"I thought I would never get any fresh kill!" Announced Yellowfang as Fireheart and Sandstorm padded into the bracken clearing. Better late than never, thought Fireheart. "What took you so long?" Yellowfang asked in a complaintive tone, reaching out for the squirrel that Fireheart had managed to retrieve. "I was cornered by a badger." Sandstorm meowed loudly, defending Fireheart. When she realised that the whole group had turned to look at her in shock, she carried on more quietly. "Fireheart saved my life. The badger had me cornered and I thought I was crowfood when suddenly he burst out of the bushes and distracted it, before pushing me into some bracken for safety and facing the mangy brute alone. I thought he had died and I completely broke down in that bracken but he had actually back tracked and come round the back of the clump to meet me. So, Yellowfang, I'm sorry that your fresh kill wasn't delivered straight to your paws quite on time." The group meowed in amusement, pleased that somebody had taken the she-cat down a peg. Yellowfang turned away and started on her squirrel, muttering something along the lines of "Just no respect for elders. I could take on a badger, easily! Lovebirds should be eaten in my opinion…"
The whole group had eaten, managing to distribute the fresh kill evenly. Even Yellowfang had been persuaded to share her squirrel with the others, even if it did cause more muttering on her part. They split up into three groups, one supporting and protecting Graystripe, one doing the same for Brightpaw and one was forming a barrier around Yellowfang and Cinderpelt. Fireheart was glad not to be in the latter group as apparently Yellowfang had grumbled about being separated from her patients all the way to camp. He was in Graystripe's group and got to lean supportively against him with Sandstorm leaning affectionately against his own side. Dustpelt had talked to her all the way back which had made him feel the familiar burning envy that he had felt earlier. He distracted himself by talking to Graystripe about how he had 'tackled' the badger.
Finally, the bramble tunnel came into view and the cats made their way through it one by one. Poor Brightpaw had to be dragged through but Graystripe managed to make it through limping, though not without loud grunts and groans of agony that made Fireheart wince.
Tigerstar was waiting to meet them and when he saw Brightpaw he let out a roar of anger for all the wrong reasons. "Why did you bring that back here?" He demanded.
"Whatever do you mean, Tigerstar?" Whitestorm asked in surprise.
"What am I supposed to do with it? You surely can't train it in that state, Whitestorm; now it's just another mouth to feed!" Tigerstar snarled cruelly. Whitestorm simply stood there in pure shock. Surely his leader didn't really think this? Bluestar had treasured every life equally and Tigerstar was meant to do the same as a good Thunderclan leader.
"Not it, Tigerstar, she." Fireheart clarified, standing up for the little tortoiseshell apprentice. Tigerstar turned to glare at him. "It can't be trained so I must change its name to one of neither an apprentice, nor a warrior. It can make itself useful by collecting herbs. If it can't do even that, it will be sent into exile." He meowed matter-of-a-factly, daring Fireheart and the others to disagree. He turned on Brightpaw, who shuddered under his icy stare. "You have lost your face, therefore you will be known as Lostface. If anyone persists to call you by your old name, you will be sent into exile with the offender. Or worse, for certain cats." He meowed the last part of his horrible speech looking directly at Fireheart. He hadn't even consulted Starclan! How is this right? Thought Fireheart. With that Thunderclan's leader turned and stalked into his den. The clan started whispering about the day's events and Lostface had many sad and sympathetic looks flashed in her direction. Fireheart was sick of it all so retreated to his nest and tried to sleep it all off.
"Tigerstar cannot be trusted" Bluestar's voice whispered again and again in Fireheart's dreams, then her glittery, star covered face appeared, yowling the four words at him, desperately begging him to take notice…