Help? Why did Rainfur want help? Fireheart took a step towards the rogue, opening his jaws to respond when a snarl came off to his side.

"You're just a rogue," Smokefang's eyes narrowed as he padded forward. "We owe you nothing, there is no reason for us to help you." He looked at the deputy, "Just send him off, there's nothing here for him." Fireheart shot the dark gray tom a look.

"We have not even heard what he needs help with." If Rainfur had chosen to come to them for help, it had to be important. Fireheart turned his attention back to the rogue. Tallstar had gone out of camp earlier that day with Graystripe and Stormpaw. With the leader gone, Fireheart was in charge. "What do you need help with?"

"It's not for me – it's for my mate and kits," Fireheart's ears pricked, he hadn't known he had kits. "Please, Fireheart. Let me talk with Tallstar, they need help."

"You can talk with me. What's the matter with them?" He already knew that Rainfur's mate was a kittypet. What matter could there be that the Twoleg she lived with could not deal with?

"Petal lives with an old Twoleg," Rainfur began. "He doesn't feed her much, she used to sneak out and see me. I'd catch her food," Fireheart nodded, recalling the encounter he had had earlier with the rogue, "But now the Twoleg has her trapped inside with the kits. I tried to get her to leave before the kits were born, but she was scared. Especially with the kits coming. She thought that the Twoleg would keep them safe."

"When it wasn't taking care of her?" Fireheart heard Mistyfoot's pawsteps as she padded up on his side, shock filled her voice.

"I couldn't persuade her," There was a helplessness in Rainfur's eyes. "Please, the Twoleg is just as bad – if not worse. She can't get out anymore, he's blocked off the exit and she's starving. She doesn't have enough milk to keep them alive." He scraped his claws across the ground, "Please, you need to help us!"

"We don't need to do anything," Tornear snarled, his hackles rising. Fireheart turned quickly towards the warrior.

"This is not your place to speak!" Fireheart's eyes narrowed as he glared at the other tom, daring him to speak out of turn again.

"I think we should help them," Onewhisker meowed. Tornear snorted.

"It does not matter what you think – what any of us think! Tallstar is the cat that makes the final decision and he is not here right now." Rainfur's face fell at Tornear's words.

"Please, they're all going to die! I don't know what to do." His tail was lashing as he clawed at the stone again.

Fireheart was silent for a moment, considering what to do. The correct thing to do was to either send a cat out to find Tallstar or wait for him to return before addressing this. He glanced up to the sky, heavy with darkened clouds. It was not raining presently but it looked like it would rain again. He had no idea where Tallstar was and the rain would have washed away his, and the others', scents.

He looked back at Rainfur. This cat needs our help. His mate and kits need our help. His mind went to Sandstorm, Leafkit, and Squirrelkit. To what he would do had he been in Rainfur's place and what he would have wanted to be done. Tallstar should understand why I did this without his permission. Fireheart nodded, "Right, we'll help you." Relief came to Rainfur's face. "How many kits are there?"

"There's two."

The deputy turned away, looking at Barkface who was watching not far off. "You're in charge until I get back," Fireheart looked around the camp for a moment. His gaze fell on Sol, who was watching from near the gorge's wall. "Brightheart, Sol, and Onewhisker are coming with me."

The cats he had called moved towards him; Fireheart recognized a glint of surprise in the former kittypet's eyes but he said nothing. "Should you do this without Tallstar's permission?" Fireheart turned his attention to Smokefang as the dark warrior spoke, an unreadable look in his eyes. "He shouldn't be out all day; some cat can fetch him."

Rainfur was beginning to look worried again, Fireheart touched his tail tip to the rogue's shoulder. "We are Clan cats; we have a duty to help kits and queens alike. It is against the warrior code to leave any kit in danger. We need to get them out."

Barkface padded a few steps forward, his gaze on Rainfur, "What shape is Petal in?"

"Her ribs are showing," Rainfur responded. Fireheart's chest tightened. "She's very weak." Alarm flashed in the medicine cats' eyes, he turned to Fireheart.

