Fireheart, rogue of Thunderclan

by Zinico

If you were to lose something, what would you be willing to do to protect it, even if it weren't yours? Fireheart, the lone-standing deputy in the recovering Thunderclan, has stopped the growing battle between his clan and Windclan. But one can't escape the shards of a broken trust. A frayed timeline full story about a cats gambit to loyalty. Multiple endings available and accepted

16. Chapter 16, Lang Syne

Fireheart rogue of Thunderclan. Chapter 16 Croniduace meeting, Fang against fang.

Sandstar heaved herself to her paws as her new life flooded over her. She felt a shaky calm touch her pelt before vanishing into the sky. She had lost a life fighting Bloodclan. She had been circling two enemy cats when a third leapt on her from behind. She had met with Starclan again, and was sent back, filled with renewed strength. Her mind fought to master her vision again. The sound of fighting cut in to her mudded thoughts. She snapped back to full consciousness, remembering what was happening. "Are you well, Sandstar?"

Cinderpelt had been padding on some of her medicine when Sandstar had stood. Someone had taken Sandstar to the shelter after she had died. She took two steps towards the battle. "Well enough." She said, sizing up a target. She launched herself at the warrior, tearing him off of a Shadowclan cat. She tore at him, causing him to squeal like a mouse. Giving him one last bite on his ear as a warning of sorts, Sandstar let him go. She turned to find another cat, to be bowled over from behind. She rolled over, landing belly down as her attacker cut into her back. She rolled forward, smashing the attacker's head into the ground. She stepped back and slashed at their head. This one also retreated, just to be replaced by another. Sandstar dodged the attack, their claws just barely sciffing her fur. She swiped back, scuffing their head. Suddenly, Cloudtail bowled into them, pushing them out of sight.

Sandstar was growing tired of the battle. There were so many Bloodclan warriors, all fiercely fighting for their lives. Sandstar could tell. The had no honor, nor did they fight for each other. They fought out of fear. Fear of being killed by a clan cat, but more out of fear for Scourge. Barley had told Sandstar about Bloodclan. They were a clear example of claw over chier, where the only cats that lived were the ones that could care for themselves. The old had to fight for themselves. The kits mother cared for them up to 9 moons before they left each other, no longer a family. They had no belief in Starclan, either, meaning that death was the bitter end for them. All this was backed up and enforced by Scourge. His wrath alone kept the entire clan under his claw, and it was Scourge that Sandstar would have to kill to end this battle.

But Scourge hadn't shown up. Bone, the sort of deputy, had lead Bloodclan into battle. There was no excuse given as to why Scourge wasn't here. Just that he'd 'Be here later'. What coward would send their entire clan to fight without going with them! Regardless, his not being here meant that Sandstar wouldn't get the chance to fight him. She had planned on defeating Scourge here, because without him, Bloodclan was nothing.

Sandstar blindly dodged another attacker, then tackled them to the ground. She smashed her paw into their face as her hind claws ripped into their underbelly. The fighting wouldn't end easily. Not till either of the clans drove off their foes or died trying. Sandstar leapt off her victim, allowing them to scurry off into the bushes.

Sandstar had already lost Whitestorm in the fight. Bone killed him quickly in front of Sandstar, and when she had leapt to stop him, he turned and killed Sandstar as well. She had met with Whitestorm in Starclan when Starclan was healing her body. He had told Sandstar that Greystripe was the best choice

of deputy, and that the fighting would soon be over. Before Sandstar had time to ask, she was placed back into her body, the fighting as strong as ever. Looking at the blood splattered ground and the cats that fought on it, it was hard to believe that the fighting would stop ever.

"Scourge? Scourge!" The name blunted Sandstar, and she looked towards the source of the voice. A Bloodclan warrior was off to the side of the battle. He didn't have a mark on him, and he was partially in one of the bushes. 'Please Starclan let that not be reinforcements' Sandstar silently prayed. Her prayer was discouraged when more warriors followed the first. The warrior was looking at the top of the high rock. Sandstar quickly followed his gaze, a shock of fear stopping her heart as she did...

