Prologue
I race along the thunderpath, the former Bloodclan warriors hot on my tail. I hear claws swipe through the air behind me, and fear courses through my veins. The bundle in my jaws squirms as I let out a growl from the pain shooting through my white-tipped tail. It's going to be okay, baby I think to my only daughter. She looks up, and seems to understand that she needs to keep still. I feel hot breath on the back of my neck and put on an extra burst of speed. Dashing onto the thunderpath cuts off a few of the more timid cats, but they are still too close for my liking. A screech sounds out, but I don't look back all I can see is the green of undergrowth in the forest. I hear voices I faintly remember calling after me; all I can understand is adrenalin and exhaustion. I burst into a clearing and keep running straight; suddenly the ground drops out from my paws.
"RAVENPAW!" I hear an orange tom screech at me. I twist in the air, and my precious kit drops from my mouth. I try to scream as my spine cracks against the hard ground, but nothing comes out. I am already dead. Look after her Firestar.
