Chapter 13: Kin

In the next few days despite his promise to come around more, Fireheart found himself too busy to visit his siblings. He'd been struggling to adjust to hunting in the thick snow that crunched more than fallen leaves and pouncing for prey whose hiding holes could be literally anywhere or the snow not as solid as he assumed it was. When he wasn't hunting, he was assisting with removing snow from the center of the camp clearing. He did desperately want to visit his siblings though- no matter what he'd told Ahasra about being pleased to live his new life, it was still hard.

As the sun had just begun to dip beneath the trees, Fireheart stepped back into camp, his mouth full with his latest successful hunt. He'd managed to capture two mice and a foolish chaffinch which he'd already decided he was keeping for himself. He buried his mice in the food cache and flopped down by the warrior's den to eat. He was just cleaning his pelt from his meal when he noticed Whitestorm approaching from Bluestar's den.

"I want you to take Sandpaw out on a dawn patrol," he instructed. "More ShadowClan has been scented- this time by the Owl Tree."

"ShadowClan?" Fireheart echoed in shock. He'd mostly written Tigerclaw's evidence off since the realization that Cinderpaw's accident was likely his fault. But it made sense that there'd be a real scent- after all, he was with a patrol. "I was planning to take Brackenpaw out tomorrow."

"Graystripe is healed now," said Whitestorm. "He can train his own apprentice now."

Fireheart blinked, he'd forgotten that. Flames, he'd almost forgotten that Brackenpaw wasn't his second apprentice- he'd been training him for so long.

"Just me and Sandpaw?" he inquired. "Is the ShadowClan threat that low?"

"The scents were fresher than usual," Whitestorm explained. "You're meant to dissuade them if it's just a small group and also report anything unusual without being caught."

Fireheart nodded, "Alright. Does Sandpaw know?"

"You can tell her."

Fireheart nodded to Whitestorm and watched his deputy disappear into the warrior's den. He stretched and got to his paws, padding over to where Sandpaw was sitting surrounded by the other apprentices. Being only an apprentice in name, Sandpaw was practically worshipped by the fresher apprentices. He'd even caught his own apprentice begging Sandpaw to teach her "the cool stuff" on occasion.

He ignored the light glare Dustpaw tossed his way and addressed Sandpaw.

"Whitestorm says we're on dawn patrol together," Fireheart informed. "We're to report anything strange we scent there- meet you at sunrise?"

"Sunrise," she agreed easily.

Fireheart smiled, at least Sandpaw was being normal. He walked back towards the warrior's den. Graystripe had come out at some point and was sharing tongues with Runningwind by the clump of nettles. Fireheart nodded in greeting to Runningwind who nodded back as Graystripe averted his from him.

He slipped into the warriors den and picked his way back to his nest. He climbed into the nest he shared with Graystripe, settling on the edge of it like he'd been doing lately. He figured if they kept up with this strange song and dance that eventually, they'll have separate the nests again. He shrugs off the pain that grips his heart at the thought of dealing with his nightmares alone again, of sleeping cold and alone in his own nest without the warmth of Graystripe's fluffy tail and tucked his face under his own.

The pale pink light of the rising sun was beautiful. Fireheart murmured his usual prayer to Rayushu, pushing his way from the warrior's den, careful not to wake Graystripe. He yawned as he padded over to the gorse tunnel where Sandpaw was already waiting for him. Her eyes seemed just as clouded by sleep as his was.

"Hi," he meowed tiredly.

"Hi," she responded. "I say we wait for the night patrol. I need to wake up some more and I don't wanna get caught walking into a tree."

A burst of laughter bubbled from his chest and he nodded in agreement. He started grooming his coat while he waited, grinning when Sandpaw rolled her eyes fondly and called him vain. He licked his paw and drew it across his cheeks in an exaggerated fashion making her laugh with him.

They both looked up at the rustle of the tunnel announcing the return of the night patrol. Whitestorm pulled through first with Longtail and Mousefur. Their apprentices were yawning and leaning against each other as they moved almost robotically to the apprentice's den. None of their mentors stopped them from leaving.

"Any sign of ShadowClan?" Fireheart prompted.

"Definitely," said Whitestorm grimly.

"It's strange, always the same group of scents," Mousefur mused.

Fireheart sighed, "Oh for flame's sake. ShadowClan might be having a civil war and of course, we're the ones caught up in it."

"A civil war?" Whitestorm inquired looking at Fireheart thoughtfully.

"Remember back when ShadowClan was attempting to keep the moor?" Fireheart said. "Brightflower and a few other ShadowClan cats weren't supporting Nightstar's. They didn't speak against him but they were clearly upset."

Longtail grimaced as Mousefur hissed in realization.

"You might be right," Whitestorm said to Fireheart. "Good memory Fireheart- try to memorize those scents then. If we keep smelling the same cats all over, it might be an insurgent group trying to get revenge."

