One moon passed since Moonshade and Shellfall's first attack on WindClan. In the days following, Shimmerwing had joined with many of her other Clanmates. Whenever one of the WindClan cats dared to show their heads out of their camp, they were ambushed by another RiverClan patrol. The only way to stay safe was to hole up in the WindClan camp, and if they had to send a patrol, each cat on the patrol would have to be prepared to fight for their lives.

Many cats had been injured in the battle. Songbreeze laid in the medicine den for half a moon now, hanging on Death's doorstep. Several were unable to fight in any more battles because of their injuries. Even though they had regular visits from Lord Nightstalker, there was only so much herbs could do. Scorchstar felt a heavy sense of defeat in the air as he walked around his Clanmates.

From the gorse bush, Cloudkit poked his head out and let out a small gasp. Iceheart followed him, her blue eyes wide as Cloudkit snuggled against his mother's paws. "Mother, what's the matter? Why is every cat upset?"

Across the clearing, Scorchstar met Iceheart's gaze. Dismay clouded the she-cat's blue eyes, and Scorchstar realized that Iceheart had no idea what to say to the young kit. Scorchstar walked over to Cloudkit, bending down to ruffle the tomkit's head, just as he did to Redmoon when he was a kit. "It's going to be okay," the tom told Cloudkit. "I promise. WindClan is just going through some hardships at the moment."

"Father!" Cloudkit mewled. Scorchstar looked over his shoulder to see Hotaru walking over to them. The silver tom's yellow eyes were bright, but there was a long gash down his shoulder as he walked over to Cloudkit, dropping a rabbit in front of the small kit.

"Hotaru," Iceheart murmured, "you know I haven't introduced them to dry food, right?"

"You haven't?" Hotaru's eyes widened. "But Redmoon told me—"

"Of course he did." Iceheart let out a heavy sigh and brushed her muzzle across Hotaru's cheek. "Stop trying so hard, Hotaru. You're a lovely father. And maybe today's the day I'll start them on meat. But…" Her gaze trailed to the wound on Hotaru's shoulder. "What happened?"

"Oh, it was just a RiverClan patrol," Hotaru said nonchalantly. Scorchstar winced at the flatness in Hotaru's voice – as if it was an everyday thing. And… it is. "It's okay, though. I got the rabbit. Can they please try it? Please?" Even though Hotaru was a father now, his voice retained the same childlike innocence it had the first day he had arrived in WindClan. There was no doubt that Hotaru had grown, but he would never lose the bright, innocent streak he had.

Iceheart smiled. "Of course we can, Hotaru." She turned her head and looked down at Cloudkit. "Would you like to try rabbit for the first time?"

"Yes! Yes!" Cloudkit bounced on his paws. "Let me tell Rainkit and Brightkit!" Faster than the rabbit he was about to eat, Cloudkit lunged back into the nursery, seemingly forgetting about the grim atmosphere that draped WindClan's camp. Scorchstar sighed, wishing he could be as innocent as Cloudkit was, when his only worry was what rabbit would taste like.

"They're growing up fast," Scorchstar told Iceheart.

"I know." Love glimmered in Iceheart's blue eyes. "I just want to keep them safe."

Scorchstar wished he could promise that, but with the dangers WindClan had faced the past moon, he wasn't sure if he could. He rested his chin on Iceheart's head – one of his favorite things about leading a Clan was watching its young grow. I'll do everything in my power to protect them. He walked away from Iceheart and Hotaru, towards the clearing of the camp where Russetstripe was sitting, staring at the ground.

"Russetstripe?" Scorchstar asked kindly, gazing at his sister as he recalled the last moon with her. She had been sullen and silent – her fiery demeanor that once demanded the attention of everyone around her had dwindled to a flickering flame. She hid within herself, shrinking in the back, praying to go unseen. Her fur hung limp, and she was still stunning to look at, but in a tragic way. Every time he asked her if she was all right, he would either get no answer, or a lie. He'd ask again. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Russetstripe whispered. There was no sense of her characteristic fierceness or stubbornness. What happened to you? Scorchstar wanted to ask. What hurt you so much? Was it the trauma of what you went through? Scorchstar didn't know what to say. Instead, he pressed his nose to his sister's shoulder, hoping the gesture would tell her just how much he loved her.

