What good is a story if nobody reads it? That's why I would like to thank all of you for reading this story. I will begin posting the final installment, Part III, on December 9th. Now witness the beginning of the end in this mournful tale...

Tigerclaw

He didn't know why, but he knew that Fireheart had something to do with the attack. It was the only explanation. Why Fireheart wasn't fighting, why the rogues had attacked again for no apparent reason. Fireheart.

Tigerclaw spun around and dashed towards his leader's den, barging into the space still panting. His eyes lit on Bluestar, lying on her side in her nest.

"Bluestar!" he mewed urgently.

She sat up, looking tired, "What is it? Are rogues attacking?"

Tigerclaw nodded briskly, "Yes, but that's not important. I think Fireheart has betrayed us!" Bluestar's eyes widened in alarm, and Tigerclaw continued, "He's been meeting with a group of cats who ignore the Warrior Code! He's been lying to us all along! And now he's trying to conquer ThunderClan by force!" Bluestar rose to her feet, looking unsteady. She opened her mouth, but a voice cut her off before she could speak.

"He's lying! Tigerclaw's lying!" Tigerclaw turned to see Fireheart standing in the entrance of her den.

Bluestar narrowed her blue eyes, "Why would he do that?"

Fireheart took a deep breath, "Because he killed Redtail! And Ravenpaw saw him do it!" Tigerclaw froze, unable to speak. Fireheart continued, "He's been ordering these rogue attacks, Bluestar! It's all him!"

"But you're meeting with the cats who don't care about the Code!" Tigerclaw growled back. Fireheart's eyes shone with confusion.

The he recovered, "That's just another silly lie. You've always wanted to be leader. You were in here trying to kill Bluestar. You're nothing more than a power crazed villain."

"That's a lie!"

"No." The mew startled both cats, and they turned to Bluestar.

"No," she repeated, "Fireheart is telling the truth." Her mew cracked, "I'm sorry."

Tigerclaw suddenly felt dizzy, "B-but… That's not true…"

"He's not the one meeting with those Codeless cats, Tigerclaw. I am." Bluestar's gaze dropped to the ground between her paws, "You know too much. I'm sorry, Tigerclaw. I really am."

The world around Tigerclaw blurred. He couldn't believe it. It was all a lie. Everything he had relied on... just a lie.

"Come on," Fireheart growled, "The battle's over. It's time the Clan knows what you really are." Tigerclaw stumbled out into the sunlight where the ThunderClan warriors were all gathered below the den, licking their wounds. Yellowfang and Goldenflower were knelt over an unmoving body. Mistpaw… My son… He was jerked to a stop by Fireheart.

"Cats of ThunderClan!" the flame colored cat mewed, "Tigerclaw has just tried to kill Bluestar!" Murmurs of disbelief rippled through the Clan. Fireheart continued, "He also was responsible for the death of Redtail… And he organized the attack on our camp."

"You're lying!" Darkstripe's mew cut through the grumbles of the crowd of warriors, "Let Bluestar tell us for herself." All eyes turned to their leader, who was emerging from her den. She gazed down sadly at the cats gathered below her… and nodded.

"It…. It is true. Tigerclaw betrayed us all and killed Redtail. I have no choice but to banish him." ThunderClan… I have to leave ThunderClan… Fireheart nodded in agreement, and so did most of the cats surrounding them. Tigerclaw couldn't blame them. They believed their leader.

And that's when it struck. The pain. The sorrow. The unbelief. The rage. He had trusted Bluestar. He turned away from the cats around him, and headed for the entrance to the camp. Tigerclaw turned once, and he saw Goldenflower standing among the crowd, a heartbreaking sorrow in her eyes. Something inside of him snapped. Fireheart would pay for this. Pain for pain. Grief for grief. Lies for lies. The forest hadn't seen the last of Tigerclaw.

"Get out!" Fireheart yowled at him, "And don't come back!" Tigerclaw stopped, but he didn't look back.

"Pray to StarClan I won't."

Then he was gone.

End of Book II