Firepaw let out a long sigh. He was hungry and wished he had not been caught. Sandstorm could have helped me, Firepaw thought. He couldn't blame her for just leaving him though, seeing as she thought he loved Spottedleaf, a former ThunderClan medicine cat.

Paws poked him at the side and he lifted his head, spotting the small tortoiseshell-and-white she-kit Sorrelkit. The kit didn't seem to be afraid of him after he was accused of being a traitor. She seemed to be happy.

"Sorrelkit, you shouldn't be near me," Firepaw advised. "You'll get into serious trouble by Tigerstar." Sorrelkit gave a shrug.

"I'm bored and Sootkit and Rainkit don't want to play with me right now," she replied. "I thought I could see you." But I'm a traitor, Firepaw thought. You shouldn't be going near one.

"You can play with Snowkit," Firepaw pointed out. Sorrelkit shook her head.

"Snowkit doesn't seem to understand a word I say. He just looks at me like he doesn't know what I'm on about." Sorrelkit let out a sigh, settling herself on the ground. "I wish I was an apprentice now. I wouldn't have to be stuck in the camp all day while the other apprentices get to go out."

"You'll be an apprentice soon," Firepaw promised. "You just have to wait a moon or two."

"That's ages away!" Sorrelkit complained. She was startled by a booming voice full of anger. The kit whipped around, frozen to the spot, as she saw Dustpelt. His amber eyes were blazing with anger and Sorrelkit retreated slightly.

"Why are you talking to a traitor to your own Clan?" Dustpelt questioned the kit. "Get away from him-- now!" Sorrelkit was too afraid to say anything so she just gave a nod as she began walking swiftly back to the nursery. Firepaw watched and then looked at Dustpelt.

"Dustpelt, surely you know I'm not a traitor? We were apprentices together for a short amount of time." Dustpelt let out a snort.

"And hedgehogs will fly if you're not one after the crimes you did. Tigerstar's word is the law and if he says you're a traitor, so be it." The dark tabby warrior's voice was a growl as he glared down at the ginger tom. Surely Dustpelt wouldn't agree with Tigerstar even though he held a grudge against him?

"What crimes did I do?" Firepaw asked. He could recall sticking to the warrior code. Even though he was born a kittypet, he had always followed StarClan's laws. It was Tigerstar who was the traitor but the TigerClan leader blamed his actions onto Firepaw so he'd get away with it.

"You killed Runningwind," Dustpelt replied with a snarl. "You got dogs to kill him. I'm guessing you used him as bait for the dogs to attack our camp and murder Tigerstar like you did with Bluestar." Sadness fell over Firepaw. Runningwind was dead?

At the corner of his eyes, Firepaw saw Brindleface and Brackenfur dragging Runningwind's body into the camp. Runningwind's claws were unsheathed as if he put up a fight. His eyes were open, staring out with terror in his eyes. I'm so sorry, Runningwind. I should have saved you from an unnecessary death, Firepaw thought.

He had admired Runningwind; he was a good warrior like his sister, Mousefur, and was pretty swift. He had a long life ahead of him and now it was torn away because of a pack of dogs. Tigerstar walked out of his den and began trotting over to the three cats. He began to speak but Firepaw couldn't hear what he was saying.

"I hope you're satisfied now, traitor," Dustpelt muttered and began walking away. Yes, Firepaw was outside TigerClan, but he had stayed in WindClan. He had nothing to do with the dogs that killed Runningwind. Then Firepaw realised a Gathering was going to be held later. Would Tigerstar announce Firepaw was being held captive-would Tallstar even report some of TigerClan's warriors are staying in WindClan?

Firepaw began to think of his old friend Greystripe. He began missing his friends who had left TigerClan with him. He wanted to be with them rather than being stared at with hatred in the Clan he had lived part of his life in.

"Should Firepaw really stay in TigerClan?" Firepaw's ear flicked as he heard Frostfur, who had a voice of worry. "He might try to kill innocent cats if he does. You know, in our sleep." Speckletail joined Tigerstar and Frostfur.

"Of course he will," the queen snapped. "Sorrelkit was with him and I bet Firepaw wanted to shred her like prey."

"Maybe he will," Tigerstar meowed, his amber eyes giving the look as if he was taking Frostfur's and Speckletail's words into consideration. "We can't be too careful anymore with him around us. We'll be-like Frostfur said-vulnerable in our sleep."

"Then let's get rid of him," Speckletail insisted. "I'm not having Snowkit share the same camp with that fox-heart." Tigerstar gave a nod.

"Very well. Firepaw can leave." The dark tabby began stalking away from the two she-cats, leaping onto the Highrock. He must be announcing his decision to the Clan, Firepaw thought, letting out a sigh.

