Prologue
A tortoiseshell she-cat looked down, watching the clans with a sigh. "Are you sure she's ready for this, Haretail?"
A brown tom with white patches nodded reassuringly. "Of course she is. I trust that the others will think so too. Don't doubt yourself, Dapplewhisker."
"But must we put her through so much pain?" Dapplewhisker replied solemnly. "She certainly doesn't deserve any of it."
"I know." He put his tail on her back comfortingly. "But the best leaders are the ones who know what others are going through. She will become wise and compassionate with time."
Dapplewhisker nodded, "I just hope that I'm not wrong about her." She walked away, turning her head a few paces later. "I'll be hunting; the activity always seems to clear my mind. Report to me if anything changes. We'll tell the others at moonhigh. She'll be born by then."
"You don't wish to see her birth?" Haretail asked and Dapplewhisker turned.
"There's no reason to. I've seen plenty in my lifetime, and I'll see plenty more." With these words, the she-cat padded away, and the clans drew silent for a few moments.
The silence did not last as an earsplitting wail of a queen was heard even from StarClan. Timberkit had been born.
