Another chapter of our new Heart of Fire Au, Heart of Shadows, where Firestar is sent way far back and ends up in ShadowClan instead!!! Different from the Heart of Water story just to be clear!!! Very different!!!

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Marigoldkit sat beside the thorn nursery entrance with a scrunched up muzzle as she tried to think hard on the events of the future but frustratingly enough couldn't penetrate the misty fog that fell over her mind each time she made an attempt.

It's been nearly a moon since she had been brought to ShadowClan and nothing was making sense, nothing appeared familiar and no one was acting the same way the blurry images and sounds did in her memories. Is it because I've come back too far?

"Watch it, your face will freeze that way," Marigoldkit was startled by a tail harshly flicking across her sensitive ears as Lizardstripe glared down at her.

"S-sorry," Marigoldkit said sheepishly, smoothing out her face just for show.

"Better be careful, your pretty face is the only thing you got going for you."

Marigoldkit struggled to not scrunch up her face again at the comment. Marigoldkit was so much more than a pretty face, she proved as much in her former life and she planned to do so again. Feeling the need to get up and move before she said something she'd come to regret, Marigoldkit stood and stiffly stalked away from the nursery.

Uncertain as to where to go, the fluffy orange fur kit decided to poke around, never before having been shown the camp and seeing as no attempt had been made to do so by anyone. Marigoldkit decided to explore her new home on her own.

Warrior's coming and going around camp didn't seem to have any reservations about trampling over kits to get to where they needed to go so Marigoldkit kept close to the bramble walls as she moved around camp to avoid being crushed under bigger paws.

It was all so dim within the camp, barely any light shines through the tall dense pine trees and the camp was constantly damp due to the mud that seemed to refuse to dry. It felt foreign and Marigoldkit had still yet to adjust as her paws sank with each hard press as she walked.

I need to learn to walk more lightly. Marigoldkit thought to herself. Trying to recall how the hunter's crouch was performed and in her distraction she ran into another small bundle of dark fur that was currently hiding underneath part of the bramble wall.

Unaware of the other kit and too distracted to notice, Marigoldkit accidentally stepped on a small bent tail and was so startled by a pain filled yelp, that Marigoldkit nearly jumped straight out of her pelt.

"Hey! What's the big idea, trampling all over my tail!" Out from underneath the brambles came a much larger kit with dark brown tabby fur, a flat face and orange eyes filled with indignation.

Marigoldkit took in the angry kit before glancing down at the tom-kite's tail that she had accidentally stepped on and gasped, "I didn't break it did I?" The little she-kit worriedly asked, leaning down to get a good look at it.

"No, of course not." The tom-kit pulled away, hiding his bent tail behind him as his chest fur rose in embarrassment. "I was born with my tail looking like this."

"Oh, thank StarClan." Marigoldkit let out a sigh of relief, she would never have forgiven herself if she had ever hurt a kit.

"You're thanking StarClan for my tail being bent?" The tom-kit asked, tilting his head.

"What? No! I mean I'm glad it's not hurt." Marigoldkit quickly said.

"It certainly hurt when you stepped on it."

"I know and I'm sorry, it's just I'm -- you're messing with me aren't you?!" Marigoldkit narrowed her jade green eyes on the dark brown tabby furred tom-kit when she noticed that the indignation in his eyes had changed to amusement.

"You make it too easy." The other kit murmured in amusement as Marigoldkit huffed and rolled her jade green eyes.

The tom-kit suddenly blinked, as though just realizing something. "We haven't formally been introduced now have we?"

Marigoldkit vaguely remembered Lizardstripe grumbling out the name's of the other kits she shared a den with at one point, but Marigoldkit had hardly interacted with any of them due to how mean and nasty they could be, so she tended to keep to herself although knowing it was best to try and get along. So their name's were somewhat hard to remember.

"I'm Marigoldkit!" The flame-pelted she-kit decided to remedy that here and now. She had been feeling a bit lonely by being by herself this past moon with no one to talk to. "What's your name?"

The other kit proudly puffed out his chest and he proudly proclaimed a name that sent confusing ice cold dread all throughout Marigoldkit's body. "I'm Brokenkit and someday I'm going to be a leader just like my father."

Marigoldkit couldn't understand the sudden mix of terror and disdain that rippled through her as she gazed upon Brokenkit. It was confusing that she felt this way towards a kit of all cats. She tried to push it away, shove it deep down, but that confusing feeling was there all the same.

Brokenkit must have noticed something was wrong as his face fell and looked down at Marigoldkit, appearing uncertain as to what he might have done wrong. "Is something wrong? Was it something I said or--"

"Hey, Deerkit look, two toad-brains getting along." The nasally voice of Tanglekit caught both Marigoldkit and Brokenkit's attention as the two of three of Lizardstripe's kits came wandering deliberately towards the newly acquainted kits.

