Fireheart watched in silent horror as Scourge stepped away from the body of Tigerstar. He shook his paw once, sending droplets of blood flying, then put it down on the soft grass. His gaze met Fireheart's for a heartbeat. With a single blink, he turned away, swishing his tail. As though it were a silent signal, BloodClan began to back away. The strange cats disappeared into the undergrowth quietly, Scourge and Princess close behind them.

Three days to leave or fight, Fireheart thought, his legs buckling. He felt sick as he looked at Tigerstar's corpse. Scourge and BloodClan always seemed strange, but I didn't think he was capable of… that.

His throat tightened as he locked eyes with Sandstorm. Fireheart's mouth went dry, confusion and hurt washing over him. Sandstorm said she had kits, he thought. With a RiverClanner.

With me.

Fireheart felt a storm of emotions. None of this made any sense—Sandstorm had never mentioned expecting. He looked at her now, closely, and could see that she hardly looked like she was expecting. Does that mean they're already born? His heart clenched. I'm a father?

Sandstorm looked away, shame darkening her gaze.

"Fireheart!" Silverthorn meowed. The tabby hurried towards him, eyes dark with concern. "Are you alright?"

"I—" Fireheart swallowed. "I'm alright." He wasn't sure if he was asking about witnessing Tigerstar's death or about learning about his kits—both had shaken him.

Silverthorn looked at Sandstorm, and his eyes narrowed. He was the only cat that knew the whole truth about him and Sandstorm—he had likely put together the same as Fireheart.

Russetstar looked mortified. She exchanged a glance with Ferretstar. "What do we do now?"

Ferretstar stared at Tigerstar's limp form. "Never did I think I would see anything like that," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "I hadn't even wished that kind of a death on him."

TigerClan cats began to chatter anxiously among themselves. Some wailed in fear. With each heartbeat, their voices rose, tumbling over one another, amplifying their terror. Despite it all, Fireheart couldn't blame them. Tigerstar had always seemed so powerful—but with a single motion, Scourge had destroyed him utterly.

"TigerClan, be calm!" Bluefur's rose rose above them all. The blue-furred molly padded forward to join the leaders in the center of Fourtrees. Ferretstar and Russetstar bristled as they saw her.

"What now, Bluefur?" Russetstar challenged. "Will you follow in Tigerstar's pawsteps?"

"Absolutely not," Bluefur retorted. She glanced sharply over her shoulder towards Leopardstar. The molly had not moved a muscle since Tigerstar fell, and even now her eyes remained fixed upon his.

"Leopardstar!" Bluefur snapped. "Snap out of it, for StarClan's sake!"

Leopardstar blinked, and looked to Bluefur. She seemed confused and disoriented, as though she had just woken up from a seasons-long sleep. She did not move from her place, but she frowned deeply. "There is no hope for us," she whispered. "The Clans are doomed."

Bluefur whirled to face her. "You are still a Clan leader," she snarled. "Now act like one instead of a frail mouse! The Clan needs you."

"TigerClan…" Leopardstar murmured.

Bluefur paused for a moment, her eyes narrowed. "I declare that the time of TigerClan is over," she announced. "It was a mistake. My first act as the leader of ThunderClan is to end this cursed alliance. Both our Clans must separate and return to our own territories."

Leopardstar's only acknowledgement was a small nod. Bluefur briefly wrinkled her nose as though she were inspecting a piece of crow-food, then turned back to the other leaders.

"ThunderClan will take our leave," she meowed. "Perhaps we should all take the time to think on our decision."

Russetstar's gaze was dark. "Yes," she meowed. "ShadowClan will need to discuss this."

Ferretstar nodded his agreement. Leopardstar said nothing. Bluefur let out a brief yowl. "ThunderClan—we're going home!"

Those that hadn't fled already hurried to join her. Fireheart noted that many looked relieved. Bluefur spoke to Willowpelt for a few moments, then began to lead the patrol home. Willowpelt padded to join Sandstorm, gently brushing the younger queen with her tail.

Tigerstar is dead, Fireheart thought. And TigerClan is done for. He narrowed his eyes as he looked at Leopardstar. This is our chance to go home. He set his jaw and padded toward Leopardstar.

