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Skystar sat in his nest facing the ThunderClan cats. Gray Wing, Quick Water and Fire Heart were there too.

"Okay, but what about the dog pack? Don't think we didn't notice Thistlestar trying to lead them to our camp," the SkyClan leader growled, watching their reactions.

They all gasped and stared bewildered, which proved they had no part of their crazy leader's plan, much to Skystar's belief.

Yes, I'll admit. I sometimes believe they do have a paw in Thistlestar's tyrannical plans… but had it not been for their timely arrival yesterday, we would have been done for… so many rogues! Another problem we have to deal with. But for now…

"We need to get rid of the dogs first," he declared. "If we're gonna get Thistlestar out of here we have to get rid of an obstacle that is a threat to all cats."

"Of course," Whitestorm nodded. "But what do you suggest? Many of our clanmates are uncomfortable leaving their own camp."

"We leave in large groups just to patrol or train apprentices and no one takes walks alone anymore," Mistyfoot added.

Fernpaw nodded. "I'm worried though. Swiftclaw keeps talking about how someone should step up and fight the dogs… I'm afraid he means himself."

Cricketleaf nudged her clanmate and reassured, "he's just trying to impress a certain someone. He'll let it go."

Quick Water frowned. "Still, you should keep an eye on him. My former apprentice's brother was reckless like that sometimes."

Skystar nodded in agreement and meowed, "yes. Jackdaw's Cry." At that name he swore he saw Brindleface's eyes light up with guilt and Fernpaw even tilted her head in half confusion, half recognition as if she might have remembered him.

After all, they had once taken the tom prisoner before his death in the battle.

He saved Thunder's life. If he hadn't, my son wouldn't have reached WindClan for help.

He wanted to hate the ThunderClan cats before him so bad! ...but they looked horrified and guilty as if they couldn't go on living the way they did.

So he calmly continued the story. "He vowed to get rid of a badger one day when he was newly apprenticed. It had settled in our territory. We told him not to. Of course, he didn't listen and the next day we see him stumbling into camp all bloody and looking half dead. He killed that badger, but almost paid the price."

"Woah! He killed a badger all by himself?" Fernpaw gasped.

"Yes, but the point is!" Skystar drew himself up, voice raising. "We need to keep an eye on our young. Especially the reckless ones!" For a moment he felt sympathy for Swiftclaw. He just chose the wrong cats to hang out with. And Skystar was afraid it would lead him to his death one of these days.

"Of course," Graystripe meowed. "I've noticed too. I'll keep an eye on him."

Skystar nodded his acknowledgement at the gray tom before meowing to Fernpaw, "good thing keeping an eye on your clanmates like that."

Fernpaw smiled quietly and then meowed, "I think Thunder and his friends were already trying to help us. I saw him once up in a tree. They were looking at our camp when Snowkit got taken."

Skystar slowly exchanged a wide-eyed look with Gray Wing.

"Oops," Fernpaw muttered. "I thought you already knew."

Bluefur looked interested at this revelation, a knowing look in her eyes. "I think it's his destiny. Best not to interfere."

Skystar shook his head in amusement and admiration of his son's willingness to help ThunderClan. "If that's so, we heard nothing." He gave a look to Quick Water and Fire Heart. The two nodded.

"That's where they've been going," he heard the ginger tom mutter.

"For now," Skystar began, looking at the ThunderClan cats. "You should get back to camp." He looked to his own warriors. "We'll discuss the dogs and try to come up with a possible plan that doesn't involve direct fighting."

"And we'll think on it as well," Whitestorm meowed and dipped his head. He flicked his tail and the ThunderClan cats hurriedly left back to their camp for the second day in a row.

If they don't get caught and we do come up with a good plan… we can hope for the future.

…We can finally get rid of Thistlestar.

Fire Heart stared at Snowkit. The kit stared back at him with big blue eyes. Whenever Fernpaw was here she would play with her former denmate. Other than that, Snowkit would help around the medicine den. But Fire Heart could tell he wanted to be a warrior. He had the potential.