The deputy groaned, "Looks like I'll be talking to Larkwing and Bluestar. I was looking forward to sleeping."

"Have fun," said Mousefur cheekily and bounded off to the warrior's den with Longtail hot on her tail.

Whitestorm shook his head in amusement looking back at Sandpaw and Fireheart, "Remember, you're just looking for scents that they've been on our territory. Don't start any fights if you can avoid it. Patrol the RiverClan border, we didn't get around to that one."

"Yes Whitestorm," they chorused together.

The tom sighed, cast one more longing look towards the warrior's den and strode off to Bluestar's den.

Fireheart led the way from the camp, climbing from the ravine and flicking his tail.

"Let's start at Fourtrees," he suggested. "Whitestorm mentioned ShadowClan scent near the Owl Tree- we have go from there along the border to Tallpines."

"Alright," Sandpaw agreed. "I've never seen Fourtrees in snow- should be interesting."

She startled him, sending a pawful of snow at his face and dashed off while he sputtered. Fireheart laughed and took off after her, leaping and scrambling through the snow. It was nice to be with another cat again, racing through the woods. Sandpaw was as powerful and fast as she'd been when they were both apprentices, staying a full fox length ahead of him no matter how hard he pressed. She leapt over a fallen tree, vanishing into the snow despite her sandy pelt.

Fireheart followed her with a laugh.

His paws had barely touched the ground before he was tackled and went rolling through the snow. He grunted as his back impacted with the ground and he stared up at the mischievously grinning Sandpaw.

"Got you!" she claimed, making him laugh.

"As usual," he said. "Now get off, you're crushing me."

Sandpaw cackled as he stood up, shaking the snow from his pelt letting it fall from his back.

"You look like you've been caught in a snow storm," she crowed.

"You should see yourself," said Fireheart, smirking at the snow on her back.

"Hey," she said, her face turning somewhat serious. "What's going on between you and Graystripe?"

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone's noticed you two don't go hunting together as often as you used to. You don't talk as much in camp either- in fact, I think you guys only share your nest now."

Fireheart sighed, "It's complicated. Graystripe and I had a disagreement and we're having a difficult time resolving it. Nevermind that, what's going on with Dustpaw? He seems more abrasive to me lately."

Sandpaw rolled her eyes, "He's jealous that you and Graystripe got apprentices before we were even named warriors. He'll get over it- me and the other apprentices have begun telling him to shut up when he whines about it."

Fireheart tilted his head, "Aren't you upset too?"

"Not really," she said. "Between ShadowClan and RiverClan, there's bound to be at least a border scuffle soon."

Fireheart inclined his head in agreement. She was right- with the way ShadowClan and RiverClan were behaving, it wouldn't be long now. He hopes they fight ShadowClan- he'd battle RiverClan if he had too but RIverClan's agitation made sense when Graystripe and Silverstream were refusing to meet some place safer than Sunningrocks so this was technically ThunderClan's fault.

Sandpaw motioned for them to keep going and he followed. He figured that he might as well let her lead the rest of this patrol- she'd been training for as long as he had. They raced the rest of the way to Fourtrees together, occasionally stopping to throw snow at each other or slide down a hill. By the time they reached the slope overlooking the valley, the reddish sky was already a pale blue. Sunhigh was approaching and the birds were becoming active.

"I didn't think the snow would make everything look so different," she breathed as they followed the river.

Fireheart followed her gaze to the four massive, leafless oaks of Fourtrees that glittered from the frost on their branches and the snow that settled atop it.

"Yeah," he agreed quietly. "It's something else."

Sandpaw slowed their pace alongside the line of scent markers. Though Sandpaw had calmed down a lot regarding RiverClan and their part in Redtail's death, Fireheart noted that in between each normal ThunderClan scent mark, she'd place a new one as if she was creating an invisible wall.

She stopped in her marking, raising her nose to the sky tasting the air. A sly grin crossed her face as she slunk closer to Fireheart.

"In the mood for some rabbit?" she asked.

Fireheart grinned in agreement and nodded. He made sure to stay still as she crouched and started in the direction of the rabbit. He lowered himself to the ground, so that his pelt couldn't be caught by either a rabbit or a passing cat while Sandpaw stalked forward. He listened with baited breath as she crept out of sight, he could barely hear her despite the snow crunching beneath her paws.

If there were no snow, Fireheart figured. I might not be able to hear her at all.

The rabbit certainly didn't as Sandpaw lunged, he heard the rustling of brambles but no sound of a fleeing prey. He saw her stand up, holding the white pelted creature in her mouth proudly, marching over to drop the rabbit between them.

"Thrushpelt better look out," he said. "You're going to snatch the rank of Head Hunter right from his nose."

She laughed, "He won't even see it coming."

As they dug in, Sandpaw purred, "I love border patrols. I can eat what I catch instead of bringing it back for the clan. Hunting patrols are just another phrase for 'making cats starve.'"

