Chapter One.
Fireheart shivered.
His flame-colored fur was
still green leaf like.
It would be a few moons before it was
thick enough to keep out cold like this.
He shuffled his forepaws
on the hard earth.
The sky was finally growing
light as dawn crept slowly in.
But even though his paws were cold,
Fireheart could not
suppress a glow of pride.
After many moons as an apprentice,
he was a warrior at last.
In his mind, he replayed yesterday's
victory at the ShadowClan camp.
Brokenstar's glittering eyes as
the ShadowClan leader backed away hissing
threats before fleeing into the trees
after his traitorous companions.
The remaining ShadowClan cats had
been grateful to ThunderClan for
helping them to get rid
of their cruel leader.
And for the peace ThunderClan had
promised them while they recovered.
Brokenstar had not just
brought chaos to his own clan.
He had driven the whole of WindClan from
their camp right out of clan territory.
He had been a dark shadow in the forest
since before Fireheart had left his
kittypet life to join ThunderClan.
But for Fireheart, there was
another shadow troubling his mind,
Tigerclaw, ThunderClan's deputy.
Fireheart shivered again as he
thought of the great ThunderClan
warrior who had terrorized his apprentice,
Ravenpaw.
In the end, Fireheart and his best friend,
Graystripe, had helped the frightened
apprentice to escape into the Twoleg
territory beyond the uplands.
Afterward, Fireheart had told the clan
that Ravenpaw had been killed
by ShadowClan.
If what Ravenpaw said
about Tigerclaw was true,
it was best if the ThunderClan deputy
believed his apprentice had died.
For he knew a secret Tigerclaw
would do anything to conceal.
Ravenpaw had told Fireheart that
the mighty tabby warrior had
murdered Redtail,
the old ThunderClan deputy,
in the hope that he would become the new
deputy, which eventually, he had.
Fireheart shook his head,
to clear it of these dark thoughts and
turned to glance at Graystripe
sitting beside him.
Graystripe's thick gray fur was
ruffled up against the cold.
Fireheart guessed he was looking forward
to the first rays of sunshine, too.
But he didn't say this out loud.
Clan tradition demanded
silence on this night.
This was their vigil.
The night when a new warrior
guarded the clan and
reflected on his new name and status.
Until last night, Fireheart had been
known by his apprentice name of Firepaw.
Halftail was one of
the first cats to wake.
Fireheart could see the old cat moving
among the shadows in the elders' den.
He glanced toward the warriors' den
at the other side of the clearing.
Through the branches that show to the den,
he recognized the broad shoulders
of Tigerclaw as he slept.
At the foot of Highrock, the lichen
that draped the entrance to Bluestar's
den twitched and Fireheart saw
his clan leader push her way out.
She stopped and
lifted her head to sniff the air.
Then she padded silently
out of Highrock's shadow,
her long fur glowing blue
gray in the dawn light.
I must warn her about Tigerclaw,
thought Fireheart.
Bluestar had mourned Redtail's death
with the rest of the clan, believing
him to have been killed in battle by
Oakheart, the deputy of RiverClan.
Fireheart had hesitated before, knowing
how important Tigerclaw was to her.
But the danger was too great.
Bluestar needed to know that her clan
was harboring a cold blooded murderer.
Tigerclaw emerged from
the warrior's den and
met Bluestar at the edge of the clearing.
He murmured something to her,
his tail flicking urgently.
Fireheart stifled his
instinctive meow of greeting.
The sky was growing light.
But until he knew for
sure that the sun was above the horizon,
he dared not break his silence.
Impatience fluttered in his
chest like a trapped bird.
He must speak with Bluestar
as soon as he could.
But, for now,
all he could do was nod respectfully
at the two cats as they passed him.
Beside him, Graystripe nudged Fireheart
and pointed upward with his nose.
An orange glow was just
visible on the horizon.
Glad to see the dawn, you two.
Whitestorm's deep meow took
Fireheart by surprise.
He had not noticed the white
warrior approaching.
Fireheart and Graystripe nodded together.
It's all right, you may speak now.
Your vigil is over.
Whitestorm's voice was kind.
Yesterday he had fought side
by side with Fireheart and
Graystripe in the battle with ShadowClan.
There was a new respect in his
eyes as he looked at them.
Thank you Whitestorm,
Fireheart meowed gratefully.
