Another long one!
Cinderpelt is unsure if the badly injured Brightpaw will survive. Cloudtail asks Bluestar if Brightpaw can receive her warrior name in case she dies. Bluestar consents, and names her Lostface, both because she lost part of her face and in defiance of StarClan who Bluestar blames for this. Cloudtail remains with Lostface and Fireheart realizes he is in love with her. He sees Longtail with his dead apprentice and feels sorrow, knowing that Longtail had done right by Swiftpaw and did not deserve this.
Days later Graystripe points out to Fireheart that Bramblekit and Tawnykit are ready for mentors. Fireheart agrees and decides to mentor Bramblekit himself. Graystripe objects, pointing out that Fireheart might not be the most fair mentor considering how he feels about Bramblekit. But Fireheart is determined, and passes over Sandstorm for Brackenfur as Tawnykit's mentor. He argues that Brackenfur was supposed to get Snowkit but Graystripe calls him out, telling him the real reason is he is afraid that Tigerstar will attack Sandstorm.
Sandstorm is angry over being passed over. Lately her and Fireheart have been fighting about everything - Fireheart going behind Bluestar's back, his relationship with Cinderpelt, and now apprentices. Fireheart worries about their future. He also realizes that Goldenflower is not happy with Fireheart's choice to mentor Bramblepaw and that Darkstripe will probably carry the news to Tigerstar.
The next day Fireheart and Brackenfur take their new apprentices out. They ask Fireheart for the truth about their father and Brackenfur tells him if doesn't do it, some other cat will. Brackenfur gives them privacy and Fireheart tells the young cats, who are horrified, the truth. When he is does he assures them that the clan wants them and trusts them but Bramblepaw calls him out on his lie.
The Gathering comes and Fireheart allows Graystripe to go - he is desperate for news of his kits. While there he finds out they have been made apprentices and that no one is shocked that he went back to ThunderClan. They all felt it was just a matter of time.
When Tigerstar speaks he demands the return of his kits, arguing that ThunderClan does not seem to be taking very well care of any kits lately. He speaks of Snowkit being taken by a hawk and of Brightpaw and Swiftpaw's fates. Fireheart angrily realizes that Darkstripe must have told Tigerstar everything. Bluestar refuses at first but does agree to give Tigerstar her answer at the next Gathering.
Fireheart and Cloudtail take a recovering Lostface out for the first time and introduce her to Princess. Princess does not react the best to Lostface's injuries - but she is proud of her kin for their accomplishments. After they leave Lostface and Cloudtail wish that she had a different name and Fireheart promises to try. Later he dreams of Spottedleaf again, warning him of an enemy who appears to sleep.
Unsure what to do with Lostface for now, and unwilling to commit to her being a warrior again, Fireheart has arranged that Lostface will stay with the warriors and help take care of Speckletail - while telling Speckletail that she is to take care of Lostface. Speckletail sees through this but is not angry with Fireheart.
Longtail, upset, approaches Fireheart to tell him something but he stinks of the Thunderpath and Fireheart is immediately suspicious and on the attack, accusing him of spying for Tigerstar. Longtail manages to get out that he has not only seen Tigerstar in their territory but he also knows that Darkstripe is the one spying because he has seen the two cats together. This, however, only makes Fireheart more furious because Longtail has never reported any of this. Longtail insists he has important information and Fireheart must come with him to snakerocks but Fireheart angrily refuses, accusing him of a trap with Tigerstar.
Days later Graystripe points out to Fireheart that Bramblekit and Tawnykit are ready for mentors. Fireheart agrees and decides to mentor Bramblekit himself. Graystripe objects, pointing out that Fireheart might not be the most fair mentor considering how he feels about Bramblekit. But Fireheart is determined, and passes over Sandstorm for Brackenfur as Tawnykit's mentor. He argues that Brackenfur was supposed to get Snowkit but Graystripe calls him out, telling him the real reason is he is afraid that Tigerstar will attack Sandstorm.
Sandstorm is angry over being passed over. Lately her and Fireheart have been fighting about everything - Fireheart going behind Bluestar's back, his relationship with Cinderpelt, and now apprentices. Fireheart worries about their future. He also realizes that Goldenflower is not happy with Fireheart's choice to mentor Bramblepaw and that Darkstripe will probably carry the news to Tigerstar.
The next day Fireheart and Brackenfur take their new apprentices out. They ask Fireheart for the truth about their father and Brackenfur tells him if doesn't do it, some other cat will. Brackenfur gives them privacy and Fireheart tells the young cats, who are horrified, the truth. When he is does he assures them that the clan wants them and trusts them but Bramblepaw calls him out on his lie.
