

He exits the den, quickly spotting Longtail struggling under the weight of a tabby tom, and Patchpelt batting at a skinny gray outlaw. Fireheart offers to come instead, and tells his friend to hold onto Tigerclaw until the battle's over. The gray warrior is shocked, but manages to meow that they're losing the fight and need Bluestar's help. Graystripe pokes his head into the den, and Fireheart quickly recounts what had just happened. The ThunderClan leader slowly moves over to the pair, pinning her treacherous deputy by his hindquarters. He then fastens his teeth in Tigerclaw's throat, calling for Bluestar to help hold the traitor down. Fireheart sees the deputy slip on a splash of blood, and seizes the opportunity to slice the dark tabby's belly open. They tussle together in the den, and Tigerclaw taunts that he's a kittypet, and aims a blow at the ginger warrior. Fireheart feels oddly free in spite of this, and summons every scrap of skill he possesses because now every secret was in the open - which only left the clean danger of battle. Tigerclaw releases his grip on Bluestar and growls that he's going to flay the ginger warrior. Fireheart yowls at the dark tabby that he's a traitor, and flings himself at the deputy. He sees that Tigerclaw has the ThunderClan leader pinned down, and although the blue-gray she-cat fights back, she is unable to break free.

Chapter description Fireheart springs forward and bursts through the lichen that shields Bluestar's den.
