Heart of Fire: The Darkest Hour

by sierra.stanley.52

'Beware the snake that blood trails after' A sinister omen hangs over the head of the new ThunderClan leader. As tensions fly, so does a lurking darkness...one that's out for the Clans home, and the Clan cats blood. Will Firestar be able to save the one's she cares for most? or will ThunderClan, and the rest of the Clans fall apart at the seams.

3. Chapter 3

Part 3! I hope that you enjoy this one! Also look up xXxRavenXDameonxXx the author of 'From the Ashes' she has some great stories going on! And recently updated! I hope you go and check some of her stories out! Also look up xMysticWolfx she has some great stories to read as well! Well onto the story! Review! I want reviews! (also I know Redtail gave a life already to Tigerstar, but I would like to point out, Bluestar gave a life to Bramblestar as well as Firestar! And also the reason for why his life is different is because the one for Tigerstar was a personal matter and didn't need to be repeated twice!)

Also on a side-note, I had a spin off idea for the end of 'Heart of Fire' Forest of Secrets! What if, when Tigerclaw was being exiled, Fireheart and her kits were exiled too? (just think about that, how will things turn out for the family of nine? thirteen if they take Featherkit, Stormkit, Cloudpaw and Graystripe with them! How will the Clans change? How will destiny change? And the fire prophecy? Would they still join ShadowClan? Would they live the rest of their lives as rogues or turn into kittypets? Who knows!)

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As Fireheart bounded across to Bluestar's den, Speckletail spun around to face her. Her eyes were burning with anger, possibly lingering anger as well towards Tigerstar too. "There are two RiverClan cats here," she growled. "Mauling our leader's body!"

"No-no, they're not," Fireheart stammered, her once older den mate's hostility making her stutter on her words. "They've a right to be here."

She realized that the rest of the Clan had gathered anxiously behind her and she heard Cloudtail yowling a challenge, with snarls of rage breaking out all around.

Fireheart whirled to face them. "Keep back!" she ordered. "It's all right. Mistyfoot and Stonefur-"

"You know they're here?" The voice was Darkstripe's; the dark tabby thrust his way through the crowd to stand nose-to-nose with Fireheart. "You let enemy cats into our camp-into our leader's den?"

Tigerstar was here too! And you didn't react as bad when you saw him! Fireheart took a breath, forcing herself to stay calm. When the Clan had been preparing to escape the dog pack, Darkstripe had tried to slip away with Fireheart's kits. He had good intentions but Fireheart was unconvinced and even resented him now. But now was not the time for accusations to fly.

"Have you forgotten what I told you?" she asked. "Mistyfoot and Stonefur helped me and Tigerstar to pull Bluestar out of the river."

"So you say!" Darkstripe spat. "How do we know you're telling the truth? Why should RiverClan cats help ThunderClan?"

"The same reason Tigerstar did," Fireheart used all her strength to not rake her claws against the darker warriors face. "Because it was the right thing to do. RiverClan help edu soften enough in the past at least," Fireheart also reminded him. "More of us would have died after the fire if RiverClan hadn't given us shelter."

"That's true," meowed Mousefur. She had been listening close to the front, and came to stand beside Darkstripe. "But it's no excuse to leave them alone in the den with Bluestar's body. What are they doing in there?"

"We are giving honor to Bluestar."

Stonefur spoke defiantly, and Fireheart turned her head to see that the RiverClan deputy and Mistyfoot had appeared in the mouth of the den. They both looked taken aback cat the reaction of the ThunderClan cats, their fur beginning to bristle as they realized they were being treated as intruders.

"We wanted to say goodbye to her," Mistyfoot meowed.

"Why?" Mousefur demanded.

Fireheart's stomach clenched as Mistyfoot faced the light brown she-cat and answered, "She was our mother."

Silence fell, broken only by the call of a blackbird from the edge of the camp. Fireheart's mind raced as she faced the shocked, hostile stares of her Clan. Her gaze met Spottedleaf's; she looked shocked surprised as the rest of the Clan, but underneath was a slow recollection of understanding and remembrance.

"Your mother?" growled Speckletail. "I don't believe it. Bluestar would never have allowed her kits to be raised in another Clan."

"Believe it or not, it's true," Stonefur retorted.

Fireheart stepped forward, warning Stonefur to stay silent with a flick of her hardly noticeable crooked tail. "I'll deal with this now. You and Mistyfoot had better go."

Stonefur gave her a curt nod and took the lead as he and Mistyfoot made their way toward the gorse tunnel. Fireheart heard one or two furious hisses as the ThunderClan cats parted to let them pass.

"The thanks of the Clan go with you,' Fireheart called out after them, her voice echoing thinly off the Highrock.

Mistyfoot and Stonefur didn't respin. They didn't even turn to look back before they vanished into the tunnel.

Every hair on Fireheart's sleek pelt prickled with the desire to turn and run from her new responsibilities. The secret that had been so heavy to keep-that Bluestar had given up her kits to another Clan-would be heavier still in the sharing. She wished that she had been given more time to think of what to say, but she knew that it was better for her Clan to hear the truth from her now, instead of from RiverClan at the next Gathering. As Clan leader she had to face the task, however little she liked it.

Dipping her head to Spottedleaf, she bounded up onto the Highrock. There was no need to summon the Clan; they were already turning to look up at her. For a heartbeat Fireheart was breathless, unable to speak.

She could see their anger and confusion, and smell their fear scent. Darkstripe was watching her with narrowed eyes, as if he were already planning what to tell Tigerstar. Bleakly Fireheart reflected that Tigerstar already knew; he had heard what Bluestar said to her kits as she lay dying by the river. Sorry Darkstripe, Tigerstar already beat you to that information. Fireheart thought tiredly. She wondered if Tigerstar would keep quiet about this, he didn't say he would. Fireheart more like warned him, if he did, well, there was really nothing Fireheart could do about it. But Tigerstar has changed, maybe this whole experience and time has made him see a new both.

Fireheart took a deep breath and began: "Its true that Mistyfoot and Stonefur are Bluestar's kits." She struggled to keep her voice steady, and prayed to StarClan to give her the right words so that the cats would not turn against Bluestar. "Oakheart of RiverClan was their father. When her kits were born, Bluestar gave them to him to be brought up in his Clan."

