PROLOGUE

The pale moon cast its silver light onto the dark forest. It was still and quiet, as a light breeze blew through the air. Light paw steps could be heard in the distance. In the ferns, a figure stalked the undergrowth. Coming out into the moonlight, the cat was now visible. He was a strong tom, with a bright flame colored pelt and green eyes. Perking his ears, the cat continued on down a slope, that then opened up into a clearing. In the middle of the grassy opening, a beautiful bluish colored she-cat stood waiting, her pelt glimmering with stars.

"Firestar!" she mewed, getting up and greeting the fire colored tom.

He greeted her, then looked around. "Bluestar, where are the others? Where is Spottedleaf and Yellowfang?" he asked, his green eyes gazing for the two medicine cats.

"They should be here soon Firestar. But tell me, how is ThunderClan doing?" the former leader asked, laying down onto the green grass, soaked with dew.

Firestar laid down next to her. "Well since the badger attack we have been rebuilding the camp. We lost two cats though, Blossompaw and Spiderleg. And Dustpelt had to move to the elders den, his leg was too badly injured."

Bluestar's silver eyes were full of anger. "Those stupid badgers! Dont they know by now, that its ThunderClan's territory!?".

The hissing leaders, pelt was bristling.

Firestar gave her a lick of comfort. "Dont worry Bluestar, pretty soon that wont matter. If all this is too happen, the three will have to be guided, wont they?".

Bluestar turned to him, now calm. "Yes they will Firestar. As the prophecy has told, the three have come, but not as i had expected. Leafpool made a wise choice, even though it is forbidden for a medicine cat to have kits."

Firestar sighed, as rain started to pour down. "You knew didnt you? You knew the kits werent Squirrelflights."

Bluestar nodded, "I had my suspicions as did some of the others. But we never knew for sure."

The ThunderClan leader dipped his head to his former mentor, "I should have noticed sooner. Squirrelflight was back to warrior duties only a couple days after the kits were born. And Leafpool did look rather plump now that i think about it." Shuffling his feet Firestar looked rather ashamed of himself.

Bluestar moved forward and laid her tail gently on his shoulder. "There was no way you could have known. Leafpool did what she thought was best, and Squirrelflight was willing to help her sister, no matter what."

Once the two leaders were done talking, a figure moved behind Bluestar. The long dark gray pelt of Yellowfang appeared, striding in the shadows.

"Finally, nice of you too make an appearance Yellowfang. Were is Spottedleaf?" Bluestar hissed, looking into the scarred medicine cats yellow eyes.

"Something's happening Bluestar, you have to come see! Now!" Yellowfang burst out, her voice was quivering with fright.

Bluestar and Firestar looked at each other, then raced after Yellowfang, who was running through the forest. There was no silver light shining through the clouds anymore, it was covered by darkness. Yellowfang kept running as Bluestar and Firestar followed closely. Up ahead a loud yowl was heard, making the three cats run faster. As the shadows broke into a dark clearing, Firestar and Bluestar both let out a cry of shock. "What has happened?!" Bluestar screamed, looking at the sight before her.

In the middle of the clearing, StarClan cats were gathered, staring at flames that were burning before them.

"Its a sign!" a tortoiseshell tom yowled.

In the center of the clearing, the fire was burnt into three stars, blazing wildly. In the middle of them a figure lay, lifeless. It was Spottedleaf.

"Get her out of there!" Firestar yelled, approaching the flames.

Bluestar pulled him back, "No! You cant Firestar, just wait" Bluestar told the ThunderClan leader.

As the flames burnt, a bright white light began glowing in the middle, it was coming from Spottedleaf. The light rose up, as did the young medicine cat. It stopped once she was on her feet, the beautiful she-cat opened her eyes. They were snow white and glowing.

"Spottedleaf?" Firestar asked, approaching his former friend.

She simply stood there, the three stars burning on all sides of her.

All at once the flames died, then Spottedleaf spoke. "The stars life is coming to an end. Three will soon become four and guide the clans to a new beginning."

Silence engulfed the StarClan cats, once Spottedleaf spoke those words. Her eyes turned back to amber and she fell to the ground.

Bluestar and Yellowfang helped her up.

"What happened?" she spoke in her regular voice, looking around at all the cats staring at her in horror.

"You had a vision young one" Yellowfang hissed, trying to sooth her, then shot a worried glance at Bluestar.

"Is it true?" a dark brown tom hissed, looking at Bluestar and Yellowfang.

"I dont know Barkface" the blue StarClan she-cat meowed quietly.

Firestar turned to her, his green eyes glowing. "Three will become four? Does that mean what i think it means?" he asked, looking to Bluestar.

"I think so" she answered, "Firestar, dark times are ahead. And not just for the forest clans, but for StarClan. You must be prepared to take on this task my friend, are you ready?".

The flame furred tom looked shocked. "Ready? Ready for what?" he asked, confused.

Bluestar smiled, "Ready for the last part of the prophecy, the fourth is coming. And if he is too be ready, he will need a mentor" Bluestar told him.

Firestar still looked confused, but then it finally came to him. "But if he will be my apprentice....then that means" he trailed off as he thought in his head.

Bluestar smiled again and laid her tail on his shoulder, "Yes, Leader's only mentor Deputies kits. Your daughter is too be a real mother, finally."

Firestar's face brightened, "I will mentor him as best i can, but i dont think i can teach him all that he will need to know."

Yellowfang moved forward and stood next to him, "That is why we will guide him, you will mentor him during the day, and we will mentor him in his dreams."

Bluestar nodded in agreement then turned back to the ThunderClan leader. "Good luck my friend, may StarClan be with you. And remember we are always here, when you want to talk."

Firestar said his goodbyes, then turned back into the shadows and went back into reality.

"You didnt tell him did you?" A soft voice spoke from behind Bluestar, it was Spottedleaf.

Bluestar turned, "No i didnt. He doesnt need to know." Spottedleaf turned to where Firestar had just left.

"Hes coming to join us soon, but first he must complete his destiny."