THANK YOU for all the reviews! And a special thanks to Cinderpelt's Heiress for telling me the names of Willowpelt's kits! But I think I'd better stick with Glowkit and Faunkit since I mentioned them in my last chapter! xD

The warriors slowly padded up to Firestar and assembled beneath the Highrock. Firestar did a quick cat count and bounded away. The cats followed him across the forest until they arrived at the Fourtrees where Windclan, Shadowclan and Riverclan were already settled there.

"Look who's finally here," Blackstar growled, with a small smirk on his face.

Firestar ignored the repulsive glares from the Shadowclan cats and jumped up onto the Thunderclan tree stump.

Yowls rose up from the three other clans.

"You've been stealing our food!"

"You're all just lowly scavengers!"

"Shame on you!"

The Thunderclan cats yowled their protests.

"Quiet!" ordered Tallstar, the leader of Windclan, "We should give Firestar a chance to defend himself.."

All eyes were on Firestar. He gulped and stood as confidently as he could before the crowd of cats. "We Thunderclan cats would never steal another clan's food. It may be leaf-bare but we would never break the warrior code. I swear on Starclan that each and every Thunderclan cat is innocent."

Blackstar glared at him with a hateful stare. "We cannot

believe that. You may have destroyed Bloodclan but if you think that every cat is now in your debt, you are very wrong."

Shadowclan cats meowed their support.

Blackstar continued, "We saw you, Firestar, running across our territory with a mouse that you stole from us! I could

recognise you anywhere! The same orange fur, eyes… the same cat. Unless you have a twin," Blackstar smirked, "You even stank of Thunderclan!"

Firestar hissed, "We didn't steal anything! We've got even bigger problems on our paws, anyway! Bloodclan is back!"

Terror rushed through the clans. The clan leaders gasped in shock and fury.

"Impossible!" yowled Leopardstar, "You killed Scourge!"

"They have a new leader now. His name is Crow," Firestar meowed, "They attacked our camp."

Blackstar growled, "We'll just have to defeat them again!"

An unnatural mist formed above them, blocking the full moon and the streak of stars.

"An omen," murmured Tallstar.

"The Gathering is over," Leopardstar announced and leapt off her stump.

The other clan leaders did the same. Firestar walked back to his clanmates. "Well, I did my best. I guess they don't believe us."

"We didn't steal their food, thought," mewed Graystripe,

exasperated.

"I know we didn't," sighed Firestar. "We need proof first. cold, hard proof."

The Thunderclan cats were not in high spirits. They were dragging their paws along the ground, making their way back to the camp.

"We aren't scavengers. We didn't steal anything," Graystripe kept mumbling.

"I know," Firestar sighed.

He had to think of a way to clear Thunderclan's name. Blackstar might be distracted with a return of Bloodclan for now but he'd be pointing claws at them again in no time. The night air was chilly and the land was getting icy. A sharp breeze made Firestar grimace and turn his head. As he did that, Firestar saw a bush rustle. Not just because of the wind. There was something in there. Prey, he hoped.

"You go ahead without me," Firestar told the Thunderclan warriors, "I'm going to hunt before I go back. Check on the camp. We need as many warriors as possible to guard it."

They gave each other uncertain glances but nodded at Firestar and continued padding along the forest path. Firestar waited for them to disappear before he started to stalk whatever was in the bush. He quietened his breathing and stared intently at the bushes. Firestar scuttled nimbly behind a tree and waited for the perfect moment. Waiting… waiting…. POUNCE! A shrill wailing filled Firestar's ears and he recoiled in shock as he realised that the figure in the bushes was not a measly mouse of rabbit but a large cat. Firestar yowled fiercely, half stunned, half angry. He looked up at the cat he had just tackled and gasped. The cat looked exactly like him! Firestar gaped at his mirror image with exactly the same bright orange pelt, twinkling green eyes and long whiskers.

"Y-you look just like m-me!" the cat stuttered, his stiff fur bristling.

Firestar went on staring at the second Firestar with huge eyes.

"Who are you?" Firestar demanded.

"My name is Scorch," meowed the cat, his tail swishing

rapidly. "Who are you?"

Firestar introduced himself, "My name is Firestar, leader of Thunderclan."

Scorch's ears pinned back. "You're a clan leader?"

Firestar nodded hesitantly. "Yes. Are you a rogue? A loner? Why haven't I seen you before?

"Rogue? Loner?" Scorch echoed, absolutely puzzled, "What are those?"

Firestar narrowed his eyes at Scorch, confused. "If you are not in a clan, you are named either a loner or a rogue."

Scorch lifted his head, indignantly. "I am not either! I used to belong to a clan… but I chose to leave."

Firestar leaned forward, curiously. "What clan were you from?"

This was strange. Firestar did not remember any clan with a cat that looked anything like Scorch in it.

Scorch shifted uncomfortably. "I don't think I should tell you."

Firestar sat back on his hind legs, perplexed. "Okay then… where do you hunt?"

"Just around here and there," Scorch shrugged and gestured toward the Windclan territory, Shadowclan territory and the Riverclan territory.

Bells rang in Firestar's ears. Words raced through his head:

'We saw you running across our territory… could recognise you anywhere… same orange fur, eyes… unless you had a twin.'

"You were the one that was stealing the food from the clans?" Firestar asked, finally realising the truth.

This was the proof that he needed.

"I certainly did not steal," hissed Scorch, "I was just hunting like every cat must."

"Yes, but each clan has their own territory," explained Firestar patiently, "You have to hunt somewhere else."

Scorch's eyes were filled with stubbornness. "Why?"

Firestar sighed. This cat had a lot to learn.

"It is against our warrior code to hunt in each other's territory without permission. You've been hunting in the clans' territories so now every cat thinks that it was me who stole their prey but it wasn't, was It? It was you," Firestar stopped for a quick breath. "You got me in trouble and they all think that Thunderclan is breaking the rules."

Scorch's ears twitched, stunned. "Well, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I really didn't know. I don't know the rules or the code or the -"

Firestar sighed, "It's okay. I'll tell you what. I'll bring food for you every day if you stop hunting where you're not supposed to be hunting."

"Oh, thank you," Scorch blinked, grateful.

"Trust me, it is better for me and you." Firestar replied and turned away, ready to head back to Thunderclan camp.

"Wait!" Scorch meowed.

Firestar paused and looked back over his shoulder.

"Shall we meet here every nightfall?" Scorch asked.

Firestar nodded briefly and before Scorch could ask anymore, bounded deeper into the forest.

WHAT HAS FIRESTAR GOTTEN HIMSELF INTO?! And yes, if you review you may choose a cookie of your choice! Chocolate chip, butterscotch, rainbow sprinkly cookies…