"How do you know?" snarled Frostfur. "Bluestar would never have done that! If RiverClan cats said so, they're lying."

"Bluestar told me herself," Fireheart replied.

She met the white cat's gaze; her eyes blazed with fury, her teeth were bared, but she did not quite dare to accuse her of lying. "Are you telling me she was a traitor?" she hissed.

One or two cats yowled a protest. Frostfur spun around, fur bristling, and Whitestorm rose to face her. Though the senior warrior looked stunned with shock, his voice was steady as he meowed, "Bluestar was always loyal to her Clan."

"If she was so loyal," Darkstripe put in, "why did she let a cat from another Clan father her kits?"

Fireheart found that question hard to answer. Not long ago, Graystripe had taken a mate from RiverClan, and his kits were growing up there now. The ThunderClan cats had been so horrified that Graystripe had felt he couldn't stay in his birth Clan any longer. ALthough he had returned, some cats still felt hostile to him and doubted his loyalty. Why indeed...Fireheart thought.

"Things happen," Fireheart replied. "When the kits were born, Bluestar would have brought them up to be loyal ThunderClan warriors, but-"

"I remember those kits." This time the interruption was from Smallear. "They disappeared out of the nursery. We all thought a fox or a badger tha gotten them. Bluestar was distraught. Are you saying that was all a lie?"

Fireheart looked down at the old gray tom-cat. "No," she promised, her words coming out firm. "Bluestar was devastated at the loss of her kits. But she had to give them up in order to become Clan deputy."

"You're telling us her ambition meant more to her than her kits?" asked Dustpelt. The brown warrior sounded puzzled rather than angry, as if he couldn't reconcile this image with the wise leader he had always known.

"No," Fireheart told him. "She did it because the Clan needed her. She put the Clan first-just as she always did."

"That's true, Whitestorm agreed quietly. "Nothing meant more to Bluestar than ThunderClan."

"But how do we know Mistyfoot and Stonefur are really her kits?" Darkstripe challenged loudly, Fireheart felt that the dark warrior was doing this purposely.

"I was there," Spottedleaf jumped to her paws, her amber eyes flashing challenging at Darkstripe. "I helped birth Bluestar's kits, and no cat can deny that Mistyfoot looks exactly like Bluestar. And not once did I ever get the hint that Thrushpelt was there father, I never seen parts of him in those kits like I now see Oakheart in them, I might have been an apprentice but I still remember the first kits I ever helped bring into the Clan." Fireheart was grateful for the medicine cat and a little surprised to find the fact that Spottedleaf had helped Bluestar during her kitting.

"Mistyfoot and Stonefur are proud of her courage-both then and now," Fireheart went on, dipping her head towards Spottedleaf. "As we should be."

She was relieved when there were no more open challenges. Spottedleaf putting the debate to an end, though the tension among the Clan cats did not die away completely. Mousefur and Frostfur were muttering together, casting suspicious glances at her. Speckletail, tail-tip twitching, stalked across to join them. But Whitestorm moved from one cat to another, clearly backing up what she and Spottedleaf had said, and Smallear was nodding wisely, as if he respected the hard decision Bluestar had made.

Then a single voice rose clearly out of the hum of conversation, "Fireheart," Leafpaw, surprisingly, piped up, "are you going to be our leader now?" her amber eyes glowed as she stared up at her mother, and Thornclaw who sat beside her looked down at her with knowing eyes.

But before Fireheart could reply to her daughter's question, Darkstripe sprang to his paws. "Accept a kittypet as Clan leader? Are we all mad?"

"What's wrong with my mother being leader?" Squirrelpaw's challenge came from the back, sitting beside Ashpaw and his sister.

"It's not a question, Darkstripe," Whitestorm pointed out, raising his voice above the apprentice, and Graystripe and Sandstorms shocked exclamations and Cinderpelt's angry hiss. "Fireheart is Clan deputy; she succeeds Bluestar. That's all there is to it."

Fireheart flashed him a grateful glance. The fur on her shoulders had begun to bristle and she deliberately relaxed so that it lay flat again. She would not let Darkstripe see that his challenging words had provoked her. Yet she couldn't stifle a moment of doubt. Bluestar had appointed her deputy, but her mind had been clouded by the shock of Tigerstar's treachery, and the whole Clan had been shocked because the ceremony had been late. Along with that and her being a nursing queen at the time, could that possibly mean she was not the right cat to lead ThunderClan?

Are you honestly taking the words of a mouse-brain like Darkstripe in consideration? Her inner thoughts once again reminded her of Rock.

"But a kittypet!" Darkstripe protested. His yellow eyes glared balefully up at at Fireheart. "Stinking of Twolegs and their nests! Is that what we want as our leader?" Fireheart felt the familiar rage burn in her belly. Even though she had lived with the Clan since she was six moons old, fought beside them, cared for the elderly and respected the way of Clan life, even having a mate and kits, Darkstripe never let her forget that she was not forest-born.

As she struggled with the desire to leap down and sink her claws into Darkstripe's fur, Goldenflower rose to her paws and stepped forward to face the dark warrior. "You're wrong, Darkstripe," she growled. "Fireheart has proved her loyalty to the Clan a thousand times over. No Clan-born cat could have done more."

Fireheart blinked her thanks to her friend, Goldenflower has stood beside Fireheart throughout her entire pregnancy and had looked after her kits when she was unable too. Despite the whispers and taunts from some of the cats, Goldenflower had remained loyal beside Fireheart and her kits. Unprejudiced towards either mother or kits, knowing that Fireheart's kits were innocent of all wrong doing from their father. And Fireheart felt grateful for her now more than ever in standing up for her against Darkstripe.

"Fireheart, don't listen to Darkstripe," Brackenfur added his voice to Goldenflower's. "Every cat here wants you as leader, apart from him. You're obviously the best cat for the job."

"And no cat can deny all that you have done for the Clan during the fire and with the dogs!" Sandstorm put in, standing tall beside her mate as she lent Fireheart her support. A murmur of agreement rose from the cats around the Highrock, and Fireheart's heart swelled with gratitude.

