Prologue:

A dark brown tabby tom was pacing outside the nursery. A lighter tabby she-cat was stalking after him. "That's my mate giving birth," the dark tabby retorted. The lighter tabby quickened her pace and small crunches hit the dark tabby's ears. "Leafpool," he growled to the light tabby. "I need to help her!" Leafpool's eyes glowed as she slowed to a stop. "You'd get in Jayfeather's way," she purred.

The dark brown tabby rolled his amber eyes. "Nonsense!" he mewed. Leafpool shook her head. "You have Lilyheart and Daisy in there as well!" The dark tabby stopped, his tail lashing as he recalled the expecting white and tabby she-cat and the cream caretaker. "Squirrelflight needs me," he sighed. Leafpool nodded. "She's a strong queen, Bramblestar," she mewed. Bramblestar noticed the sincere glow in her eyes. Bramblestar dipped his head. Perhaps he should send a hunting patrol?

He grimaced as he remembered that he had already assigned them. He stared at the nursery and smoothed his tongue along his right paw.

Bramblestar looked up to see a pale gray tabby head poke out of the bracken. Bramblestar smiled as he remembered how he raised him. He got up and padded over to to the pale gray tabby tom. "Jayfeather," he greeted.

Bramblestar frowned as he saw grief in Jayfeather's eyes. "What happened?" he gasped. "Is Squirrelflight okay!?" Jayfeather nodded. "She fine," he rasped. "You have two sons and two daughters." Jayfeather dipped his head sadly and flipped his tail. "One of them was born dead."

Bramblestar peeked into the Nursery. Three kits squirmed by Squirrelflight's belly. She had her red bushy tail wrapped around them. Yet, she was licking a forth. The kit, a small long-haired cream she-kit, was still and unmoving. Squirrelflight gazed up at Bramblestar, her green eyes watering. "Dandelionkit is dead," she whispered.

Bramblestar froze. Apparently, Squirrelflight named her dead daughter. He nuzzled his mate and licked his daughters forehead. It was cold and drained of warmth. He looked at his other kits. "Do they have names?" he asked, as he laid his tail on his remaining daughter, a spiky ginger tabby. Squirrelflight shook her head. "Though I do want him to be named Juniperkit," she purred, nuzzling a dark brown tabby tom.

Bramblestar purred. "That's a beautiful name!" he purred. He looked at the ginger tabby. "Her name can be Sparkkit," he mewed. The ginger tabby squeaked as she bunched up against the other kit, a red tom like his mother.

Squirrelflight eyed the final kit. "How about Alderkit?" she mused. Bramblestar purred. "It's perfect," he told her as he gave Alderkit a lick on his ears. Alderkit flinched to touch of his tongue. Bramblestar lifted his head. "Is he alright?" he asked. Squirrelflight smiled. "Yeah, he's fine," she replied.

Bramblestar then set his eyes on Dandelionkit. "My poor daughter," he whispered. Jayfeather poked his head into the Nursery. "May I have a word with you?" he asked. Bramblestar nodded and dipped his head to Squirrelflight. She responded by rubbing his cheek. Then, Bramblestar padded out of the Nursery.

Jayfeather stared very intensely, even for a blind cat. "Juniperkit killed her," he briskly mewed. Bramblestar frowned. "My son wouldn't kill his sister," he growled. Jayfeather sighed. "The kit was never meant to be born; he will join the shadows," he warned. Bramblestar turned his back on Jayfeather. "I doubt that StarClan told you about this," he snarled. Jayfeather's lips pulled back into a snarl. "StarClan hasn't spoke in many moons!" he hissed. "Rock predicted this!"

Bramblestar padded away from Jayfeather and pushed past Leafpool. He only had the knowledge that Rock predicted the prophecy of the three and often spoke through Jayfeather. He knew nothing more than that. He didn't even know what Rock looked like! He bunched his shoulders and hopped on to a higher rock and climbed up to the Highrock. He turned to look at Jayfeather one more time before he disappeared into his den. Jayfeather was slouched next to Leafpool, who was glaring up at him. He saw something in her blazing amber eyes. He quickly dismissed it and collapsed into his nest. He tucked his tail over his nose. Kits couldn't kill while in the womb, could they? Yet, he couldn't get Rock's omen out of his head.