Firepaw licked his paw and drew it over his ear. Below him was the mangled body of the former rogue, her black fur matted with blood. Beside her was another body, the body of a different rogue, Moonfang. He had walked up on Firepaw just as the apprentice was ripping out Jayscar's throat. The silver tom had tried to run and tell Tigerstar, but Firepaw had dragged him back by his tail and cracked his neck.

   Two in one night, the StarClan cat purred. I'm impressed. I wasn't sure you'd be able to kill.

   I'd battle all of the rogues in the world to save my Clan, Firepaw responded.

   The she-cat's purr rumbled loudly in his ears. You are a very noble warrior. Only a few Clan cats are brave enough to kill a cat to save others.

But isn't killing wrong? It is against the code...

Not if it's to save the lives of others, she meowed firmly. Now, you should bury them before you're caught.

Oh, right. Swiftly, Firepaw dragged the bodies over to a patch of mushrooms. The moon was already beginning to rise. I was supposed to be back by dusk, and with prey!

His heart racing, he quickly rolled the dead cats and himself in the fungus to disguise their scents. Then, he dragged them to the RiverClan border and threw them into the river, washing the blood from his fur afterwards. He then soaked moss in the ice-cold water and washed all of the blood off of the grass, leaving no trail behind.

It was almost moonhigh when Firepaw carried his mouse and vole into camp. Tigerstar was on him at once. "Why are you late? And where's the rest of it? You hunted all day, for StarClan's sake!" He attempted to cuff his apprentice over the ear, but Firepaw ducked out of the way. The leader's amber eyes blazed with fury. "Go to your nest, kittypet. I can assure you that training won't be easy tomorrow."

I don't care, he scoffed to himself as he padded off to the apprentice's den, head held high. I've done enough work for today. I should sleep well tonight.

        ~~❤︎❤︎❤︎~~

   "Where are Jayscar and Moonfang? It's been three days, and they haven't set a paw inside camp," Tigerstar growled to his deputy.

   "I don't know!" Darkstripe hissed furiously. "Could they have run away? Maybe to BloodClan?"

   "No, they aren't welcome there," the leader growled to himself. "They must be hiding somewhere, those mouse-hearted cowards. I'd expect this from Moonfang, but from Jayscar...?" He shook his head, a low growl rumbling in his throat. "I want every warrior who isn't on a patrol out searching for them. And don't return until they're found!"

   Firepaw smiled and took another bite from his mouse. Fool, he thought. You have no idea where they are, and you'll never find them.

   "I'll lead a search party, Tigerstar!" Jaggedtooth meowed from the base of the Highrock. He looked... worried? "We must find them."

   Tigerstar seemed to notice the warrior's anxiousness too. "Why so eager, Jaggedtooth?" he purred slowly, threateningly. "Is there something I need to know?"

   The dark brown tom looked very uneasy. He shuffled his paws and hung his head with a sigh. "We, er—" he stuttered, glancing around nervously. "She's expecting much kits."

   Tigerstar cocked his head to one side. "You're mates?"

   "Well, no..." the tom sounded terribly uncomfortable. "It was kind of an accident... but still, they're my kits, and I don't want anything to happen to them."

   Firepaw suddenly swayed on his paws. Kits? Cold fear pulses through his veins. You killed a queen. You killed more kits. You ended precious lives before they could even begin...

   His mind was swirling out of control. They never even got to see light, or the forest, or Silverpelt, or—

   Cut that out! The StarClan cat yowled in his ear, making him stumble. They weren't even born, so I'd say it doesn't count.

   You let me kill innocent kits! He screeched back at her.

   She gave a heavy sigh, which turned into a low growl. A murder's kits. Two murders' kits, actually. Do you really think they would have lived a good life? Tigerstar probably would've killed them anyways.

   Maybe you're right... Firepaw felt a sudden urge to trust her, but he fought it off. No, that isn't right! They still should've been allowed to try!

   I am an ancestor, the she-cat growled furiously. I have many more years than you do. I've seen things that you could never even imagine, Firepaw thought he heard her sniffle, but no sadness showed in her tone. Don't ever question StarClan's will again.

   S-sorry, he stammered, shocked by the force behind her words. I just... never mind.

   When the apprentice looked up, he saw his mentor looming over him. "Yes, Tigerstar?" He asked, trying to sound innocent, but some smugness crept into his voice.

   "Where are they?" The tom demanded.

   "Who?"

   "You know who!" The leader growled, clawing at Firepaw's ear. "Jayscar and Moonfang! What have you done with them?"

   Firepaw snorted in mock disgust. "You think I'd be dumb enough to challenge two fully-grown, viscous, blood-thirsty cats at once?"

   "I've seen you in battle. You're not exactly the most cautious opponent."