"And who are we to go against the decree of StarClan?" Mousefur added. "The deputy always becomes Clan leader. That is the tradition of the warrior code."

"Which Fireheart seems to know rather better than you do." Graystripe hissed, flicking his tail contemptuously at Darkstripe. He knew as well as Fireheart that the dark warrior was selfish and would turn on his Clan for a couple of rat's tails, and it would go unsurprising now even if he decided to up and abandon his Clan in its hour of need.

Fireheart gestured with one paw to her friend for silence before addressing the whole Clan. "I promise you that I will spend the rest of my life striving to become the leader that ThunderClan deserves. And with STarClan's help i will succeed."

Her gaze swept over her Clan mates, looking into their faces. Fernpaw, Fireheart's apprentice, was talking excitedly to an ecstatic Squirrelpaw. Cinderpelt, Fireheart's former apprentice, was sitting beside Bramblepaw helping keep an eye on the rowdy lot of kits. Leafpaw and Thornclaw had joined with Sandstorm, Brackenfur and Graystripe, all five looked proudly up at Fireheart, their eyes shining. Spottedpaw was crouched at the entrance to the elders den, Swifttail sitting beside her, gently grooming her fur, but their was no mistaking the wonder in her daughter's amber eyes. And finally her eyes rested on Spottedleaf's gentle amber ones, and a thrill shot through her to see how proud her medicine seemed to be of the new leader and Mothpaw's look reflected her mentors sending Fireheart's chest to achy with inner pride.

"As for you, Darkstripe," Fireheart spat, unable to hide her anger, "If you don't like the thought of being led by a kittypet, you can always leave."

The dark warrior lashed his tail; there was pure hatred in the look he threw Fireheart. If I had never come to the forest, Fireheart realized, Tigerstar would be leader biwm and you would be deputy. But Tigerstar wouldn't have changed either, and Cloudtail would never know the life of a warrior, and my kits wouldn't ever have been born.

She had never intended to provoke a public confrontation with Darkstripe, but the dark tabby had driven her to it. Though thunderClan could not afford to lose any warriors, a large part of Fireheart wanted Darkstripe to take her at her word and leave the Clan for good. Yet at the same time she knew that Darkstripe would go straight to ShadowClan and Tigerstar. It was better, Fireheart admitted to herself, ThunderClan didn't need spies from other Clans in their midst even if Tigerstar had changed.

The black-striped warrior went on staring at her for a few heartbeats more, before whipping around to stalk away. But he did not head for the gorse tunnel; instead he vanished into the warriors den.

"Right." Fireheart raised her voice as she turned back to the rest of the Clan. "Tonight we will hold the mourning rituals for Bluestar." yowls of approval broke out amongst the cats, even though they were filled with mourning over their lost leader. Fireheart once more swept her gaze across her Clan and noticed long shadows were stretching across the camp, and Fireheart realized that the time had come for the Clan to make its last farewells to their beloved leader. "We must pay our respects to Bluestar," she announced. "Are you ready, Spottedleaf?" the pretty medicine cat nodded. "Graystripe, Sandstorm," Fireheart went on, "can you bring Bluestar's body out into the clearing so that we may share tongues with her in the sight of StarClan?"

The two warriors got up and vanished into Bluestar's den, reappearing a moment later with their leader's body supported between them. They carried her to the center of the clearing and laid her gently onto the hard-packed sand.

"Sandstorm, round up a hunting patrol," Fireheart ordered. "When you've said good-bye to Bluestar I'd like you to take up the fresh-kill pile. And Mousefur, when you have finished, could you lead a patrol out toward Snakerocks? I want to make sure that all the dogs have gone, but don't take risks and be careful."

"Sure, Fireheart." The wiry brown tabby got to her paws. "Cinderpelt, Longtail, are you coming?" The cats she had named went to join her, and all three moved into the center of the clearing to share tongues with their leader for the last time. Sandstorm followed with Dustpelt, Ashpaw and her former apprentice Cloudtail. Spottedleaf stood at Bluestar's head and gazed into the indigo sky, where the first stars of Silverpelt were beginning to appear. According to the ancient traditions of the Clans, each star represented the spirit of a warrior ancestor. Fireheart wondered if there were one more star tonight, for Bluestar.

Spottedleaf's warm amber eyes shone with the secrets of StarClan. "Bluestar was a noble leader," she meowed. "Let us give thanks to StarClan for her life. She was dedicated to her Clan, and her memory will never fade from the forest. Now we commend her spirit to StarClan; may she watch over us in death as she always did in life."

A soft murmuring spread throughout the Clan as the medicine cat finished speaking and stood with her head bowed. The warriors Fireheart had chosen to go out on patrol crouched beside Bluestar's body, grooming her fur and pressing their noses to her flank. After a while they backed away and other cats took their place, until all the CLan had shared tongues with their leader in the sorrowful ritual.

The patrols left, and the other cats retreated silently to their dens. Fireheart stood watching near the base of the Highrock, and as Brackenfur moved away from his leader's body she stepped forward to intercept the young warrior. "I've got a job for you," she murmured. "I want you to keep an eye on Darkstripe for me. If he so much as looks across the border to ShadowClan, I want to know about it."

The young golden-brown tabby tom gazed at her, alarm battling with loyalty to his new Clan leader. "I'll do my best, Fireheart, but he won't like it."

"With any luck, he won't know about it. Don't make it too obvious, and ask one or two of the others to help you...Cinderpelt, and Sandstorm." Seeing that Brackenfur was still doubtful, Fireheart added, "Darkstripe may not have known about the dogs, but he was keen enough to take my kits away from the Clan and to ShadowClan to save his own skin. We can't trust him."

"I can see that," Brackenfur meowed, his eyes troubled. "But we can't watch him forever."

"It won't be forever," Fireheart assured him. "Just until Darkstripe proves where his loyalties lie-one way or the other."

Brackenfur nodded, then slipped silently into the warriors den. With no more problems clamoring for her attention, Fireheart was able to cross the clearing to Bluestar's body. Spottedleaf still sat near her head and Whitestorm was crouched beside her, his head bowed in silent grief.