The only obstacle. His deafness.

He glanced around camp. Raven Hope had gone on a hunting patrol, promising to bring back his favorite prey.

Cinder Flower and Ivy Breeze were giggling as they spied into the warriors den. Fire Heart smiled at the sight of them. He wouldn't be surprised if they became mates one day.

Suddenly, the two she-cats rushed behind the warriors den as Ash Blaze stomped out, looking annoyed. She dropped a dead beetle and loudly meowed, "really?" She huffed and went back into the den.

"Guess your troublemaker legacy will live on in the Clan if not through just Lightning Tail, huh?" Fire Heart quietly meowed to the black shape forming beside him. An orange form appeared on his other side.

Back when they first passed he had seen Jackdaw's Cry and Hawk Swoop way more. He would even catch glimpses of Yellowfang. But then it had dwindled when he had started moving forward. Getting over his grief.

But now his memories of them had resurfaced and he kept seeing them whenever during any time of the day.

Like right now. He was ready to start training Snowkit in finding a way to communicate with the deaf kit.

"No offense, but having a deaf warrior is very different from having a crippled warrior," Jackdaw's Cry said, nodding to Cinder Flower.

"Don't forget Jagged Peak," Fire Heart added in his mind then sighed. "I miss him."

"I know! I can't believe he left you when I'm not here anymore!" Jackdaw's Cry grumbled. "Doesn't he care?"

"Now, now," Hawk Swoop began in her chiding voice that always reasoned with others. "He chose his path and Fire Heart should be happy for him."

"I am," Fire Heart meowed. "I just said I miss him… and I miss you guys."

The flame-colored tom looked to the orange tabby, who smiled and leaned forward pressing her muzzle to his. He couldn't feel it… but he could imagine it.

"Yeah… I miss you both everyday," Jackdaw's Cry said, blue eyes glistening. "But at least I can watch you two up close. Either that or… wander."

"Huh?" Fire Heart gave them both searching looks.

"Okay, Fire Heart, remember the day we accepted Gorse Fur and Wind Runner into the Clan, officially?" Hawk Swoop asked, clearly avoiding giving him any answers. Fire Heart sighed, but nodded. "Remember how I thought of kits immediately born with disabilities." She nodded at Snowkit, who was batting at a mossball as she said this.

"Oh!" Fire Heart lightened up as he remembered. "You suggested for deaf kits we make up signals for words and names and actions and all."

"Exactly!" Hawk Swoop purred. "Try it!"

Fire Heart looked at Snowkit for a bit as he thought and then he tapped the kit's head to get his attention. Snowkit whirled around to look at him, attentive.

Fire Heart put a paw to the ground and then he let it rise up and then lowered it, rose up and lowered it. He repeated the action once more before placing his paw on the ground a few lengths from where he had first placed it. He had made the shape of a flame. He hoped it was clear as he made the next signal.

He put both his paws together, sitting back on his haunches in order not to fall over. He arced both his paws upwards, separating them and then brought them back down together to shape a heart.

Lastly, he pressed a paw to his chest to indicate himself.

I am Fire Heart.

Snowkit blinked with narrowed eyes before he meowed, "Fir' Ha'rt." Fire Heart grinned and started thinking of how to say the kit's name.

But then he stopped and turned to Hawk Swoop to thank her. It was her idea! She should get credit too. And maybe she could help with Snowkit since she had never gotten an apprentice before. He had had two of his own already!

But she was gone. And so was Jackdaw's Cry.

He lowered his head and closed his eyes against the tears that blurred his vision. He felt Snowkit press against him worriedly but didn't respond.

"It's okay, Fire Heart… I'm always watching over you… make him a warrior I'd be proud of… that the Clan will be proud of…"

"Prove them wrong."

Hope the signals made sense, but then again it's not meant to be a realistic story in the first place.

Review.