Bluestar sat alone in a deserted clearing, gazing at the stars above. The crisp moonlight painted her fur a bright silver. A dappled tortoiseshell she-cat silently joined her. Bluestar acknowledged her arrival with a subtle flick of her tail.
"Greetings, Spottedleaf," Bluestar greeted ThunderClan's medicine cat, shifting a little so she could sit beside her.
Spottedleaf answered with a dip of her head, warm eyes glinting in the evening light.
"How is everyone? After the battle with RiverClan?" Bluestar asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"They will recover Bluestar. None of their wounds are too serious, however, this defeat puts ThunderClan at great risk," Spottedleaf replied, turning her head to look into Bluestar's deep blue eyes solemnly.
Bluestar sighed, letting her breath fog into the air. "I know. I am extremely concerned about our safety. ThunderClan hasn't lost a battle in its own territory since I was given my nine lives."
"Are you looking to StarClan for guidance?" Spottedleaf asked, turning her gaze to the stars that sparkled above their heads.
"Yes. Tigerclaw, Redtail, and Ravenpaw still haven't returned to camp. Something must've happened," Bluestar replied. She felt Spottedleaf's body stiffen beside hers.
"You're right. I hadn't noticed until now. My brother…" she said hoarsely, turning her eyes to her paws. Her breathing started to quicken.
"Hey, calm down, you're alright," she tried to soothe her, but Spottedleaf's eyes were glazed over, and she was trembling.
Suddenly the medicine cat jolted out of her trance-like state, looking around fearfully.
"I had a vision," she whispered. "Tigerclaw… Covered in blood. He hasn't changed, Bluestar. He's still… Like him…"
Spottedleaf's pupils constricted, and she drew her paw up to her throat, feeling where the fur had been permanently parted with a long scar.
Bluestar gently moved Spottedleaf's paw away from the horrible reminder of what had happened to her as an apprentice.
"He can't hurt you anymore, Spottedleaf. You know that. I promise you'll never have to see him again," Bluestar murmured, resisting the urge to growl at the thought of the wretched cat that had once belonged to ThunderClan. "Are you sure of what you saw? Is Tigerclaw a danger to the clan?"
"Yes," Spottedleaf replied, steadying her breathing. "What are you going to do about him, Bluestar?"
"I'm not sure yet," she answered, fur standing on end with the thought. "I suppose we'll have to wait and see."
Spottedleaf nodded, pressing herself into Bluestar's fur for protection against the crisp night air. Bluestar returned the gesture, resting her head on Spottedleaf's shoulders. The two silently drifted off, hoping the morning would bring better news to come.