Fireheart dipped her head to the medicine cat. She settled herself beside Bluestar, searching her leaders face for signs of the leader she had loved so much. But her eyes were closed, never again to burn with the fire that had commanded respect from all the Clans. Her spirit had gone to race joyously through the sky with her warrior ancestors', keeping watch over the forest.

She felt the soft caress of her leader's fur and felt a sense of security flood over her, almost as if she were a kit again, curling up close to her mother. For a moment she could almost forget the horror of her dying and the loneliness of her own new responsibilities.

Receive her with honor, Fireheart prayed silently to StarClan, closing her eyes and pressing her nose to Bluestar's fur. And help me keep our Clan safe.

Fireheart found herself gazing from a high-branch in a deep resets of an unfamiliar forest. She felt confused, but as she sat she saw with fascination as a white-and-ginger she-cat padded carrying with her a mouse, that she buried right underneath the branch Fireheart was sitting on. Fireheart wanted to call to the she-cat, but when she opened her mouth no sound came out. Suddenly a sound made the she-cat turn around, and though she was too far away to hear what she said, almost as if water were in her ears. A pale brown tom popped his head from underneath a bramble bush, the two cats stared at each other neither looking as to like the other but the she-cat followed him regardless. Then the vision ended.

What felt like only a heartbeat, Fireheart found something was probing her side. With a muffled mew of protest she opened her eyes to see Spottedleaf stooping over her.

"You dozed off," she murmured. "But you'll have to wake up now. It's time to bury Bluestar."

Fireheart staggered to her paws. Seh flexed each stiff leg in turn and passed her dry tongue over her muzzle. She felt as if she had been crouching in the clearing for a moon at least. The sense of comfort she had felt as she slept was replaced by a wave of guilt.

"Did any cat see?" she muttered to Spottedleaf, her vision momentarily forgotten.

The medicine cats soft amber eyes glimmered with sympathy. "Only me. But don't worry, Fireheart. No cat would blame you after what happened yesterday."

Fireheart glanced around the clearing. The pale light of dawn was just beginning to seep through the branches to carry out their duty of bearing Bluestar's body to the burial place. The rest of the Clan were slowly emerging from their dens, forming two lines between Bluestar's body and the entrance to the gorse tunnel. At a nod from Spottedleaf, the elders took up the body and carried Bluestar between the rows of her grieving warriors. Every cat bowed his and her head as their leader was borne past.

"Good-bye, Bluestar," Fireheart murmured. "I'll never forget you." Sharp thorns of pain pierced her heart when she saw the tip of her tail scoring a furrow in the blackened leaves that still lay on the ground after the recent fire.

When Bluestar had vanished with her escort, the rest of the cats began to disperse. Fireheart checked the camp, noticing with approval that the pile of fresh-ill had been stocked up. ALl she needed to do was send out the dawn patrol; then she could eat and rest. She felt as if a moon of sleep would not be enough to banish the exhaustion from her paws.

"Well, Fireheart," meowed Spottedleaf. "Are you ready?"

Fireheart turned, puzzled. "Ready?"

"To go to the Moonstone to recieve you nine lives from StarClan." Spottedleaf reminded, rolling her amber eyes. "Surely, Fireheart, you haven't forgotten already?"

Fireheart's eyes widened in realization. She was ThunderClan's leader now, which meant that she could go to the Moonstone for the ceremony to initiate all new Clan leaders. She wondered what this time, apart from her past life, would bring. Would it be the same as before? Or would she be denied seeing as she had once before had nine lives. Her past memories were so dim now, she could hardly remember what her past leadership ceremony was, she wondered what it would be like this time too.

And on top of this, she knew that Highstones, where the Moonstone lay in a cavern far underground, was a whole day's journey away, would her Clan function alright with her away? and the ritual demanded that she not eat beforehand, not even the strengthening herbs that other cats took for the journey.

"StarClan will give you strength and light the path it has set for you," meowed Spottedleaf, blinking in encouragement.

Fireheart muttered in vague agreement. Glancing around, she spotted Whitestorm on his way to the warriors den and summoned the older warrior with a flick of her tail.

"I've got to go to Highstones," she meowed. "Will you take charge of the camp? We'll need a dawn patrol."

"Consider it done," promised Whitestorm, and added, "StarClan go with you, Fireheart."

Fireheart took a last look around the camp as she followed Spottedleaf toward the gorse tunnel. She felt as if she were going on a long journey, farther than she had ever traveled before, where the prospect of return looked doubtful. ANd in a way she never would return, for the cat who came back would have a new name, new responsibilities, and a new relationship with StarClan.

As she turned away, a chorus of meows sounded behind her. Graystripe, Sandstorm and Fireheart's kits were racing across the clearing. "You're leaving already?" Leafpaw meowed, thrusting her muzzle into her mother's shoulder.

"And without saying good-bye!" Squirrelpaw said accusingly, but she too nudged her head into her mother's side.

"Ya, weren't thinking about sneaking off without saying good-bye to your friends were you?" Graystripe panted, skidding to a halt.

"Ya, you shouldn't go without letting us send you off!" Mothpaw meowed, coming to touch noses with Spottedleaf as Bramblepaw and surprisingly Spottedpaw, who looked nervous came to say their goodbyes as well.

Sandstorm didn't say anything, simply touching her nose gently to Fireheart's own. Blinking her forest green eyes into Fireheart's own, in Fireheart's past life, they would have been mates. But in this one, both herself and Sandstorm were best friends almost like sisters and littermates.

"I'll be back tomorrow," Fireheart meowed, slowly stepping away from her kits as she swallowed thickly. "Listen," Fireheart meowed, his eyes shining with honesty. "I know things will be different now, but I'll never stop needing you-both of you. No cat ever had such good friends." she directed the comment at both Sandstorm and Graystripe and added on for her kits. "And I'll always be your mother, and will always be here for all of you."

Graystripe padded forward and butted her in the shoulder. "We know that, you stupid furball," he meowed.

Sandstorm's green eyes shone as she gazed into Fireheart's. "We'll always need you too, Fireheart," she murmured. "And you'd better not forget that."

"Fireheart, come along!" Spottedleaf called from where she was waiting at the entrance to the gorse tunnel. "Your destiny calls, and we have to reach Highstones by nightfall." it sounded light, but a serious edge could be detected.