"You can always talk to me if you need anything," Scorchstar told her. "I need you to know that."

"Yeah." Russetstripe's voice was cracked, and Scorchstar's heart shattered. Why wouldn't Russetstripe confide in him? We used to tell each other everything. What happened, now? Why is she so broken? Scorchstar let out a sigh and walked away, grief-stricken for the loss of his sister. Where had the real Russetstripe gone? And why did it seem like she was never coming back?

As Scorchstar stewed on the thoughts about his sister, a rough, acrid odor started to spread around camp. He lifted his head and tasted the air, taking in the scent. Then, when he realized what it was, his entire body turned to stone.

"Fire!" Scorchstar yowled. "There's a fire!" Horrific memories of that very day, when he, Russetstripe, and Brambledusk had been trapped behind a wall of flames with no escape. A burning branch – that had been supposed to fall on Scorchstar – landed on Brambledusk instead. The event had nearly led to Brambledusk's death, and it had been the factor that made him decide to step down as deputy. How can there be a fire? It's newleaf! I didn't see any thunder! "Everyone, get out of camp!"

Harewhisker bounded into the clearing, snapping out orders. "Frostpetal, Brambledusk! Help Iceheart and her kits. Turtledove, help Waspberry and Nick. Hawkfire, help Mallowleaf, and Heathercloud, assist Sedgefall! Bring their herbs if you have to. Seedberry, help Songbreeze, she's still injured! Everyone else, I need you to get into pairs while you leave. Don't take your eyes off your partner!" He glanced at Scorchstar, and Scorchstar nodded in approval of his orders.

"Lead them," Scorchstar told Harewhisker. "I'll stay behind to help."

"But Scorchstar—"

"It's an order," Scorchstar hissed. "I can't risk you getting hurt, Harewhisker. Please, just lead our warriors out. I need to find Wildheart and Russetstripe."

"Okay." Harewhisker nodded and raced up to Lilystream's side, nudging her to her paws. The two cats looked behind their shoulders as cats raced behind them, and Harewhisker led the first mass of cats out of camp. Scorchstar raced through camp, searching for a tortoiseshell pelt as the scent of the fire started to grow more prominent, indicating its travel towards the hollow. Not again…!

"Wildheart?" Scorchstar called out. "Wildheart!"

"I'm here!" Wildheart appeared from the edge of camp, with Redmoon next to her. Scorchstar let out a grateful sigh and looked around.

"Hawkfire? Mallowleaf?" Scorchstar asked Wildheart.

Wildheart jerked her head towards the medicine den. Hawkfire was carrying a bundle of herbs next to Mallowleaf, and the two she-cats were bounding out of camp, running for their lives.

"Redmoon, take your mother out of here," Scorchstar ordered, relieved that his two daughters had left camp safe. Now he just had to save his mate and his son.

"Okay, Dad." Redmoon nudged Wildheart, trying to urge her towards the camp exit, but Wildheart gazed at Scorchstar.

"What about you?" Wildheart asked, worry shadowing her yellow eyes as she looked her mate up and down. "Where are you going?"

"I need to find Russetstripe," Scorchstar said. "And I don't want to hear any of it."

Wildheart nodded. Redmoon pulled Wildheart away, giving his father a nod. Scorchstar watched them go until they were safely out of camp, and then searched the hollow for Russetstripe. He knew she hadn't left camp – she hadn't left camp at all in the past moon. She was here somewhere. The scent of smoke was getting thicker, and just as Scorchstar entered one of the badger sets in the camp wall, he could spot his sister.

This is the same spot where Emberflame was imprisoned as an apprentice, Scorchstar recalled. "Russetstripe!" he snapped. "Let's go! The camp is on fire."

"Again…" Russetstripe rasped. "Where are we going?"

