Note: I hate giving up, so after more than a year (sorry), I'm picking this back up and I aim to finish it. Their may be long pauses between chapters but keep the reviews and suggestions coming! Thank you to anyone who didn't forget about this story, it means a lot xxxxxxx. Here goes:

"We," Meowed Tigerstar with a sly smile, "Are taking over RiverClan."

This had been suspected by the whole clan, due to rumours, but the official announcement still came as a shock and caterwauls of protest rang in the freezing leaf-bare air. Fireheart scratched at the frozen Earth in frustration. Whatever happened to my beloved clan? He though sadly, this is all Tigerstar's fault! Darkstripe sniggered nastily at the clan's response.

This was too much for Fireheart, he had to speak up. "Why do we need to do this? And how can we ruin our alliance with another clan, and betray our friends?"

"Aw," Tigerstar jeered, "Is the kittypet forgetting that loyalty to his clan always comes first? Or is he just scared of a fight?"

A deep growl rumbled in Fireheart's throat.

"We don't need an alliance if we own the clan."

"You don't own a clan, you lead it. And you're not doing a very good job!" Fireheart spat.

The clan turned silent. Tigerstar bared his teeth and slid out his unusually long and sharp claws. Fireheart realised too late that he had overstepped the line and turned and ran out of the camp through the bramble tunnel. Graystripe bounded after him, hissing at Tigerstar as he passed. Sandstorm tried to follow but Darkstripe barred her way, snarling.

Fireheart stopped running and started slashing the bark of a tree in fury. I can never put enough distance between myself and that crow-food eating excuse for a leader! He thought bitterly.

Graystripe caught up with his friend, "We need to go back!" He meowed, still panting.

"Why on Earth would I do that?" Asked Fireheart incredulously, blinded by his rage.

"Tigerstar knows how you feel about Sandstorm," Graystripe pointed out, "He might hurt her to hurt you."

Fireheart knew his friend was right, but his anger wouldn't fade, "If he hurts my mate," He hissed, "I'll kill him!" He yowled the last part with a ferocious swipe at the tree trunk, leaving a deep groove in the bark.

"Actually," Meowed Graystripe, "She'd probably kill him herself."

Fireheart mrowed with amusement, Graystripe was always right.

"A little back up wouldn't hurt. Let's go and make sure she's okay." He mrowed back. His friend always knew how to cheer him up.

The pair padded back to camp more slowly, catching up with each other and trying to think of a way to prevent Tigerstar from attacking RiverClan.

"The only thing I can think of," meowed Fireheart, "Is challenging Tigerstar as leader."

"That would not end well." Graystripe pointed out.

"For him, you mean. For me it'd be great. No more Tigerstar!" Fireheart half-joked.

"Ha-dee-ha," Mewed Graystripe, deadpan, "You know what I meant!"

"Yeah…" Fireheart agreed, "But who do you think would back him up apart from Darkstripe and maybe Longtail and Dustpelt...?"

"Hey!" Graystripe retorted, "Dustpelt is a good warrior, he won't side with Tigerstar."

Fireheart reluctantly agreed, after all, Graystripe was always right.

"So, what're your ideas?" Asked Fireheart.

"We could get all of the cats to refuse to fight, he can't make a whole clan get up and and march into battle." Graystripe replied thoughtfully.

"Maybe, but he'd start hurting cats and I don't want to be held responsible for any suffering." Fireheart sighed.

"Good point."

"We could get Yellowfang to tell him that StarClan sent her a vision, warning her against attacking RiverClan," Fireheart suggested, "But I hardly feel like he believes in StarClan anymore after what he did to Lostface." He winced as he spoke the name of the once beautiful tortoiseshell apprentice.

"Poor kit." Graystripe mewed quietly, his yellow eyes brimming with sadness. The two cats walked in silence until they reached the camp, the horrible memories of what happened to Lostface stuck fast in their minds.

When they padded back into the camp, Tigerstar was waiting for them.

"You dare to show your faces here again after the lack of respect you showed your clan leader? The disloyalty to your clan?" He snarled.

"I owe everything to my clan." Fireheart meowed sincerely, puffing out his chest with pride.

"You would rather they starve in this merciless leaf-bare than take over another clan's land to get more prey!" Hissed Tigerstar.

"Preystealer!" Spat Fireheart, "Stop putting words into my mouth and start living by the real warrior code, rather than the one you made up!" His green eyes flashed dangerously.

"Enough!" Roared Tigerstar. He leapt up onto the Highrock, "These two mange pelts are on apprentice duties until I tell them to stop! Enjoy the mouse bile." He sneered and stalked off to his den.

Sandstorm padded over to her mate. "Well, now we know that cat has bees in his brains for sure. He's wasting two great warriors that could be on patrol by making you do the apprentice duties."

"Not to mention increasing the number of cats in this cat that smell like mouse bile," Graystripe mrowed, "What a mouse-brain!"

Fireheart mrowed with amusement, but inside he was thinking about 'the grey one' in StarClan's prophecy and hoping it meant Graystripe. But the StarClan cat had said 'fire and stone' and Graystripe didn't quite meet that description in personality, or looks. If it had been 'fire and cloud', it might've been him, Fireheart thought, just catching himself before he laughed out loud at his own joke about his friend's long fur and soft, kind character when he was with his friends. I'm taking this too literally, he realised. Why are StarClan so vague? He asked himself as he glared up at the sky with desperation clouding his expression.