He stood and
stretched his stiff legs one at a time.
Graystripe pushed himself up, too.
Brrrr, he meowed,
shaking the chill from his fur.
I thought the sun would never come up.
A scornful voice mewed from
outside the apprentice's den.
The great warrior speaks.
It was Sandpaw, her pale orange
coat fluffed up with hostility.
Dustpaw was sitting beside her.
With his dark tabby pelt,
he looked like Sandpaw's shadow.
He puffed out his chest importantly and
mocked,
I'm surprised such heroes
even feel the cold.
Sandpaw purred with amusement.
Whitestorm shot them a stern look.
Go and find something to eat, then rest,
he ordered Fireheart and Graystripe.
The older warrior turned away and
padded toward the apprentice's den.
Come on you two,
he meowed to Sandpaw and Dustpaw.
It's time for your training.
I hope he has them chasing
blue squirrels all day,
Graystripe hissed to Fireheart
as they headed toward the corner
where a few pieces of fresh
kill remained from last night.
But there aren't any blue squirrels,
Fireheart meowed in confusion.
Precisely, Graystripe's
amber eyes gleamed.
You can't exactly blame them.
They did begin their training before us,
Fireheart pointed out mildly.
If they'd fought in the battle yesterday,
they'd probably have
been made warriors too.
I suppose, Graystripe shrugged.
Hey, look!
They'd reached the fresh kill pile.
One mouse each and a chaffinch to share.
The two friends picked up their meal and
looked at each other.
Graystripe's eyes suddenly
sparkled with delight.
I suppose we take it to the warriors'
side of the camp now, he meowed.
I suppose we do, Fireheart purred,
padding after his friend to the patch
of nettles where they had often
watched Whitestorm, Tigerclaw, and
the other warriors share fresh-kill.
Now what, asked Graystripe,
gulping down his last mouthful.
I don't know about you, but
I think I could sleep for half a moon.
Me too, Fireheart agreed.
The two friends got to their paws and
made their way towards the warriors' den.
Fireheart stuck his head through
the low hanging branches.
Mousefur and Longtail were still
asleep on the other side of the den.
He pushed his way inside and
found a patch of moss at the edge.
The smell told him it wasn't a sleeping
place already used by another warrior.
Graystripe settled down beside him.
Fireheart listened as Graystripe's steady
breaths relaxed into long muffled snores.
Fireheart felt equally exhausted, but he
was still desperate to talk to Bluestar.
From where he lay,
his head flat to the earth,
he could just see the camp entrance.
He stared at it, waiting for
his leader's return.
But gradually, his eyes began to close.
And he gave in to his longing for sleep.
Fireheart could hear a roaring around him.
Like wind in tall trees, the acrid stench
of the thunder path stung his nostrils,
together with a new smell,
sharper and more terrifying.
Fire, flames leapt at the black sky
throwing glowing cinders
up into a starless night.
To Fireheart's amazement silhouettes
of cats flitted in front of the fire.
Why hadn't they run away?
One of them stopped and
looked straight at Fireheart.
The tom’s night eyes glinted in
the darkness and he lifted his long,
straight tail, as if in greeting.
Fireheart trembled as a memory burst into
his mind of the words that Spottedleaf,
the former ThunderClan medicine cat,
had said to him before her untimely death.
Fire will save the clan.
Could it be something to do with the
strange cats that showed no fear of fire?
Wake up Fireheart.
Fireheart flicked up his head startled
out of his dream by Tigerclaw's growl.
You were mewing in your sleep.
Still dazed, Fireheart sat up and
shook his head.
Yes, Tigerclaw.
With a pang of alarm, he wondered if he
had repeated Spottedleaf's words out loud.
He had dreamed like this before.
Dreams so vivid that he could taste
them and which had later come true.
Fireheart certainly did not want Tigerclaw
to suspect him of having powers that
usually StarClan only
gave to a medicine cat.
Moonlight shone through
the leafy den wall.
Fireheart realized he must have
slept through the whole day.
You and Graystripe will join
the evening patrol, Tigerclaw told him.
Hurry up.
The dark tabby turned and
stalked out of the den.
Fireheart let the fur
relax on his shoulders.
Clearly, Tigerclaw didn't suspect
anything unusual about his dream.
But while Fireheart's secret was safe,
he was equally determined to expose
the murderous truth about
Tigerclaw's role in Redtail's death.