"I don't know." Scorchstar sighed. "Not RiverClan, and ThunderClan territory is too far away to shelter. We'll just have to find somewhere else." When Russetstripe didn't move, Scorchstar raced into the den and grabbed her by her scruff, throwing her out of the set and pushing her forward. "Go!" He raised his voice, spotting Heathercloud in the midst of the cats. "Heathercloud, take Russetstripe!"

Heathercloud skidded to a halt, turning over and nodding to Scorchstar. She bounded over and helped Russetstripe to her paws, assisting the ginger she-cat in racing away from the camp and towards a safe exit. Scorchstar looked around camp, thankful that it was deserted. Okay. He couldn't smell any other cat, and just as he double checked every den, he decided that it was clear. He bounded out of the camp, racing away from the flames, until he came face-to-face with a massive dark gray tabby tom. He stepped back, curling his lip. Sharpfang of RiverClan!

"Going somewhere?" Sharpfang sneered.

"Get out of my way!" Scorchstar yowled, slashing his claws down Sharpfang's cheek. As slippery as a fish, Sharpfang ducked under Scorchstar's belly and appeared on his other side, sinking his claws into his spine. Scorchstar yowled in fury and threw Sharpfang off him.

"You have no honor!" Scorchstar snarled as he stepped back, feeling the heat of the flames on his fur as they continued to spread their terrifying descent. "Keeping up the attack patrols when we're escaping our camp from a forest fire? How dare you? Have you lost all respect for the warrior code?"

"What do you think the point of this fire is?" Sharpfang snarled. "It's for you to surrender."

"What…?" Scorchstar stared, horrified at Sharpfang. "You… you set the fire?"

"RiverClan did, yes," Sharpfang nearly boasted, his yellow eyes shining with glee. A triumphant smirk spread on his face, and Scorchstar turned to see what he was looking at. His jaw dropped as he watched a black tom throw Songbreeze into the raging flames. No! He gasped in horror, but he spotted Cinderfall leaping over to rescue Songbreeze.

Hoping that Cinderfall would succeed, Scorchstar turned and slashed his claws down Sharpfang's face, sending him staggering. He ran away from him, knowing he couldn't afford to spend time fighting with Sharpfang. He had to save his Clan from the fire. This was something very different. This fire had been set to destroy WindClan, just like ShadowClan. Dapplestar had set this fire so the WindClan cats could escape camp, only to run into the claws of their enemies. We're trapped on both sides, Scorchstar thought miserably. How do we escape?

"Scorchstar!" It was Brambledusk's voice that was piercing through the flames, and Scorchstar could see the tom's scorched, ash-stained pale tabby fur. Scorchstar remembered the last time Brambledusk had been in a fire, and he was wondering if the pale tabby tom would refuse to move.

"Brambledusk, are you okay?" Scorchstar demanded. "Where's Iceheart and her kits?"

"That's what I was going to tell you," Brambledusk said. "Russetstripe and I know a safe place away from here, so we're not running straight into RiverClan territory. We took the path when we were searching for Hotaru and Iceheart. Do you mind if she and I take our Clanmates there?" His yellow eyes darkened. "Even though…"

"Even though what?" Scorchstar demanded.

"I've seen many of them either being killed by RiverClan cats, or consumed by the fire," Brambledusk whispered, his voice cracking. "And there's nothing we can do. We can fight the RiverClan cats off, but if we follow them into the fire, we're just killing ourselves. Please, let me take our Clanmates away from here."

Scorchstar stared at his former deputy, his breath escaping him in ragged gasps. No… His mind flashed back to Songbreeze, ruthlessly thrown into the flames. "Yes," Scorchstar replied. "Take them away from here."

"Where will you be?" Brambledusk asked.

"I'll follow you," Scorchstar promised. "I just…"

"…Need to find Dapplestar," Brambledusk finished his sentence.

"Yes." Scorchstar lashed his tail. "If she thinks she's getting out of here without losing a life, she's wrong."