Everything around Fireheart was moving around so fast, but it felt like he was looking at it through a bubble of still water, slowing it down to a strange, cold blur, in which one thing blended through the last. He didn't know if it was his burning anticipation for the worst, his blinding hatred for Scourges callus beliefs, his willpower driving back the hate, or the strong, blasting scents that came in from every side of the two-legged place. Fireheart didn't know why Scourge was bringing him to such a place, though

he thought it might be to throw Fireheart off. Whatever he had schemed, Fireheart promised himself that he'd be back in the forest soon.

Silky warm memories started to flow in with the reek, too. Memories of his younger days, back when he was just a two-legged pet thing. He remembered his toys, and his easy lifestyle. He thought of when he hid the clangy things from his owners so they would move everything in the nest around looking for them. Life were so simple then. Fireheart had almost been tempted to go back to that life when he had been cast out of Thunderclan. But he didn't have the heart to leave. Even if his blood was kitty-pet, he was just as much of a forest cat as any clan warrior.

Scourge led him deeper and deeper into the hard burning maze, moving on an unwaveringly straight path. There were scarily any two legs around, and the few they did see left them be. Scourge wasn't afraid of them though Fireheart couldn't help but to spindle in fear. He had grown to 6 moons with two legs, but that didn't soften what they were to Fireheart. Two legs were kind to their kitty pets, but not to others. Their cold, harsh aptitude matched their nests and paths around their nests. Hard, unmoving, imposing. The grass that was trapped inside the paths was cut short, as though it constantly had to fight for sustenance. Every blade top was blunt, unlike the round grass of the forest.

Scourge slid around one of the corners of a two legs nest. Fireheart tentatively stuck his head around the corner, wary of an ambush. His eyes flickered around the passageway between the nests. The ground was solid grey, just like the two leg paths. The sides of the two leg nests closed off either side, with a white something on the far side of the enclosure. It was like a camp, but with more sharp sides, and hardened into rock. The place was scattered with two leg trash, and the whole place felt as though it was coated in a thin layer of… something.

"This is..." Fireheart pinned his eyes on Scourge, who was at the far end of the ally way. Scourge was staring back at him, eyes filled with sadistic intent. "My home. Or was, till I found your forest. Do you remember Jake?"

"Who's Jake?" Fireheart brought himself around the corner to face scourge full on. "And why should I care?"

"What an ungrateful. Jakes your father. The one who got together with your mother to make you."

"No, I..."

"Not that it matters. Does it really matter who you parents were?"

"I... Yes."

"Well, for now it does. And lucky you, its that blood bond that has lead you here today."

"What does my parenthood have to do with this?"

"You're not originally from the forest, is my guess. Yes, you were once from these concrete confines too.

"Where I'm from doesn't matter!" Firehearts defensiveness took over.

"It might not have while you were frolicking with your forest friends, but now it does. Or did"

"What do you want, Scourge!"

"What do I want? Look around, Jake Jr., do you like what you see here! This was my home, where I grew up into the cat I am today." Fireheart stifled a joke as Scourge plowed on. "I lived in the filth of a home that the two legs made for me and abandoned me in. Probably expected me to die here. But I didn't. I not only survived, but thrived here. I have build the most deadly pack of cats ever seen. Then I find a better home, and you expect me not to take it from you?"

"I'm sure we could have come to an agreement if..."

"An agreement? Do you think this is a joke? There's no going mid way on this one. We'll take the forest, and you'll leave it, one way or another."

Fireheart could understand his logic. He too had been drawn to the forest. But to kill or drive off all the cats that already lived there was incredibly calloused.

"But why single me out if you're going to fight for the forest anyhow?" Fireheart asked, testing answers in his head.

"I've asked you about your parenthood, right? Jake your father..."

"I already told you that I don't know who my father was."