Fireheart purred his agreement, "Do you know how tempted I am to eat every time I bring something back?"

"Only the thought of not eating for the rest of the day stops me from eating sometimes," she confessed.

The two of them finished their meals, chuckling and laughing. As they set off once more, Fireheart kept his ears pricked and his mouth opened for the slightest hint of Silverstream and Graystripe. He should be able to crunch loudly in the snow, feign falling to alert them to run. He could even throw in a curse to scare them off.

Sandpaw halted, her body stiffening up with excitement.

"Look! The river is frozen!"

Fireheart's tail lashed out instinctively, blocking her chest to stop her from sprinting off, "We're not going down to look."

She glanced at him, seeming to understand that the reaction was a remnant of Cinderpaw, "We don't have to- you can see it from here! We have to report this to Whitestorm."

"Why?" Fireheart asked.

"RiverClan could easily cross the river now but more importantly we can launch an attack right now! Give them good reasons to stop trespassing," she said with a hint of relish.

She motioned with her tail for him to follow, "Come on!"

Fireheart obediently leapt after her. Tearing through the forest to get back to the camp. Worry for Graystripe warred with the guilt in his stomach for not telling Bluestar. His friend might be forced into a battle against his mate and ThunderClan would be punishing RiverClan for the actions of only one of their warriors. As he slipped into the camp entrance, the bushes rustled as Brackenpaw came bounding into the camp with Graystripe following him slowly.

Despite his worry that she'd agree with Sandpaw, Fireheart felt a wave of relief wash over him at the sight of Bluestar sitting atop the Highrock, lounging with Whitestorm and Larksong. She looked as healthy and strong as he remembered her.

"Anything to report?" Whitestorm asked immediately.

Sandpaw bounded over excitedly, "The river's frozen over- we could walk across right now!"

Fireheart was suddenly grateful that Tigerclaw was the most irritating cat he'd ever met because it was only his practice with keeping his expression neutral that allowed him to hide his flinch at the ambitious gleam in his leader's eye.

Fireheart backed away when Bluestar thanked Sandpaw, veering towards Graystripe and Dustpaw who were glaring at each other.

"You two seemed like you had fun," Dustpaw said sarcastically. "What happened? Drown more RiverClan cats?"

This time, it was Sandpaw who lashed out at Dustpaw. She hit him much harder than Fireheart had before sending him staggering, as she spat, "What is wrong with you?"

Fireheart curled his lip at Dustpaw in agreement and glanced towards Graystripe, but making his statement generally keeping Sandpaw and Dustpaw in mind, "The river is frozen over- Bluestar might be planning a raid."

Just as Graystripe's eyes grew wide and he started backing away, Bluestar called the clan together. Fireheart turned, sitting beside Graystripe to watch his leader's victorious smile. The sun had reached its highest peak by this point, barely coming above the trees but still illuminating her like a halo.

"Sandpaw and Fireheart bring great news," Bluestar explained. "The river is frozen over! This is our chance to launch a warning attack on RiverClan! We will track down one of their patrols and teach them a lesson they won't soon forget."

As his clanmates cheered loudly at her announcement, Fireheart winces a little thinking about RiverClan's starving cats.

A lesson not forgotten indeed.

"Whitestorm, are our warriors fit enough for a raid on RiverClan?"

The tom flick his tail confidently, "Indeed."

"Excellent," said Bluestar. "Then we shall leave at sunset."

Fireheart looked at Graystripe while the clan raised their voices, yowling their delight and approval. His friend sat there, his face mostly neutral with only the twitching of his tail tip betraying his nervousness.

"It feels warmer today," Graystripe said when the cheering died down. "A thaw would make crossing the ice dangerous."

Fireheart nearly sighed aloud- why hadn't Graystripe approached Bluestar quietly? That way he wouldn't deal with the rest of the clan? Sure enough, the rest of the clan turned to Graystripe with suspicion or confusion.

"You're usually eager to fight," Tigerclaw pointed out with a slow swing of his tail.

"Yeah Graystripe- are you afraid of those flea bitten otters?" Darkstripe jeered.

"He looks scared," said Dustpaw, balance and bravado regained with support from the clan.

Fireheart's tail flicked angrily. Dustpaw of all cats had no reason to say anything after his comment from earlier. Graystripe, do you ever think before you act?

"Of getting his paws wet probably," Fireheart said with a smirk. "The last time he fell through the ice he got whitecough- I don't think I'd be keen for another involuntary swim either."

The tension of the clan dissolved into cackling and laughter, suspicion fading from the faced of everyone but Tigerclaw. Graystripe's ears turned red and he stared at his paws but Fireheart called it a win anyway. A little embarrassment was better than revealing his relationship with Silverstream in public. The excited gleam of his clanmates' eyes convinced him that though Graystripe wouldn't be punished for his relationship, he can't imagine many cats staying friendly to him either.

