Prologue

It was all over. The battle was fought and won by the Clan cats. She knew the prophecy had been fulfilled, but now the clan cats had to be ready for what was next to come.

Ferncloud got up to her paws, walking over to were Firestar who was catching up with some of his formal friends, Bluestar and Whitestorm. As she sat down by her new clan mates, she nodded at she met Bluestar and Whitestorm's gaze.

As a new member to Starclan, Ferncloud was sick to her stomach. She was having a hard time getting used to her new home. Her ear twitched as the thought of her family popped into her mind.

The she-cat sighed heavily and let a deep breath fill her lungs to speak. "Greetings, Bluestar, Whitestorm, Firestar," She said letting her eyes drift down through the clouds, getting a clear view of the Clans. Spotting Dustpelt, the worried she cat shifted her paws on the soft dirt. Oh my Dustpelt. How much I will miss you. She thought.

"Ferncloud, is something bothering you?" Said Bluestar, one of the ThunderClan previous leaders. "You clearly look upset about something." She meowed with a worried look on her face. "You know we are always here to talk."

"I'm fine." Ferncloud meowed softly, feeling Bluestar's disbelieving gaze stare at her soft, smooth, groomed pelt.

"Is it about Dustpelt and your kits?"

"Er. . .Yes. I never knew this would hurt so much. You know... to let go." Ferncloud admitted, feeling her face warm up. She looked up away from the working Clan with a sigh. Bluestar gazed into her eyes, as if she was telling her she had felt the same way before.

Firestar cleared his throat. "Ferncloud, you must not forget that you died saving the Clan you loved. Dustpelt will clearly understand. He's a great warrior, and when the time comes, he will come and join you." Firestar touched noses with her shoulder. "Dustpelt will always love you. He even asked me to tell you."

"Really?" Ferncloud asked, her beaming eyes lighting up and with a soft purr. "Thank you."

Ferncloud sat with her new Clan mates for some time until her ears pricked as she heard her name being called. She turned to see Goldenflower, one of the queens that shared the nursery with her many moons ago. She was glad to see the pale ginger she-cat's fresh face again. She padded up to her and sat.

For the rest of the afternoon they shared tongues and a vole together. In that time, she saw more cats she knew such as Longtail, Mousefur, Hollyleaf, greeting old buddies from long ago. She let out a soft purr watching the beautiful sunset. Goldenflower let out a purr before closing her eyes. Ferncloud felt great, with nothing to worry about. No more battles, no more dark forest cats, no more bloodshed. The Clans can now be at peace with each other and continue with their warrior life. . . At least that's what she thought.

Chapter one: Dovewing

"Dovewing! Dovewing, wake up!" Called a cat from outside the den. The grey warrior smelt a familiar sent as she opened her eyes.

"Bumblestripe!" She purred as she blinked her sleepy eyes. "Can you believe it? She exclaimed with a yawn. "We finally won our battle after all this time!" Her purr grew louder as she got up to her paws. "This is one of the first times I can sleep without worrying about those evil mouse-brained forest cats."

Dovewing reached out her paws to stretch, but felt a strong sting on her wounds as she lifted herself up. She turned her body to make sure Bumblestripe couldn't see her wounds, as they were deep and open. She tried to hide them with her long fur.

Looking up, she could see her sister, Ivypool sleeping in a half ripped up moss bed. Dovewing knew her sister really needs her rest. After all, she had been staying up every night training in the dark forest, waiting for the battle. I'll better let her sleep. Dovewing told herself turning back towards the entrance of the den.

Dovewing patted out of the apprentice den, which was the den least destroyed by the battle. Most of the Clan was up and awake working on rebuilding the camp.

Bramblestar was helping Birchfall carry branches into the camp while Brackenfur, Icecloud, Greystripe, Cloudtail, and Spiderleg were placing the twigs and branches down, planning out where the warrior den was going to be re-built. She noticed Dustpelt working a bit slow. He must be sad about losing his mate.

"Dovewing, let's go see if we can join any hunting patrols." Bumblestripe encouraged, joining her side. Their pelts touched.

Dovewing flicked her tail "Alright, let's go talk with Bramblestar." She led the way down to where Bramblestar was working. The new leader looked up at her before setting his twigs down.

Bramblestar sat down, politely nodding his big head. "Dovewing and Bumblestripe.. Just the cats I wanted to see." He rasped, wrapping his tail around his paws.