"Well, you look enough like him to be his kit. Even if he isn't your father, you'd be enough. I want to be the only one of my blood. The only one of me. No brothers, no sisters, no half siblings, no parents, nothing!"

"You what!"

"I am the only one strong enough to rule Bloodclan and the forest! And I'm going to make sure it stays that way. I've killed Mom, dad, my full blood siblings, and yours! Now I get to finish with you! You, who looks like Jake! Nothing could be more fitting!"

"You won't even get the chance! Not here, not now, not ever!" Fireheart was still reeling from the revelation, and his mind flickered to princess for a short while. Did scourge get her? "Starclan willing, I will end you and all that you have done here and now!

"You better not regret saying that. Yes, all the way to death, you better not regret that!" Scourge said. His body flared into a masterful blood rage, like a monster sizing up it's prey. "I will paint these walls with you!"

"Starclan willing, I will kill you!" Fireheart's warrior blood alit, and his fighting spirit flexed its claws into his own.

Fireheart flung himself at scourge, his body flowing forward like a hawk on the wind. He was ready for his claws to sink into scourges flesh. But the spry little cat leaped up out of the way, leaving Fireheart's claws empty. He landed on Firehearts back, filling Firehearts flesh with spiked pain. Fireheart instinctively flipped over on his back rump ways, trying to crush the smaller cat. But scourge flew off him in a snap instant. He landed on his paws, then flicked one down at Firehearts exposed neck. Fireheart continued his roll, smashing scourges face with his hind paws. Fireheart was back on his paws, just in time for scourge to bite onto his hind leg. Fireheart twisted around and slashed him down his shoulder, then kicked out with his other leg when scourge didn't let go. Scourge was ready, though, as he batted away Firehearts unclamped leg as soon as it kicked. Fireheart lost his balance, tripping over on his side. Scourge let go of Firehearts leg and leaped on him. Fireheart twisted his body back, as so that scourge landed only with one side of his paws.

He snapped back with his jaw, biting onto Scourges paw as his hind leg jabbed at Scourges. Though the sheathing of the paw, Fireheart could feel the extra bone that Scourge had attached to his claws. If Fireheart got torn open by these... Scourge shot away from Fireheart, and Fireheart quickly got back onto his feet. "You're surprisingly fast for a cat your size." Scourge sneered a vain praise. "Most cats would have already been dead, fighting me for so long!" Fireheart grimiest at the pain that coursed in his body. The fight hadn't more than a moment. Fireheart shuddered at his words.

"Don't tell me that your bleeding out already. I barely gave you a kit scratch!" Scourges bloodlust grew. "You're the first cat that I haven't killed so

quickly for a long time. Ti would be a waist if you were to die so soon!" Scourge dashed the short distance towards Fireheart, making a quick swipe for his head. Fireheart's head flicked to one side, avoiding the strike. Though unseen conviction, Fireheart jumped upward to land on his foe, unknowingly avoiding another attempt at his throat. Scourge dashed to one side, and as fireheart landed he rammed into him with his head. Fireheart turned with the impact, keeping his footing

as he moved nimbly around scourge. He raked a claw along his pelt, feeling his strength pour into the strike.

Scourge hissed at the blow, but didn't flinch from the strike. He poised with the downward slash, and slammed into firehearts belly with paws outstretched. Fireheart wasn't thrown from his feet by force, but by pain. He fumbled*, and his head rushed with the searing pain that threatened to take his innards.

He blindly saw scourge rush at him. Thinking as fast as his screeching head would allow, he jumped sideways with his hind paws, turning by crossing his front ones, a technique that Bluestar had taught him once. He blocked a claw swipe with his shoulder, then, uncrossing his paws, he smashed Scourges head into

the ground. Scourge darted under Fireheart's belly while he was low, and flipped over to claw Fireheart's exposed underbelly. Claws met his ribcage, making him jump away, several fur clumps coming off in Scourges paws. He turned around mid air, and jammed his paws into scourges underbelly, winding the smaller cat.

