SS0301: We're back!

GS: Already? Great! Do I get to do the disclaimer now?

SS0301: Only if you stop interrupting me.

GS: Oh, okay.

FS: Ignore him. Except when he does the disclaimer.

SS0301: Thank you, oh mighty Firestar, for that oh-so-helpful tip I already knew.

FS: You're welcome.

GS: Actually, I think that was sarcasm.

FS: Yes, but I'm going to pretend it wasn't.

SS0301: You must be the dumbest leader in all five Clans, Firestar. Or else the most narcissistic.

GS: Hey! Hey! Can I do the disclaimer now?

SS0301: Fine. Go ahead.

GS: Great! Now, Sandstorm0301 does not own me or Firestar or any of the other cats, or the forest or the Clans or anything she didn't make up. Which she hasn't done...yet.

SS0301: THANK you, Graystripe! Now, I command thee: Read, and enjoy!

GS: What if I don't enjoy it?

SS0301: The READER, you dumb cat!

GS: Oh, them. Right. Can I claw their eyes out if they don't enjoy it?

SS0301: NO!

Chapter One

Firestar shivered in the chilly breeze. Leaf-fall was here. Already, the leaves at the end of the branches were turning red and gold. Early morning sunlight streamed over the treetops and made his pelt glow like fire.

Graystripe, his deputy and best friend, padded across the clearing. "Morning, Firestar," he called. "Have you seen Sandstorm yet?"

Firestar shook his head. "Not yet." He stretched and yawned, and then added, "But I think I'll go see her now."

"Mind if I come, too?" mewled Graystripe uncertainly.

Firestar laughed. "Of course you can, silly. Have you seen the kits yet?"

"I was too scared of Cinderpelt," admitted Graystripe.

Firestar purred in amusement and gave his friend a lick on the shoulder. "She won't bite you with her teeth or her tongue if I'm there." He bounded across the clearing towards the nursery. Graystripe followed.

"Hello, Firestar," purred Sandstorm as he entered.

"How are you?" asked Firestar anxiously. "Are you alright? Are Squirrelkit and Leafkit both doing well?"

"I think you're doing worse than I am," teased Sandstorm. "You'll worry yourself to pieces!"

Firestar laughed; if Sandstorm could tease, then she must be okay. "Well, it's be a shame if I fell to pieces," he retorted. "I'd never see these lovely young kits get to be as lovely as their mother."

Cinderpelt limped into the nursery. "I hope you aren't disturbing Sandstorm's rest," she said severely, but there was a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

"Never," said Firestar with mock graveness. "I was making sure that no one could disturb her rest, in fact."

"Good," purred Cinderpelt. "Are you alright, Sandstorm? Not too tired? Need anything?"

"I feel as if I've become an elder," said Sandstorm in a teasingly cross voice. "Firepaw, go get me so fresh-kill!"

"That's taking it too far," said Firestar, growling playfully, but he bounded over to the pile of fresh-kill and grabbed a fat mouse. He took it to the nursery and dropped it on the ground in front of Sandstorm. She nodded gratefully and lowered her head to eat it.

"So, are their names decided for sure?" asked Graystripe. "Leafkit and Squirrelkit?"

"Yes," said Firestar. "Do you think they're good names?"

"Of course they are," said Graystripe.

"But, of course, you'd say that anyways," meowed Cinderpelt, only half joking.

"As deputy, I think it's my duty," said Graystripe with a laugh.

Sandstorm yawned. "Of course you do," she murmured sleepily.

"Oh, get out, you two," scolded Cinderpelt good-naturedly. "Go on, shoo!" Firestar licked Sandstorm's head and then left the nursery.

"I'd better go organize today's patrols," said Graystripe. "I'll see you later."

"See you," agreed Firepaw. "Maybe if we get a break later we can go hunting together." Since he'd become leader, he'd barely had time to spend with Graystripe.

"Depends if you can finish all your leaderly duties, I suppose," joked Graystripe, before bounding off to organize the patrols.

Firestar shivered again, and wondered what he should do. He didn't think he had any "leaderly duties" to attend to right now, if Graystripe was organizing patrols. He didn't have an apprentice, and as far as he knew he wasn't on a patrol. but he felt like he should be doing something, so he went to visit Cinderpelt.

The medicine cat was still in the nursery, but Sandstorm was asleep. "Back already, Firestar?" asked Cinderpelt softly. "Sandstorm's not going to disappear into thin air, you know."

"Have Starclan spoken to you recently?" asked Firestar, suddenly anxious.

Cinderpelt hesitated, and finally murmured, "The past reawakened, a warrior arisen. Beware the one who haunts you through the eyes of another."

Firestar shivered, and this time it wasn't from the cold. "But Tigerstar's dead."

"I know," said Cinderpelt, frowning. "I don't know what it means."

"Neither do I," said Firestar, but whatever the prophecy meant, he would have to be ready when it came.

SS0301: So, did you like it?

FS: No.

SS0301: I wasn't asking you. And why didn't you like it?

FS: You made me freaking out about Sandstorm.

SS: Are you trying to deny that you did act like that?

FS: I didn't!

SS0301: Right. Well, read and review, please! See you next time!