Amberheart lowered her nose to a withered clump of sorrel, the scent long gone but curiosity tugging at her senses. She sniffed again, ears flicking in contemplation, only to pause when Ironheart froze beside her. His muscles tensed, his light ginger tail lashing sharply against the air.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice low but edged with concern.

"I hear something," he murmured, eyes narrowing as he tilted his head toward the dense underbrush. "I think it's a cat. He needs help."

Before she could question him further, Ironheart sprang forward, cutting through the ferns like a flash of light. Amberheart hesitated only a moment before bounding after him, Cloudtail hot on her heels. The forest blurred around them, rain-slick leaves brushing against their pelts as they raced toward the source of the sound.

They broke through a thicket and skidded to a halt at the edge of a black, murky pond. The stench of decay clung to the air, sharp and bitter. There, clinging desperately to a frail, swaying branch above the water, was a young tom with wide, frightened eyes. His claws were sunk deep into the bark, his body trembling as he fought to hold on.

"Hang on!" Ironheart yowled, his voice cutting through the damp air. Without hesitation, he leaped onto the trunk of the tree, claws scraping against the slick bark as he hauled himself up.

Amberheart's heart raced as she watched her brother clamber out onto the unsteady branch, every movement measured and precise despite the sway beneath his weight.

"Easy," Ironheart urged, his tone calm but firm when the tom let out a frightened yowl and nearly lost his grip. "Don't move. I'll help you."

The branch groaned under their combined weight, but Ironheart pressed on, determination gleaming in his blue eyes.

Soon enough, they managed to guide the tom from the fragile branch onto the sturdier trunk. Ironheart pressed his shoulder firmly against the young cat to steady him, his claws gripping the bark as they carefully descended. The tom's paws slipped on the slick surface, but Ironheart's grip remained steadfast.

When their paws finally touched the rain-soaked earth, Amberheart let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. The tom collapsed onto the soggy ground, sides heaving as he gulped down lungfuls of damp forest air.

"There," Ironheart said, shaking water droplets from his pelt. "You're safe now."

Amberheart lashed her tail, her gaze sharp as she surveyed the tom. His dark tabby fur was slicked down to his skin, and he shivered violently, but there was a stubborn glint in his eyes that intrigued her.

"What's your name?" she asked, her voice edged with curiosity and suspicion.

The tom panted, struggling to form words between gulps of air. "Tiger," he finally managed.

Ironheart and Amberheart both stiffened, their eyes narrowing.

"Tiger?" Cloudtail echoed, his ears flicking warily. "Are you a kittypet or a loner?"

The tom shook his head weakly, droplets scattering from his soaked fur. "I don't know," he admitted, voice raw with exhaustion. "I was a kittypet a few days back... but now my family is gone."

Emberfall felt her heart clench painfully at Tiger's words. "I'm sorry," she murmured softly.

Tiger shook his head, water droplets flicking from his drenched pelt. "It's not your fault," he said quietly, his voice hoarse with weariness. He rose to his paws, shaking out his fur. "You're wildcats, right? Smudge told me about you. I didn't think I'd ever see you, though. But I guess I was just... hungry, and I—"

"You don't need to explain why you're here," Emberfall cut him off gently but firmly. "Just follow us. We'll take you to Bramblestar. He'll take you in, don't worry."

Without waiting for a response, she trotted off through the wet undergrowth. Cloudtail quickly fell into step beside her, his voice low and wary.

"You sure?" he murmured. "He smells... bad." His words trailed off awkwardly.

Emberfall's eyes flashed as she glared at her mate. "You were a kittypet yourself, Cloudtail," she reminded him sharply. "Don't judge others. Millie's a kittypet. StarClan knows how many kittypets we have in the Clan right now, but it's a lot. So you're not allowed to judge. Now come along. Bramblestar will want to hear about this."

Cloudtail's ears flattened, and he said nothing more, simply following Emberfall as she led the way.

SCENEBREAK

They soon reached the camp, and Squirrelflight was the first to approach, her bright fur gleaming despite the dampness of the air. "What happened? You were out a long time," she said, sniffing Emberfall's fur for any signs of injury.

"It's okay. We found a new friend, though," Emberfall replied calmly, stepping aside to let Tiger follow her into the clearing.

The reaction was immediate. Whispers rippled through the gathered cats, their eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"What the—?" Butter muttered under his breath.

Darkstripe, his fur bristling, curled his lip in a sneer. "And who might you be?" he growled, tail lashing. "Another kittypet? Don't we have enough of them already?"

Emberfall's glare was sharp enough to cut through stone. "Show some respect," she hissed, stepping protectively in front of Tiger. "He lost his household. He lost his family. Don't be so callous, you old fool."

Darkstripe's ears flicked back, but he held his ground, eyes gleaming with disdain.

Turning back to Tiger, Emberfall pointed her tail toward the great stone in the center of camp. "Over there, on the rock, is Bramblestar, our leader," she explained. Her tail then flicked toward Squirrelflight, who watched the exchange intently. "And that's Squirrelflight, our deputy."

Emberfall continued, her tone softer now. "My name is Emberfall. The one who saved you is my brother, Ironheart." She gestured toward the ginger tom, who stood nearby with a steady, assessing gaze. "And that over there," she pointed to Cloudtail, who had gone to sit near Millie and Graystripe, "is my mate, Cloudtail."

Before Tiger could respond, Bramblestar padded out from the leader's den, his broad shoulders rippling with strength. His amber eyes gleamed with curiosity and caution. "What's this?" he asked, his voice steady but commanding.

"This is Tiger," Emberfall explained, dipping her head respectfully. "We found him hanging from a tree branch, and my brother saved him. We thought he could stay here for a while... he's got nothing left."

Bramblestar's gaze sharpened, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Do you... can you hunt?" he asked.

Tiger straightened, meeting the leader's gaze without flinching. "Yes. My friend helped me when I was younger, but I learned to hunt for myself now that I'm alone."

Bramblestar's expression remained unreadable as he considered Tiger's words.

Bramblestar dipped his head solemnly. "You'll go through three trials in the morning, but for now, you'll be allowed to stay and eat with us." He waved his tail, signaling for Leeple, the medicine cat apprentice, who padded over with a bundle of herbs in her jaws.

"Here," she said, her voice gentle. "Come, follow me, and I'll treat your wounds."

Tiger nodded gratefully and limped after her toward the medicine den.

As they disappeared into the shadows, Jayfeather stepped out of the medicine den, his blind blue eyes narrowing grimly as he turned toward Emberfall. "Did you really find him dangling from a tree branch?" he asked bluntly.

"Yes," Emberfall replied sharply, her tail lashing with irritation. "Why would I lie, huh?"

Jayfeather's expression remained unreadable, his whiskers twitching slightly.

Emberfall shook her head in frustration. "Just forget it," she snapped, turning her back on the medicine cat. Her paws carried her swiftly toward where her brother, Ironheart, stood talking with his friends. She could hear the murmur of their voices mingling with the camp's usual bustle, and despite everything, her heart felt lighter being back among her clanmates.