Prologue: Just Another Forbidden Love

"Can't ThunderClan cats ever control their own medicine cats?" Blackclaw snorted.

"Peace, Blackclaw. This is ThunderClan's business, none of ours," Barkface meowed calmly.

Even as the former medicine cat said that, he knew it was not true.

"It is OUR business if it concerns our medicine cat and the only proper one, too!" Blackclaw snorted.

"You know that Mothwing is loyal to RiverClan."

"How do you know? For all you know, she can turn out like Hawkfrost! Well, she's definitely not joining one of our ranks at her death. That's for sure."

"What are you fighting about?" A pretty she-cat padded towards them, concern in her eyes.

Barkface lifted his head to give a brisk nod. "Ah, Honeyfern. There you are."

Pain flashed in her eyes as she looked at the starry pools below. "Oh."

"See how YOUR mate turned out, Honeyfern, slobbering all over your si-"

"I believe that's enough, Blackclaw." Barkface gave a hard, stern stare at the hostile RiverClan cat. "Jayfeather can take care of himself."

"Take care of himself? A blind cat?"

"Jayfeather is a good medicine cat!" Honeyfern flared.

"Peace, Blackclaw, Honeyfern."

Barkface gave a last glance at the starry blow that shimmered with mirages of Jayfeather, Briarpaw and Willowshine.

"And we should REALLY stop Tribe cats from visiting. That Stoneteller only comes here for sake of that blind cat!"

True enough, thought Barkface. He just hoped nothing bad came out of this.