Prologue

The blue-gray she-cat struggled in the thick blue abyss. The water around her pulled down hard on her thick fur, pulling her down. Finally she gave up and let the current guide her. This is the end, she thought.

Suddenly a bright being appeared in front of her. Oakheart? Are you here to take me? Oakheart shook his head. "Swim." He whispered. "Swim." She felt the strain of her muscles as she fought against the current. Oak kept right on front of her, guiding her through the water. As a paw went down into the water his misty shape vanished. Oakheart!

Finally she recognized the ginger tabby who had scared Oak away. Fireheart! Her deputy jumped into the water and took hold of her scruff. He threw her back onto land. She coughed a few times. She smiled at him. That, right there, was true loyalty. Fireheart held her paw as she began to fade away. She beamed even more. He reminded her of Oakheart, her previous mate. Then she closed her eyes for the last time.