"Coming!" Fireheart gave each of her kits and friends a quick lick before plunging into the gorse tunnel after the medicine cat. Her heart felt full of hope as she caught up to her and made her way to the top of the ravine. She might have been leaving her old life behind, but she could take with her everything important.

The sun was up in a clear blue sky and the frost had melted from the grass by the time the two cats reached Fourtrees, where the Fathering were held between all four Clans every full moon.

"I hope we don't meet a WindClan patrol," Fireheart remarked as they crossed the border onto the high, exposed moorland, leaving the shelter of the forest behind them.

Not long before, Bluestar and Fireheart had tried to cross to Highstones beyond WindClan. But were unlawfully stopped and turned away from continuing their path. She didn't want to risk another confrontation as before.

"They won't stop us," Spottedleaf assured, looking unbothered like Fireheart.

"They might try," Fireheart argued. "I'd rather avoid them altogether."

Her hopes were dashed as she and Spottedleaf reached the crest of a stretch of moorland and saw a WindClan patrol picking their way through the heather a few foxlengths below. They were downwind , so Fireheart had not detected their scent as a warning.

The leader of the patrol raised his head, and Fireheart recognized the warrior Tornear. Her heart sank when she saw that her old enemy, Mudclaw was just behind him, with an apprentice Fireheart didn't know. She and Spottedleaf waited as the WindClan cats bounded through the heather toward them; there was no point in trying to avoid them now.

Mudclaw curled his lip in a snarl, but Tornear dipped his head as he halted in front of Fireheart. "Greetings, Fireheart, Spottedleaf," he meowed. "Why are you here on our territory?"

"We're on our way to Highstones," Spottedleaf replied, her head tilted up as she took a bold step forward. Fireheart felt a surge of pride to see the respectful nod the WindClan warrior gave to her medicine cat.

"No bad news, I hope?" Tornear asked; cats did not usually travel to Highstones unless a crisis in their Clan demanded direct communication with StarClan.

"Far worse," Spottedleaf meowed, keeping her voice steady as she addressed the WindClan cats. "Bluestar died yesterday."

All three WindClan cats bowed their heads; even Mudclaw looked solemn. "She was a great and noble cat," Tornear meowed at last. "Every Clan will honor her memory."

Raising his head again, he turned to Fireheart with a look of curiosity and respect in his eyes. "So you're to be leader now?" he asked.

"Yes," Fireheart admitted. "I'm going to receive my nine lives from StarClan."

Tornear nodded, his gaze traveling slowly over the warrior's flame-colored pelt. "You're young," he commented, ""But something tell me you'll make a fine leader."

"Th-thank you," Fireheart stammered, taken by surprise and a little embarrassment. But luckily Spottedleaf saved her.

"We mustn't stay," she meowed. "It's a long way to Highstones."

"Of course." Tornear stepped back. "We'll tell Tallstar your news. May StarClan be with you!" he called as the two ThunderClan cats bounded away.

On the edge of the uplands they paused again and looked down over a very different landscape. Instead of bare hillside broken by outcrops of rock and patches of heather, Fireheart saw a scattering of Twoleg nests among fields and hedgerows. In the distance the Thunderpath cut a swath across the land, while beyond that jagged hills reared up, their barren slopes looking gray and threatening. Fireheart swallowed; that desolate region was where they were heading.

She realized that Spottedleaf was watching her with understanding in her gentle amber eyes.

"Everything is going to change, isn't it?" Fireheart meowed aloud. "Things will be different, already they are. Did you see those WindClan cats? Even they don't treat me the same way anymore." She knew she could never say these things to anyone except the medicine cat-not even to her own kin and blood. "It's as if I'm going to change forever, never the same. They expect me to be noble and wise. But I'm not. I'm going to make mistakes, just like I did before. Spottedleaf, I'm not sure I can do this." Again. She thought on silently.

"Mouse-brain." Fireheart was both shocked and comforted by the teasing note in Spottedleaf's voice. "Of course you're going to make mistakes, Bluestar and the cats before her made mistakes. There's no avoiding them. And when that happens, I'll be sure to complain about them to you." More seriously, she added, "And I'll still be your friend and medicine cat, no matter what. No cat is perfect Fireheart. Not even a medicine cat who is closest to StarClan, even we make mistakes. But I'll let you in on a little secret that helps us, the trick is to learn from your mistakes, and have the courage to be true to your heart." She turned her head and rasped her tongue over Fireheart's ear. "You'll be fine, Fireheart. I know you will, now let's get a move on."

Fireheart let her take the lead down the slope and across the Twoleg farmland. The two cats picked their way over the sticky earth of a plowed field and skirted the Twoleg nest where the two loners, barley and Ravenpaw lived. Fireheart kept a lookout, but there was no sign of them. She was sorry not to see them, for both cats were good friends to ThunderClan, and Ravenpaw had once trained alongside Fireheart as an apprentice. The distant barking of a dog sent shivers through Fireheart's fur as she remembered the horror of being chased by the pack.

Keeping to the shadows of the hedges, they eventually reached the Thunderpath and crouched beside it, their fur ruffled by the wind of monsters racing past them. The strong reek of their fumes flooded Fireheart's nose and throat, and her eyes stung and another chill ran through her, this time, from remembering her accident all those season ago when she saved Cinderpaw from becoming crippled and breaking her tail in the process.

Spottedleaf braced herself beside her, waiting for a space between the monsters when it would be safe to cross. "Don't worry," Spottedleaf must have felt her shiver, for she pressed her tortoiseshell fur against Firehearts. Her sweet scent calming Fireheart somewhat. "We're going together, so whenever you're ready."

Fireheart nodded, shaking away her fear and thoughts and focusing at the matter of crossing the Thunderpath in front of her. A moment later, after a brightly colored monster flashed past, Fireheart meowed, "Now!" and both she-cats rapidly streaked across the Thunderpath. With her heart hammering in her ears, Fireheart eventually found herself and Spottedleaf safely in the hedgerow on the other side of the Thunderpath.

The medicine cat let out a sigh, shaking out her ruffled fur. "Thank StarClan that's over!"