"Should have expected this to happen. Not like anyone else wants anything to do with them." Deerkit replied as if Marigoldkit and Brokenkit weren't standing in front of them, listening.

Marigoldkit didn't particularly care about their taunting, if anything it just made her roll her eyes and wonder if they will ever grow up. But Brokenkit seemed to take it differently, his orange eyes blazed with anger as his scruffy pelt bristled like thistles and bent tail flicked from side to side in clear warning of potential attack.

Even with waring emotions welling up inside her, Marigoldkit wouldn't stand for outright bullying.

"I wouldn't be so quick to judge," Marigoldkit squeaked, gaining all their attention. "Lizardstripe doesn't seem particularly fond of any of you and she's the one to give birth to you!"

Both Deerkit and Tanglekit reared back as though Marigoldkit had clawed them. They're faces appear just as shocked as Brokenkit's, who's jaws hang upon in surprise.

Brokenkit quickly shook himself, seeming to brighten and more confident as he added on, "Yeah! Lizardstripe doesn't even like you! And Mudclaw not once has ever visited you! Unlike my father who regularly does so!"

"And it's not like anyone else wants anything to do with them." Marigoldkit finished, glare at the two bullies.

It took a moment, but when Deerkit and Tanglekit snapped out of their initial shock, they were like two little thistles with their fur bristling and tails lashing just like Brokenkit had been when they were taunting them.

Marigoldkit came to stand beside Brokenkit, pressed up against his side in a defensive stance, her own pelt prickly with apprehension as she stood shoulder to head with him. If there was going to be a fight it was going to be a fair two on two one. Marigoldkit, through her bewildering feelings towards Brokenkit, refused to allow him to fight alone.

Luckily, perhaps because of StarClan's intervention, a fight didn't breakout due to the quick and sudden appearance of Raggedstar, the large, muscular and broad-shouldered, dark brown tabby tom with patchy fur, was gazing down at all of them with clear disapproval in his amber eyes.

"What is going on here?" Raggedstar demanded, looking from kit to kit before resting on his obviously embarrassed son. "What's this about?"

"We were just playing." Deerkit said, lying through his nettle sharp teeth.

"Yeah! Just playing!" Tanglekit agreed with her brother.

"Oh yeah, we were having tons of fun." Brokenkit said sarcastically. "I'm sure Lizardstripe would love to hear all about it. If. She. Actually. Cares."

Deerkit and Tanglekit each gave Brokenkit a nasty glare as Raggedstar turned to Marigoldkit, clearly viewing the flame colored she-kit as the deciding factor.

Marigoldkit looked between all three of the other kits. Their eyes pleading for her to lie and not bring about Raggedstar intervention, anyone but their leader and father. Marigoldkit had to sigh as she resigned herself to lying. Turning to Raggedstar she said, "Both me and Brokenkit were talking and Deerkit and Tanglekit came to see what we were doing and wanted to see if we wanted to have a play fight. That's all." It wasn't one of her best lies but it fit the situation alright.

The flame-pelted she-kit could tell that Raggedstar didn't believe that load of fox-dung but had no way of proving otherwise as the other three kits quickly nodded in agreement.

After a moment of deliberation, Raggedstar dismissed them. "Alright, I'll believe you but you all can't stay here. Off with you all." The kits scattered, going off in a flash, all but Marigoldkit, who Raggedstar held back with his tail.

"I'd like a word with you, Marigoldkit." Raggedstar meowed, setting the flame-pelted she-kit's nerves on edge, wondering if she was going to be in trouble. But there was nothing but admiration in the ShadowClan leader's amber eyes.

"What is it that you want to talk about?" Marigoldkit asked, though weary, the little she-kit was also curious with what he had to say.

"I'd like to thank you," Raggedstar said, dipping his head. "I didn't make myself known at the time but I watched the way Deerkit and Tanglekit approached you both and then started the argument."

"You did?" Marigoldkit gasped, her ears twitching in surprise. "Why didn't you do anything to stop them?!"

Raggedstar's whiskers twitched in amusement, "I didn't have too. The way you stood up for both you and my son put them in their place. I only had to step in when I saw a fight brewing."

Marigoldkit dipped her head, feeling strangely embarrassed even though she had no reason to be. "It was nothing."

"No." Raggedstar shook his head. "You did more for my son than I could ever do without seeming biased or playing favorites. You were there to stand up for him and I only hope that you will continue to do so."

