Spottedleaf closed her eyes. It was time. She didn't know where she would go after this. She had faded, after just being killed by Mapleshade. She had tears in her eyes. Then someone came up to get her, like her first trip to StarClan after Clawface had slaughtered her. She opened her eyes. "Shredtail?"

It was one of the Dark Forest cats. Shredtail smiled at her, but something was different. Instead of an evil, wicked smile, his smile was warm and welcoming, like somehow being killed had... changed him. Spottedleaf gasped as she was pulled to StarClan for the second time. But this place wasn't StarClan. No, this place was definitely not StarClan. Not at all.

There was a wide stretch of moorland in front of her, and behind that a whole forest of trees. A glistening stream was flowing near the beginnings of the forest. Butterflies swished and swirled around, and a deer was drinking from the stream. It was beautiful.

"Where does it end?" Spottedleaf whispered.

"Nowhere," Shredtail meowed. "It goes on and on. No animal here minds the other. It's always peaceful. It changed every cat that lands here. Pierces their hearts in such a way that no one can even imagine what evil is like."

But it's just a stream and some animals," the she-cat protested. "Nothing could possibly do what you just described, surely?"

"Once you've been here longer, you'll see. It's like a dim faith, a believing that nothing could possibly go wrong."

Spottedleaf sighed, peacefulness flooding over her. "You know... You're right. Those birds over there... They're so close to us. Do they know we're here?"

"No. The faith is in every creature that lives here. The birds know they won't get hunted. And in addition to that, no one ever gets hungry here. So we don't have to worry about eating. Although we do get thirsty, so that's why there's a stream."

Spottedleaf nodded, trying to take in all of this information. "Who else from the Clans is here?"

"There are loads. Most of them are from the very beginnings of the Clans. Some are from SkyClan and even from The Tribe."

"Wow," she breathed. "So, I could meet Stoneteller if I wanted to?"

Shredtail nodded. "Go on, enjoy yourself. If anyone you know is to arrive, I will tell you and you can have the honor of welcoming them."

Spottedleaf dipper her head. "Thank you, Shredtail."

She padded to the stream and took a drink. The smell of the river was soothing. The faith is getting to me.

She lifted her head to look at a doe. "Hello," she greeted it.

The creature blinked at her then nodded as if saying hello back.

Spottedleaf smiled. Perhaps I really can find peace here. I don't seem to miss any of my old Clanmates.

Doubt flickered in her eyes, but she shook it away. Maybe that's a good thing.

She turned to see Shredtail welcoming Tigerstar. As the old ShadowClan leader sat down next to her, Spottedleaf found herself liking the expression on his face. "Welcome to The Place of Faded Stars."