Fireheart licked his lips.
Graystripe lay beside
him washing his flank.
They had just finished sharing
a meal beside the camp clearing.
The sun had set and Fireheart could
see the moon almost full now,
gleaming in a cold, clear sky.
The past few days have been busy.
It seemed that every time
they lay down for a rest,
Tigerclaw sent them out on patrol or
a hunting mission.
Fireheart had stayed alert looking for
a chance to talk with Bluestar alone.
But when he wasn't on one
of Tigerclaw's missions,
the ThunderClan leader always seemed
to have her deputy at her side.
Fireheart began to wash his paw,
his eyes flicking around the camp,
searching hopefully for Bluestar.
What are you looking for, meowed
Graystripe, through a tongueful of fur.
Bluestar, Fireheart answered,
lowering his paw, why?
Graystripe stopped washing and
looked up at his friend.
You've had one eye on her
ever since our vigil.
What are you planning to do?
I have to tell her where Ravenpaw is and
warn her about Tigerclaw,
Fireheart meowed.
You promised Ravenpaw you'd
tell them he was dead.
Graystripe sounded amazed.
I only promised to tell
Tigerclaw he was dead.
Bluestar should know the whole story.
She needs to know what
her deputy is capable of.
Graystripe lowered his
voice to an urgent hiss.
But we only have Ravenpaw's word
that Tigerclaw killed Redtail.
Don't you believe him?
Fireheart couldn't help feeling
shocked by his friend's doubts.
Look, if Tigerclaw lied about killing
Oakheart in revenge for Redtail's death,
that means Redtail must have
killed Oakheart himself.
And I can't believe that Redtail would
have deliberately killed another
clan deputy in battle.
It goes against the warrior code.
We fight to prove our strength and defend
our territory, not to kill each other.
But I'm not trying to make accusations
against Redtail, Fireheart protested.
It's Tigerclaw who is the problem.
Redtail had been the ThunderClan
deputy before Tigerclaw.
Fireheart had never met him, but
he knew Redtail had been deeply
respected by all the clan.
Graystripe didn't meet Fireheart's gaze.
What you are saying has implications for
Redtail's honor, and
none of the other cats have
a problem with Tigerclaw.
It was only Ravenpaw,
who was scared of him.
An uneasy shiver ran
down Fireheart's spine.
So, you think Ravenpaw made
the story up because he didn't
get along with his mentor?
He meowed scornfully.
No, mumbled Graystripe.
I just think we should be careful.
Fireheart looked into his friend’s
worried eyes and began to wonder.
He supposed Graystripe did have a point.
They had been warriors for
only a few days.
So they were in no position to start
hurling accusations at the clan’s most
senior warrior.
It's okay, Fireheart meowed at last.
You can stay out of it.
A twinge of regret flickered in
his belly as Graystripe nodded and
returned to washing.
Fireheart believed that Graystripe was
wrong to think it was only Ravenpaw who
had a problem with Tigerclaw.
Fireheart's own instincts
told him that the ThunderClan
deputy should not be trusted.
He had to share his suspicions
with Bluestar for her safety and
the safety of the clan.
A glimpse of gray fur on the other side of
the clearing told Fireheart that Bluestar
had emerged from her den, alone.
He scrambled to his paws but
the ThunderClan leader leaped straight up
onto the Highrock and called to the clan.
Fireheart lashed his tail impatiently.
Graystripe's ears flicked excitedly
as he heard Bluestar's call.
A naming ceremony, he meowed.
It must be Longtail getting
his first apprentice,
he's been dropping hints for days.
He bounded over to join the cats
gathering at the edge of the clearing,
and still itching with frustration,
Fireheart followed.
A small black and
white kit padded into the clearing.
His soft paws made no
sound on the hard earth.
He walked toward the Highrock
with his pale eyes lowered and
Fireheart almost expected
to see him tremble.
There was something in the slope
of this kit's shoulders that
made him seem too young and
timid to be an apprentice.
Longtail won't be impressed, Fireheart
thought, remembering Longtail's scorn
when Fireheart had arrived at the camp for
the first time.
The warrior had taunted him viciously
on his first day with the clan,
mocking his kitty pet origins.
Fireheart had disliked him ever since.
From this day forward, Bluestar meowed,
staring down at the kit,
until he has earned his warrior name
this apprentice will be called Swiftpaw.