"Go, she probably has no milk left. If we don't act soon, those kits will die. If he returns before you, I'll tell Tallstar what happened." Fireheart nodded, turning back to the patrol he had put together before lifting his tail and heading towards the Rockpile which went around the end of the river.

Rainfur took the lead as they entered the forest; it did not take long until they got to the familiar broken-down old fence which surrounded the Twoleg nest. The rogue turned towards the Clan cats as they stopped at a clump of brambles.

"From here the Twoleg can't see us enter the garden," Rainfur meowed. He flicked his tail past the brambles, "There's an opening in the fence. Once we get into it, we'll have to be careful. He's thrown stuff at me before." Fireheart nodded.

"Everyone follow my lead and be quiet." The warrior padded forward, falling into a low crouch as he moved around the bramble thicket. He could hear the others following behind him. He spotted the opening in the fence, taking a deep breath before approaching it. He stuck his muzzle in, eying the surrounding area.

Fireheart had not seen the inside of this garden before and what greeted him was surprising. The grass was long, not well trimmed as he had seen in other gardens. There were flowers around the edges of it, however, there was also a lot of undergrowth. The Twoleg nest itself reminded Fireheart of the nest WindClan had spent the night further downriver. There was ivy growing up the side of it and Fireheart could see a hole in the roof.

Fireheart continued further, stepping aside as he waited for the others to come after him. As he entered, the scent of cat and Twoleg hit him. Brightheart looked around the garden, a look of surprise in her blue eye. "Twolegs live here?"

"Petal's does," Rainfur responded. He pointed with his tail towards a window on the side of the nest. "She's in there." Fireheart's ears pricked; he could pick up some faint meowing as well as see a pale shape through the Twoleg ice.

"She's there!" Rainfur shot ahead, ignoring a warning hiss that Fireheart gave him. He jumped up onto the ledge below the window.

"Harebrain." Onewhisker moved up to the deputy's shoulder as he muttered, "he's going to get us all caught!" Almost immediately, the rogue returned. He jumped off the ledge, racing back over to the Clan cats.

"She said she wants to come with us," Rainfur reported. "We just need to get her out of there." Keeping alert for any sound of danger, Fireheart looked at the Twoleg nest thoughtfully. If Petal could not get out, there was no way they could get her out. They'd need to make one. An idea was forming as he turned to the other Clan cats.

"We need to get him to open the door," Fireheart meowed. "That's the only way in and out of there."

"How are we to do that?" Sol asked, moving forward a few steps. Fireheart did his best not to cringe as the tom stepped on a twig, it snapping beneath his weight. "It's not like we can ask it to."

"What would make a Twoleg open a door?" Fireheart prompted, keeping his gaze on Sol. He already had a few ideas, however, hoped that the cat would get some sense of an idea. Much to Fireheart's frustration, Sol seemed to be drawing a blank.

"Fighting cats," Fireheart turned his attention to Brightheart as she spoke. She looked at Rainfur, "You said that he comes out to throw things at you sometimes, this might be what is needed to get him to come out." She looked to the window next, "Some cat is going to have to get in there, too, if she's as weak as Rainfur says she is. If cats are fighting, that'll hold his attention long enough to get in and out." Fireheart nodded, mewing his approval.

"Fantastic!" Rainfur exclaimed, "That's brilliant! The rest of us can go inside and help Petal." His eyes were gleaming as he nervously looked back to the nest.

"Brightheart and Onewhisker, you two can be the fighting cats. Head over there," Fireheart waved his tail off to the side, "And wait for my signal. When it comes, be as loud as you can. Keep the Twoleg as distracted as you can while the rest of us get Petal and the kits. Sol and Rainfur, you're with me."

Both warriors nodded, heading off where Fireheart had indicated. The deputy turned his attention back to the Twoleg nest, flicking his tail as he led the way towards its base. He looked up at the window as he came up below it. He saw Petal peering down at him, her nose pressed against the ice.

Rainfur moved ahead, jumping up onto the ledge as he beckoned for Fireheart to follow. The warrior signaled Sol to stay where he was. He moved his head from side to side for a moment before making the jump, landing next to Rainfur. He felt as though his heart had stopped as he saw the state Petal was in.