And why would they, Fireheart thought with despair. They still think RiverClan killed their deputy, that they're trespassing and stealing prey, that they're allied with ShadowClan against ThunderClan.

He glanced up when Bluestar announced, "I must discuss this with my senior warriors" and bounded down from the Highrock to her den. She was followed by Whitestorm, Tigerclaw and Thrushpelt to her den while the rest of the clan broke into smaller groups to discuss the proposed raid.

"I suppose you expect me to thank you for embarrassing me?" Graystripe hissed to him

Fireheart shot him an angry look, "No but you could thank me for not telling Bluestar that his whole thing is your fault. "

He stomped off, not checking Graystripe's reaction to his statement.

There he goes again, Fireheart thought to himself angrily. Every time Silverstream comes up he get ridiculous. If they can't even be grateful I'm not telling I might as well stop covering for them!

He took a deep breath as Sandpaw sauntered over to him. No, even if Graystripe and Silverstream were being agitating and stubborn, that didn't mean Fireheart had to stoop to Graystripe's level of being vindictive.

Bluestar's voice called out from the Highrock once more, "Willowpelt and Thrushpelt agree that there is a thaw on the way."

Graystripe shot a defiant look of triumph from where he sat. Fireheart rolled his eyes at his friend, relieved. Without a raid, Graystripe and Silverstream would have more time to either figure out a smarter way to handle their relationship or end it altogether. But then Bluestar followed with, "So we will attack at once!"

Graystripe's triumph turned into that of sheer horror as Bluestar continued, unaware of her warrior's terror.

"We will of course leave warriors here- we must remember the potential ShadowClan threat so a team of five powerful and competent warriors will make the raid. I will remain in camp in case of ShadowClan's invading."

Good, Fireheart thought firmly. Thrushpelt must've talked her into staying when she'd only just recovered from greencough and was now on her final life.

"The patrol will be led by Tigerclaw with Longtail, Darkstripe, Willowpelt and Fireheart."

Fireheart sighed inwardly with relief, but put on a display of flexing his claws and grinning. Bluestar seemed pleased by her former apprentice's excitement at a raid- a stark contrast to Darkstripe and Tigerclaw's disgusted and suspicious expressions.

"There is no time to lose," Bluestar said firmly. "I can already smell the warm winds- go now!"

Fireheart sprung to his paws after the patrol to RiverClan, thundering from the ravine in the most direct sprint he'd ever taken outside of the sprints he'd done as an apprentice. Of which now he knew their purpose, his paws moved automatically alongside the familiar trail. They charged past Sunningrocks but Graystripe and Willowpelt were right, every breath he took in was warm instead of chilly. Much of the snow that had been piled high at dawn had already begun melting.

So Fireheart wasn't surprised that when they emerged from the bracken, stopping at the edge of the river, it wasn't to a glittering path promising an easy passing. It was to the intimidating cold, black water that had previously almost drowned his friend.

The second they were back in camp, Fireheart went looking for Graystripe. He let Tigerclaw and the rest of the patrol report to Bluestar- he supposed if they asked he could pretend he was disappointed about not being able to fight. He didn't care how it made him look, he sniffed along the bracken and bushes catching scent of his best friend and began to follow it.

He heard a whisper of his name and tilted his head recognizing the voices Graystripe's. He followed it behind the nursery into the small clearing.

"Graystripe?" he mewed in confusion. "You can come out- the river was thawed! We didn't even have a chance to cross!"

He looked around, he still couldn't see Graystripe anywhere. He opened his mouth to call out for him again when something crashed into him heavily. He rolled with the attack, gathering his paws beneath himself and skittered back. He turned to see Graystripe, glowering at him fur bristled with his back arched.

"You didn't trust me!" Graystripe snarled.

"Why should I?" Fireheart spat back even as betrayal flowed through his blood. "You've attacked me! I've no idea where your loyalties lie!"

"I make my own choices," Graystripe snarled launching himself at him once more.

Fireheart sheathed his claws and ducked letting Graystripe go sailing over him and into the open clearing of the camp. He stalked out where his friend was recovering form the attack and lashed out with a single paw, slamming his face into the ground. He made no further move to attack as Whitestorm and Tigerclaw came bounding over to intervene, merely lashing his tail.

"What is going on here?" Bluestar demanded. "Fireheart see me in my den, Graystripe go to your nest until I'm ready to speak to you!"

Fireheart stepped into Graystripe's path making his deputy and Tigerclaw tense.

"Fireheart! Now!" Bluestar snapped.

Fireheart didn't even show that heard her, instead glowering at the bristled form of Graystripe.

" Aru tsiul nuakidanzi yo pahu tsi, " Fireheart told him coolly.

"What you are saying?" Graystripe growled.

"Does it matter finch ?" Fireheart sneered. He turned away from him, stalking by Bluestar towards her den.