Fireheart murmured agreement, though she knew they still had to face the return journey. Something she dreaded.

Already the sun was sliding down the sky. The land on this side of the Thunderpath was less familiar to Fireheart, and every sense was alert for danger as they began to climb toward Highstones. But all she could hear was prey scuffling in the scanty grass; the tempting scent flooded her mouth, and she wished she were allowed to stop and hunt.

As Fireheart and Spottedleaf reached the foot of the final slope, the sun was setting behind the peak. The evening shadows were lengthening and a chill crept over the ground. Above her head, Fireheart could make out a square opening beneath an overhang of stone.

"We've reached Mothermouth," Spottedleaf meowed. "Let's rest for a moment."

She and Fireheart lay down together on a flat rock while the last of the light died from the sky and the stars of Silverpelt began to appear. The moon flooded all the landscape in a cold, frosty light.

"It's time," mewed Spottedleaf.

All her fears and anxiety pulled to the surface, and Fireheart feared that they would overwhelm her and keep her stuck to the ground. But she rose and began walking forward, the sharp stones biting into her pads, until she stood beneath the arch known to the Clans as Mothermouth.

A black tunnel yawned into darkness. From her previous visit Fireheart knew that there was no point in straining her eyes to see what lay ahead; the blackness was unbroken all the way to the cavern where the Moonstone lay. As she hesitated, Spottedleaf stepped forward confidently.

"Follow my scent," she told her. "I will lead you to the Moonstone. And from now on, until the ritual is over, neither of us must speak."

"Are you sure this is for me to do?" Fireheart whispered, uncomfortable at realizing that this was something she would go through once more.

"Do not fear what is to come, Fireheart," Spottedleaf whispered just as quietly. "When we reach the Moonstone, lie down and press your nose to it." Her amber eyes gleamed in the moonlight. "StarClan will send you sleep so you may meet with them in dreams."

There was a forest full of questions that Fireheart wanted to ask her, but none whose answers would help her overcome the creeping dread she felt. She bowed her head in silence and followed Spottedleaf as she expertly made her way into the darkness.

The tunnel sloped steadily downward, and Fireheart soon lost her sense of direction as it wound back and forth .Sometimes the walls were so close together that her fur and whiskers brushed the sides. Her heart thumped wildly and she opened her mouth to draw in Spottedleaf's comforting sweet scent, terrified at the thought that she might lose her.

At last she realized that she could see Spottedleaf's ears outlined against a faint light ahead. Other scents began to reach her, and her whiskers twitched in a flower of cold, fresh air. A heartbeat later she rounded a bend in the tunnel and the light grew suddenly stronger. Fireheart narrowed her eyes as she padded forward, sensing that the tunnel had opened out into a cave.

High above her head, a hole in the roof showed a chink of night sky. A shaft of moonlight shone through it, falling directly onto a rock in the center of the cavern. Fireheart drew in her breath sharply. She had seen the Moonstone once before, but she had forgotten just how startling it was. About three tail-lengths high, tapering toward its top, it reflected the moonlight in its dazzling crystal as if a star had fallen to the earth. The white light lit up the whole cave, turning Spottedleaf's dark dappled coat to silver.

She turned toward Fireheart and signaled to her with her tail to take her place beside the Moonstone.

Unable to speak, even if she could think of anything to say, Fireheart obeyed. She lay down in front of the stone, settling her head on her paws so that her nose touched the smooth surface. The cold sent a shiver through her, making her muzzle scrunch up but kept her nose firmly in place, and for a moment she blinked at the light of stars sparkling in the depths of the stone.

Then she closed her eyes, and waited for StarClan to send her to sleep.

Everything was still and quiet, all was darkness and cold. Fireheart had never been so cold. She felt as if every scrap of warmth and life were being sucked out of her body. Her legs twitched as painful cramps clutched at them. She imagined that she was made of ice, and if she tried to move she would shatter into a thousand brittle fragments.

But no dreams came. No sight or sound of StarClan. Only the cold and the darkness. Something must be wrong, Fireheart thought, beginning to panic.

She dared open her eyes a narrow slit. At once they flew wide with surprise. Instead of the shining Moonstone in a cavern far below the ground, she saw short, well-trodden grass stretching away. Night scents flooded over her, of green , growing things moist with dew. A warm breeze slide over her sleek fur.

Scrambling into a sitting position, Fireheart realized she was in the hollow at Fourtrees, near the base of the Great Rock. The towering oaks, in full leaf, rustled over her head, and Silverpelt glittered beyond them in the night sky.

How did I come here? She wondered. Is this the dream that Spottedleaf promised?

She raised her head and looked up at the sky. She could not remember it being so clear; Silverpelt looked closer than she had ever seen before, scarcely higher than the topmost branches of the oaks. As Fireheart gazed at it, she realized something that sent the blood thrilling through her veins like liquid fire.

The stars were moving.

They swirled before her disbelieving eyes and began to spiral downward, toward the forest, toward Fourtrees, toward her. Fireheart waited, her heart pounding in her chest.

And the cats of StarClan came stalking down the sky. Frost sparkled at their paws and flittered in their eyes. Their pelts were white flame. They carried the scent of ice and fire and the wild places of the night.

Fireheart crouched before them. She could scarcely bear to go on looking, and yet she could not bear to look away. She wanted to absorb this moment into every hair on her pelt so it would be her's forever.

After a time that might have lasted a hundred seasons or a single heartbeat, all the cats of StarClan had come down to earth. ALl around Fireheart the hollow of Fourtrees was lined with their shimmering bodies and blazing eyes. Fireheart crouched in the center, surrounded on all sides. She began to realize that some of the starry cats, those sitting closest to her, were achingly familiar.

Bluestar! Joy pierced her like a thorn in her heart. And Yellowfang! Her heart ached for them, so long ago Yellowfang, the cat that proclaimed Fireheart as her own kit had died tragically in a fire. And Bluestar the brave ThunderClan leader died protecting Fireheart and her Clan. Their safe here in StarClan. She told herself. She wanted to go to them, but kept herself silent and still in place.

"Welcome, Fireheart," The sound seemed to belong to all the cats Fireheart had ever known, and yet at the same time it was one clear voice. "Are you ready to recieve your nine lives?"