Brambledusk said nothing. He just dipped his head and ran away, scaling a patch of flames. Scorchstar watched him go, praying that he was safe. When Brambledusk's pale tabby pelt disappeared into the moorland, Scorchstar raced through the patches of moorland that hadn't yet been engulfed by the flames. His whiskers were searing with heat, and he could feel his fur starting to singe. The heat from the fire made his ears sting and it slowed his movements. The ferocity of the fire was just as intense as the hatred in Scorchstar's heart for Dapplestar. Just as he leaped over another wall of flames, he gasped as he recognized a ginger-and-white tabby pelt, skidding to a halt in front of one of the blazing fires. Hawkfire!

There was a tortoiseshell-and-white pelt approaching Hawkfire from her right. Scorchstar let out a low snarl and unsheathed his claws. With all the strength and power he could surmise in one leap, he jumped and landed in front of Hawkfire, stopping Dapplestar from getting to her. Dapplestar curled her lip and lashed her tail.

"Get the hell away from my daughter," Scorchstar snarled at her.

"It looks like your other one perished," Dapplestar taunted. Scorchstar looked over his shoulder at the fire, that Hawkfire was watching with wide green eyes and an open jawed mouth. Wait… Hawkfire was supposed to be with Mallowleaf… Oh. Oh no! At his moment of distraction, he felt a heavy weight on top of him, and sharp claws piercing his skin. He shook his head and rolled with Dapplestar throughout the searing moorland. He couldn't feel the heat of the fire – all he could feel was his burning hatred for the tortoiseshell she-cat. Blood from her splattered on his face as he felt his claws churning into her skin.

"Dapplestar!" Scorchstar howled as he rolled her over and got to his paws before she could swing at him again. Dapplestar rose to all fours, the fire illuminating her glittering green eyes. "We must settle this conflict once and for all. WindClan never wanted to be a pawn in your games, but now that you've burned our territory, we have no choice! I thought your goal was to unify the Clans." With the intensity of Scorchstar's howling, his throat was beginning to turn raw. "You've succeeded – the Clans are all unified by a pointless war that you started!"

Dapplestar grinned. "You fool."

Shut it. Scorchstar curled his lip into another snarl. "Talonstar died fighting you," he hissed. "You destroyed his Clan, and you turned on ThunderClan, your only ally. You have burned the forest and have ruined our homes for future generations. You allied with a traitorous murderer and his band of rogues, who have put terror into every heart and nearly succeeded in dismantling all of the Clans! Aren't you finished yet? Aren't you happy? Must you kill every cat by the lake to satisfy your endless lust for our blood?"

"You old fool," Dapplestar snarled at him. "You think honor and justice will unite this

land? You think your gods can help you? You think you're better than me? You are a bigger

fool than I ever was. Instead of expanding your power, you wasted your best years fighting

with the other Clans. Had you half of my ambition and foresight, you could have united this

land. But honor, justice and traditions weighed you down. Now you are just an old fool,

listening to the words of a dead cat. If you won, you would die, before you could even cover

the ground I have. You want to judge me for burning your territory? You refused to submit to

The cats I killed murdered my warriors, cut my supply lines and refused to be controlled.

Everything I have done has been for the good of the land. To hell with your traditions, to hell

with your honor, to hell with your pride and to hell with the gods! The other Clans use the

same power as me and vilify me for doing it better. I shall leave you in the past and embrace the

future!"

Scorchstar stared at Dapplestar, the burning hatred in his heart for her intensifying more by the moment. I can't believe this demented, twisted cat. She really believes everything she says, doesn't she? He could only continue to gawk at her until she said, "Say goodbye to your daughter, Scorchstar."

"No!" Scorchstar howled as Dapplestar turned and crouched down, ready to leap onto Hawkfire. Scorchstar lunged forward, and with all the strength in his body, he slashed his paw heavily down Dapplestar's cheek, causing her to stagger back. Dapplestar gasped in shock, and Scorchstar grabbed Hawkfire's scruff, ignoring the pain stinging his wounds and the burns that he was slowly sustaining as the fire became worse and worse. He dragged Hawkfire away, who was a deadweight in his mouth.

He skidded to a halt and looked over his shoulder, watching as the entire moorland burned to the fire that Dapplestar has started. A haunting realization sank into his stomach. We've lost our territory. It belonged to Dapplestar now. No…

"Mallowleaf is dead!" Hawkfire cried, interrupting Scorchstar's train of thought.