With the sudden laps in breath, Scourge could only tap Fireheart's head as it rushed down and met Scourges throat. There was an odd snapping sound as scourges collar came off in Firehearts mouth. Fireheart gripped it as he lifted his head, a fortunately small tooth on the collar aimed down his throat.

Fireheart had drawn blood from scourge, but his throat was still in one peace. In Fireheart's confusion, Scourge lashed out at Firehearts throat again. But the same collar that had protected scourge smashed up against Firehearts neck instead, leaving Fireheart with less than a scratch. Just as soon as Fireheart came to his senses, he snapped down on scourge, smashing the smaller cats throat with his paw. A deafening, blooded shriek passed though Scourge, and his whole body convulsed with it's owners demise. Scourge could only look on Fireheart with a hatred born and killed of blood, a pressured fury that was loosing its strength. Without a word, will, or right to life anymore, Scourges eyes glazed over the burning hatred, frozen under a lake in which it would never surface again. Fireheart could scarcely feel his body, only a twisted convulsion of some sort of emotion as Starclan's greatest enemy died underneath him.

Fireheart felt weak in his legs. His body shook from the effort to hold him up, and his grip around the dreaded collar slackened. His minds light flickered a moment, then grew dim. Fireheart could barely hold himself up.

A soft scent wound its way around Fireheart, and the feeling off a warm body pressed against his side. "Fireheart, you must go... To four trees... Show then the collar. They are not a clan without their leader..." As Spottedleafs voice instructed him, Firehearts limbs renewed with a small strike of strength

not his own. He shook his body slightly as though to shake off the writhing pain that scoured his body. He placed the collar on the ground, then picked it up again, realizing that having proof would help. Then, with rising conviction, he walked out of the hardened prison, the living and burial of Scourge. He found more strength as Spottedleafs scent lead him out of the two leg place.

The heat of the sun burned his torn flesh, an oddly reassuring feeling when mixed with the relief of feeling dirt under his paw pads again. His body dragged against him, but he forced himself to continue running. He just had to get to four trees, to show Bloodclan that their leader was dead. He had too.

Why? Because...

Firestar didn't question it. If Spottedleaf told him so, then Fireheart didn't have any reason to doubt it. As Fireheart ran, understanding slowly joined in his thoughts. If Scourge was the only thing holding them together, with fear or something, then if he were dead, then there would be nothing

else to hold them together as a clan. Of coarse!

Fireheart neared four trees, the great oaks apparent around the great rock. When Fireheart got close enough, he could make out the sound of fighting, sifted only by the wind and blood rushing through Firehearts ears. Fireheart couldn't imagine the scene that he would see once he got close enough,

and he didn't want to either. He just knew that he had to stop Bloodclan from claiming forest cat lives. If they hadn't already.

Fireheart burst into the clearing, the sound of fighting cats redoubling as soon as he broke the bush barrier. He nearly lost grip of Scourges collar, but retightened his grip as he sized up the great rock. As strongly as a battle worn cat could, Fireheart leaped and pulled his way towards the top. He gripped the top of the Great rock, and kicked his way up it with his hind legs. He lifted scourge up some, and faced the battle. "Bloodclan! Your days are over!" Fireheart yowled. He lifted the collar up for all to see

Fireheart dropped Scourges collar on the edge of the great rock for all to see. Then, with the might of a Lionclan cat, Fireheart threw his head back and yowled his victory to Four trees, to the forest. His triumphant call covered the ancient hollow, and heads from all clans alike turned to face him. Fireheart

didn't have the strength to look down and face the cats. He didn't need to. He could hear the fear in the Bloodclan as they realized that their leader was dead. His eye's were fixed on the sky, starked blue to contrast the scene that showed below. Firehearts bloody sides heaved as he struggled to catch his breath.