Fireheart expected Leopardstar to bristle, or hiss, or something, but she only looked silently at him as he approached her. "Leopardstar," he meowed.

Leopardstar stared at him in silence. Fireheart lifted his head. "I want to come home," he said. "You were wrong to exile me. TigerClan is done—you have to see now that following Tigerstar was wrong. Let Silverthorn and I come back to RiverClan."

Leopardstar's eyes grew dull once again, any light fading from them. Looking into her gaze was like staring down the dark tunnel of the Mothermouth. "Fine," she rasped. "Nothing matters anymore, anyway." Her tail twitched once, and she turned away to pad towards the slope. She did not call for RiverClan to follow, but the warriors began to, anyway.

Fireheart glanced over his shoulder to find Silverthorn. The tabby was at his side in a flash. "What did she say?"

"We're going home," Fireheart purred.

Silverthorn grinned and butted his head against Fireheart's, purring with relief. "It's about time."

Fireheart paused before he followed his Clan. He sought out Ferretstar, and hurried towards him. "Ferretstar," he meowed. "Leopardstar is letting us back into RiverClan."

Ferretstar's gaze darkened with sorrow, but after a heartbeat, he smiled. "I wish you would stay," he purred. "But I am happy for you." He drew Fireheart close with a paw, purring. "StarClan go with you, Fireheart."

Fireheart briefly breathed in Ferretstar's scent. The old tom had always been so kind to him—Fireheart would miss him. He pulled away after a few moments. "What will WindClan do?"

Ferretstar's gaze hardened. "We will fight," he meowed. "I have seen my Clan bullied by too many tyrants. We will fight, and if it is the end of us… so be it."

Fireheart felt his heart clench at the thought of WindClan slaughtered by BloodClan. "I'll do what I can to get Leopardstar to come," he meowed. "But she seems… broken."

Ferretstar touched his muzzle to Fireheart's forehead. "I won't fault you if you can't convince her," he meowed. "But good luck, all the same."

Fireheart pulled away, giving Ferretstar a grateful blink. He turned and ran to join RiverClan. His Clan.

They were heading up the slope, now. Fireheart scanned the cats in the back as he hurried to reach them. There was Maplepaw—and Minktuft—and Weaselfoot—and—

"Dawnwhisker!" Fireheart cried, racing to his mentor. The ginger-and-white molly stopped dead in her tracks and spun around, her single eye wide in recognition.

"Fireheart!" she purred. She stood still as Fireheart nearly bowled her over, purring. He butted his head against her shoulder, relieved to see she was still alive and well.

"Thank StarClan you're safe," Dawnwhisker breathed. She curled her tail around him. "Are you coming home?"

"Yes," Fireheart replied. He nodded towards Silverthorn, who was greeting Weaselfoot. "We both are."

Dawnwhisker smiled wide. "So that's where he went," she chuckled. "I suspected. I'm glad you had each other. I never would have believed the two of you would become friends."

"Me too," Fireheart agreed. "He was a good friend in exile."

Dawnwhisker's smile fell. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop Leopardstar," she murmured. "I tried to ask her to change her mind, but…"

Fireheart shook his head. "I never blamed you."

Grief and hurt pooled in Dawnwhisker's gaze. "I never knew what she had been planning," she whispered. "She kept it all from me."

Sympathy washed over Fireheart, and he pressed himself against his mentor's side. "I don't think anyone in RiverClan knew."

Dawnwhisker sighed. "There's nothing to do about it now." She straightened up, smiling once more. "Let's go home."

Fireheart began to follow her, but paused as he heard footsteps behind them. Willowpelt and Sandstorm were padding to join the group. Sandstorm stiffened uncomfortably. Willowpelt's gaze remained even. "We need to return to RiverClan's camp to get the rest of ThunderClan," she meowed.

"Of course," Reedtail replied.

Fireheart swallowed and turned away. He wasn't ready to talk to Sandstorm, not like this. He desperately wanted to know the whole truth… but not in front of his Clan. He turned his gaze ahead, his throat tight.