the sight in front of him.

Most of the patrol had been surrounded, held back by the overwhelmingly bigger TigerClan force. Tallstar was away from the others, there was blood on his pelt as he was being held back by three warriors. His teeth were borne and he was snarling at Tigerstar.

The brown tabby was not far from the WindClan leader, his eyes were on Tallstar as he spoke. Beneath him, Fireheart saw ginger and white fur. Gorsepaw. The apprentice was struggling against the larger cat's hold, his claws dug into the leg pressing his chest down. Tigerstar ignored the smaller toms' struggle.

"I'm here. Let him go." Fireheart padded towards Tigerstar as he spoke. His vision was beginning to blur and his heart raced. He heard a snarl behind him. Turning towards it, he saw that two warriors had pinned Cloudtail to the ground. The white tom spat at them both and everything in Fireheart told him to help his kin, but he fought against it. Right now, he could not. His head was filled with fog. He had failed so much that he could not even help his sister's son.

Do as he wants, and they will be let go.

"Fireheart!" Tallstar was staring at him, eyes wide. He had ceased his struggling as the warrior approached. He was openly defying the leader's orders right now, but it would be worth it. Fireheart turned his attention back to Tigerstar. Do what he wants you to do. He tucked his tail between his shaking legs and lowered himself as he approached the TigerClan leader. His vision was blurring. He blinked, forcing it away.

"Let them go, Tigerstar. They have nothing to do with this. This is between you and me, let him go." Fireheart heard himself say. "I'll do anything you want. I'll go with you without a fight or you can kill me instead. I don't care, just let them go." He heard the leader's rumble.

"You consider yourself so highly as to think you have a say in this, Rusty? Why would a useless creature like you have any say? You just killed my deputy." he felt the fur on his back rise, so Darkstripe was dead. The tightness in his chest increased. "Blackfoot, Dustpelt grab him." A few moments later, Fireheart felt two sets of paws push him to the ground. Tigerstar's eyes narrowed. "This is not just about you, kittypet." Tigerstar's gaze shifted back to Tallstar, "You have foolishly sheltered this scourge on the Clans and refuse to join us. This is your final warning, old tom." Tigerstar moved his paw from the apprentice's chest to his muzzle, pushing Gorsepaw's head back.

As he did, the non-TigerClan warriors began to protest. Fear filled Fireheart as he struggled against the two cats on top of him. Not Gorsepaw! He heard Tallstar snarl, "No!"

"Join us or die." Tigerstar lowered his head, sinking his teeth into the apprentice's throat. Gorsepaw's eyes were huge as he continued to struggle, after a few moments his movements lessened then stopped. A silence fell as the dark tabby raised his head from the body below him.

Suddenly a screech came and a dark shape appeared from the top of the dip from some bushes. The shape raced down, past the startled warriors. Horror gripped Fireheart as he recognized who it was.

The cat let out a yowl as he slammed into Tigerstar, knocking him off Gorsepaw and to the ground. There was a moment of silence before Tigerstar's shocked meow came.

"Bramblekit?"