The queen was staring out at them, her pale gray pelt clung to her frame. Her ribs stuck out through her thin fur. Her pleading blue eyes were sunken in and for a heartbeat, Fireheart almost felt like he was looking at his own reflection.

The memory of when he had first gotten out of ThunderClan came back to him suddenly, of staring at his own thin body in that smoky puddle for the first time in moons. Of seeing and understanding exactly what those few moons had done to him physically. The realization he had had that those moons did change him. The first time he saw his own face and the true damage that had been done after everything had changed.

Fireheart shook it away, he needed to focus on Petal and her kits and getting them out of here. A bit of the transparent stuff had broken near the bottom, it was covered by a piece of wood. Petal stuck her muzzle toward it.

"Rainfur said you'd get me out of here?" Her meow was muffled. "He said you'd help my kits?" Fireheart nodded.

"We got two cats that are going to make some noise and distract the Twoleg." Fireheart explained, "Once the door is open, we'll come in and get you and the kits. We can start as soon as you're ready." There was a determined look in Petal's eyes.

"I'm ready." Fireheart pushed away old memories as he nodded, turning and jumping back onto the ground next to Sol. Rainfur followed hastily. Fireheart turned his attention over to where he could see Onewhisker and Brightheart crouching near some overgrown bushes. The deputy raised his tail, waving it at them.

Immediately, Onewhisker began to yowl. Brightheart joined in, letting out a caterwaul as she sprang onto the other warrior. The brown tom turned quickly, screeching at the younger warrior as he struck at her. They began brawling on the long grass, swiping at each other in a mass of fury.

Hisses and screeches sounded as the door opened up. The Twoleg stepped out, its pelts in tatters. It had some Twoleg objects in its paws and a furious look in its eyes. The Twoleg was bellowing as it flung an object at the two fighting cats. It flew over their heads, hitting the fence behind them.

"Now!" Fireheart yowled. He rushed forward, hearing the other two toms follow after him as they slipped by the Twoleg and went into the nest.

Inside, Fireheart recognized that they were in a kitchen. He curled his lip back as the scent of crowfood hit him. Rainfur took the lead, rushing towards a partly opened door. "This way!"

Fireheart and Sol followed quickly after, once inside, they saw Petal. She was standing next to a wooden nest, inside was a filthy Twoleg pelt and two squirming kits. One gray and the other tabby.

Fireheart's heart beat faster as he heard a louder screech from outside, please don't let anyone get hurt! Petal's eyes were wide.

"Are you certain it's safe?" She asked, "What if my Twoleg comes after us?"

"He's got other things to worry about," Rainfur responded. "Come on!"

"Rainfur, help Petal out," Fireheart ordered as he moved closer to the kits, grabbing one in his jaws. "Sol and I have got the kits." The tortoiseshell tom moved forward, grabbing the other kit in his jaws. The cats quickly headed towards the door and into the kitchen. Once in the kitchen, the Twolegs bellowing grew louder.

Horror struck Fireheart as he saw the Twoleg was standing at the door, glaring at the cats inside. He signaled to Sol, directing him to go around the opposite side of the Twoleg that he was going to. Both cats separated, swerving to go around the Twoleg's legs.

Fireheart heard Rainfur's snarl and a howl of pain from the Twoleg as he bolted out. He slowed in his pace as they got out into the garden, turning back to the open door after setting the kit down, ready to go back in and help Rainfur and Petal get out again.

He stopped as he saw both cats racing out, Fireheart grabbed the kit again, growling, "Let's go!" He turned quickly around, bolting towards the break in the fence which Onewhisker and Brightheart were standing outside of. The sound of footfall told him that the other three cats were following after him.

Fireheart bolted through the break, stopping on the other side as he waited for the rest of the cats to come out. As soon as every cat was out of the garden, he turned again, racing away from the Twoleg nest and the howling Twoleg. As soon as they were a good amount into the forest, the patrol slowed down. They stopped in a clearing not far from the gorge's edge.

Petal staggered a moment, looking back the way they had come. "What if my Twoleg comes after us?" Her tail twitched nervously, "What if he tries to steal them back?"

