Fireheart narrowed his eyes, watching for any sign of movement in the undergrowth. He let his jaw open slightly as he slowly crept after the scent trail. His belly groaned as the scent of the squirrel he was stalking filled his mouth and throat.

He had not eaten that day, and the idea of being able to sink his teeth into the prey creature filled his mind. Fireheart's ears pricked as a rustling noise came from not far from him. He froze, tilting his ears as he tried to pick up on where the sound was coming from. Was it the squirrel? He had not thought he was that close to it. He sniffed the air, trying to pick up another scent but there was nothing. Whatever it was was downwind of him.

The rustling sound stopped and Fireheart relaxed, turning towards the sound as curiosity filled him. Was it the squirrel? Had it been something dangerous, like a dog or a badger, it most likely would have attacked him. If it was the squirrel, it had to be aware of his presence and this hunt was over. Was it something else? A hedgehog that had been disturbed from its rest? A lizard?

Fireheart glanced in the direction the squirrel had gone, hesitating a few moments before rising from his stalk. It was nearly greenleaf, food was far from scarce, he could let the creature get away. Fireheart trotted over to where the sound had come from as he parted his jaw wider. He stopped in his tracks, letting out a disgusted hiss as the scent hit him. Rat.

It was gone from where it had been under a thicket of brambles. Fireheart lowered his head, taking in its scent as he considered what to do. He was with a hunting patrol; they had spread out in different directions but they were all staying in the same proximity. He should stay here and continue hunting. Disregard the rat as nothing else than to be reported.

There seemed to be more and more rats each day. There was more patrols out to keep an eye on the days and a few cats had been bitten but there was nothing too serious. It was not surprising that he had scented one around here, too. He was not far from where WindClan territory ended and where the abandoned barn was.

While Fireheart had been going around the territory, he had not seen this barn. It was not right against WindClan territory and there had been no reason to see it but Mistyfoot had described it to him. It was where these rats were originating from.

There was no reason for him to go after the rat, but his heartbeat quickened as he lowered himself to the ground, staring at a small tunnel which led through the thicket. It was almost as though the creature had been watching him.

Had it been? The fur on his back rose at the thought. Rats were formidable, he had learned that in his run-ins with them in the past, but what reason did it have to be watching him?

After a moment of thought, Fireheart rose to his paws. He padded around the brambles, noting a few chewed-on blackberries, as he took up the creature's scent again. He padded after it, nose to the ground.

He hesitated a moment as he came to the border. I should turn back, he thought. Fireheart glanced behind him as he considered what to do before he stepped across the border, continuing after the scent. The patrol would be fine, it would give them more time to hunt if nothing else.

The tom kept his ears pricked for any sign of danger as he continued after the rat's trail. He let out a snarl as the sudden scent of crowfood hit his nose. He had to be close to this abandoned barn if there was crowfood.

Another wave of scent hit him not long after, the scent of rats. The scent of a lot of rats. It was getting harder to pick up on the individual one he had been following as he continued. Fireheart slowed in his step as a fence appeared as the tree line ended.

It was one of the silver web-like fences, beyond it was the abandoned barn he had heard about prior. Fireheart glanced around, tilting his ear on his blinded side to pick up any noise. There was nothing presently. The rat he had been following must have already headed into the barn.

Fireheart padded across the thin space of tall grass which lay between the fence and the forest, sniffing at the silver fence as he glanced around. There were no signs of anything being near him presently. He let his shoulders relax, perhaps he was just being paranoid. What reason would a rat have to watch him, after all?

Suddenly there was the sound of rustling off to his side, Fireheart turned quickly towards it. He froze as he saw beady black eyes staring at him through the tall grass.

There was a large brown rat not far from him, staring at him. Fireheart let his hackles rise as he stared back at the creature. There was so much rat scent in this area as it was, he had not realized the creature was here until just then. Until it was mere tail lengths away.

There was more rustling from his other side and a few squeaks, Fireheart turned quickly towards it. He froze as there were a few more sets of dark eyes staring at him. The warrior took a step back, tail twitching nervously as a few more squeaks came from the side the other rat was on. He jerked his head towards it, letting out a frustrated hiss. He could not watch them on both sides of him at the same time.

After a few moments thought, he turned back towards where there were more rats, one ear tilted towards the singular one. If it moved, he should be able to hear it.

It took a few more squeaks coming from both sides for a moment of realization to hit the warrior. They're communicating! That made sense, rats had to have their own language. He narrowed his eyes at the few rats he was looking at, them alone was too much for him to fight on his own. He'd need to get away.

At the sound of rustling grass, Fireheart turned quickly towards the lone rat. His heart stopped as he saw the creature had disappeared. Where had it gone? He heard some more rustling, turning quickly towards the rats on the other side.

Fear filled him as he realized he could not see them anymore; all he could hear was rustling in tall grass. As Fireheart turned to see them, once again being unable to see them as they continued to move. Realization hit him. They know I'm blind! They're trying to use it against me!

