Prologue

"Well, we're back," a voice mewed looking around, his pelt shone in the moonlight.

"I'm not so sure that we should be back Cottonbark," a tom growled, "Are you sure this is the right decision?"

"I'm positive Sootclaw," Cottonbark answered through squinted eyes, "Why would StarClan give me the message to come back if we should stay there?" an impatient tone took over the kind cat's voice.

"Maybe you interpreted their message wrong," Sootclaw countered.

"Sootclaw, if I interpreted their message wrong I would know."

Then a new voice started, "The queens are getting nervous, we need someone to lead us."

"Well I was just about to ask mister wise cat here, but since I decided not to I'm going to leave the clan in your hands, Sunfur, while I go to the Mooncave, good luck." And Cottonbark walked away.

"I heard what happened, Sunfur," another voice chimed in, "If you need my help just meow."

"Thanks Moonstream, I'll need it," Sunfur meowed.

"Well you'd better get to those queens quickly," Moonstream licked herself and walked away.

Sunfur began to think about the job he had just been assigned.

Okay Sunfur, this is no time to panic, Sunfur told himself, Our leader and deputy just died, and StarClan knows how, our medicine cat gets a sign we should come back to our old territory, you've just become a warrior, and you're in charge, the clan needs you, and your strength, you can't panic.

He walked over to the queens and began to comfort them, "Oatflower, don't be worried, Cottonbark will be right back, Acorncloud you have nothing to be worried about, your kits will be fine."

"We can't be fine if we have no leader or deputy!" wailed Oatflower.

"Yes, if we're fine then tell us who is in charge, and what would happen if a fox attacks us?" Acorncloud curled her tail around her three kits, Tansykit, Otterkit and Flarekit, all of them she-kits.

"Well," Sunfur began, "Cottonbark put me in charge, and if a fox attacks us then we'll defend ourselves. It's no different than back near the swamp."

"Except that we don't have a deputy or leader!" Yarrowroot complained as she padded over.

"Yarrowroot," Sunfur exclaimed, "You're a medicine cat!"

Or you used to be before you became an elder, Sunfur thought, "You should be able to tell us if trouble is coming!"

Yarrowroot rolled her eyes, "I'm an elder, and I used to be a medicine cat, which means no more dreams and no more signs from StarClan."

"Mousedung, this isn't working, how am I going to get this clan comfortable if they keep complaining,"Sunfur muttered.

He padded over to the top of the largest rock in sight and called a meeting, "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather here below this . . .," he looked down, ". . . boulder, for a clan meeting!" Sunfur yowled. The rest of the clan wasn't thinking the same thoughts as him.

"And who put you in charge?"

"You're not even a senior warrior!"

"He can't be leading us!"

This, is going to take a while, Sunfur thought as he hopped off and went to find a place for the clan to sleep.