Ohh the drama! Here's the new chapter!

Firestar reeled as though he had been scratched. "What?"

"It's true, Firestar," Scorch was still looking down at his paws. "I was the deputy and then I realis—"

"Traitor!" Firestar hissed as he backed away. "You had me thinking that you were just a poor lone cat but you were the link from Bloodclan to our forest!"

Scorch looked hurt. "Firestar, let me explain—"

"You were just trying to get information from me! I thought that you had become a friend," Firestar hissed, "but now I know the truth."

Firestar gave Scorch one last spiteful glance before leaping away.

Scorch's voice became more distant, "Firestar! Wait! Firestar…"

Firestar lashed his tail savagely and ignored the cold snow under his paws as he ran. How could he have been fooled? Of course Scorch was just another traitor among many others. How could he ever believe that he would actually be his friend? He burst through the camp in a furious mood.

Cloudtail hopped up. "Hey, Firestar! Where are the herbs that you were going to get for Cinderpelt?"

Firestar bounded straight past the young warrior, leaving Cloudtail bewildered. He went straight into his den and curled up into a ball feeling betrayed and lonely.

"Firestar?" Sandstorm and Graystripe entered his den.

At least be could depend on these two cats.

"What's wrong? Did Crow come back?" Sandstorm meowed,

gently.

Firestar shook his head and came to his sense. So what if one cat had tricked him? He should be used to it by now, after dealing with such disloyal cats before. Firestar got up and held his head up.

"Ashpaw and Bramblepaw need to be assessed," was all he meowed.

He called to the three apprentices and their mentors. Dustpelt and Brackenfur led the thrilled apprentices to Firestar.

Firestar looked down at the jumpy pair. "It is time for your assessment. Ashpaw, you will hunt down at

Sunningrocks. And Bramblepaw," Firestar gave his own apprentice a fond smile. "You will be hunting down at the Snake Rocks."

Firestar remembered when he was still uneasy about Bramblepaw. Bramblepaw and his sister Tawnypaw were

Tigerstar's kin. Firestar had always loathed Tigerstar after what he had done. Soon, Firestar had become edgy about his offsprings but luckily, he had gotten over it and had accepted Bramblepaw as an eager cat, willing to learn. His sister had chosen to join Shadowclan because she could not bear the suspicious looks from Thunderclan cats. Bramblepaw had been greatly saddened by her choice but he had decided to support his sister anyway.

Ashpaw and Bramblepaw dashed off in a mad rush to get started. Dustpelt and Firestar exchanged amused smiles and went charging after their apprentices. Firestar followed Bramblepaw's scent and padded silently towards his apprentice. He ducked down behind some bushes and watched

Bramblepaw carefully. Bramblepaw was stalking a young rabbit, careful not to tread on any fallen leaves that would make a sound. When he was close enough, he attacked the rabbit and buried it under the sheet of snow to collect after. Firestar waited until Bramblepaw had trotted off before he examined the pile of prey that Bramblepaw had already captured. The pile was already as high as Firestar's knees. His chest swelled with pride. He watched as Bramblepaw caught another mouse and a vole. He was sure that Bramblepaw would make Thunderclan proud. Firestar backed away as he heard the apprentice coming back to drop his new catches into his pile. He was sure doing well! Firestar slunk around until dusk, keeping the incident with Scorch out of his mind. Finally, he came out from his hiding spot and nodded approvingly at Bramblepaw. Bramblepaw purred, happily.

"When will we be having the naming ceremony?"

Bramblepaw asked.

His eyes were shining with delight.

Firestar grinned. "Probably today. Come on. Let's take the fresh-kill back to the camp and see how Ashpaw went."

Bramblepaw nodded enthusiastically and grabbed a mouse and vole from the pile with his mouth.

Firestar purred with laughter. "I see that you'll need some help collect all the prey." He dipped his head down and fished out three rabbits.

Firestar tried to speak but his voice was muffled. "Ift loofks like ve'll haf to comf back for ve rest."

It looks like we'll have to come back for the rest.

Bramblepaw purred softly with laughter. They made their way back, careful not to drop the prey. They saw Dustpelt there already, sitting beside Ashpaw and giving her tips.

"Hi Dustpelt," Firestar meowed cheerfully, after tossing the fresh-kill into the pile. "Did Ashpaw do well?"

