"Cats of ThunderClan, gather here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting."

Most of the cats were already in the clearing. The rogue cats that had aided Tigerclaw in the battle were still lurking around. As Fireheart looked around, he noticed that they were sitting in a ragged circle around the Clan cats. So that we can't leave.

Bewildered, injured cats sat in a lopsided circle around the base of the Highrock, staring up at Tigerclaw with confusion clear on their faces.

"Tigerclaw, why are you up there?"

"Where's Bluestar?"

"Has something happened to her?"

The broad-shouldered tabby tom flicked his tail tip for silence. Fireheart curled his lip. Great StarClan, he looks so confident. What's he going to tell them?

"Bluestar is dead."

A few shocked gasps followed his words, followed by yowls of anger and fear.

"You fox-heart! How could you kill your own leader?" Whitestorm snarled.

"She was a weak-hearted excuse of a cat," Tigerclaw spat. "She was clearly unfit to be leader. I just did what you've all been wanting to do for moons."

A few cats were casting each other guilty glances. Fireheart sighed. I guess we were all becoming a little irritated with her, especially when she declared war on StarClan.

A cat from the crowd rose to their paws. It was Goldenflower. Her legs trembled as she stared up in horror at her mate. "Tigerclaw, how could you? I trusted you. I loved you," her voice dropped to a whisper. "Our kits loved you."

Fireheart stared back at Tigerclaw. He thought he saw a flash of emotion in his amber eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a cold stare. "I love you too, Goldenflower. But this was something I had to do, to keep ThunderClan strong."

The crowd was silent. No cat dared argue with the powerful tom, so he continued. "Speaking of making us strong," Tigerclaw cleared his throat to get every cat's attention. "My friends that fought for me today will be staying with us."

"Rogues and exiled warriors in the camp? Have you got bees in your brain?" One-Eye growled.

"They'll harm my kits!" Willowpelt swept her tail protectively around her three squirming children.

Tigerclaw's gaze never wavered. "I assure you that your kits will be safe," the tom growled. "Now we can discuss the apprentices. All of you are to be battle training, even the warriors. Claws unsheathed. There is no point in training to fight if you are not trying your hardest," he paused, expecting protests, but there were none. Fireheart felt his skin crawl as Tigerclaw's sweeping gaze landed on him. "I want it to be known that any act of treason that is reported to me will lead to the immediate death of the traitor. I will not tolerate mixed loyalties in my Clan. Your loyalties lie to ThunderClan, and ThunderClan alone."

The tabby tom tore his gaze away from Fireheart to stare at Yellowfang and her apprentice, Cinderpelt. "Tonight I will travel to the Moonstone to receive my nine lives. No cat shall accompany me. Snag is in charge of the camp," Tigerclaw leaped off the rock, and the crowd parted to let him pass. He briefly turned to Snag, and Fireheart heard him mutter. "No cat enters, no cat leaves," before he padded out of camp.

"Alright," Snag said after Tigerclaw's tail tip had disappeared into the tunnel. "Every cat is to stay in their dens until dawn unless you are otherwise instructed. There will be a guard at each den, as well as the camp entrance and the Dirtplace tunnel to ensure that no cat escapes. Got it?" He eyed the crowd for a moment, then turned to the other rogues. "Tangleburr and Mowgli, guard the nursery. Elders, you're sleeping in there tonight," no cat protested, so he continued. "Blackfoot, Stumpytail, Clawface, and Jay, guard the warriors' den. And... Scorch and Jingo, guard the apprentices."

The cats he called obeyed, while the other rogues stayed near the center of camp. "Scarlet and Fang, you're at the camp entrance and Trout and Finn, guard the dirtplace."

Snag turned and sneered at the rest of the cats. Most of them were ThunderClan cats. "Now, off to your nests, all of you. And no funny business, or you'll be hanging by your tail with your throat on the ground by morning."

