Prologue

The four cats met deep in the forest.

A gray tabby was in the lead, shrugging off his brother's tail as he attempted to guide him through the dark tangle of trees. Behind them were two she-cats, one of their stomachs large with the arrival of unborn kits. The other was staring at the mother-to-be with concerned eyes, but she was just met with a brave stare. She was instilled with the courage of a thousand warriors; all thanks to the small, not yet breathing, but thriving kits inside of her. That was the bravery of an expecting mother.

As they approached the border with ShadowClan, Jayfeather stopped the group of cats and turned to face his brother, his brother's mate, and his apprentice. He thought about how nothing was ever simple by the lakeside. Whether it was prophecies or Clan secrets, he felt as though there was so much more in his paws than just the stars. Leafpool had taught him well, as both a mother and a mentor, but he wondered if lessons and training sessions stopped affecting one after a while. Or did they even affect them at all? Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and their kin, Dovewing's, pawsteps were already on a destined path since the moment their eyes were open.

"I thought we were done with secrets," Lionblaze hissed, his tail lashing to and fro, "Wasn't Leafpool and Squirrelflight's secret enough? And then the prophecy? I am a loyal warrior to ThunderClan and my faith in StarClan is strong, you cannot question that, but they are asking for more than they are giving."

"It isn't StarClan asking though," Briarlight pointed out, leaning on Cinderheart who cautiously helped keep the brown she-cat upright. The spinal injury from moons before had never healed and Jayfeather had stated it never would so to be saved from spending her young life in the elders' den, Briarlight had joined Jayfeather in the medicine cat's den although it took him many moons to formally accept her as his apprentice. "It is your brother and when has he asked you for anything?"

"You were always determined to do everything yourself," Lionblaze shot in Jayfeather's direction and Cinderheart rested her tail on her mate's shoulder. He relaxed under her touch and glanced at her with an appreciative stare before returning to his brother, "I'm sorry, Jayfeather, but it's true. You have never accepted my help before and this – it won't be easy. On us… the Clan. Have you thought about that?"

Jayfeather looked away, his sightless eyes focusing on nothing as he stayed quiet. Briarlight called his name gently and he turned to face them, wearing an expression that had never been worn by ThunderClan's medicine cat before: desperation.

"Lionblaze… please…"

The golden tabby shared a glance with Cinderheart who nodded. He sighed and he watched as Jayfeather's shoulders relaxed, the gray tabby padding over and brushing his muzzle against his brother's shoulder. He might have murmured a 'thanks' or it may have been the wind echoing his thoughts, but Lionblaze thought he had never seen his brother so soft – even as a kit, he had had the tongue of an elder.

After a heartbeat passed, Jayfeather glanced around, staring at Lionblaze and Cinderheart so fiercely that for a heartbeat Lionblaze forgot that his brother was blind.

"You must both swear to me…"

"That we will never reveal the best of you?" Jayfeather looked away at Lionblaze's words, "That you, the cold medicine cat of ThunderClan, do care more than any cat will ever know? You have my word."

Jayfeather nodded, "Cinderheart?"

"I owe you my life, Jayfeather, both in the physical and spiritual sense of the word," Cinderheart meowed seriously and the forest echoed with memories shared between them, "I would do this for you regardless, but perhaps I can lessen my debt."

Once more Jayfeather nodded before facing Briarlight, "Briarlight, the hardest part of this is on you. Can you do this? If not, we can find a way around this, I promise you."

Briarlight ignored Jayfeather and instead looked to Cinderheart, pressing a paw against the gray she-cat's swollen stomach, "You will have beautiful kits." There was a tone of jealousy in her voice, but when she turned to face Jayfeather, her eyes were blazing with determination, "When you asked me to be your apprentice, you asked if I was ready to sacrifice myself for my Clan. You told me that I would have to have more courage than any warrior, be more tender then a nursing queen, and be more humble than the youngest kit." She turned to face Cinderheart again, "I had never expected this, but I am willing to do it… for my Clan and for you."

Jayfeather nodded and as he did a snowflake fluttered down from the sky in between the four cats. Briarlight and Cinderheart looked up and saw more snow falling from the sky while Lionblaze glanced at Jayfeather, his amber eyes holding more secrets, "A sign from StarClan?"

"A storm is coming," Jayfeather meowed quietly, "We should head back to camp before anyone notices that we're gone. We don't want to explain where we were to Bramblestar."

The four cats headed back to camp, Cinderheart helping Briarlight immensely through the forest while Jayfeather continued to shrug off Lionblaze's help. As they got to camp, Briarlight paused as Lionblaze and Cinderheart went into the camp, "You're worried."

"The next couple of seasons won't be easy for our Clan."

"Because of this…?" Jayfeather was silent, "Jayfeather, I know you have a pessimistic view of the world, but look at our camp, look at how well we are thriving especially after the battle with the Dark Forest warriors. Cinderheart will give birth to Lionblaze's kits soon and Dovewing has already moved into the nursery."

"I just like to be prepared."