"We won't let him," Rainfur pressed gently against his mate. "We'll keep them safe." We? Fireheart did not know what Tallstar would think of bringing more outsiders into camp, they'd have to see if these two would be allowed to stay with WindClan. He said nothing, setting the kit down after its mother had laid down. Sol did the same.

The kits squirmed, pressing against their mother as they both began to suckle. Petal was silent for a long moment, staring down at her kits.

"They're going to die." She whispered, "I haven't enough milk."

"No, they are not," Fireheart assured her. "Let's get you all back to camp, they'll be taken care of there. We have a cat that can nurse them." He hoped Sandstorm would have enough milk to feed all four kits. Petal's eyes widened.

"Oh, you will?" She exclaimed, "Thank you!"

By the time they got back to the gorge, it had begun to rain again. Fireheart craned his neck, doing his best to keep the kit he was carrying dry. As they moved around the end of the river, Fireheart spotted Tallstar approaching them. The black and white leader's gaze was on Petal as they met, she was leaning against Rainfur. He nodded at the two outsiders.

"Take her to Barkface," He ordered. "Onewhisker, help them." The light brown tabby nodded, moving to Petal's other side.

Petal looked anxiously at Sol and Fireheart. "What about my kits?"

"We have a queen who is nursing," Tallstar responded. "We will get them to her. You can go to them once Barkface lets you." The pale gray queen was silent for a moment before she nodded, letting Rainfur and Onewhisker lead her away. He turned his attention to Fireheart. "Well done," Fireheart dipped his head, setting the kit between his legs. "You showed good judgment."

"Brightheart's the one that came up with the plan to get them out," Fireheart glanced at the younger warrior as he spoke. Her eye widened.

"There's no reason to praise me!" Brightheart exclaimed, "I just came up with the distraction, others could have, too."

"But it was you."

Tallstar nodded at the she-cat, "Well done, Brightheart. You helped these cats immensely." She dipped her head at the leader's praise. He turned his attention to the kits next, eyes softening as he looked at the one beneath Fireheart. "Get them to Sandstorm."

The deputy nodded, beckoning Sol with his tail as he picked up the kit. Fireheart headed towards the cliff wall; Clover was standing at the base of the path. Her eyes widened as she saw the kits.

"Oh, those poor things!" She moved over to the two toms, glancing at her own kits. "You three stay out here, these two don't need you to bother them for right now. Stay out of the rain." There were a few mews from the littermates as Stormpaw padded over to them.

"I'll keep them busy," he promised, turning towards them. "Here – why don't I show you how to do the leap and hold." The kits began to mew excitedly as they followed Stormpaw away from the base of the path. The three cats headed up to the nursery.

Sandstorm was standing outside the nursery, her eyes widened as she saw the kits. She turned quickly, heading back into the nursery. As she settled down, Fireheart and Sol deposited the kits at her belly. They quickly moved towards her belly, latching on a moment later. Sandstorm's tail was lashing.

"Why would the Twoleg have kittypets if it was just going to treat them like that!" She looked down at the kits, "Poor little scraps."

Fireheart turned at the sound of Squirrelkit mewing. Bramblepaw was standing, his tail in front of both kits. The ginger she-kit's eyes were wide.

"I wanna see them! I wanna see them!" She jumped over his tail, heading quickly towards Sandstorm as Bramblepaw mewed in protest. His ears went back and there was a flash of frustration in his amber gaze as he limped forward. Fireheart put his paw out in front of Squirrelkit.

"Not too close now," Fireheart meowed. "We need to let them rest." He looked back over to Bramblepaw, "They can see them." The apprentice nodded as Leafkit rushed forward, stopping at her sister's side.

"Woah," the tabby turned to her sister, "We're not the littlest anymore!"

Fireheart turned back to Bramblepaw as he heard the apprentice let out a groan. He had laid down; his eyes were closed. The warrior opened his mouth, feeling slightly taken aback as his ears flattened.

"Oh, leave him be!" Sandstorm's voice was sharp. "He's fine where he is, he can sleep here." Fireheart nodded, pushing Squirrelkit back as she tried to jump over his paw.