   "It wasn't me, ok?" He hissed, hi tail bushing up defensively. "I was hunting."

   "Then why did you catch so little prey?"

   "The rogues kept stealing my catches."

   Tigerstar swatted at his ear again. "Liar. What were you really doing?"

   Firepaw's pelt was starting itch with nervousness from all of the lying. "Look, it wasn't me, ok? I was hunting, I swear to StarClan." The she-cat growled softly in his ear. "I'll help Jaggedtooth look for them if it'll shut you up."

   Tigerstar narrowed his eyes, pausing for a moment to scan Firepaw's body. "Fine," he eventually growled. "But you're still not out of my suspicions." With one more nip to the ear, the tabby tom sauntered away to speak with Nightstar and Runningnose.

   Alright, I guess I'll go pretend to search for two long-dead cats. Firepaw trotted over to Jaggedtooth, who was surrounded by slightly less than half of the TigerClan cats.

   "Alright, Clawface and Blackfoot, take three cats each and go search. I'll take Dustpelt, Longtail, and Lionfang."

   Clawface nodded. "Lostface, Thornfang, and Ferngash, you're with me."

   "And I'll take Violetbreeze, Swiftstrike, and..." the third time broke off, scanning the crowd. He grinned sinisterly in Firepaw's direction. "How about the kittypet?"

   Firepaw fought back a growl. "I have a name."

   Blackfoot grunted, then turned to hound out of camp. His cats raced to catch up with him. Firepaw pretended to scan every leaf and bramble as they raced by, heading in the direction of Twolegplace. After a short period of time, they reached the line of solid wood walls that bordered the Twoleg gardens full of soft grass and sweet-smelling flowers.

   "Alright, kid you're with me," Blackfoot nodded to Swiftstrike. "Hey, kittypet, you know these streets pretty well," white tom smirked. "Why don't you show Violetbreeze around?"

   "Oh, I used to be a house cat too!" The small, fluffy she-cat chirped.

   Blackfoot scowled. "Whatever," he mumbled. "Cmon, kid." He nodded to Swiftstrike and the two told leaped over the fence.

   Firepaw turned to Violetbreeze, who was staring at him intently. "I don't think we've met before. I'm Violetbreeze!"

   "I know," Firepaw growled. "Let's go search." He saw hurt flash in the black and white she-cat's eyes, but he brushed it off. She's not really your Clanmate. You'll probably end up having to battle her.

   The two were quiet as they leaped over the planks and into the Twolegplace. They traveled down a few alleys in silence, glancing around awkwardly at the towering red-stone walls.

   "So..." she started after they turned yet another sharp corner. "How many moons are you?"

   "I don't know," he muttered, casting her a sidelong glance. "At least ten seasons, I think."

   "Wow," she breathed. "You've been a wild cat for more than two years?"

   The ginger tom himself was surprised. "I suppose so," he meowed, a little louder than before. "How about you? Why did you join Tigerstar?"

   The she-cat's bright purple eyes suddenly darkened. "My Twoleg died," she meowed quietly, suddenly sounding like a scared little mouse. "The new Twolegs that moved in threw me out. I broke my leg when they tossed me into an alley," she flexed her right hind leg, which looked slightly stiffer than her other legs, now that Firepaw's was paying closer attention. "Then Tigerstar found me and said he'd help me survive if I pledged my loyalty to him."

   "What about all the killing?" Firepaw murmured without thinking about it. Quickly, he added, "I-I mean, do you ever regret it? Do you like killing just for the fun of it?"

   Violetbreeeze glanced nervously from side to side, then leaned in to whisper in his ear. "I don't. I hate it so, so much, but I just can't escape."

   Firepaw couldn't help but pity the she-cat. She was just a scared, trapped kittypet who didn't belong in the bloody world of the Clans. Like Princess.

"You don't have to stay, you know," he meowed. Her eyes flashed with doubt. "No, really. I can help you escape."

"But where would I go? Tigerstar would surely find me and have me killed."

Firepaw gazed into her deep purple eyes for a moment, thinking. "I know a place," he replied quietly. "Meet me by the prison dens in three sunrises. I'll make sure we get you far away from here."

Violetbreeze began to purr. "Oh, thank you!" She nuzzled her cheek, brushing her muzzle against his. He felt something warm flash down his right side. "I won't forget this, Firepaw. Thank you so much."

After meeting up with Blackfoot and Swiftstrike, the four cats padded back to camp empty-pawed. The sun had long since set, leaving the sky twinkling with fallen warriors. Firepaw felt a warm feeling of hope bubbling in his chest, but he tried to look crestfallen like the others. Not all of the rogues follow Tigerstar! Some of them want to leave as bad as we want them to, he glanced over at Violetbreeze, who looked absolutely ecstatic, but was also trying to hide it. Maybe some of them aren't so bad after all.