He didn't react as he led the way to Bluestar's den, keeping his head high and unashamed despite the startled looks he got from the other cats. He clambered in, plopping his butt down on the soft floor of her den as she strode around in front of him. She stared at him in disbelief before demanding, "What was that about?"

Fireheart flicked his ear and said nothing, he kept his face neutral despite the stinging on his shoulder ad the cut in his lip.

Bluestar took a deep breath, "I know that things are tense in camp but I never expected to see you and Graystripe fighting with claws unsheathed. Are you hurt?"

"Not badly," he said simply.

"Are you going to tell me what that was about?"

"He's a prick but I won't betray his confidence even if you demanded it with your claws," Fireheart told her.

Bluestar sighed heavily.

"Very well. You two will sort it out on your own- the clan is already facing a difficult time and this kind of infighting helps no one but our enemies."

"Understood, may I go?"

Bluestar nodded and Fireheart clambered from her den and stalked to the warrior's den. He slipped inside and observed Graystripe, curled up in a tight ball in their nest, having left space for Fireheart.

Fireheart almost snorted aloud.

He walked deeper into the den aware of the eyes on him, worried about what he'd do. The extra nests on the end were for new warriors- he didn't want to inconvenience another cat just because Graystripe made him want to mangle him. He also didn't trust or feel close enough to any other cat in the den to share a nest with. So he walked to the edge of the den near the wall where there was no nest, just dirt and scraped it into a small dirt nest for himself.

He ignored the way Graystripe sat up in his nest, alarmed as if he'd thought that Fireheart would just put the attack past him and curl up with him anyway. He opened his mouth as if to speak to him but Fireheart hissed and laid in his dirt nest curled up.

He felt cold having grown used to Graystripe's thick fur covering him like the warmest blanket. He was tense, already anticipating the nightmares that would come from him sleeping alone once more, the insomnia that would follow him without Graystripe to lick between his ears until he was so drowsy he leaned against him and fell asleep.

I'll get used to it, Fireheart told himself firmly.

Fireheart awoke earlier than usual the next morning. Or maybe he wasn't asleep at all? He'd spent most of the suppressing the sounds he'd make as his nightmares flooded his mind leaving him exhausted and on the verge of panic. He'd felt eyes on him most of the night- at first his denmates were just trying to decipher if he was serious, if he'd really sleep on the cold, hard ground instead of in his warm soft nest beside Graystripe. As it became clear that he meant what he was doing, the eyes lessened to being only Graystripe.

Graystripe who always seemed to be able to sense when he was having a nightmare so he bit his tongue and controlled his panicked movement as best as he could. He doesn't know when Graystripe was called out to speak to Bluestar but as soon as he was gone, Fireheart jumped to his paws and quickly left the den.

The main clearing was empty- he wasn't surprised, the sun still hadn't risen so only the night patrol, Graystripe and Bluestar could possibly be up and about. He flicked his tail and padded off to Spottedleaf's den- if he couldn't sleep, he might as well spend some time with Spottedleaf.

When he crept inside, Spottedleaf was asleep curled up beside the sick kits. Her head was above her paws as if she'd fallen asleep hovering over them. The kits squirmed and wriggled in their nest seemingly soothed by her soft snoring. Fireheart shook his head fondly, he didn't want to wake them and so he veered directly off to Cinderpaw's nests as quietly as he could.

Cinderpaw was curled up and snoozing away in her nest. She looked far more peaceful than she had the last time he's seen her. The misaligned hind leg looked better than ever though the muscle on it was rapidly fading. The brace he'd made had been replaced by a much sturdier one at some point and he could see a poultice under it. He didn't climb into her nest out of fear of disturbing her, instead he settled down tucking his paws beneath himself and closed his eyes, focusing on the sound of her breathing.

Light shining through his eyelids alerted him to the proper appearance of dawn and let him know that he'd fallen asleep. He pricked his ears listening to the sound of the stirring clan then got to his paws. He took a moment to stretch, arching his back and extending his claws. Fireheart gently touched her flank with his nose and slipped from the den leaving Cinderpaw and Spottedleaf to their rest.

Whitestorm was already up and giving orders to the cats waiting before him so Fireheart walked over to the group of warriors, sitting in the center. Graystripe as already in there, staring at his paws with bright red ears. Whitestorm glanced at him and returned his attention to the rest of the waiting warriors.

Tigerclaw, who stood to Whitestorm's left was addressing the warm weather, "It won't stay like this for long. All of the prey that's been hiding and sheltering will be hungry so this is our chance to gather as much prey as we can to wait out the rest of leaf-bare. As soon as it gets cold again, most prey will disappear and everything that sticks around will be scrawny and small."

"But we have the food store," pointed out Dustpaw.

"With the snow melting it's already halfway to beetle feed," Whitestorm informed. "We actually need to allocate it so that it doesn't rot from being wet."

He straightened up, "There'll be two patrols- Mousefur, Brightpaw Fireheart and Sandpaw can be one patrol. Graystripe, me and Brackenpaw can be another."

