Soooo... I've been really lazy as of late, and I thought I'd apologize for that by writing a one-shot on Warriors! Heh... sorry, guys... *nervous sweating* This is shortly after Fireheart steers Bluestar away from fighting WindClan in her paranoia, and she has something to say to him about it. It hurt me badly to see Bluestar like that, so distrusting... but think about how many things happened in her life! I guess that's not an excuse, but I love Bluestar so I'll try to defend her lol. Enjoy, guys!

"Um, Fireheart?"

Said ginger tom looked up at Sandstorm from his nest, blinking. His weariness evaporated into anxiety, seeing the concern in Sandstorm's green eyes.

"What's wrong?"

Her tail flicked behind her, gaze softening. "Bluestar wants to speak with you... in her den." Fireheart's pelt prickled uncomfortably, and even so, he rose to his paws, trying to hide his apprehension. Sandstorm didn't have to worry about his problems, anyway. "Thanks... I'll see you later."

The young warrior made his way past Sandstorm and padded outside into the evening light. Longtail and Dustpelt were speaking by the prey pile, and he noticed Bramblepaw and Ashpaw play wrestling by the apprentice's den. Fireheart sighed.

Bluestar... wasn't well. Not long ago, maybe a moon, Tigerclaw, her trusted deputy that Fireheart had never trusted himself, had tried to murder her. Fireheart knew Bluestar was on her last life. She was a shell of her former self, no longer the strong, guarded leader he'd once known. She was edgy now, overly paranoid and aggressive. She'd even named poor Brightpaw, who'd been viciously attacked by a pack of dogs, Lostface. One side of the ginger and white she-cat's face was bare, both ears shredded. Bluestar had named her as such because nobody knew if Brightpaw would survive, so Cloudtail had suggested she be given her warrior name. In her illness, Bluestar dubbed her that cruel name.

Fireheart shivered. Despite the warmth of the evening, he suddenly felt cold. He nosed the lichen at Bluestar's den's entrance, subconsciously feeling his pelt ruffle slightly with worry.

The blue-gray leader was lying in her mossy bedding, staring at the walls of the den. Her blue eyes, once so clear, held a dark, foggy look. Fireheart dipped his head. He cleared his throat quietly. "B-... Bluestar?" He cursed himself for stammering, digging his claws into the dirt under his paws.

Bluestar's eyes flickered. Fireheart couldn't read their expression. "Fireheart." The ginger tom's heart accelerated. She wasn't happy... not in the least.

"Come in." Bluestar's voice sounded so hollow, so... hopeless. Fireheart gulped, slowly padding inside. Up close, Bluestar looked worse than ever; her glossy fur was matted and dirty, and she hadn't appeared to have groomed in days. Her frame was so thin Fireheart almost winced. A half eaten mouse lay by her paws.

Fireheart sat himself down, curling his tail around himself. "You wanted to speak with me, Bluestar?"

Her icy eyes bore into Fireheart's orange pelt. "Yes."

Fireheart knew that this wasn't a simple chat. She was angry. Displeased. Betrayed. "I thought... it was the right thing to do-" Fireheart began, but Bluestar's head snapped up, her teeth curled back into a snarl. "Silence!"

"I trusted you, Fireheart." Those words echoed in his ears, and he flattened them, his expression worried and somewhat sad. He couldn't bare to see her like this. The new deputy looked at her. "I-I didn't believe the clans needed to fight this battle." Bluestar glared. "I did it for the good of the clan..."

Fireheart willed himself to continue. "And I didn't tell them about a real battle... I only asked that they try to make peace. "I just thought-"

"I said silence!" Fireheart clamped his muzzle shut.

"Why should I care if every cat in ThunderClan had been slaughtered?" Bluestar demanded, raking her claws into the dirt. Her eyes met Fireheart's, and he saw only hatred there. "Why should I care what happens to traitors?" The word stung Fireheart. He didn't reply. He only lowered his head.

Pain clouded Bluestar's eyes. She wasn't staring at him anymore; rather the camp outside of the den.

"If only I'd kept my kits..."

Fireheart felt a stab of sympathy. "Mistyfoot and Stonefur are noble cats... far nobler than any in this rag-tag bunch in ThunderClan." She said the word as if it were poisonous. "My children would've never betrayed me."

Then Fireheart came to a realization. His eyes widened, and his ears and whiskers perked up.

"Bluestar..."

When she spoke, the old she-cat's meow cracked with pain. "I gave them up to become deputy!"

She turned her head away, facing het body away from him. "And now StarClan are punishing me!" Fireheart's shock quickly turned back into intense concern when Bluestar bristled, thrashing her tail angrily. "Oh, StarClan are clever, Fireheart! They knew the cruelest way to break me. They made me leader and turned my warriors against me!!"

She flipped her body around. Fireheart was even more shocked by the wild madness in her blue eyes.

"What is it worth now?! Being leader of ThunderClan?! Nothing!" Fireheart had never been more concerned for her well-being. He understood the pain she must've suffered, but he couldn't say he knew what it was like.

"It's all empty... all..." Worried, Fireheart flinched and stood up to turn around. "I'll fetch Cinderpelt-"

Bluestar sharply rose, tail twice its normal size and raised upward. Her claws were unsheathed, and for a moment Fireheart thought she was going to lunge at him. "Stay. Where. You. Are."

Fireheart held perfectly still aside from turned his head around to look at his leader. Bluestar's ears were flattened against her skull, and her eyes blazed with fury. "I need to punish you, Fireheart."

The warrior's heart pounded harder than ever, his tail a little shaky. Nevertheless, he turned back around to face her.

"I need to punish you, Fireheart. Tell me a good punishment for a traitor!"

He didn't know how to respond. She was certain on this, her angry gaze staring right at him. "I..." She lashed her tail. "I don't know, Bluestar..."

"But I do."

Fireheart held back a fearful mew. He could very easily be exiled, or even... no. Bluestar wouldn't do that... right?

"I know the best punishment of all." Bluestar turned away, laying in her nest once more. "I'll do nothing."

Surprised, Fireheart lifted his head. He dared not speak. "I'll let you be deputy still, and leader after me." She let out a small, soft chuckle. "Oh, that should please StarClan. A traitor leading a clan of traitors." Bluestar closed her eyes, sitting up to face him once more. "May they give you joy of it, Fireheart."

"Now... get OUT of my SIGHT!" she snapped.

Hurt stinging deep into him, Fireheart closed his eyes, dipped his head, and left her alone. She glared after him.

Fireheart nosed through the lichen again, keeping his head low. Sandstorm was waiting outside. "Fireheart? Are you ok?" The tom sighed. "Yes, I'm fine... but I... I don't think I can say the same for Bluestar..."

Thanks for reading, anyone who does! I hope this is good enough lol. Have a great day/night!

~BoT