Fireheart caught it as he inhaled deeply several times, and finally let his head drop to face the clans of the forest. The clearing was clean of Bloodclan, save some blood and a few dead cats. Fireheart's heart panged as he recognized some of the warriors that were laying motionless on the ground. Whitestorm drew Fireheart's attention the most. The old, battle warn cat that had been one of the cats that introduced Fireheart to Thunderclan, and Fireheart felt a trickle of sorrow spring up in him. It grew into a stream as he looked over the clearing, the sight of the lost blood and lost lives awakened him to what had happened.

"Fireheart!" A voice pierced the hushed hollow, and Cloudtail ran up to the great rock. "Fireheart, you're back!"

'Back? Hardly.' Fireheart thought. But he remained silent as Cloudtail scaled the Great rock with an awkward leap that was clumsy even for a kitten. He clambered up the edge with the excitement of an apprentice on their first hunting assignment. Fireheart couldn't help a lighthearted chuckle.

"Fireheart! You did it! You killed scourge! You did it!"

"I guess I did" Fireheart was amused, and a little confused. The last he remembered, Cloudtail had outgrown kit-like excitement.

"I knew you would come back! I knew it! Bluestar said that you were gone forever, but your here!" Cloudtail's eyes shined, making Fireheart uncomfortable. Fireheart noticed the several gashes and scratches on Cloudtail's body, and he winced internally. "Don't you think you should let Cinderpelt look at those?"

"What? You think this needs to be looked at? Come on! Bloodclan had claws like a mouse! Hardly worth the fight they put up." Cloudtail boasted. "I could have taken down 3 by my self!"

Fireheart let the indulgence slide. He was in no place to stop him, after all.

"It's hard to believe that such a small cat threatened the whole forest" Greystripe said from somewhere to Fireheart's left. Fireheart glanced at him, then down at his paws where Scourge's collar lay. "He was a strong fighter. A killer. He went for my throat more times than I care to count."

"You'll have to tell me the story sometime over some fresh kill." Greystripe said. "But for now, we should go see Cinderpelt. Those cuts look like they hurt."

Fireheart blindly nodded. They didn't hurt, but were more of a great burning ache, which was worse. "Come on, then." Greystripe said, taking the lead. "That means you too, Cloudtail." he added. Cloudtail huffed an impatient breath, but followed Fireheart and Greystripe to Cinderpelt. She was tending to Mousefur when Fireheart reached her. She was applying some cob webs to some of the gashes on Mousfur's hind leg with one paw, and mashing on one of her polijuices with the other. "There. That should do it. Okay, Mousefur, you're done. Try not to do anything that might reopen these once they heal."

"Wasn't planning on it. Thanks, Cinderpelt." Mousefur said as she limped off. She gave a sharp glance to Fireheart, but didn't say anything as she moved away. "Now, who's next?" Cinderpelt said habitually. She looked Greystripe, Fireheart, and Cloudtail. "I think I'll start with the ginger."

"He doesn't look ginger right now" Greystripe said jokingly as Fireheart approached Cinderpelt.

"I plan on fixing that now" Cinderpelt rebounded. She circled Fireheart once, inspecting his wounds. "You took quite a beating." Cinderpelt remarked.

Cinderpelt pressed a wad of cob webs on one of his scuffs, then dabbed some polijuice on

"So I take it that Scourge did all this?" Cinderpelt asked.

"He was a great fighter. Truely great. Thank Starclan he won't be a threat anymore"

"So you still have faith in Starclan?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't I?"

"No, I..." Cinderpelt tripped her words over.

"What?" Fireheart asked. He didn't remember accusing her of anything.

"It just... Well, since you left Thunderclan... I... Well..."

"It sounds like you have a lot on your mind."

"Not really. It is... I didn't want to believe that you had broken the warrior code. I didn't want to believe that you had become like Tigerstar."

"I would never be like him. I would never murder my clan mates just to forward my own cause."

"That's not what I... That's not what I meant." Cinderpelt said. She paused half way through the motion to apply another cobweb.

"Then what did you mean?"