"It's probably smart to keep them apart," Tigerclaw snorted making the rest of the warriors laugh.

"It almost made up for missing the fight last night," Mousefur added.

"You're right," said Fireheart and all the laughter stopped instantly. "Anyone want to help me really make up for missing it?"

He didn't stop to catch the reactions of the other cats and got to his paws and started for the gorse barrier without looking at Graystripe once. Behind him, he heard Sandpaw talking to Graystripe in shock.

"What did you do? If a badger bit him, Fireheart would forgive it and call it brother!"

Mousefur eyes him warily as Brightpaw stayed close to her mentor. Sandpaw was the only cat in his patrol willing to stand within a tail-length of him and even she kept quiet. Fireheart glanced up at the sky, he'd seen the clouds rolling in from his trip to the river and it appeared that it would begin to rain soon. The remaining snow was starting to be turned to slush which did nothing to help his foul mood.

"I'll take Brightpaw with me," she asserted. "You and Sandpaw can meet us back at camp by sunhigh."

Fireheart nodded in agreement and turned away. He didn't run but he wasn't truly looking for prey either. He could hardly believe that he and Graystripe were falling apart so violently over a single cat. He spotted Sandpaw keeping a healthy distance between them and he suppressed his snort. The entire clan couldn't believe that he and Graystripe had fought so bitterly and he was putting them on edge.

He shook his head, he'd lost Ravenwing to bad circumstances and a dangerous cat. Now he was losing Graystripe to a pretty molly and stubbornness.

The real problem, Fireheart thinks to himself grimly. Is that we're letting this affect the clan.

He scolded himself lightly, as mad as he was at Graystripe, his mother had taught him better than to let his personal problems interfere with his duties.

Fireheart glanced up, realizing that his paws had carried him to the Neutral Stretch as they had so many times this leaf-bare when he was upset. He glanced at Sandpaw, surprised that she hadn't said anything or even snuck off away from him and his somber mood. The snapping of branches caught his attention and he tensed, ready to defend himself. Sandpaw bristled with him right before a squirrel came running out.

Sandpaw reacted faster than him, pouncing on the free kill easily.

A pair of white paws appeared from the bushes and his eldest sister, Isaria came strutting over. She must've scared the squirrel out. Fireheart relaxed instantly, entering a more friendly position as he meowed a warm greeting to his sister.

Sandpaw eyed him warily but lowered her hackles and straightened up.

Fireheart was going to charge her before he realized that she had a squealing, squirming bundle in her mouth. His jaw fell open as delight flooded him when his sister created a small space on the ground free from slush and set the kit on top of a large leaf.

The kit was tiny and mostly white with a cute pink nose and pink bright, pads. His ears, tail and legs were the same rich brown as his sisters but like Fireheart, he had an extra toe. He fell in love immediately with his tiny kin.

"What happened to visiting more often?" she asked playfully.

"A lot happened," Fireheart said tearing his eyes from his nephling.

"He's so tiny," Sandpaw whispered having moved closer to observe the kit. "Why bring him out here? It's cold for little guy like him."

Isaria chuckled, "His name is Iliari and he's yours Fireheart."

Fireheart blinked, "What?"

"Kokina and I spoke about you being in ThunderClan," she explained. "With the revelation that clan aggression may have been a misunderstanding over all, we decided that we'd offer them something to strengthen our relationship. Since you're in ThunderClan, mother agrees that it would be the best move would be to offer him to you."

"You're just giving up your kit?" Sandpaw demanded. "Like- like a trade?"

"Really?" Fireheart asked her with awe. "Kina… kina knows? And she isn't angry?"

Isaria shook her head, "Kokina has always been proud of you Soryn. She's just very bad at showing it."

"...I'll take him," Fireheart said determinedly.

"How will you explain a kit to Bluestar!" Sandpaw asked in shock.

"Exactly as I said it," Isaria informed her. "Soryn may be a clan cat now but he also serves as a link between us. This is an official event. If your leader has any problems with this negotiation, she may approach us and we'll re-negotiate. But I think my first born son is a more than massive enough display of trust in ThunderClan."

"This won't be fun to talk to Larkwing about," Fireheart said with a good natured groan.

"...how about I hunt a little?" Sandpaw suggested glancing at the sun. "You two clearly have a lot to catch up on but the clan will be more receptive if we bring back food too."

"You're right," agreed Fireheart. "You're a better hunter than me anyway."

Sandpaw laughed, her nerves seeming to melt as she turned away.

"Flattery will get you everywhere."

Fireheart had been telling the truth when he said Sandpaw was a better hunter than him but even if he hadn't he wouldn't have been after that day. He shook the two squirrels that had been draped careful across his back onto the fresh kill pile and let Sandpaw proudly add her two mice and the first squirrel.

