We're back and better than ever with Chapter 6!!! The TRUE chapter 6!!!

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Fireheart trailed at the back of the group of ThunderClan's warriors with a few elders and apprentices as they all headed to tonight's Gathering.

Tigerclaw was up at the front with Bluestar, and Graystripe was towards the middle, near Sandstorm and Dustpelt, neither of which seemed too pleased to be near him.

Sandstorm had stayed true to her word and nearly came close to attacking her best friend, all her pent up frustration and rage with the dark gray warrior bubbling through into that moment. The ginger she-cat reprimanded him until she got some sort of promise that he would do better, and even so she didn't leave him without a warning of consequences if he didn't uphold that promise.

During all of Sandstorm's demands, Dustpelt stood at her side, nodding in agreement and occasionally throwing in his own choice of words. The dark brown tabby warrior seemed a bit too pleased about falling back into their apprentice days in that moment when he and Sandstorm would often ridicule both Fireheart and her friends. Brackenpaw even mentioned how he was feeling about Graystripe's treatment of him.

Something in Graystripe thankfully seemed to have shifted, looking at his apprentice, who was expressing how neglected he felt by his supposed mentor, and how he wouldn't be afraid to go to another warrior permanently to get mentored.

Graystripe's love might be strong, but his pride is just as, if not more. And perhaps even subconscious guilt at what he was doing played a role as well.

The dark-gray warrior had left with his tail in between his legs, much to everyone's amusement. Many of the cats had watched from the side as it happened. And it seemed Graystripe was still feeling the lingering embarrassment, as he kept his head ducked and didn't look at anybody.

Fireheart stopped with the group, as Bluestar stayed at the edge of the clearing, Tigerclaw right next to her. They gazed down at the clearing full of cats, mingling about each other. Fireheart could feel the tension from where she was standing.

"What will you say about Brokentail?" Tigerclaw questioned, his amber eyes narrowed and scrutinizing his leader. Clearly searching for any sign of weakness. Bluestar hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Nothing,"

Tigerclaw scoffed. "Nothing? Are you planning to hide ThunderClan's oh so merciful decision? To hide our generosity towards ShadowClan's exiled leader?"

"He is blind and helpless, Tigerclaw." Bluestar curtly replied, before turning to address the rest of the patrol. "I want no one here to speak or mention Brokentail or that we are harboring him."

She waited until meows of agreement came from the assembled cats. Then she flicked her tail to signal that the ThunderClan cats could join the other Clans below. She raced down through the bushes, with Tigerclaw just behind her, his huge paws scattering snow. Fireheart bounded after them. As the sleek flame-colored she-cat slid out of the bushes into the clearing she saw that Tigerclaw had stopped close by, apparently waiting for her.

Fireheart felt her pelt prickle with heat. Tigerclaw had waited for her and the way he gazed back at her was one filled with warmth. The mother-to-be at that moment didn't want to keep her mate waiting any longer. Fireheart felt as though she were walking on air as she came to press up against Tigerclaw's side, her tail entwining with his, and ignoring the curious looks thrown their way as they took a tour of the clearing.

"Fireheart, you look as though you're glowing!" gasped Morningflower, a queen of WindClan, as they came upon the tortoiseshell queen with Onewhisker. "Don't tell me you are expecting kits!"

Fireheart could only purr as she nodded in response. It was nice to see the reactions from friendly faces during the Gathering as Fireheart reveals that she is now a queen and soon to be mother.

"And they're going to be the best warriors in all the Clan's!" Tigerclaw boasted, his chest stuck out with pride. His amber eyes gleaming with a challenge for anyone to say otherwise.

"I'm sure they will be." Onewhisker remarked, dipping his head. "Fireheart has shown WindClan how great she can be, I'm sure it will pass on to her kits."

Fireheart felt shy at the praise. Though she found Tigerclaw tensing beside her unusual, it was only when she nudged his side did he once again relax.