"TigerClan, come gather around the Highrock!" Tigerstar yowled, ignoring the words a leader would say for his Clan to gather. Cats sprung from their spots in the camp, racing over to the Highrock. Tigerstar was impatient with his Clan taking their time to gather. He expected them to be as quick as the wind itself.

"Firepaw will be kicked out of the Clan," Tigerstar announced. "He could easily kill us in our sleep. Firepaw, come over here now." Firepaw looked up and got onto his paws, walking over to Tigerstar. He was looking around at his former Clanmates as they glared at him. "You will no longer be welcomed in any Clans' territory. If you even dare run to another Clan, you'll regret it. I am announcing your crimes at the Gathering tonight." The others, Firepaw thought, remembering about his Clanmates in WindClan. Will Tallstar kick them out of their Clan?

"I advise you go back to your owners, kittypet," Tigerstar went on. "No matter where you go for the rest of your life, you will not be welcomed. Your death will lift the Clans off of their curse, and until that day, you will walk in shame. Go!" Firepaw nodded and began to run out of the camp, feeling gazes watching him.

I have barely anywhere to go now, Firepaw thought. But I could go to Barley's barn. I'm sure he'd welcome me. Barley was a friend of Bluestar's; he had helped her when rats attacked her on the way to the Moonstone several moons ago. First I'll see how Smudge is doing.

Firepaw crept into bushes and it didn't take long for him to get out. As soon as he got out, he saw the Twolegplace, the place he had once lived at. He came face to face with his former home, staring at it. His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.

"I believe the forest is behind you, not in front of you." As Firepaw turned his head, he saw a plump black-and-white cat sitting on a fence. It was his old friend, Smudge.

"Smudge, it's me, Rusty!" Firepaw called to the kittypet, leaping onto the fence and walking over to him. Smudge stared at him in confusion, tilting his head to the side.

"I'm sorry, but Rusty isn't that skinny. He wears a collar, too, and is most likely dead." Smudge let out a sigh. "I warned the poor cat not to go into the forest."

"Really, it is Rusty. Can't you smell the stale scent of Twolegs?" Smudge blinked and began scenting the air. His nose wrinkled slightly and his eyes brightened up.

"It really is you, Rusty." He sounded surprised. "I can't believe those forest cats didn't kill you."

"Not really," Firepaw meowed. "Did your Two-Housefolk take you to the Cutter?"

"The Cutter?" Smudge's voice was full of confusion. Oh yeah, he doesn't know what forest cats call the vet, mouse-brain!

"The vet, I mean. My Clan, Thun-TigerClan, calls the vet "Cutter"." Smudge gave a nod.

"You're lucky you got here on time. I was planning on returning to my home," he replied. "I haven't been outside in ages."

"How is Princess doing lately?" Firepaw asked. He hadn't seen his sister since Cloudpaw was taken to TigerClan. Smudge gave a shrug in reply.

"I haven't exactly seen her lately. The last time I saw her was before you left for the forest."

"Hey, Smudge, who's this cat?" a new voice asked from behind Firepaw. Firepaw turned around, seeing a light brown tabby she-cat approaching them.

"Oh, Hattie, this is Rusty, who used to live in your house a while ago," Smudge introduced Firepaw to Hattie. Firepaw didn't mind Smudge calling him by his kittypet name because he'd most likely forget his Clan name after a heartbeat.

"Hello, Rusty," Hattie greeted. "I can't believe you went to live in the forest with those wild cats. You don't even look like a housecat anymore."

"Oh, Rusty, what did you say about these 'Twoleg' things?" Smudge questioned as he remembered Firepaw calling Housefolk Twolegs.

"Twolegs is a word the Clans use for Housefolk," Firepaw replied to Smudge's question.

"My mother told me how Cloud was given up to join your Clan," Hattie meowed, licking her forepaw. "I can only remember Smokey and Fuzz being my littermates."

"Your mother?" Hattie did share some resemblance to Princess. She's one of Princess' kits! Firepaw then realised.

"Yeah. What about her?" Hattie questioned, drawing a paw over her ear.

"I'm actually Princess' brother," Firepaw announced. Hattie looked surprised but it only lasted for about ten heartbeats.

"You don't even look like her," Hattie meowed. Firepaw gave a slight nod.

"I have to go now," he announced to the two kittypets. "I have to get somewhere before moonhigh otherwise I'll have to wait until tomorrow." Smudge gave a nod.

"It was good seeing you again though. You should come see Hattie and I often." Firepaw nodded and leaped from the fence, making his way back into the forest. I'll need to cross into RiverClan's territory instead of going past TigerClan and into ShadowClan, the ginger tom decided. If I keep up a good pace I'll hopefully arrive at Barley's barn before moonhigh comes.