Fireheart let out a yowl as a sharp pain suddenly hit his hind leg, he jerked his head around, grabbed the rat that had bitten him in his jaws. His fangs sank into the smelly creature as he pulled it off of his leg, tossing it away with a jerk of his head.

The rat let out a squeak of alarm as it was thrown and more rustling came from the side he had been bitten from. Fireheart did not look at what was coming, he turned towards the forest and bolted. He ignored the pain in his leg, fear taking over as he heard the scurrying of little paws behind him.

He eventually slowed in his pace when he realized the sounds had stopped. The tom let out a sigh, turning back in the direction he had been running from. He didn't know why they had stopped but it did not matter. They had stopped

Fireheart turned his head towards the bite, licking at the wound. He curled his lip at the taste of blood before standing up. He needed to get back to where the patrol was to be meeting.

He was on Clan territory, he knew that much, he just needed to find the clearing again. Fireheart looked around for a moment, considering which way to go before he set out.

When he found the clearing, the other cats in the patrol were already waiting for him. Tornear sprang to his paws at the sight of him.

"Where have you been?" Fireheart shook his pelt as he approached the other warrior.

"I got cornered by some rats," He replied. He stuck his nose towards the pile of fresh-kill that was in the clearing. Even though he had not been able to catch anything, it looked like the others were more successful.

"Rats?" Brightheart echoed, rising to her paws. "I had no idea any place could have so many." Fireheart felt the young warrior move around him, sniffing at his leg.

"I'm fine, it was only one bite. I got out before they could do anything else."

"There seemed to be more and more of those things every day," It was Tawnyfur who spoke, glancing up from where she had been grooming herself. Fireheart mewed his agreement.

"Let's get going back to camp," He shook himself once more as he tried to push away the unnerving feeling he had had in his run-in. Fireheart took a few pieces of prey in his jaws, stepping back to let the rest of the patrol do the same.

By the time they made it down to camp, Fireheart's leg was beginning to hurt again. He set the prey he had down on the fresh-kill pile, squinting against the sun's light. The deputy turned to the rest of his patrol, dismissing them before heading in the direction of the medicine den.

As he padded towards the cave, he passed by Clover and her kits. The young queen was laying in the shade near the cliff wall, while her kits were tumbling around not far from her. Fireheart nodded at the tabby as he moved by, Clover nodded back.

The rogue still seemed nervous; she had only been in camp for a few days. While none of the WindClan warriors were being particularly mean to her, that aggression at her introduction seemed to have hit her. And yet she remained, seemingly for the protection the Clan provided for her and her kits.

Fireheart called out as he approached the den, stopping outside of it as Barkface emerged. He let out a sigh as he saw that the warrior was lifting up his leg. "Another attack?"

Fireheart nodded as the brown tom moved around him, he felt the medicine cat sniff at his leg. Barkface muttered, "Thank StarClan that so much burdock grows around here. I would have run out of roots with these many injuries back in the forest."

StarClan has nothing to do with it, Fireheart thought. Feeling a flash of anger at the thought of their warrior ancestors. They have nothing to do with any of this! He said nothing.

Barkface moved back around the warrior, glancing at him as he headed back into the den. "You'll have to make a report to Tallstar about this when he gets back to camp."

Fireheart nodded, "Of course."

When Barkface had finished with Fireheart's wound, the warrior headed back towards the fresh-kill pile. He glanced over to where Sandstorm was laying on a rock before inspecting the pile.

After a few moments of thought, Fireheart grabbed a rabbit and began to drag it over to where his mate was laying. He mewed a muffled greeting as he brought it up onto the rock. Sandstorm returned it.

He dropped the prey in front of the queen before moving around her and laying down at her side. Sandstorm asked, "What happened to your leg?"

"A rat," Fireheart nudged the rabbit towards the other cat. "Eat, you've got to." Sandstorm's ears twitched and he could see frustration in her gaze. He knew that she was unhappy about being stuck in camp. Annoyed with being unable to do her normal warrior duties for such a long time. She was frustrated over being unable to contribute to the Clan as she normally would have. Normally, queens would have been able to continue them longer than she had been able, however with the journey to this new territory those had to be cut short.

The pale ginger cat sniffed the rabbit for a heartbeat before tearing the fur away and taking a bite. She pushed the prey towards him as she chewed. Fireheart shook his head, "I'm not hungry."

Sandstorm's pale eyes filled with shock as she swallowed her bite. She stared at her mate for a long moment before sighing, "Fireheart."

"Sandstorm."

"There is no way I could ever eat this by myself, you don't need to worry about me eating. I'm fine," She nudged the rabbit closer to him. "This can feed at least three cats. Don't you dare say you're not hungry again, I know you haven't eaten today." Fireheart's ears went back. After a moment's hesitation, the tom sank his teeth into the rabbit, tearing away a piece before pushing it back towards Sandstorm. He groaned as its taste filled his mouth, overtaking his senses and reminding him that he was actually hungry.