The clan had already begun looking up when Iliari's scent drifted through the camp. Unlike when he returned from the clearing the second time he'd gone for catmint, the foreign scent of the kingdoms flowed off of him. Plus, instead of prey in his mouth, Fireheart held his precious bundle by the scruff, ferrying his prey across his back.

He set his nephling down and began licking him soothingly when the kit swung his head about, taking in the new scents around him. Ari shuffled closer to him and Fireheart chuckled, the tiny kit was likely appalled by the chill of the camp having spent his entire life until this point in the warmth of the Ashara's Clearing where the hearth kept the entire area warm regardless of the temperature.

"What is this?"

Fireheart looked up, Bluestar was emerging from Spottedleaf's den with the medic by her side, staring down at the bundle by his paws.

"My sister's kit," Fireheart informed. "And an offering of peace- I'll need to talk to you and Larkwing."

"Your sister's kit?" Longtail interjected. "From the kingdom?"

"Indeed," said Fireheart. "I've been visiting my siblings for moons- apparently kokina saw an opportunity."

"An opportunity," Darkstripe sneered. "You've been running back to those soft bellies the whole time?"

Fireheart scoffed, "Those 'softbellies' saved Bluestar's life with the catmint they generously gave us."

"Why did you bring it?" Tigerclaw growled.

"My sister means him as a gesture of goodwill," Fireheart said. "As the future queen, her son is a sign of peace and that she won't hold a grudge for anything that's happened before this point."

"What would she have to hold a grudge about?" Larkwing prompted.

Thrushpelt sidled up to Bluestar and snorted at the question, "This is his elder sister. He's been speaking to her for a while- how about the cats still treating him poorly despite all he's done to prove his loyalty to ThunderClan?"

Longtail bristled and Darkstripe bared his teeth at the pointed remark but said nothing.

"That will be a burden on the clan," Mousefur said shaking her head. "He's still of nursing age. What if there was no cat to nurse him?"

"What are you under the assumption that Sitters do?" Fireheart asked her. " Literally sit on kits? Besides, Brindleface had her kits during leaf-bare, are Ashkit, Fernkit and Elderkit burdens too?"

Mousefur's ears turned red as she took a step back in embarrassment.

"He's from the kingdom so he'll be soft anyway," Dustpaw jeered. "All cats from the kingdoms are soft."

Fireheart flashed him a sickly sweet smile and extended his claws, "Would you like to come closer and say that again?"

Dustpaw's split ear flicked as his tail swished nervously, the tom backed a bit farther from clawing distance.

"I understand that you meant no disployalty Fireheart but it wasn't your decision to make," Bluestar informed.

"Actually it was," Sandpaw broke in. She seemed nervous when Bluestar focused on her with narrowed eyes but explained, "Fireheart is a link between the kingdoms and the clans. She says if you think her offer is in bad faith she's willing to talk it over with you and Larkwing."

"The kit thing is normal in the kingdoms," Brackenpaw supported. "I was with Fireheart a few times when we spoke to his sister. She's already giving her second son to her 'pair' to return home with as a sign of good faith to another kingdom. If Fireheart says it was an offer of kindness, it's an offer of kindness."

Graystripe stepped forward, he tentatively glanced at Fireheart and looked away but said, "If the kit has even a drop of blood from Fireheart it'll be strong. Brave too."

"...I need to speak with Larkwing and Whitestorm," Bluestar said finally. She walked off with her two warriors at her heels.

"Thank you," said Fireheart to the cats who'd spoken up.

"It's be hypocritical of me to speak against you," said Sandpaw with a rueful smile. "Redtail walked into camp with me saying he'd found me in a log, he was keeping me and anyone who had something to say about it would leave with a few less whiskers."

Fireheart blinked- he hadn't known that but it did make sense for her to be closer to Redtail. A lot of clan cats seemed far closer to their mothers than their fathers. He'd just assumed that her mother had passed and it was a sensitive topic so he never brought it up.

Brackenpaw purred gently, "You've already explained to me how this works. I'll admit to being selfish- I want to sit in on the kingdom lessons you give him."

Fireheart burst into laughter at Brackenpaw's confession, "I would've told you anything you asked about. But I'll be sure to save you a spot."

"...it was the right thing to do," Graystripe said quietly. "Besides, what were you supposed to do? Leave the kit and your sister sitting in the snow to come have a long talk with Bluestar and Larkwing?"

Fireheart chuckled- his fury towards Graystripe hadn't diminished in the slightest but he was glad that Graystripe was still a friend to him. Albeit, one who know had to earn his trust back. He blinked as a drop of water fell on his nose and he shook his head quickly picking up Ari.

His friends shared his sentiments, walking off towards their dens as Fireheart carried Ari into the warrior's den just to get out of the rapidly picking up rain. The tiny kit quickly started mewling as Fireheart carried him over to his dirt nest and began licking his head.

"That squealing brat is so loud!" Darkstripe complained.