The Gathering comes and Fireheart allows Graystripe to go - he is desperate for news of his kits. While there he finds out they have been made apprentices and that no one is shocked that he went back to ThunderClan. They all felt it was just a matter of time.
When Tigerstar speaks he demands the return of his kits, arguing that ThunderClan does not seem to be taking very well care of any kits lately. He speaks of Snowkit being taken by a hawk and of Brightpaw and Swiftpaw's fates. Fireheart angrily realizes that Darkstripe must have told Tigerstar everything. Bluestar refuses at first but does agree to give Tigerstar her answer at the next Gathering.
Fireheart and Cloudtail take a recovering Lostface out for the first time and introduce her to Princess. Princess does not react the best to Lostface's injuries - but she is proud of her kin for their accomplishments. After they leave Lostface and Cloudtail wish that she had a different name and Fireheart promises to try. Later he dreams of Spottedleaf again, warning him of an enemy who appears to sleep.
Unsure what to do with Lostface for now, and unwilling to commit to her being a warrior again, Fireheart has arranged that Lostface will stay with the warriors and help take care of Speckletail - while telling Speckletail that she is to take care of Lostface. Speckletail sees through this but is not angry with Fireheart.
Longtail, upset, approaches Fireheart to tell him something but he stinks of the Thunderpath and Fireheart is immediately suspicious and on the attack, accusing him of spying for Tigerstar. Longtail manages to get out that he has not only seen Tigerstar in their territory but he also knows that Darkstripe is the one spying because he has seen the two cats together. This, however, only makes Fireheart more furious because Longtail has never reported any of this. Longtail insists he has important information and Fireheart must come with him to snakerocks but Fireheart angrily refuses, accusing him of a trap with Tigerstar.
Fireheart goes to Cinderpelt to tell her what just happened but to his surprise she is on Longtail's side. She points out to Fireheart how much he sounds like Bluestar right this moment, and how if Longtail is trying to be loyal he should not push the cat away. Fireheart concedes she is right and goes off to find Longtail.
Fireheart finds a desperate Longtail with Whitestorm, trying to get Whitestorm to listen to him. To Longtail's despair Whitestorm points out to Longtail that Fireheart is right to suspect him when clearly either he or Darkstripe is spying for Tigerstar. But Whitestorm, at least, is willing to listen. Longtail starts to tell Whitestorm about dogs in snakerocks and Fireheart interrupts, asking Longtail to tell him more. Longtail angrily retorts about Fireheart's earlier behavior and Fireheart apologizes to him. Longtail admits he followed Tigerstar to snakerocks and was going to warn him about a loose dog when he saw Tigerstar feeding a pack of huge dogs a rabbit.
Longtail swears - on both StarClan and Bluestar's life - that he never spoke to Tigerstar, that Tigerstar didn't even know he was there, that he had no clue what Tigerstar is plotting, and that it is a pack of dogs not just one. Whitestorm and Fireheart believe him - and believe that Darkstripe knows exactly what Tigerstar is doing - and Fireheart orders Longtail to stay away from Darkstripe and not to speak to him about anything that is going on - including their suspicions. Longtail agrees. With night approaching, Fireheart resolves to set off first thing in the morning to snakerocks with a group of warriors to discover what is really going on.
So much is going on here. Bramblepaw and Tawnypaw are upset - and they know, despite Fireheart's words, that they have a very high standard to live up to. And it took courage on Bramblepaw's part to call Fireheart out on his lie.
As for Graystripe, the clan has largely come around to his return with only a few cats seriously objecting. But in his favor is RiverClan's belief that it was only a matter of time before Graystripe left them. Lostface is recovering well and hopes to be a warrior again one day, but Fireheart is unsure. Hopefully she will get her wish.
As for Fireheart and Longtail, it was wrong of Fireheart to come down on Longtail like that - but likewise it was wrong of Longtail to hide information about Tigerstar and Darkstripe from Fireheart. But, in Longtail's defense, he probably has no one to turn to. Bluestar (understandably) believes him to be a traitor. Tigerstar and Darkstripe clearly are not including him in their plans. And his past hatred of Fireheart stands in the way of confiding in his deputy. He was probably feeling very alone and didn't know who he could trust or turn to. I am glad to see Longtail firmly on the side of ThunderClan and I hope that he and Fireheart will be able to move forward at least as clanmates.
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