Fireheart glanced around, but she couldn't see any cat speaking. "Yes," she replied, forcing her voice not to shake. "I'm ready."

A golden tabby cat rose to his paws and strode toward her, his head and tail high. Fireheart recognized Lionheart, who had become Bluestar's deputy when Fireheart was still an apprentice and who had died soon after in a battle with ShadowClan. He had been an older cat when Fireheart knew him, but now he looked young and strong again, his coat shining with pale fire.

"Lionheart!" Fireheart gasped. "Is it really you?"

Lionheart did not reply. When he was close enough, he stooped and touched his nose to Fireheart's head. It burned against her like the hottest flame and the coldest ice. Fireheart's instinct was to shrink away, but she could not move.

"With this life I give you courage," Lionheart murmured. "Use it well in defense of your Clan."

At once a bolt of energy seared through Fireheart like lighting, setting her fur on end and filling her senses with a deafening roar. Her eyes grew dark, and her mind filled with a chaotic swirl of battles and hunts, the feeling of claws raking across fur and teeth meeting in the flesh of prey.

The pain ebbed, leaving Fireheart weak and trembling. The darkness faded and she found herself in the unearthly clearing again. If that was one life received, she had eight more to go. How will I bear it? She thought in dismay.

Lionheart was already turning away, moving back to his place in the ranks of StarClan. Another cat rose and came toward Fireheart. At first Fireheart did not recognize him, but then she glimpsed a dark, dappled coat and bushy red tail and realized that it was Redtail. Fireheart had never met the ThunderClan deputy personally, who was murdered by Tigerstar on the very day Fireheart came to the forest as a kittypet, but she had sought out the truth about his death and used it to prove Tigerstar's treachery, if only for the fact that he deserved his justice.

Like Lionheart, Redtail bowed his head and touched his nose to Fireheart's. "With this life, I give you justice," he mewed. "Use it well as you judge the actions of others."

Once more an agonizing spasm rushed through Fireheart, and she had to grit her teeth to stop herself from yowling. When she recovered, panting as if she had raced all the way back to camp, she saw Redtail watching her. "Thank you," the former deputy meowed solemnly. "You revealed the truth when no other cat could. Even though it must have been hard for you."

Fireheart managed to nod in acknowledgment, suddenly choked by emotion as Redtail went back to sit beside Lionheart again, and a third cat emerged from the ranks.

This time Fireheart's jaws dropped open when she recognized the beautiful tabby, her coat glimmering with a silvery sheen. It was Graystripe's lost love Silverstream, the RiverClan queen who had died bearing his kits. Her paws scarcely skimmed the ground as she bent down to Fireheart.

"With this life I give you loyalty to what you know to be right," she meowed. Fireheart wondered if she was referring to the way she had helped Graystripe to see his forbidden love, trusting to the strength of their relationship even though it went against the warrior code. "Use it well to guide your Clan in times of trouble," Silverstream urged her.

Fireheart braced herself for another agonizing pang, but this time there was less pain as the new life rushed through her. She was aware of a warm glow of love, and realized dimly that that was what had marked out Silverstream's life-love for her Clan, for Graystripe, and for the kits she had died to give life to.

"Silverstream!" she whispered as the silver-gray she-cat turned away again. "Don't go yet. Haven't you any message for Graystripe?"

"I only thank you, Fireheart. For looking after my kits, no matter how short the time you spent with them." Silverstream said nothing more, her eyes filled with love and sorrow that told Fireheart more than all the words she could ever say in thanks.

She closed her eyes, preparing herself for the next life-giving. When she looked up again, a fourth cat was approaching her. This time it was Runningwind, the ThunderClan warrior who had died on the Thunderpath chasing away a ShadowClan warrior who was hunting in ThunderClan territory.

"With this life I give you tireless energy," he meowed as he bowed his head to touch Fireheart. "Use it well to carry out the duties of a leader."

As the life course through Fireheart she felt as if she were racing through the forest, her paws skimming the ground, her fur flattened by the wind. She knew the exhilaration of the hunt and the sheer joy of speed, and she had the feeling that she could outrun any enemy forever.

Her gaze followed Runningwind as he returned to his place. When the fifth cat appeared her heart gave a leap of joy. It was Brindleface, Cloudtail's foster mother, and Fireheart's best friend who had died by an adder bite.

"With this life I give you protection," she told her. "Use it well to care for your Clan even at the weakest of times."

Fireheart expected this life to be gentle and loving like Silverstream's, and she wasn't ready for the bolt of ferocity that transfixed her. She felt as though all the fury of their ancient ancestors TigerClan and LionClan were pulsing through her, challenging any cat to harm the weaker, faceless shadows the crouched by her paws. Shocked and trembling, Fireheart found a familiar part of her unlock. The memories of her kits, how they crawled and slept together in their nest with Fireheart protecting them throughout the harshness of kit life.

I understand, Brindleface, Fireheart thought. Even Cloudtail who was not Brindleface's own, was loved as one of her own kits.

Brindleface drew back to sit with the other cats of StarClan again, and another familiar figure took her place. Sorrow welled up in her heart as she recognized Willowpelt. The queen who had died by the paws of the dog pack.

"I'm sorry," Fireheart murmured as she looked into Willowpelt's unusual eyes. "That you aren't with your kits like you should be."

"My life was short, but my kits will never be alone for I am watching over them and I am thankful for Goldenflower as well." Willowpelt assured, "and I never blamed Spottedpaw for what happened to me. She then bent over and touched her nose gently to Firehearts. "With this life, I give you understanding. Use it for when unexpected situations arrive and you have no control of the situation."

The life Willowpelt gave her, filled her with a mixed feeling of helplessness and frustration. That was soon flowed into a state of calm, as though accepting whatever made her feel that way in the first place.

As the feeling ebbed away, Fireheart was left gasping, she began to feel like a hollow win the ground as rain falls into it and spills over. She thought that her strength would hardly sustain her to receive lives from the three cats that were still to come.

