Prologue
The sun was peeking over the horizon, trying to reach the frozen meadow. Three stiff figures sat on a large rock to watch the magnificent sunrise.
The first one spoke. "So what do you think the life of the Clans will be like now?" a blue-gray she-cat asked. The other one sniffed. "Bluestar, if you're worried about them getting bored, let me tell you, the Clans will always find some way to spice up their lives. Don't you remember the daylight gathering? If they're bored, they'll do something." The third cat blinked. "But I thought we were here to talk about-" she was caught off in mid sentence when the sun suddenly burst on the meadow, lighting up everything, melting the frost, making the forest leaves it's rays touched brown to green, making prey peek out of their holes.
"The sunrise. I doubted that I'd even be alive to see this," the second she-cat commented. Bluestar mewed, "You're right, Yellowfang." Under her breath, Bluestar murmured, "Spottedleaf would have loved this." "It was Spottedleaf's time to die," Yellowfang said gently. Bluestar hung her head. The third cat was too awestruck to notice the conversation. "An amazing sunrise for a great new dawn," the she-cat meowed. Bluestar looked up and asked, "What were you going to say, Half Moon?" Half Moon snapped out of her trance. "I-I was going to say, 'but I thought we were here to talk about omens'." Yellowfang sighed. "Not every time StarClan cats meet up do we talk about omens. I don't even think there are any omens now," she glanced hesitantly at Bluestar. "Right?" Bluestar shook her head. "I guess the Clans will live in peace for the time being."
"You probably are right about that," a voice said from behind the she-cats. They spun around, to see Oakheart, Raggedstar, and Feathertail. "What makes you think that?" Yellowfang asked. "There have been no omens about RiverClan," Oakheart told her. "Or ShadowClan," Raggedstar added. "Same for WindClan," mewed Feathertail. "Well, I don't have anything better to do, so I'm going hunting. Anyone want to come with?" meowed Half Moon. "Are you allowed to hunt in StarClan grounds?" Feathertail asked suspiciously. "The four leaders said I could stay until nightfall, so yes," Half Moon replied. "Then I'm coming with you. I need a stretch." Feathertail showed her belly. "You don't want to end up looking like your father," Yellowfang cautioned. "Graystripe's just fluffy," Feathertail defended her father. "Sure, sure," Yellowfang said sarcastically. "Come on, Half Moon, lets go," Feathertail bounded down the slope, and Half Moon shrugged and followed.
Raggedstar mewed to Yellowfang, "Do you want to go hunting with me? I'd like to fill up our kits bellies after the brief leaf-bare." Yellowfang nodded. "Okay." But before Yellowfang left, Bluestar called, "Yellowfang, wait! Can I talk to you?" Yellowfang looked at Raggedstar. "You get a head start. I won't be long." Raggedstar ran into the heather.
"What is it, Bluestar?" Yellowfang asked. "Where is Spottedleaf now?" Bluestar's voice was almost a murmur. Yellowfang thought for a moment, and was about to speak, but Oakheart beat her to it. "A lot of StarClan cats are talking about that. Some say her soul fades altogether, others say she'll be reincarnated. But the story I believe is that once a cat fades or dies again they are the ones that send us prophecies and omens." Bluestar looked confused. "Remember when you had that dream on the night Dovewing was born, telling you she was the One?" he asked. Bluestar nodded. "Well, have you ever wondered who sent you that dream?" he pressed. Bluestar's eyes lit up with understanding. "So what you're saying is," she began, "that when a good cat fades or dies again, they watch over us?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying," he meowed. "I wonder what happens to the bad cats," Yellowfang thought. "Your thinking of Brokenstar, aren't you?" Yellowfang dipped her head. "Yes." "Where the dark forest cats go isn't our concern," growled Oakheart. "I suppose your right," Yellowfang admitted.
"Don't blame yourself, Yellowfang. You had nothing to do with Brokenstar's crimes. Blaming yourself won't help any of us recuperate." Bluestar mewed as she dipped her head to drink out of a snowmelt puddle. A ripple moved across the water, and Bluestar stiffened.
"Are you alright?" Oakheart asked with concern in his voice. "I take that back, Yellowfang," Bluestar said. "Take what back?" asked Yellowfang, confused. "When I agreed with you about there being no omens. Look." Yellowfang and Oakheart peered over Bluestar's shoulder into the puddle, and jumped at what they saw. Yellowfang and Oakheart's reflections were normal, but instead of Bluestar's reflection being in-between them, there was a leopard. Bluestar dabbed at the water, and it rippled and then her reflection turned normal. Yellowfang looked at Bluestar and said, "I must speak to Jayfeather at once." "Why?" "Because trouble is on its way."