"... I don't know what I meant. Bluestar exiled you and I didn't know why. I don't think you did anything wrong. Its not like..."

"Cinderpelt. I did what I did knowing it was risky. I thought it would be for the best if we didn't have to fight."

"That's just like you. So you are... Then why did you have to leave? What made Bluestar..."

"I don't know. I don't."

"Well, then, you'll just have to ask her yourself!" Cinderpelt's paws trembled a bit, but she started dressing Firehearts wounds again.

"What do you mean?"

"There's no way Starclan would ignore you. You saved the clans of the forest! They'll have to listen to you!"

"I don't think I'm entitled..."

"I think you are. You've saved the clans, all of us, even though you had been sent away for good. If anyone is entitled to anything from starclan,

its you."

"Well..."

"Don't act like you haven't had any contact with Starclan before. You told me yourself that Spottedleaf had spoken to you before."

"I can't deny that, but..."

"Well, whatever. We can worry about that later, if your not to busy with warrior duties."

"Warrior duties? I..."

"Don't start that again. I've already told you that your deserving. There's no way that any cat would dare question letting you come back.

You do want to come back to Thunderclan, right?"

Fireheart thought for a moment. Did he really want to come back? His mind skipped a moment. What was he thinking! There was nothing that he wanted more!

"There, all done. You better go see Sandstar and talk to her about re-joining Thunderclan."

"Hey, when did I say that I wanted to re-join!" Fireheart said half jokingly.

"Oh, don't lie to me, Fireheart. I've know you too long to know that you do. Go on now. I have other patients to deal with." She said, shoeing him off.

Fireheart was half way out of the bush when he heard Cinderpelt say "But make sure you visit me again."

The sun struck Fireheart like a playful kit, rolling over his pelt in a rough warmness. Fireheart was stiff all over, and was beginning to feel numb headed, and his vision strained. He shook violently to sir up what blood he had left. He stared blankly at the hollow near the great rock, using it to balance his eyes.

Everywhere around the clearing, there were cats. Clan cats, as far as Fireheart could tell. Some being seen by a medicine cat, or waiting to be seen. Some talking to each other. Some resting in the sun. And some, rather, the few still soaking in the blood bath, were dead. Still. Becoming cold in the warm sun.

Fireheart couldn't help choking on a sudden pass of loss-sorrow, which threw his vision off again. The battle had taken its toll, from the living and the newly deceased. In death, there was no real winner. Simply cats that had died. As Fireheart's vision refocused, his thinking did too. Starclan wouldn't let the Clan cats die without consequence, as they would be welcomed into Starclan as martyrs. Nothing like that could be said for Bloodclan cats.

"So, how was your chat with Sandstar?" Greystripe's voice shattered Fireheart's thoughts. He glanced at his friend. "I haven't talked to her yet." He said

solemnly.

"Oh, I see. Getting cold paws are we?" Greystripe said teasingly.

"No. I just" Fireheart said, focusing on something that wasn't there.

"What's the matter then? Fox got your tongue?"

Fireheart shook his head. The 'something that wasn't there' was slowly becoming something. He hadn't noticed it before, but there were more than just clan cats here. Intermingled with them were other cats, strange cats that didn't seem to belong. None of them acknowledged any of the clan cats, and none of the clan cats acknowledged them. They seemed to kitten paw when they walked, as though their paws and the ground never met. Instead, the ground was a balance point, a thin nothing that was simply there. More so than the ones farther away, one in particular caught Firehearts attention. Eye's dead center fixed on Fireheart, straight across from Fireheart, sitting up straight, as though something sharp was running its very tip along his back.

Then Sandstar stepped in his place. Into his place, as her body went though the mysterious cat's body, lacing through it like a paw would to a stream. And just like that, the placed population instantly dropped. All of them. All of the not quite clan cats gone without a word to them. Fireheart couldn't believe

what he had just seen.

"Are you okay there, Fireheart? You kinda look... fear struck." Greystripe asked in a careful tone.