"Yes, my mate will be a great mother to our kits." Was Tigerclaw stoic reply before abruptly herding Fireheart away from the two WindClan cats.

The two then came across a group of warriors, all of who consisted of cats from all Clan's, including RiverClan's deputy, Leopardfur.

"Tigerclaw! Fireheart! Good on you for joining us!" Whitestorm greeted the pair, shuffling over enough to make space for the both of them to join the circle. "We were just talking about you."

"And what have you been saying?" Tigerclaw growled, his eyes narrowing warningly as Whitestorm gazed back, appearing amused by Tigerclaw's sudden guarded behavior.

"Just listen to him," Whitestorm said, turning back to the group and ignoring Tigerclaw's question. "It's just as I told you."

The gathered group of cat's shared amused looks and purrs at the expense of the confused couple. Tigerclaw's ears flicked back in annoyance as his massive head swiveled back and forth as he scanned the group, trying in frustration to figure out what they found so amusing.

"I knew it!" Cackled a gray tabby tom, louder than the rest.

Tigerclaw growled and swung his head around and fixed him with a yellow glare. Causing the ShadowClan warrior to awkwardly cough and quickly walk away from the group and Tigerclaw's penetrating gaze.

"I've heard that the great ThunderClan deputy is expecting kits with his mate." Leopardfur meowed, voice sounding over the group as shining eyes turned to look expectedly at the ThunderClan deputy.

Tigerclaw drew himself up to his full height, his eyes blazing with pride as he pressed impossibly closer to Fireheart. "You are correct, Leopardfur." Tigerclaw gently stroked the back of Fireheart with his tail and rested it just between her shoulder blades. "Both myself and Fireheart are expecting our first litter of kits."

Rounds of congratulations came from the assembled group. Even cat's outside the group came forward to congratulate the soon to be parents. Though Fireheart couldn't stop thinking about what Tigerclaw had just said, our first litter of kits. As though Tigerclaw was already thinking about having more with Fireheart.

The flame-pelted she-cat wasn't opposed to having more kits with her mate. Fireheart just didn't think Tigerclaw would want more afterwards. A conversation for another time.

The group broke off as the air was filled with a shrill yowl and all the cats fell silent. Fireheart turned her head to see four cats on top of the Great Rock, silhouettes in the silver moonlight.

Tigerclaw nudged Fireheart's side as he led her to the base of the Great Rock, where usually the deputy's sit, and Fireheart was nervous as she was surrounded by the three other deputy's from the other Clans. But with Tigerclaw by her side, Fireheart eventually relaxed enough to listen to the leaders speak.

Tallstar, the WindClan leader, began by announcing how his cats were recovering after the recent battle against RiverClan and ShadowClan. "One of our elders has died," he meowed, "but all our warriors will live—to fight another day," he added meaningfully.

Nightstar flattened his ears and narrowed his eyes, while Crookedstar let out a threatening growl from deep in his throat.

Fireheart's fur prickled. If the leaders started to fight, their cats would fight too. Had it ever happened at a Gathering? She wondered. Surely not even Nightstar, ShadowClan's bold new leader, would risk the anger of StarClan by breaking the sacred truce!

As Fireheart apprehensively watched the bristling cats, Bluestar stepped forward. "This is good news, Tallstar," she meowed smoothly. "All of us should rejoice to hear that WindClan grows strong again."

Her blue eyes glowed in the moonlight as she glanced at the leaders of ShadowClan and RiverClan.

Nightstar turned away from her gaze, and Crookedstar dipped his head, his expression unreadable. It had been ShadowClan, under Brokenstar's cruel command, who had first driven WindClan away, so that they could extend their own hunting grounds. RiverClan had taken advantage of their exile to hunt in the deserted territory. But after Brokenstar's exile, Bluestar had convinced the other leaders that the life of the forest depended on all four Clans, and that WindClan should return. Fireheart shivered as she remembered the long and difficult journey she had made with Graystripe to find WindClan and bring them home to their bleak upland territory.

