A strangely cool breeze washed around a shape curled up on the ground. As the wind persisted this shape gathered herself tighter and still refused to open her eyes. She hadn't realized yet that she was dreaming, or that the cold she was feeling was real wind and not her Two-legs artificial air. The first thing to tip her off was the sound of quick pawsteps approaching her. The sound was too light and balanced to belong to Duke, the only one of her litter that her Two-legs hadn't given away, so she lifted her head quickly.

"H-how did you get in here?"

The tabby recognized her visitor immediately, so she didn't waste time calling out to him. Instead she pondered his appearance in her nest...and then she jumped up with her fur fluffed out.

"Where am I? I went to sleep in my nest!"

"Relax, Princess, you're dreaming."

This consoled the confused she-cat instantly. Even in her dreams she trusted her brother completely. The sight of the bright ginger tom made her purr and she moved forward to touch noses with him. It had been many moons since she'd last seen or heard anything from her beloved sibling, but he still appeared as young as the day he'd left.

"Firestar, it's so good to see you."

"The same to you, although I wish I brought happier news."

The fluffy she-cat glanced, bewildered, at him, but didn't respond. His words did sound weird, like a dream, but everything felt oddly real to her. She sat down and motioned for him to continue with her tail.

"I've lost my ninth life."

"I-I don't understand."

"It's true, Princess, I belong to Starclan now."

The she-cat just shook her head slowly, while her brother watched her with sad eyes. She didn't seem to understand the gravity of his words and her eyes filled with confusion.

"But this is just a dream. I must have come up with this to explain why you've been gone so long." She murmured to herself.

"Dreams work differently for Clan cats, sister. Starclan has granted me this last visit with you, so that I can say goodbye."

The tabby started trembling and shook her head more violently, disbelief flashing across her face. It couldn't be true...could it? She didn't want to believe, but something about his words captivated her. Firestar's customs had always seemed mystic and foreign to the cooped-up kittypet, so it did seem to fit that even his death would hold some sort of special power. If it was true that he could have nine lives, then was it really that much of a stretch to believe he could visit her in death too?

"Oh, Firestar...I've missed you dearly. I wondered how you and Cloudtail were doing every day, when I looked out into the forest. I never imagined that I'd never get to see you again."

"'But you can see me again. I'm here now, so I can tell you everything that happened after the clans left."

Firestar padded over and curled up next to his sister, starting his tale with the day after they'd last seen each other. The siblings talked long through the night, Princess staring with wonderstruck eyes as she imagined all the amazing things her once-tame brother had done. She got to here about her brave son, his sweet daughter, and the powers of her great-granddaughter. And when she finally woke up, she carried a bittersweet smile on her face still.

"What are you smiling about, mother?" Duke asked curiously the next morning.

"Oh, I had the most lovely dream..."

AN: I've always carried this as a sort-of headcannon, because the idea of Princess wondering what happened to her brother for the rest of her life made me sad. I like to believe Firestar at least visited her one last time so that he could put her mind at ease.