"What?" Scorchstar looked down at Hawkfire.

"She… she wanted to get her herbs… because she and Sedgefall grew them, and I tried to stop her," Hawkfire sobbed as Scorchstar pelted away with her. "Then the fire got her. She burned alive, Father! And it's my fault!" Hawkfire was hysterical when Scorchstar left the moorland, following the barely disguisable scent of Brambledusk.

Scorchstar felt bile climb up his throat as he forced himself to turn and continue his trek out of the territory. He bit back a choked cry as he continued to trail Brambledusk's scent until the heat from the fire began to die out and the moorland beneath him was warm and wet, compared to the ashes and starkness of the grass when the fire was blazing. He skidded to a halt as Hawkfire dropped down from his grip.

The reality of Hawkfire's words sank in. He had drowned them out, the adrenaline muffling them as he dragged Hawkfire to safety – the safety for Hawkfire was the most important thing at that moment. Now that they sat in secluded silence, he could hear Hawkfire. "Mallowleaf is… dead?" Scorchstar's words were quiet.

"Yes!" Hawkfire screamed, battering her front paws in Scorchstar's chest. "She's dead! And it's all my fault!"

Scorchstar's world stopped as he took in his daughter's feverish expression. A burning pain – a pain like no other he had felt in his entire life – climbed up his stomach and squeezed his heart tightly until he could not breathe. A lump developed in his throat, one that he couldn't swallow, one that wouldn't go away. His breathing turned ragged and uncontrollable, and a wave of sheer exhaustion flew over him, causing him to collapse right next to his daughter. Tears fell down his cheek as he sobbed right along with Hawkfire.

No. How could it be? How could Mallowleaf, his sweet, precious daughter, who had a hard life right when she was born, just to go through it and become a medicine cat, be gone? Mallowleaf was the last cat who deserved to die! She was just a medicine cat! And she was so young! How? Why, StarClan? Why would you do this to me? Why would you take away my daughter?

He hoped this was a joke. A sick, twisted joke, that some cat was playing on him. Or maybe Hawkfire was mistaken. Maybe Mallowleaf had figured a way out of the fire, or maybe she had just imagined Mallowleaf burning. But when he took a look at his daughter's petrified, grief-stricken, guilt-ridden face, he realized that this wasn't fake. That all of this was happening, and it couldn't be undone. I… He felt Hawkfire shove her nose into his pelt, and Scorchstar wanted to stroke his tail down her spine, to comfort her, but he had no strength. So, instead, he rested his chin on Hawkfire's forehead, still sobbing just as she was.

Father and daughter laid there for ages until Scorchstar recognized two familiar scents drifting around him. He blinked his tear-stained eyes and looked up, seeing his sister's thick, dark ginger fur, and Brambledusk's thin pale tabby pelt. The two cats exchanged nervous glances, and Brambledusk was the one who leaned down and asked, "What happened?"

"Mallowleaf!" Hawkfire cried out. "Mallowleaf is dead!"

"What?" Russetstripe gasped and helped Scorchstar to his paws. Scorchstar's head was swimming as he tried to understand what Russetstripe was asking him. "What happened?"

"Hawkfire's right," Scorchstar gasped out the words, every single one of them being forced out of him by the need for his Clanmates to know. "Mallowleaf… she died in the fire."

"Dear StarClan." Russetstripe stared at him in horror. "It can't be…"

Scorchstar shook his head and shoved his head into his sister's chest, feeling his tears soak his sister's fur. Russetstripe twitched her ears uncomfortably, and although she didn't say anything, Scorchstar could see grief and sorrow swirling in her vivid green eyes. Russetstripe helped Scorchstar to his paws, and he leaned against his sister, staggering. Through the corner of his vision, Scorchstar saw Brambledusk helping Hawkfire walk. Everything was fuzzy to Scorchstar, and he couldn't remember what seemed like a days' walk towards a small copse at the very edge of the grassland. He could spot his Clanmates already settled down, but Scorchstar's heart sank as he realized how many of them were missing.