"ThunderClan's cats are also recovering," Bluestar went on. "And since the last Gathering two of our apprentices have become warriors. They will now be known as Dustpelt and Sandstorm. And Fireheart is expecting kits." Yowls of approval came up from the mass of cats below the Great Rock—mostly, Fireheart noticed, from ThunderClan and WindClan. Fireheart ducked her head in embarrassment, and Tigerclaw licked her between the ears comfortingly. She caught a glimpse of Sandstorm, sitting with her pale ginger head raised proudly.

The Gathering proceeded more peacefully now. Fireheart remembered the previous Gathering, when the leaders had accused one another of hunting outside their own territory, but no cat mentioned this now. A group of rogue cats, led by Brokentail, had been responsible, but the news that these rogues had attacked the ThunderClan camp, and had been soundly defeated, did not seem to have spread. Bluestar's secret about blind Brokentail was safe.

The meeting broke up, and cats got ready to leave with their Clans, saying farewells to their friends from other Clans.

She gazed around, Tigerclaw had checked in with her before walking away with Whitestorm. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Swiftpaw, Longtail's apprentice talking to a group of apprentices. Fireheart was about to approach but she saw Sandstorm and Dustpelt approaching her from afar, and decided to meet them halfway. Forgetting about the apprentice.

"Wow, I can't believe Bluestar mentioned you were having kits! I didn't think she would," Sandstorm meowed.

"Well, I suppose it is an important announcement. After all, more kits means more warriors." Fireheart licked her chest fur, trying to flatten the fur that had risen in embarrassment.

Sandstorm mused. "I suppose that's true."

"Bet you can't wait for Bluestar to announce your kits with Brackenpaw." Dustpelt teased.

Sandstorm bristled. "Oh, quiet, you!"

"When did that happen?" Fireheart asked.

Dustpelt looked at her quizzly. "What do you mean?"

The flame-pelted she-cat grew embarrassed. "Well, I just mean…Sandstorm and Brackenpaw…I never noticed it until you said something about it earlier today."

Dustpelt let out a loud meow of amusement. "You didn't notice?!"

Fireheart flattened her ears and ducked her head. "Well…no."

"Dustpelt, don't act so surprised." Sandstorm chided. "She didn't notice Tigerclaw swooning over her until several cats said anything, and even then it had to be Tigerclaw himself to say it!"

The dust-pelted warrior let out more meows of amusement. "Oh yeah. True."

"She might be able to catch mice, but she's oblivious as ever to romantic feelings!" The pale ginger she-cat exclaimed.

"I'm not oblivious!" Fireheart weakly defended herself.

"As if!" Dustpelt mewed. "We all saw it!"

The flame-pelted warrior scraped her claws across the ground in embarrassment.

Her savior came from her own mate, who approached the trio, "We're leaving now, you three." The dark-brown tabby mewed, an amused glint in his eyes.

Fireheart quickly followed, anxious to get away from the two teasing cats.

"What were you talking about?" Tigerclaw asked innocently. "You seemed a bit embarrassed, were they teasing you?"

Fireheart flattened her ears again. "Maybe a bit."

"About?" Tigerclaw inquired.

"I didn't realize Sandstorm and Brackenpaw liked each other." She admitted.

The amused breathy chortle that came from deep within the ThunderClan deputy's chest made Fireheart refuse to speak with her mate the rest of the night, much to Tigerclaw's displeasure.

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A few days later, Fireheart woke up. The last few days have been a blur, as she'd been focusing on her warrior duties. Brightkit and Thornkit, now Brightpaw and Thornpaw, had been named apprentices to Mousefur and Whitestorm.

Fireheart pushed her way out of the warriors den and into the apprentices. She saw Cinderpaw snoring away while Brackenpaw groomed himself a bit away from his sister.