Dustpelt smiled broadly at his apprentice. "She cleaned out the whole forest floor of prey!"

Firestar could see the pride glowing from Ashpaw's eyes. He purred to the two eager apprentices and told them, "Why don't you take some fresh-kill to the elders?"

Ashpaw and Bramblepaw nodded obediently and examined the fresh-kill pile. Firestar led Dustpelt to a tall oak at the edge of the camp.

"I am holding the ceremony today. I have already decided on their warrior names," Firestar mewed in a low voice.

"Oh, really?" Dustpelt's ears pricked forward. "What are they?"

Firestar shook his head and smiled. "You'll find out later."

Dustpelt twitched his ears, impatiently. "Oh, alright."

"Let all cats old enough to hunt for themselves gather

beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!"

Firestar was once again standing tall on top of the Highrock, about to give Ashpaw and Bramblepaw their new names. Almost immediately, the clan cats padded out and sat under the large rock.

"Ashpaw. Bramblepaw," Firestar meowed, signalling to them with his tail.

The apprentices scrambled up beside Firestar. Firestar

turned to Bramblepaw. "Bramblepaw, your name is now Brambleclaw. You are skilled and loyal hunter. May you share those qualities with the clan."

Bramblestorm leaned forward, his eyes bright, and gave Firestar a respectful lick on the shoulder.

Firestar turned towards Ashpaw who had his head bowed.

"Ashpaw, you will be given the name Ashfoot," Firestar went on, "Your courage and strength will lead you to do great things and you will bring honour to Thunderclan."

Ashfoot lifted her head and did the same as Brambleclaw.

Firestar bellowed, "Now let us welcome these two new

warriors!"

The chanting started. "Brambleclaw! Ashfoot! Brambleclaw! Ashfoot!"

Firestar watched the two overjoyed warriors leap down from the Highrock and join the other warriors. Firestar followed them down and padded back to his den to think about the next day's event: the final battle against Shadowclan.

Firestar was jolted awake by the war cries outside. Blinking the sleep out of his eyes, he made his way out, to see his clan huddled up anxiously and practising their attacks.

Sandstorm ran to Firestar. "Firestar, today is—"

Firestar silenced her with a nod. "I will check if Cinderpelt is prepared."

He strolled toward the Medicine Cat's den and let himself in.

Cinderpelt was limping rapidly around, fixing up the herbs and potions.

"Cinderpelt… are you ready?" Firestar asked hesitantly.

Cinderpelt nodded, determined, her eyes never leaving her bundle of leaves and flowers.

Firestar sighed. "I never thought that we'd have to go through this again. Well, not so soon, anyway."

Cinderpelt nodded grimly. "Remember Firestar. We have the upper paw because we have the faith of Starclan. Bloodclan is hated and outnumbered. Four clans against one! How could we lose?"

Firestar was somewhat comforted by Cinderpelt's

confidence.

"I guess you're right," Firestar meowed.

Cinderpelt snorted. "Of course I'm right!"

Firestar gazed at the young Medicine Cat in amusement and flicked his tail. "I better get the hunting patrols out. We'll need food to give us strength for tonight."

Cinderpelt nodded again and turned back to her herbs. "Oh, and Firestar, could you bring back something for me when patrol has returned? I'm so busy!"

Firestar purred, "Sure I can. You've been a great help, Cinderpelt. Thanks."

"No problem," Cinderpelt meowed, absent-mindedly.

Firestar, seeing that that Cinderpelt was occupied, headed out of the den. He hastily strode to the Thunderclan warriors who were still mock fighting each other with sheathed claws.

"Thornclaw, Mousefur, Longtail, Bramblestorm, Ashpelt, Brightheart and Cloudtail, you are all on hunting patrol," Firestar meowed, "Try to hunt in different areas. Split up. You may be able to hunt more prey that way."

The seven stopped fighting and turned to their leader and meowed, "Yes Firestar" in unison.

Mousefur added, "Longtail and I will keep an eye out for the young ones."

Before Cloudtail, Brightheart, Ashpelt or Bramblestorm could protest, Mousefur pelted away with Longtail by her side. The younger warriors ran after them. Firestar glanced at the ever-shrinking fresh-kill pile and closed his eyes wearily. Maybe after this, there would be peace at last. Or so he hoped.

