Prologue

A tortoiseshell she-cat peered into the depths of a body of still water, so still that had her eyes not been open she could have been sleeping. A large white tom padded silently up to her.

"What do you see?" he asked.

"Great trouble… I'm not sure if they can—" she was cut off by a black and white tom with a long tail.

"Of course they can." he said gently.

The tortoiseshell shook her head. "But how will they do it?"

A gray she-cat trotted over to them. "Look deeper; you'll see the answer," she said impatiently, her yellow eyes gleaming in the moonlight.

The she-cat did as she said, then drew back abruptly. "A stranger?" she mewed quietly.

The white tom nodded. "The great leaders have spoken. The gem will bring us back together."

"But how will she find the way?" a large gray tom wondered.

"We will have to send one of our own." decided a blue-gray she-cat. She turned to a jet-black tom with cloudy blue eyes. "Cresentstar, would you do the honors?"

The tom hesitated, then turned and padded away.

The white tom turned to the blue-gray she-cat. "Will you send a sign?"

She shook her head. "The fire will find her when she comes."

Ruby

Ruby crouched in the undergrowth, scared out of her mind. The scent glands on the roof of her mouth warned her of an unfamiliar, hostile animal near her. She crept out of her hiding place as quietly as possible and realized that the acrid smell was not a cat at all, but a black and white animal just larger than her that was nosing in the grass a few fox-lengths ahead of her. Deciding she was done hiding, she gave a loud screech and propelled herself at the creature, which turned at once, preparing to fight back.

Firestar

Firestar raced along the familiar forest paths, insomnia keeping him awake. The few moments of sleep he'd gotten had been hampered by a dream of running along this very path, heading toward the Great Oak. He hoped this was what StarClan wanted him to do.

Hearing the sounds of a battle ahead of him, he skidded to a halt, scenting an unfamiliar cat and… badger! Different clan or not, no cat deserved to die at the claws of a wretched creature like that. He began to run and stopped once again, far enough away he wouldn't be noticed, but close enough to realize the cat in front of him did not need his help. She had already driven the badger to the ground with stunning speed and accuracy.

Firestar watched as the young she-cat delivered a final blow. Not enough to kill the animal, but one to win the battle which sent the badger scampering away into the undergrowth. As she stood in victory, she looked just like his daughter, and Firestar felt the familiar pang of grief when he thought of Squirrelflight.

He parted his jaws to drink in the she-cat's scent. She was not from any of the clans, and not a rouge or loner, but there was a strong sense of Twolegs on the cat that had just noticed the noble leader.

"Peace, young one," Firestar meowed softly when the she-cat bristled in fear. "I am Firestar, leader of ThunderClan. What brings you to my territory?" The she-cat stayed silent, her bright green eyes wide and confused. "Well," he began patiently. "Who are you, than?"

"Ru… Ruby Harten," she stuttered.

"You seem young to have received your warrior name," he shook his head. "Well, Rubyheart, what clan do you belong to?"

"Clans?" Rubyheart looked even more puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

"No? Are you a kittypet, then?" Firestar asked. "I mean… housecat?"

She shook her head.

"Who are you, then?"

"I… don't know,"

A/N: If you can guess all the cats in the first part, you get a... Squirrelflight plushie!