He perked up at Fireheart coming in. "Oh, Fireheart! Guess what?"

The flame-pelted she-cat sat down across from Brackenpaw. "What?"

The apprentice could hardly reign in his excitement, acting like Cinderpaw when she was first named an apprentice. "Graystripe's taking me out today!" His eyes shined brighter than if all of StarClan ascended from Silverpelt.

"Really? That's great! I'm happy for you, Brackenpaw." Fireheart purred, relieved that Sandstorm had gotten through to him.

"Do you wanna come with us?" Brackenpaw asked, still caught up in his excitement.

Fireheart hesitated. Graystripe hadn't spoken a word to her, or even glanced her way since their last disagreement. She wasn't sure if he would want her to be hanging around them as he mentored his apprentice. "Well, I don't know about that Brackenpaw. I think Graystripe may want to have some alone time with you."

The apprentice's ears dropped in disappointment, and Fireheart spoke up again. "But, if you want, when Graystripe is done with you and I'm done with Cinderpaw, we could go out hunting?"

Brackenpaw immediately perked up again. "Really? Yeah, I'd like that. Well, I should get going, see you later, Fireheart!" He called over his shoulder as he raced out of the den.

Fireheart looked at her own apprentice, and shook her head. Cinderpaw was still fast asleep, even with her and Brackenpaw talking. The flame-pelted she-cat had to prod her four times before Cinderpaw finally woke up.

"About time," Fireheart commented. "Come on, we're going to freshen up your battle moves again."

Cinderpaw immediately looked hesitant.

"Don't worry, I spoke to Tigerclaw. If he does come across us, he won't be mad like last time, and you won't hurt me. Besides, it'll mostly just be you practicing the moves rather than attacking me." Fireheart reassured. Cinderpaw immediately looked happier and agreed, leaving with Fireheart out of the den.

"Now, why don't you go grab some fresh-kill before we leave? And grab some for me as well." Fireheart meowed.

"Okay!" Cinderpaw left to the fresh-kill pile.

As she did so, Fireheart settled down under the nettle patch, quickly beginning to sense a pattern these days. Every morning before taking Cinderpaw she would check on Brackenpaw, then have Cinderpaw fetch her a piece of fresh-kill, then they would be off on whatever Fireheart planned that day, and it would only be a matter of how long it would take to run into Tigerclaw.

Though something caught her attention today.

As she was waiting for Cinderpaw's, Fireheart heard the shrill voices of kits. She turned and stared at the branches of a fallen tree, close to the elders' den. A group of kits had surrounded Brokentail, who had been given a nest among the branches.

Ever since Bluestar had offered shelter to Brokentail, he had lived alone in his den, with warriors to guard him. Not many cats passed that way, and the kits had no reason to be anywhere near him.

"Rogue! Traitor!" That was Cloudkit's voice raised in a jeering meow. Fireheart watched in alarm as the white kit darted forward, jabbed Brokentail in the ribs with one paw, and scrambled back out of range. One of the other kits copied him, squealing, "Can't catch me!"

Darkstripe, whose turn it was to guard the blind cat, made no attempt to send the kits away. He sat a fox-length away, watching with his paws tucked under him and a gleam of amusement in his eyes.

Brokentail swung his head from side to side in frustration, but with his cloudy, unseeing eyes he could not retaliate. His dark tabby fur looks dull and patchy, and his broad face was scored with scars, some of them from the clawing that had ruined his eyes. There was no trace of the former arrogant and bloodthirsty leader now.

Fireheart's unsheathed claws scraped across the ground, heart stopping for a moment. Many cats, she knew, thought Brokentail deserved to suffer, even Fireheart herself now felt that way. But it didn't feel right for such small kits to be around the former ShadowClan leader, especially so close.