"Hey Firestar!" Graystripe sauntered to Firestar. "I'm really looking forward to beating Bloodclan again! This time, we'll make sure they don't come back! We'll make them so frightened of us that—that—"

Firestar interrupted, "Actually Graystripe, I was thinking that you could stay back here and guard the camp...?"

Graystripe's face fell. "B-but Firestar, I thought…"

Firestar gave his friend's ear a reassuring lick. "I need good warriors to stay back here to protect the elders and the camp. Not to mention the food!"

Firestar chuckled. "Please Graystripe. I have to go because they will think of me as a coward if I don't. You are one of Thunderclan's strongest warriors. We need you here."

Graystripe considered this for a moment, curling his tail up around him. "Oh fine. I really wanted to fight for Thunderclan but.. I guess protecting the clan is important too."

Firestar purred in relief. "Thank you Graystripe."

Graystripe purred as well. "I'm glad to help!"

"Oh, and one more thing!"

"What is it?" Graystripe asked.

"Could you fetch some fresh-kill for Cinderpelt? She's been busy, fixing up the herbs and things," Firestar meowed.

Graystripe nodded. "Of course."

"I'll go check on how Glowpaw and Faunpaw are going with their training," Firestar meowed.

Graystripe nodded and shrugged, turning back to Brackenfur to continue 'fighting'. Firestar went the opposite way, deeper into the forest where Sandstorm was training the sisters.

"Now this is how you would stalk a mouse," Sandstorm was saying, treading lightly over the snowy ground.

She had not seen Firestar yet but Glowpaw and Faunpaw had.

"Firestar!" they cried out, rushing towards him.

Firestar smiled. "How is the training coming along?"

"Great!" Glowpaw purred.

"We've already learnt the hunting crouch and how to stalk mice and rabbits and voles," chimed in Faunpaw.

Sandstorm ducked below a low tree branch to meet Firestar.

"Didn't you trust me to train them?" she asked with a

mischievous glint in her eye.

"Oh, of course I trust you," Firestar purred, reassuringly, "I just wanted to see the progress."

Sandstorm tilted her head and meowed, "Okay, if you want."

Firestar settled himself beside a tall oak tree and watched as Glowpaw and Faunpaw followed their mentor's every move. At first, their were careless and fumbled a lot but they got better and better. Soon they looked like agile hunters with pure warrior blood.

"Very good," Firestar piped up when Faunpaw demonstrated her stalking.

Faunpaw looked at Firestar, surprised to have received a compliment, and purred happily. Glowpaw, eager to get a comment from their leader as well, dropped her back into a hunting crouch and stalked, stepping softly and keeping her tail low.

Firestar mewed, "Very nice stalking skills, Glowpaw!"

Glowpaw beamed. There was a sudden rustle of snow and voices. Firestar stood up abruptly but relaxed when he saw that it was just the hunting patrol coming back. He looked up at the sky, which was a giant stretch of pink and orange. Firestar decided that it was time to meet Bloodclan and let Starclan decide their fate. He yowled loudly and all the Thunderclan cats ran to Firestar, awaiting news or orders.

Firestar tried to look as calm as he could. "We should now go to the Fourtrees for the… last battle."

Firestar struggled with the right words. "I need cats down here at the camp to protect our territory. These are the cats that will be staying behind:"

Firestar began to list the names. "Graystripe, Willowpelt and Speckletail."

Graystripe and Willowpelt kept demurely quiet but Speckletail lashed her tail in fury.

She hissed, "You expect me to just wait here? I need to be part of the battle! I need to. Those dishonourable cats don't deserve to live! I can't just wait here and let my clan be overcome by some—some nasty, old crowfeed!"

Speckletail unsheathed her claws and made a swiping action. Firestar gave her a stern stare. "Our clan needs some warriors back here. What if Bloodclan decides to destroy our camp? What would we do? We need you to be here."

Speckletail turned her head in defiance but it was obvious that she couldn't disobey her leader.

"Okay, every other cat may follow me!" Firestar signalled with his ears and tail.

A war cry rose from the clan cats as they charged into the heart of the forest.

Dun dun DUN! What do you think of my fanfiction so far? Like it:) And, of course, reviieeeew!