The first was Yellowfang. The old medicine cat had the same air of obstinate independence and courage that had impressed and frustrated Fireheart in equal measure when she was alive. She remembered the last time she had seen her, dying in her den after the fire. Then she had been in despair, wondering if StarClan would receive her even though she had killed her own son, Brokentail, to put an end to his bloodthirsty plotting. Now the gleam of humor was back in her yellow eyes as she stopped to touch Fireheart.

"With this life I give you compassion," she announced. "Use it well for the elders of your Clan, and the sick, and all those weaker than yourself."

This time, even knowing the pain she would have to bear, Fireheart closed her eyes and drank in the life hungrily, wanting all of Yellowfang's spirit, all her courage and her loyalty to the Clan that was not hers by birth. She received it like a tide of light surging through her: Yellowfang's humor, her sharp tongue, her warm heartedness, and her sense of honor. She felt closer to her than ever before.

"Oh, Yellowfang…" Fireheart whispered, her eyes blinking open again. "I've missed you so much."

The medicine leaned over, gently giving a lick to one of Fireheart's ears before moving away. The next cat was someone that Fireheart was surprised to see, the hairless, sightless and rat like cat that had given her this next chance, Rock. Rock had come to her in many dreams since she arrived to this familiar but not familiar new world, but she did not think she would be seeing him now of all places.

"Rock…" Fireheart glanced around at the assembled cats, before landing back on the sightless cat.

"Do not fear, Fireheart," he meowed lowly, his sightless eyes that seemed to bore into her very soul. "Everything is now changed, and I cannot carry on guiding your paws. The old you has gone, replaced by this new life. From this moment on, you are following your own intuition, and leading with the life and memories you have now." Rock then thrust his head forward, touching Fireheart's nose with his own. "With this life I give you hope, use it for your new future and for those that follow you into it."

The life sent Fireheart reeling, like everything was stripped away from her. As though shedding a winter's coat in new-leaf, leaving her raw and refreshed. It sent her legs shaking and she wondered how Rock could casually walk away without looking to be affected as well. And, as he disappeared through the ranks of StarClan cats, it was like he was taking her old life with him for Fireheart could not recall her past life at all. It certainly seemed as though she was given a second chance for a new future.

At last Bluestar approached Fireheart. She was not the old, defeated cat Fireheart had known recently, her mind giving way under the stress of her Clan's troubles. This was Bluestar at the height of her strength and power, prowling toward her across the clearing like a lion. Fireheart was almost dazzled by the glory of starlight around her, but she forced herself to meet her blue gaze squarely.

"Welcome, Fireheart, my apprentice, my warrior, and my deputy," she greeted her. "I always knew you would make a great leader one day."

As Fireheart bowed her head, Bluestar touched her with her nose and went on; "With this life I give you nobility and certainty and faith. Use it well as you lead your Clan in the ways of StarClan and the warrior code."

The life was rushed into her, agonizing her to the very core. Already she was raw from Rock's life, but it felt like a burning bramble had logged into her chest and splintered into many pieces as she received Bluestar's life. She shared the fierceness of her ambition, the anguish she had suffered when she gave up her kits, the ferocity of battle after battle in service of her Clan. Fireheart felt her terror as her mind fragmented and she lost her trust in StarClan. The rush of power grew stronger and stronger, until Fireheart thought her pelt would never contain it. Just as she thought she must yowl in her pain or die, it began to ebb, ending in a sense of calm acceptance and joy.

A long, soft sigh passed through the clearing. All the StarClan warriors had rise to their paws. Bluestar stayed in the center of the clearing and signaled with her tail that Fireheart should rise too. Fireheart obeyed her shakily, feeling as if the fullness of life inside her would spill over when she moved. Her body felt as batted as if she had fought the hardest battle of her life, and yet her spirit soared with the strength of the lives she had been granted.

"I hail you by your new name, Firestar," Bluestar announced. "Your old life is no more." warily, the newly named Firestar found it ironic that Bluestar had repeated the same thing Rock just had, but she had a feeling that they both had two different meanings. "You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants to you the guardianship of ThunderClan. Defend it well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity."

"Firestar! Firestar!" just as the forest Clans would acclaim a new warrior by name, so the cats of StarClan acclaimed Firestar, in rich voices that tingled in the air. "Firestar! Firestar!"

Suddenly the chanting broke off with a startled hiss. Firestar tensed, aware that something was wrong. Bluestar's glowing eyes were fixed on something behind her. She spun around and let out a choking cry.

A massive wall of darkness had appeared at the other side of the clearing, dark hissing sounds with glowing yellow eyes peered out through the darkness with flicking tongues that Fireheart could only place with the snakes from Snakerock. A hot wind swept over her, bearing the reek of Twoleg garbage, and the scent of anger and fear.

Fireheart gazed wildly around her, seeking help or answers from the other cats. But the clearing was dark. The cats of StarClan had vanished, leaving her alone with the terrible hill of bones. As Firestar felt panic welling up inside her, she sensed the familiar presence of Bluestar by her side, warm fur pressed against her flank. She could not see her in the darkness, but her voice whispered in her ear.

"Something terrible is coming, Firestar. Four will become one. Fire and Ice will meet in battle, and blood will rule the forest." Her scent and the warmth of her fur gadded away as she finished speaking.

"Wait!" Firestar yowled. "Don't leave me! Tell me what you mean!"

But there was no reply, no explanation of the dreadful prophecy. Instead, the yellow eyes that gleamed from the darkness glowed brighter. Firestar stared at them in horror. Gleaming tongues and fangs appeared, stained with blood that dripped from the top parts and roof of their mouths. They came in dozens, slithering from the darkness and growing into a river that flowed steadily toward her, until the stench of blood clung to her fur. She tried to flee, and found her paws were fixed in place. A heartbeat later, the snakes were piling on top of her, smothering her under scales and blood, all reeking of death.

"No!" Fireheart yowled, but there was no response from the forest, just the steady whisper of blood and the hissing of snakes covering her entirely.

0o0o0o

Wow! I hope that everyone is enjoy the series so far! The poll that I have going on right now! (Check and vote if you have not already) in the lead, is Brindlefur and in second place is Brindleflower! I hope to get another chapter up soon! And I really appreciate those reviews! They make me so happy! And really drive me for another chapter...hint, hint! So follow, favorite and review!