Harewhisker walked over to Scorchstar as Russetstripe helped him sit. "Scorchstar, we still have Songbreeze, Dovewillow, Lilystream, Cinderfall, Briarsnow, Skyheart, Turtledove, Nick, and Waspberry unaccounted for." There were grim shadows in his eyes, and Scorchstar knew what he meant. We… we lost all those cats…? "And we can't go look for them. Not until the fire dies down, at least." The tom stepped back as Scorchstar felt his knees about to give way. "Scorchstar, are you all right?"

"Mallowleaf," Scorchstar rasped.

"Mallowleaf…?" Harewhisker tilted his head. "I thought she was with Hawkfire."

"She's dead!" Hawkfire cried out. Scorchstar's heart wrenched tightly as Harewhisker stared at Hawkfire, bewildered. At Hawkfire's cry, Wildheart and Redmoon bounded away from the corner where they were sitting and stared at Hawkfire. Wildheart swung her head to stare at Scorchstar.

"Is this true?" she demanded.

"It is." Scorchstar hung his head. "I'm so, so, sorry, Wildheart."

"No!" Wildheart's scream was so loud it shattered Scorchstar's eardrums. "You were supposed to protect her! I was supposed to protect her! I can't… I…" The tortoiseshell she-cat collapsed, her body hitting the ground with a heavy thump. "No… it can't be…! Mallowleaf!" A strained, panicked cry escaped Wildheart's body as she broke into a pitiful sob.

"My sister…" Redmoon whispered, his voice flat, his face twisted. He hung his head sorrowfully, emotion glimmering in his green eyes. Sedgefall bounded over towards Scorchstar, staring at Scorchstar with sorrowful eyes.

"You are sure…?" Sedgefall asked, her voice cracking.

"Yeah," Scorchstar whispered, letting out a horrible cough, his chest tightening with every breath he took. "Hawkfire… she saw it. Sedgefall. I… I don't know… how do you live… when you lose a child?" He gazed pleadingly at the brown tabby she-cat.

Genuine sorrow shadowed Sedgefall's face, and a small sigh escaped her as she gazed at the ground. "My dear Mallowleaf…" she murmured. The WindClan medicine cat lifted her gaze, and slowly swung her head around the copse. Her green eyes stopped when she focused on a small flower – bright purple with five petals, the sheen of purple dark in the middle. In the warm wind it rustled a tad, opening its petals more. Sedgefall's gaze never left it, and as it bloomed in the wind, a soft smile spread on Sedgefall's face.

Scorchstar turned away, heartbroken. He watched as his mate sobbed to the sky, Hawkfire wailed, and Redmoon walked away, his shoulders hunched. Scorchstar looked up at the evening sky, trying to search for a star that could perhaps be Mallowleaf, telling them that she had gotten to StarClan. But there was nothing. No stars. Just the crippling blackness of night.

"Scorchstar," Harewhisker whispered, "I'm so sorry. I really am. But… we need orders. What do we do?"

Scorchstar stared blankly at Harewhisker and turned to look at Brambledusk, unable to reply. The only thing he could surmise was a hacking cough. Brambledusk nodded and cleared his throat. "I think we should wait until tomorrow to search for bodies," the pale tabby said. "Or survivors. There's no telling if the fire is still there, and we need to keep ourselves safe before we can help others."

"What about Mallowleaf's body?" Hawkfire wailed.

"I'm so sorry, Hawkfire," Brambledusk whispered, touching his nose to Hawkfire's head, "but like I said, we'll have to wait for tomorrow to collect bodies. We're all tired, sick, and injured from fighting and the fire. A few of us will need to hunt – the strongest will go, and the weakest will stay and get treated. I'll go, and hm… Harewhisker, Heathercloud, want to come with?"

"Yeah." Harewhisker nodded and Heathercloud dipped her head.

"Right." Brambledusk looked at Scorchstar. "You stay here. You need some time with your family."

Scorchstar gazed at Brambledusk and watched as the pale tabby bounded away. He walked over to Wildheart and dug his nose into his mate's fur, trying to ease her comfort, but there was nothing that would ever ease the pain of losing a child. Not for Wildheart, and not for Scorchstar.