Fireheart shivered, then was shoved backward by a mass of cats scurrying to their dens like a family of mice. Cold fear made his fur spike as he trudged, head down, to the warriors' den. We're prisoners in our own camp, he realized with a sigh as his tail dragged in the dirt. He didn't even wince as Graystripe stepped on it and mumbled an apology. How could StarClan let this happen? Surely they won't give Tigerstar his lives. They can't... can they?

~~❤︎❤︎❤︎~~

"Wake up, fox dung." Fireheart woke with a start as pain flared along his ear. He bolted upright, seeing Snag in front of him, another sneer plastered on his face. Fireheart put a paw up to his ear. Sure enough, Snap had bitten him to wake him up. A thin trickle of blood was running down his cheek.

"Tigerclaw told me to give you a message at Moonhigh," the rogue growled. "Seeing as its Moonhigh, I mustn't keep him waiting. He said to go to the river."

"Why would I do that?" Fireheart scoffed. "I know he's trying to kill me."

Snag smirked. "He also said that if you didn't come... let's just say you wouldn't be the one that paid with his life."

His eyes widened slightly. "Who?"

"Some white tom... another kittypet, I think."

Cloudpaw, Fireheart felt his heartbeat quicken. Cloudpaw's in danger!

"Fine," the dark ginger tom growled. "Do I go alone?"

"Yes," Snag replied, giving Fireheart a shove and making the other tom stumble. "Now get a move on. Tigerclaw intends to be done with you by dawn."

~~❤︎❤︎❤︎~~

Fireheart neared the bank of the river. He could hear the water, spluttering at its flooded banks. Great StarClan... Cloudpaw, I hope I'm not too late.

A yowl from farther upriver answered his prayer. "Put me down, you mouse-brain! You're getting my fur wet!"

Fireheart picked up the pace. He was running so fast that his paws were barely skimming the grass. His vision was blurred by his speed, until he came to a sudden halt. He had to dig his heels into the ground to stop himself from lurching forward.

"Tigerclaw?"

"Fireheart," a familiar sly voice met his words. "Please, come join us."

Taking a deep breath, the dark ginger tom stepped out of the undergrowth. He had to stifle a distressed cry.

Tigerclaw was standing on a Stepping Stone in the middle of the swollen river. It was so swollen, in fact, that Tigerclaw's paws were getting sprayed by the water. And in his jaws, dangling over the rushing, gurgling water, was a very annoyed looking Cloudpaw.

"Fireheart, my tail is soaked! Tigerclaw won't put me down," the fluffy white tom complained.

The dark ginger tom had to stop his legs from trembling. "What do you want with me, Tigerclaw? If you want a fight, then leave Cloudpaw out of it and let's fight."

"Silly kittypet," Tigerclaw purred. But it wasn't a warm, happy purr; it was more of a rumbly snarl. "What use would you be to me dead? No, I won't kill you. But I do have some other ideas."

"Such as?"

Tigerclaw set Cloudpaw under his belly and cackled. "Oh, Fireheart. You make me laugh," he shoved his fore paws down hard on Cloudpaw's muzzle, causing a horrible crunch sound. Fireheart felt his heart jolt sharply as the apprentice let out a muffled cry of pain. "Fireheart, I only ask of you what I ask of the others. You will follow my every command, without hesitation. If I tell you to lead a patrol, you'll do it. If I tell you to... say... drown Cloudpaw, you'll do it."

"I would never," Fireheart snarled.

Tigerclaw grinned. "No? Oh, what a pity. I guess he can just go now then." He picked up the unconscious apprentice and dangled him over the river once more.

"No!"

The tom smirked, setting Cloudpaw back down on the stone. "Alright, then. He's safe... for now," he paused, then turned so that he was staring directly at Fireheart. "I'm afraid I can't trust you to not plot against me. So, the only way I can think of to make you pay for your crimes is to make you my apprentice, so that I can keep an eye on you."

"Huh?" Fireheart blinked. I must not have heard him right. It sounded like he said—

"You will be Firepaw once more, and I will be your mentor," Tigerclaw growled. "Or else Cloudpaw and all of your other loved ones will die tonight."