The flames were growing higher. Soon the camp would be nothing but ash. Over the crackling flames, Ashfur heard Squirelflight's voice. Without a second thought, he ran in that direction. He spotted her and her and the three through the smoke. Thinking quickly, he grabbed a young tree branch. It was uncomfortably springy, but its youth made it more fire resistant. It could probably bear all four cats as long as they went single file. He pushed the branch down to them before a thought occurred to him. This was his chance.

"Ashfur thank you. We have to get out of here!"

Ashfur's face turned cold at her command.

"Not yet." He stated sternly. This was his moment to air all his grievances. Squirrelflight had robbed him of his chance at happiness, so it was time to make her know it.

"What are you talking about? Move! It's not safe here."

Ashfur let out a laugh that was borderline crazy. "Not yet. You have to listen to me first. I'd love to take this conversation elsewhere, but every time I've tried to single you out to talk, you've ran away. Sad isn't it? The only way I get to finally tell you what you did is by exploiting a tragedy. Are you ready to listen? I'm content to wait, but I think the fire isn't."

Squirrelflight was shocked and somewhat terrified at Ashfur's demeaner.

"Now isn't the time. At least let these three by."

"Oh, I think they'd be very interested in what I have to say. None of you are leaving until I've said my piece. Now, are you ready to listen?"

Squirrelflight had no choice but to comply. "Fine. Say what you want and let us go."

Ashfur was relieved that he finally got to let it all out. "Finally! You remember after the great journey after you and Brambleclaw broke up and I was your mate for a while?"

"Ashfur. We've been over this. I just don't love you. I love Brambleclaw."

"It's not about you rejecting me! It's about how you rejected me! One day you simply left me for him. There was no warning and you never looked back. You may think that was a fine answer, but you didn't even think about what that did to me did you?" Ashfur hissed.

Squirrelflight had to answer. "I didn't know you still felt that way. You should have said something."

Ashfur returned her reply with a hateful stare. "You really think I was still into you when you rejected me? No. It's about how and what happened afterwards. You think you could fool me? My mother and sister were and are permanent queens. You think I don't know how long it takes for a kit to be born?"

Squirrelflight could only shake her head. "What are you getting at?"

Ashfur's tail flicked towards the three. "Them. Those three. You think I wouldn't notice? For those kits to have been born to you, they'd have to have been conceived while you were still dating me. Either you stole those kits from me, or you cheated on me while we were together. I don't know which is more unforgivable. And the rest of the clan noticed. I've been branded a cat to never love. If the daughter of the clan leader, one of the most accepting cats in the clan, decides I'm unworthy of being a father, it makes waves. No cat looks at me the same. My sister doesn't even meet my eyes. I wonder what she thinks I did? Do you now realize what you did?! I am a loner, an outcast because of you! You've always been thoughtless."

Squirrelflight was a bit flatter against the branch now knowing what she did but also desperate to finish this conversation. "Look. This is all a misunderstanding. Things aren't all that they seem. I'm sure we can chat later about why you shouldn't hate me and Brambleclaw."

"I never hated Brambleclaw. It's not his fault that he was tempted by such a fox. I always saw him as my friend even when he wouldn't let me talk this out. I gave him his chance to prove his loyalties. Who do you think told Firestar where to go to get caught by that fox trap."

Squirrelflight's fur bristled now. "You tried to kill my father!"

"No! I wanted to give Brambleclaw his chance. I never meant for Firestar to lose a life. Did Brambleclaw never notice how easy the stake was to remove at that crucial moment. I'd gotten it loose beforehand. Even Firestar could have pulled it free with a bit more effort. We all needed Brambleclaw to prove his loyalties, Firestar, you, and me, and he passed. Regardless of how you picture me, I'm not evil."

Squirrelflight was more concerned about the flames instead of what Ashfur had just dumped on her. "Ok. We can talk more later, clear all this up. Now move!"

"After you answer one last question. Which is it?"

"What?"

"Am I their father, or did you cheat on me? Which is it!?"

"Fine! You aren't their father, but not because I cheated on you. You aren't their father because I'm not their birth mother."

Ashfur looked broken after that statement. He stepped out of their path uncomprehendingly. The four cats hastily climbed the stick out of the path of the fire. Squirrelflight briefly stopped to speak.

"Ashfur…"

"Don't! I need time to think."

Ashfur plodded off to the river. The simple melody of water flowing helped him calm down. Squirrelflight had still wronged him, but why did everything feel so confusing now? It was so much simpler when she was just the enemy. He didn't know what to think now. Was he just cursed to be unloved? Why did Starclan seem to always give him a hard time? Unknown to him, a certain black cat hid within the bushes. He was too much of a threat to let live. He could gain his freedom by trampling on theirs. Hollyleaf couldn't risk it. She felt pity for the tom, but she cared more for her siblings than a cat who no one would truly miss. Afterall, in their minds, he'd committed a crime. He was already unlovable. That bloody taste of iron clung in Hollyleaf's mouth no matter what she did.

When it was time for his vigil, there were very few cats who wanted to sit through it. One an ex, another a once friend, a student, a medicine cat, and his murderer. It was a wrongfully quiet affair.