As the two cats continued their meal, Fireheart asked, "How was camp when I was gone."

"Nothing of interest." Sandstorm's gaze drifted over to where Clover was by the cliff wall, "I tried talking to Clover about integrating with Clan life." The queen let out a frustrated sigh, Fireheart could feel her tail lashing behind him.

Fireheart's ears twitched, he meowed, "Keep talking with her. She'll listen to you. If she's to stay, she needs to know how to work in a Clan." Of course, this would be assuming that she wanted to stay in the Clan after her kits had grown. "If the kits get used to Clan life, then I'm sure she will want to."

"I know, I will. She's willing to talk with a number of cats, it's the ones that were aggressive to her when she first came that make her more nervous. Hopefully, she'll understand her role in the Clan soon." Sandstorm shifted her attention away from the brown queen, still looking past Fireheart. "And how is he doing?"

Fireheart followed her gaze to where she was watching Sol, coming down the path from the forest with a patrol. He replied, "He's learning. He is certainly putting in the effort."

"He isn't exactly social," Sandstorm noted. Fireheart felt the other cat rest her head on his back as they watched the new Clan cat separate from the patrol, selecting a piece of prey from the fresh-kill pile before heading off towards a secluded part of camp.

"He talks with me," Fireheart responded. "And Featherpaw and he interacts with the other cats on the patrols. Some cats are just quieter." He glanced at his mate. "He and Clover both are adjusting to a new life, it's harder for Sol. He used to be a kittypet, he has to get used to the wild as well as get used to Clan life. They both have to gain the trust of their new Clanmates, but the stigma of kittypet is harder to shake than that of a rogue or loner." He rested his muzzle down on his paws, "I imagine it's also harder when you're not kit aged."

Sandstorm was quiet for a moment, "You speak from experience."

"I do." There was a moment of silence between the two warriors.

"I apologize for how I treated you when we were apprentices." Fireheart turned quickly to see the other cat, surprise filling him.

"You don't need to apologize!" He pressed his muzzle against her neck. "I've been through worse. You weren't the only one! Anyway, we were young and that sort of thing happens." Fireheart blinked, "I don't blame you for anything."

Sandstorm tensed at his words. She was silent for a moment. "We're still young but that does not excuse it. I was angry and I let it out on you." The tom tilted his head slightly, why would she have been angry? "Your arrival and Redtail's death being at the same time," green eyes looked to him, "It was easy to let out my grief on the little kittypet apprentice."

"I'm not that small."

"You really are."

That did not matter, Fireheart's mind was on what else she had said. Grief? Clan cats were close in general, the loss of any Clanmate was to be mourned. Had Sandstorm and Redtail been close? He asked, "Were you two close?"

She stared at him, "Redtail was my father."

"O-Oh!" Fireheart pushed himself up on his forelegs, Sandstorm shifting off of him as he did. "I did not know that!"

"How didn't you know?" Fireheart shrugged. Sandstorm shook her head as her mate settled back down, shock making his mind spin. She leaned back over the rabbit, speaking before she took a bite, "I'm glad that I was able to find out the truth around his death. It is better than continuing to live in ignorance."

"Of course!" Sandstorm stopped in her chew, side eying Fireheart which made his ears flatten. She slowly finished chewing before swallowing her bite and shifting her attention to the tom.

"You are not a cat of words."

"Did Dustpelt hate me for the same reason?" Redtail had been Dustpelt's mentor, Fireheart recalled. He had grieved the former deputy as well. Sandstorm was silent for a moment.

"We were friends, he was following my lead." A tension formed in Fireheart's chest at Sandstorm's words. She and Dustpelt had been close since he knew them, he knew that she valued his friendship and now that had all ended because of him. Because he had been unable to stop the rise of Tigerstar. Because he had started seeing Sandstorm.

"Although, later when you and Graystripe became warriors before us. That angered him." Fireheart snorted.

"We earned our warrior names." Sandstorm's ears went back, she swatted his ear as Fireheart took another bite of the prey.

"At nine moons old?" She shook her head, "I don't know what Bluestar was thinking making you two warriors so early – and giving you apprentices, too?" Fireheart pushed away a flash of anger at the former leader's name. "Dustpelt and I are moons older than you! It would have been one thing had it been Ravenpaw that got his warrior name. He is Dustpelt's littermate, after all. He'd been training longer."

Fireheart sprang to his paws as he began to cough, choking on the meat he had in his mouth. Sandstorm's eyes widened and she pushed herself up. After a few moments, he was able to stop himself. He looked quickly up at her; wide-eyed. "Ravenpaw and Dustpelt are brothers?"

"Yes! How don't you know this?" Fireheart shrugged. Sandstorm stared at him, "Do you know anything of the kinships within ThunderClan?"

"I guess I don't."