A/N: Warriors is the product of the group that is Erin Hunter! Please support the official release!

Ch.9: What Was Lost (Part 1)

There's air brushing past his fur and grass lapping at his pads, but Fireshade knows he's not awake. He's far away from any part of the forest he would recognize. This doesn't appear to be where Oakheart died either.

His skin doesn't feel like his own yet, at the same time. He's being glared at by some black-and-white tom he's never seen before. The other tom's golden orbs burn with a profound hate, the kind of disgust and contempt Fireshade carries for a certain ShadowClan leader turned rogue. This cat also has a heart that craves revenge. No! Justice!

"You said you would help me, Jake," the strange cat growls as his eyes narrow.

Fireshade's host's lips moved and a soft but masculine voice comes out. "Do you really want to kill a cat?"

"If I'd stayed in WindClan, I'd probably have killed a cat in battle by now!" The other tom fumes.

"In battle, Talltail," 'Jake' points out. "To kill a cat in the heat of battle-to defend your Clanmates-that makes sense. But to kill a cat moons later-"

"He never understood the damage he did," Talltail's lips curl. "That's why he must be punished. To make him sorry."

"Just tell him!" Jake's fur rises along his spine. "Make him understand! How much Sandgorse's death hurt you, and how you feel he's responsible."

Talltail just glares harder. "Don't you think I tried that when Sandgorse died? He wouldn't admit it. Even when I told him to his whiskers that he killed Sandgorse, he just shrugged it off, like he shrugs everything off. He doesn't care about anything. So, I'm going to make him care about this."

The hurt and fury in Talltail's voice makes Fireshade's soul quiver from where he watches. He can't blame the black and white tom in the slightest. If what he said was true, and this cat that he hated took something precious from him and feels nothing for it, then he was better off dead anyhow. Jake is being naïve.

"By killing him?" Jake shakes his head in response to his friend's rash feeling. "I know you Talltail. You're not a killer. You'd die to defend those you love. But to kill a cat you hardly know? I don't think so?"

"He has to pay!" The other tom rasps out. Though his voice is angrier, his eyes are glazed with a deeper pain than before. "If no one pays for Sandgorse's death, then it's not fair!"

"Life isn't fair!"

Coward, Fireshade thinks cynically.

"It's not fair to me!" Talltail is trembling with unbridled fury at this point, as if he's been betrayed twice over.

Fireshade feels Jake's eyes soften with sympathy and affection. "Talltail," his meow is weak and dripping with desperation as well as conviction. "I'm begging you; don't do this!"

"Then go home! You're no use to me!" Talltail roars as he whips around and stomps into some nearby brambles. "I should have known better to expect anything from a kittypet," he mutters darkly just before he's out of Jake's earshot.

The kittypet in question plops down on his hindlegs in defeat and begins tremble as he gives a soft meow of agony.

"Fireshade!"

A/N: Been a while, yeah? Unfortunately, I've got numerous distractions outside of this story. So, here's what I'd like to know: would you guys be okay with getting updates that are about 500-1000 more often if it meant that I updated faster? I won't promise how much faster, but faster. Let me know Also, I through this reminder out there, I will not abandon this story. Obviously, there will be some dry spells but if it's still in my archive I will return to it eventually. Check my profile for my update policy if you haven't already. Okay, I think I've talked long enough.

Read, Fav, Follow, Review! And thanks times a million for all that you do (Including letting me take my time with this)!