" All kits are loud," Graystripe snapped shooting the tom a glower. "And so are you as a grown cat- if you can't handle it, go to the elder's den."

As Darkstripe settled down grumbling, a silhouette appeared in the den. Frostfur shook her fur out, splashing a few cats as she walked over to Fireheart.

"Come on," she said. "Brindleface is willing to nurse him."

"She is?"

Frostfur nodded, "Unlike some others I could mention, I remember my lectures from the elders."

Fireheart tilted his head- what did that have to do with anything?

Frostfur smiled at him, "To keep the peace and ensure that no cat would threaten the neutral stretch deal, Doestar made certain lecturers remember things about the kingdoms to teach the next generation."

She shrugged, "I was taught that in the kingdoms, denying kin- turning them away like you'd be doing to your sister's kit- is like turning away the sun itself. As soon as you said he was kin, it made sense to me."

"Besides," she added. "Brindleface wouldn't leave a kit to suffer and starve. Not after she lost Tulipkit and she has milk to spare."

Fireheart gave her an appreciative smile and climbed back to his paws taking Ari in his mouth and followed her back out into the rain. He clambered into the nursery after her, trotted directly up to Brindleface who was watching the kit swinging from hos mouth with intense eyes. He gently set his precious bundle down beside the solely nursing Ashkit. The kit latched on almost immediately after smelling the milk on her and Fireheart watched the adoration blossom in Brindleface's eyes, a protecting glint dawning.

"...what's his name?" she asked.

"Iliari," said Fireheart. "It means 'little cloud.' I've been calling him just Ari in my head."

"Iliari," Brindleface tested. "It's pretty. Tell Bluestar that I'll nurse him- he's already very large. I don't think he'll need milk for too much longer anyhow."

Fireheart dipped his head respectfully to Brindleface, " Humaixara."

He backed out of the nursery before she could respond to his honorable title padding across the clearing to Bluestar's den. He meowed to announce himself and fell back into old habits, waiting a patient few seconds to allow them to settle themselves- and their expressions- in case they were talking about things they didn't want him to hear.

He clambered in out of the rain, refraining from shaking out his coat in Bluestar's den. Fireheart walked over noting that for once, Bluestar wasn't on her rock but was instead sitting on the floor with Whitestorm and Larkwing on either side of her, watching him approach.

"Brindleface has agreed to nurse Ari," he announced. "Was there anything you needed to ask of me?"

Larkwing nodded, a serious expression on his face, "Is there anything that would be required of the kit that we wouldn't think about?"

Fireheart hummed, "As this is born from a desire to create peace between both societies, Iliari will be educated in both cultures. I'll be responsible for ensuring he knows as much of his heritage as a kit of the sun should and the clans should ensure that he knows the Soul tales like his own life's story."

"Will that require us to make any concessions?"

"If Iliari expresses the desire, I will take him to get his collar," Fireheart said. "The only other requirement would merely be allowing him to see his mother- he doesn't have to go into the kingdom for anything beyond that I think."

"That's far more lenient than I assumed," Whitestorm mused.

"Like I said, my sister is just trying to show good faith," Fireheart hesitated for a moment, then decided it would help for him to add, "And it's my mother's way of making up for lost time."

"Lost time?" Bluestar inquired her gaze sharpening.

Fireheart sighed quietly, "Mother was… strict. And very critical after dad died- it felt like me and my siblings could never be perfect enough for her. Iliari is her way of apologizing to me for never saying that she was proud of me for following my dreams, for never coming to see me on the stretch, not waving, purring or doing… anything to assure me that she still loved me."

He glanced up and for the first time since her eyes had landed on Ari, Bluestar's eyes had softened. Her whiskers had drooped a little and a slight light of indecisiveness appeared in her eyes.

"I hadn't realized your relationship to your mother was strained," she murmured.

Fireheart hummed, refraining from pointing out that no one in the clan but Graystripe and Cinderpaw had ever asked about his family. That most of the clan seemed perfectly content to believe that he'd sprung from the sunlight of dawn; a loner with no one who missed him and no one who loved him.

"Well, I've made my decision," Bluestar said leading the way back out into the rain. She didn't call the clan to a meeting, not when everyone had already retreated inside from the rain and instead, squeezed into the nursery.

As soon as her eyes locked on Bluestar, Brindleface curled tighter around Ari and Ashkit, hissing at her defensively.

Bluestar paused in her steps, lowering herself to the ground soothingly, "I'm just here to perform the name ceremony."

Brindleface's body relaxed and she uncurled from around the two kits, "His name is Iliari. It means 'little cloud.'"

Bluestar looked at Fireheart who nodded his confirmation and she returned her attention to the kit on the ground.

"Great Souls around us I, Bluestar of ThunderClan call for your attention. Today Fireheart has brought a kit that is to join us as a member of ThunderClan. From this day until the day they are to become an apprentice, this kit shall be known as Cloudkit."