"Yes. I'm... I'm just seeing things." Fireheart said. "Must be those poppy seeds, making me tired." Fireheart lied. What Fireheart had saw was too vivid to be sleepy miss sight. Fireheart recognized that cat, and the vary faint trace of scent that accompanied it. Fireheart hoped that it didn't mean that his nightmares were hunting him in the day now.

"You might want to keep your little hallucination to yourself for now. Greetings, Sandstar." Greystripe said.

Fireheart's mind flattened a moment, like he was suppose to feel a rush of something, but couldn't. Fear, surprise, joy, shock, it all evaded him, leaving him with a vague sense of... what. But his mind picked up speed as he realized he was staring straight at a pale ginger coat, avend some red marks. A familiar smell woke his nose up, as a pair of pale green eyes studied his own. The fog that wrapped his skull finally cleared. He met Sandstar's gaze. The long forgotten pair of eyes that had kept him light paws, for one reason or another. Sandstorm, or Sandstar as she was called now.

"I'm going to go check on the apprentices. See you around, Fireheart." Greystripe said. He gave Sandstar a respectful bow, then left. Fireheart wanted to stop him and ask him to come back. But, a light breeze of unease kept him from saying anything. He stared at Sandstar a while, wondering what he should do next. "Hi... Gr... Greetings, Sandstoar." Fireheart lapsed.

"Greetings to you too, Fireheart." Sandstar said. "It's been a long time."

"It has. Too long." Fireheart said.

Sandstar went quiet for a moment as she absorbed the statement. Fireheart wondered if he had said something off to her.

"Can I speak to you privately, Fireheart?" Sandstar asked.

"Yes." Fireheart answered. Sandstar pointed out a secluded spot with her head, and Fireheart followed her to it.

The clearing around the great rock seemed to grow quieter, and Fireheart drudged after Sandstar. She sat down at the spot she had picked, and Fireheart sat down next to her. The bush next to them had barely a kit scratch on it, and had a soothing shade of green in its leaves. There was no wind, leaving

the spot scarily quiet. All sound was muffled, leaving Fireheart acutely aware of his and Sandstar's breathing. The mild silence was growing on Fireheart's nerves. He flexed his back a little, thinking how to start the conversation.

"It looks like it was a fierce battle." Fireheart stated. "I hope the clans can recover in time for leaf bare."

"We'll be fine. Thunderclan is stronger than that." Sandstar said, like she would to other clans at a gathering.

Fireheart let it go. He should have know better than to try to make small talk now. The muffles silence took over again. It wrapped the situation in a thin layer of unease, pressing against the tips of Fireheart's fur. He breathed in deeply, then held his breath at its highest point for a whisker's flick. Truth was, Fireheart had a lot he wanted to say. Plenty, all stored up for as long as his exile had been. But he didn't know how to say them. He couldn't know.

"Fireheart, can I ask you something?"

"Yes. Yes, what?"

"Do you believe in Starclan?" She asked.

Fireheart clicked on the question. What kind of question was that?

"Yes, I do. There's no reason for me not to."

"Then why? Why did you do it?"

"It?" Fireheart was confused. "Do what?"

"Don't pretend that you don't know what I'm talking about. There's a reason you had to leave Thunderclan, Fireheart. You did something!"

"I didn't..."

"You broke a very important rule in the warrior code, Fireheart! It would have taken a lot to make Bluestar banish a cat, and even harder for you! But why'd you do it! Fireheart!" Sandstar's voice had risen to a controlled but tempered shout. Fireheart was taken aback by the sudden increase in volume. "I... its... I told Tallstar about Bluestar's plans to attack Windclan when she thought they had been stealing prey. I thought that talking would have been better than fighting."

"Is that really it? It couldn't be!" Sandstar said angrily. "You really expect me to believe that?!"

"It's the truth. I really haven't broken the warrior code in any way beyond that."