There was no flash of determination
in the eyes of the black and
white kit as he looked up at his leader.
Instead, his amber eyes
were wide with anxiety.
Fireheart turned his head as Longtail
padded toward his new apprentice.
Bluestar spoke again.
Longtail, you were
Darkstripe's apprentice.
He taught you well, and you have
become a fierce and loyal warrior.
I hope you will pass some of
these qualities on to Swiftpaw.
Fireheart searched Longtail's face for
an expression of disdain as
he looked down at Swiftpaw.
But the warrior's eyes softened as he
met his new apprentice's gaze, and
gently the two clan cats touched noses.
It's okay, you are doing fine,
Longtail murmured encouragingly.
Yeah right, Fireheart thought bitterly.
Just because he's clan born,
Longtail sure didn't welcome me like that.
He glanced around the rest of the clan and
felt a pang of
resentment as the cats began to murmur
congratulations to the new apprentice.
What's up with you?
Whispered Graystripe,
that'll be us one day.
Fireheart nodded, suddenly cheered by the
thought of getting his own apprentice, and
pushed away his resentment.
He was a part of ThunderClan now, and
surely that was all that mattered.
The next night brought the full moon.
Fireheart knew he should be looking
forward to his first gathering as
a warrior, but he was still determined
to find a chance to tell Bluestar
everything he knew about Tigerclaw, and
the thought of it lay like
a cold stone in his stomach.
Have you got maggot gut or something?
Mewed Graystripe beside him.
You're pulling some very weird faces,
Fireheart looked at his friend,
wishing he could confide in him.
But he'd promised to leave
Graystripe out of it.
I'm fine, he mewed.
Come on, I hear Bluestar calling.
The two cats trotted over to
the group assembling in the clearing.
Bluestar dipped her head to
acknowledge their arrival.
Then she turned and
led the cats out of the camp.
Fireheart paused while the other
cats scrambled past him up the steep
trail that led to the forest above.
This journey might give him just
enough time to speak to Bluestar, and
he wanted to gather his thoughts.
Are you coming?
Graystripe's voice called down.
Yep, Firepaw flexed his
powerful hind legs and
began to leap from boulder to boulder,
leaving the camp behind.
At the top he paused to catch his breath,
his sides heaving.
The forest stretched away before him.
Beneath his paws he could feel the crisp
crackle of newly fallen leaves.
Silverpelt littered in the sky like
morning dew scattered on black fur.
Fireheart thought of his first journey to
Fourtrees with Tigerclaw and Lionheart.
He felt a pang of sadness
as he remembered Lionheart.
Graystripe's mentor and ThunderClan's
deputy between Redtail and Tigerclaw,
had been a warm hearted golden warrior.
He'd been killed in battle, and
Tigerclaw had taken his place.
On Fireheart's first visit to Fourtrees,
Lionheart had taken the apprentices on
a roundabout route through Tallpines,
past Sunningrocks, and
along the RiverClan border.
Tonight, Bluestar would lead them
straight through the heart of ThunderClan
territory.
Fireheart could see her already
disappearing into the undergrowth, and
he charged after the party of cats.
Bluestar was at the front
next to Tigerclaw.
Fireheart ignored Graystripe's surprised
meow and caught up with the clan leader.
Bluestar, he called,
panting as he drew up beside her.
May I talk to you?
Bluestar glanced at him and nodded.
Take the lead, Tigerclaw, she meowed.
She let her pace slow, and
Tigerclaw bounded past her.
The other cats followed the dark tabby
without question as he raced on through
the undergrowth.
Bluestar and
Fireheart dropped into a steady trot.
Within a moment, they were alone.
The path emerged from the thick
ferns into a small clearing.
Bluestar leapt onto a fallen tree and
sat down,
curling her tail over her front paws.
What is it Fireheart?, she asked.
Fireheart hesitated,
suddenly struck by doubt.
Bluestar was the cat who had encouraged
him to leave his kittypet life and
join the Clan.
Since then she had trusted him time and
time again,
when other cats had questioned his loyalty
to a Clan whose blood he didn't share.
What would she say when Fireheart told
her that he had lied about Ravenpaw?
Speak, Bluestar ordered,
as the pawsteps of the other ThunderClan
cats faded into the distance.
Fireheart took a deep breath.
Ravenpaw's not dead.