Rising to her paws, the soon-to-be mother hurried over toward the edge of the clearing. Just then she saw Cloudkit pounce on the blind tom's tail, worrying it with needle-sharp teeth. Brokentail scrabbled away from him on unsteady legs and swiped one paw in his direction. In an instant, Darkstripe jumped to his paws, hissing, "Touch that kit, traitor, and I'll flay your skin in stripes!"

Something in Fireheart settled a little, knowing Dirtstripe was at least making sure the kits wouldn't get hurt.

It was when Brokentail ignored Darkstripe's orders and raised an unsheathed clawed paw that Fireheart sped up and barreled right into the prisoner, knocking him sideways and ushering Cloudkit back, out of reach of the kit-killer. At the same time Darkstripe had pounced forward to tear into the side of the matted, brown tabby leader fur, making good on his promise and leaving a deep shredded line in Brokentail's skin.

Brokentail let out a broken off wail that Darkstripe quickly silenced by clawing at the tyrannical leader's muzzle. "Shut up!" Darkstripe hissed.

The kits were watching on with wide eyes, admiration and wonder shining within them. Though Fireheart was much more worried than to question the kit's joy of watching the suffering of others. "What were you thinking, Cloudkit?" Fireheart demanded, catching her nephew off guard. "That thing could have hurt you!" Fireheart's slightly crooked tail pointed towards Brokentail, not acknowledging Brokentail as anything but a thing. Brokentail didn't deserve the honor of being called a cat. He lost that privilege when he heartlessly killed kits.

"Leave the kit alone," Darkstripe interrupted, padding up to stand beside Cloudkit. "He's not doing any harm."

"But they can get hurt!" Fireheart meowed, glancing worriedly towards Brokentail. Though he's blind he was still a danger to those around him. He was a danger to the Clan and Bluestar allowed him to stay.

Darkstripe rolled his eyes. Most likely thinking Fireheart is just behaving like an overly worried pregnant queen. Which he wouldn't be wrong in this case. "I'm keeping an eye on them." He then raised a paw towards Brokentail. "And it's not like this weakling can do anything. He's as useless as a dead fox."

Brokentail let out a hiss at the insult but didn't say anything in response.

Fireheart considered, she could let the kits keep tormenting Brokentail, with Darkstripe here to keep an eye on them, and make sure Brokentail wouldn't do anything to them. Did she really trust Darkstripe, though? For now, yes. She saw how he came to the kit's defense. And Fireheart had gotten here late, only Darkstripe there. If she hadn't heard the kits, she wouldn't have come over at all.

"Fine. But if anything happens to them, Darkstripe, it will be your fault and you'll have to answer to both Bluestar and Tigerclaw." Fireheart warned, hoping that the sleek black-and-gray tabby tom upholds that promise.

Surprisingly Darkstripe solemnly nodded, a bit of surprise in his eyes that Fireheart actually agreed. Before turning to keep a close eye on the kits as they went back to tormenting the blind warrior.

Filled with apprehension Fireheart forced her paws to move as she headed to the gorse tunnel, appetite completely gone. Fireheart wondered if she truly did the right thing. But it felt kind of good to watch the former ShadowClan leader suffer by the same type of kits that he ruthlessly slaughtered without a thought. Fireheart was beginning to fear herself.

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That's all for this chapter!!! I hope that you've all enjoyed it!!!

Fun Facts:

Tigerclaw is a proud father-to-be and wants everyone to know it!!!

Tigerclaw feels threatened by Onewhisker because it's obvious (not to Fireheart) that he has feelings towards Fireheart (even though they are from separate Clan's) and although Tigerclaw knows nothing is coming to come about it he still is defensive!

Sand x Bracken mentioned

Fireheart wondering whether or not leaving the kits to play with a former bloodthirsty tyrant and kit killer is a responsible decision. (With Darkstripe as babysitter)

Told you Fireheart had a bad side in this!

Graystripe is slightly scared of Sandstorm, and that with his guilt is the main reason he listened to her about his duties! -Ashe