"Sure you haven't. I remember when you fed Yellowfang when she was stealing from Thunderclan when you were an apprentice." Sandstar's voice softened to a lower, more reminical voice. "Or when you and Greystripe took Thunderclan prey to Riverclan behind our back. That wasn't the first time you've done this,

Fireheart. You've always found a way to get yourself in trouble for others. Then why would Bluestar do that? Why would she exile you?"

"Bluestar... She hadn't been herself since Tigerstar betrayed her. Ever since then, she was convinced that the whole clan and betrayed her except me, since I had been the one to stop Tigerstar. She had gone mad. She was mad at Starclan for letting a cat like Tigerstar rise to power and mad to sense as well. She wasn't the Bluestar that we had known."

"I... I know." Sandstar said. Fireheart could see her body tire. The battle must have taken it's toll on her, and she had put on a strong face for Fireheart. "Maybe you should go see Cinderpelt. It looks like you've got some pretty bad cuts." Fireheart suggested.

Sandstar shook her head. "I can wait. There are other cats who had it worse, and if I bleed out in favor of someone else, then I have another life to fall back on. Besides, I have something more important to do."

"I guess if its more important..." Fireheart said, trying to ride off the conversation.

"It is. I have something I need to discuss with you. I want to talk about your deputyship in Thunderclan*.

Authors note: Whew. That was one heck of a chapter to type. Phew. Writings a hard yet fun thing to do. I can't tell you how many times I wrote myself into a corner

while writing this chapter.

To isaiah, the anonymous reviewer, The alternative endings will always be at the very bottom of the page if I can help it. There aren't many yet since I haven't gone back to make any. Actually, this is a good time to mention that I will be considering requests for alternative endings. With approval, and my typing skills withstanding, I'm planning on putting in reader submitted ending throughout my previous chapters, as well as future ones. If you have an ending that you want added, then tell me where in the story I should put it, and what ending you would like. Note that it has to be an ending, as I don't want to go off writing entire chapters stories in the middle of this one. You just have to look at the time stamp for this story to see that it takes me long enough to update normal chapters.

Speaking of alternative endings...

*Ending: The perfect pair.

Fireheart's breath was caught in his throat. "You want me to come back to Thunderclan to be its deputy?"

"Of coarse. It's what you left the clan with. I think it should be what you come back to as well."

"Don't you have a deputy?" Fireheart stalled for time to think.

"Not anymore. Whitestorm... Whitestorm died fighting Bloodclan. He was my deputy." Sandstar said, her voice trailing off.

"I don't think..." Fireheart started. He went quiet as Sandstar shifted herself closer to Fireheart. "Do think, Fireheart. You've done more for the clan than most clan cats. That's considering that you were born outside of Thunderclan, as well as get exiled from Thunderclan. I think if anything, then this proves that Thunderclan needs you, even if you're too kind for your own good."

"Can... Can I have time to think about it?" Fireheart asked. He was sure of his answer, but he didn't want to be too hasty.

"Sure. Take your time." Sandstar said, a thread of weary relief wrapped softly around her words. Her fur pressed against his as she leaned into him, and rested her head on his good shoulder. "I'll be right here once you have an answer."

Fireheart became deputy of Thunderclan again, with little protest from the rest of Thunderclan, save some bickering elders. Fireheart quickly readapted to clan life, as though he had never left to begin with. He kept his training from his tree days close to his warrior training, and later taught the clan about the

advantages of using trees. He and Sandstar grew close, and eventually would share a pair of daughters, Squerrlkit and Leafkit. They would go on to be among the cats that lead the clans to the lake.

Alas, far away, up river from the clans forest home, there was a cat sitting atop a rock, staring at the moon. As the last of a dying clan, he had always watched the night sky. But to no avail. He had watched over his ancestral home for most of his life, hoping against hope that maybe, just maybe, there would be

a way to revive the clan to its former glory.

But the cat's wishes would go unfulfilled, as he slipped away peacefully on night, taking any hope for Skyclan with him.