Immense shame washed over Marigoldkit. Here she was being thanked for doing something she didn't originally want to do, she didn't want to defend Brokenkit. Those feelings inside her, they were so strange and it made everything so confusing, what made her feel this way towards Brokenkit? It nearly rivaled the feeling she felt towards the massive, dark brown tabby tom with unusually long front claws that plagued all her dreams but who's name eluded her. It was so frustrating.

Marigoldkit hardly noticed when Raggedstar bid her farewell. Though when she did the little she-kit decided to head back to the nursery, only to be stopped once again, this time by the kit that was causing her so much confusion.

Brokenkit stood shyly before her. His paws shuffled nervously in front of him. It was almost endearing the way his orange eyes were looking everywhere but at Marigoldkit, his fur rising in embarrassment. "I wanted to thank you." Brokenkit said before Marigoldkit could ask him what he wanted. "For standing up against Deerkit and Tanglekit. I wouldn't have handled it as well as you would. Usually it would just be a big fight which usually is two against one, but you stood with me, so thank you."

Marigoldkit dipped her head. Accepting his gratitude, it was a kind gesture for him to thank her. And then the flame-pelted she-kit could see some of his father in him at that moment. They were truly father and son.

"I also--would you like to be friends?" Brokenkit rushed out. "I don't…have many."

Marigoldkit could see the desperation in his eyes. Brokenkit was desperate for a friend. He was clearly hiding from Deerkit and Tanglekit, but perhaps he was hiding from more than just them.

He appeared lonely, the son of ShadowClan's leader seemed to be all by himself and no one even came looking for him.

Marigoldkit softened towards the dark brown tabby tom-kit. Through her confused emotions came compassion for the lonely kit. Brokenkit didn't deserve to be all on his own or even bullied by the others. The flame-pelted she-kit pushed down the fear and hatred that had first flared towards Brokenkit and decided to instead look at him at this moment. Brokenkit wanted a friend and Marigoldkit decided that she would be that friend.

"Alright, I'll be your friend." Marigoldkit said, truly meaning her words.

Brokenkit's eyes widened in astonishment, clearly he wasn't expecting a positive response and that made Marigoldkit sad, but it was quickly erased as Brokenkit all but tackled Marigoldkit and began talking faster than a rabbit could run.

"You won't regret this! I'll stand by you through thick and thin, I'll even make you my deputy when I become leader! We'll be great partners that will show the rest of the Clan just how great we are! Deerkit and Tanglekit will never mess with us again when they have to listen to us! It'll be great! Just wait and see, Marigoldkit! We're gonna be best friends forever!" Brokenkit said it with such enthusiasm that Marigoldkit had to purr at his excitement. Clearly Brokenkit was bound and determined even when faced with adversity in the Clan. Was he one of Marigoldkit's best friends in her past life as well? Marigoldkit couldn't help but ponder. She was sure she had more than one, and she recalled a dark brown tabby tom she was apprenticing with but wasn't sure if he liked her very much.

Everything was so messed up that she couldn't really say, so instead she decided to just go with the flow and hope that soon her memories would come back to her. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

"I think I hear Lizardstripe calling us!" Brokenkit suddenly said, his ears pricked as a grimace took over his face. "We should get back to the nursery before we get scolded."

Marigoldkit also grimaced, hating the thought of being on the receiving end of one of Lizardstripe's rants. The pale brown tabby queen was quite awful to listen to or even be around. She wasn't lying when she told Deerkit and Tanglekit that Lizardstripe didn't like them, Marigoldkit was pretty sure Lizardstripe never wanted kits in the first place. A vile sort of queen in Marigoldkit' opinion. She shouldn't have gotten in a position to get pregnant in the first place if she didn't want to raise them.

Both Marigoldkit and Brokenkit headed back to the nursery together. Just enjoying the calm silence that fell over the pair as each of them thought of the other and how pleased they were to finally have a friend.

As they headed towards their own personal nests, neither Marigoldkit nor Brokenkit shared a nest with Lizardstripe and her kits anymore, Marigoldkit could hear Lizardstripe replying to a question that Tanglekit must have asked. "Of course I never wanted any of you. I even tried to sterilize your father before we even came to be mates back when we were apprentices-"

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Fun Facts

Lizardstripe is awful but what else is new?

Deerkit and Tanglekit being Brokenkit's bullies is canon (I didn't add Runningkit because he's the type to avoid conflict and not get involved. Like a coward)

Marigoldkit getting bad vibes from Brokenkit and not understanding why and so decides to ignore her gut feeling and be his friend anyways. (Whether or not that's a good decision is for you all to wait and speculate!)

The dark brown tabby tom Marigoldkit was trying to recall in her past life was Dustpaw/pelt.

Don't worry, Marigoldkit just needs some time to remember these types of things. It comes with age!