Dovewing carefully observed Bramblestar, cocking her head. He looks just like Tigerheart. She thought as her heart starting to pound. Memories started building up with the young warrior, and sadness filled her heart. She shook her head as she looked up at her leader. "Bumblestripe and I would like to join a hunting patrol"

"Yes, Squirrelflight hasn't made any patrols yet, but perhaps you should take more cats." The leader replied. Take Foxleap, Hazeltail, and Lionblaze with you." With a nod of his head, he went back to helping the Clan.

On their way to find the warriors, Squirrelflight came out of her den. Her fur was matted and wasn't groomed. She had a worry gaze.

"Dovewing! Look at your wounds." She said flicking her tail. "You better go to Jayfeather and get it checked." The dirty she-cat nudged her towards Jayfeather's den.

Dovewing pushed away. "Squirrelflight, I'm fine!" She yelped, as the the older warrior puffed with amusement. As the deputy stared at her, she realized that if she went hunting her cuts, that they could get worse. Dovewing hesitated for a moment, but she'd rather hunt then stay in a den all day with Jayfeather. I'll be fine. Dovewing told herself as she turned to Bumblestripe and started to look for cats in her patrol group.

"That was an order." Squirrelflight growled. Flattening her ears, Dovewing rolled her eyes, but knew she was right.

"Alright. I'll go talk with Jayfeather."

Squirrelflight nodded with approval. "Good. I'll let Cinderheart take your place in the patrol." With a nod of the head, Dovewing walked away from the two cats and into Jayfeather's den. The smell of herbs tickled her nose. She spotted Briarlight sleeping in her nest while Jayfeather was counting herbs.

Dovewing wrinkled her nose. "Jayfeather? I came for you to treat my wounds." Jayfeathers fur pricked up as she spoke.

Jayfeather turned quickly. "Dovewing! Co-come in." He said jerking his body back around and sat down, as his fur started to settle back down smoothly on his back. Dovewing obeyed sitting next to Jayfeather.

No cat talked as Jayfeather treated her wounds. When he was done he sat up tall. "Well, your wounds are pretty deep. You should stay here for the day." Great. Not what Dovewing was hoping for, but she knew she could go back to her regular duties the next morning.

"I could give you poppy seeds if you want. It would really help get rid of the pain, and the rest will be good for you." he said turning back around.

Dovewing flinched. "N-No thanks. I'll be fine without them." She mumbled back. Dovewing started to settle in a nest as she noticed Brairlight had some cuts and claw marks of her own. She had pretty deep gashes down her shoulder, and a long cut running down her back. Did the dark forest cats fight her? How dare they! She thought, almost speaking the words out load. The vision of cats wanting to hurt such a sweet cat like Brairlight made her mad. She could feel her claws rip the moss underneath her.

Brairlight's eyes slowly opened as she let out a yawn. "Dovewing!" she said in surprise, sitting up quickly, almost looking as if she was fully awake. "Is Jayfeather keeping you in camp?" she asked.

"Yes. I get to leave in the morning." She said unconsecrated to her question, more focused on the bundled up she-cats wounds.

"Well, while you're here maybe you could help me with the herbs. You would be a great help for Jayfeather and I." She mewed, let out a soft purr.

Dovewing smiled. "Of course . . . But I better let you know…I'm not well with herds."

Brairlight let out a murmur of laughter. "Don't worry. It won't be that hard." Said the small she-cat, lifter herself up with her two strong front legs, and dragged herself to a row of herbs. She counted different leaves and seeds as she paused her counting at the poppy seeds. "Jayfeather? It looks like we need more poppy seeds. And by the look of it, we also will need more cobwebs." She meowed turning towards him.

Jayfeather looked up. "I know. I'm planning on going to get some more right now." He said firmly, heading to the entrance of the den.

"What if I came with you?" Brairlight's eyes lit up. "I think I'm strong enough to get poppy seeds and back!" she said with excitement.

"No. not yet" Jayfeathers voice was strict. "I need to go alone."

"But-"

"It would be safer for you to stay in camp. I haven't left the camp since the battle, so who knows what's out there." He spoke without hesitation.

Dovewing narrowed her eyes at the grey tom. "Shouldn't you go with someone else as well? What if there are dark forest cats still out there? Maybe you should go with-" Jayfeather cut both of them off.

"I'll go alone." He meowed and walked out of the den. Dovewing let out a cold shiver. I hope he knows what he's doing.

Dovewing turned back and watched Brairlight go back to work. With nothing else to do, she let her senses reach out, following the grey tom. He was walking up the lake shore, as he stopped and faced the water. Then he headed back up the lake towards Windclan territory. Where was he going? She thought as watched the tom walk out farther and farther from the Clan.