Prologue

Cinderpelt was sorting out the fresh herbs from the withered ones at the store when Leafkit came in, glanceing all around the den, from the mossy floor to the herbs, then at Cinderpelt. Leafkit was born only four sunrises ago, but she was already looking like a 3 moon old kit.

Leafkit stared at the grey she cat with amber eyes as an owl.

"Who are you?" The kit squeaked, now staring at Cinderpelt's crippled leg. "I never saw you coming back from a patrol!"

Cinderpelt purred softly at the kit's curiosity.

"I am Cinderpelt, Thunderclan's medicine cat." She answered.

"Whats a medyicne cat?"

Cinderpelt chuckled. "Not medycine cat, medicine cat" she corrected. "It's when a cat knows which herbs to give another cat when he's sick or hurt." Cinderpelt explained while showcasing the herbs with her paw.

"whoa!" Leafkit exclaimed. She studied each herb, then she pawed at some roots. "What's that?" Leafkit studied the root closely.

Cinderpelt purred.

"That's brodock root." Cinderpelt explained. "it works great for rat bites." The small brown kit frowned and asked the same question Cinderpelt herself asked for many, many, moons.

"How?"

"It's just as it is, Leafkit. Just like how do seasons change? How do cats die? How is Starclan-well, Starclan?" Cinderpelt replied with wisdom in her brilliant blue eyes. She looked back down at the kit, still processing the information, nodding slowly in a steady beat.

Suddenly, Sandstorm bursted into the den, worry in her eyes, paws trembling at the cool soil of the medicine den. Her eyes immediately darted at Leafkit.

"Leafkit!" Sandstorm scolded, storming up to her. "You had me worried sick! You should have been in the clearing, where i could see you!" Sandstorm picked leafkit up by her scruff.

"But Sandstorm! The medicine cat den is so much more interesting than the nursery! And Cinderpelt is nice too, she explained what a brodock root was! Did you know it can heal rat bites? I wish Longtail was kind as Cinderpelt!" Leafkit kept chatting. Sandstorm dipped her head towards Cinderpelt.

"Thanks for watching her, Cinderpelt. She is usually much to herself, i never thought she would be in here." Sandstorm muttered under a mouthful of fur. "I hope she didn't get under your paws, much." and with that said, Sandstorm padded out from the den.

Cinderpelt sighed. She was a bit tired with the small encounter with Leafkit, so she limped to her nest and closed her eyes.

Almost immediately she opened them again. She was at the highrock, touching noses with firestar. Next to her was herself-Cinderpelt. But that didn't make sense. was she another cat in this dream? She looked down at her paws and saw a familiar brown tabby pelt. Leafkit. Or Leafpaw now? She-no, Cinderpelt was touching noses with her now. The whole scene was ripped away from her. Now she was at a strange creek. Where am i? Cinderpelt thought. Then, a jet black tom brushed his fur against hers. She automatically did the same to him. she loved him! Now the creek and the black cat faded away. A incredible pain was stinging from her rear. Now she was having kits? But she is a medicine cat! Four kits were suckling at her belly, she was about to lap their tiny bodys when the kits dissappeared. She was grasping for breath, but no air came. She was drowning! Water filled her lungs as she helplessly clawed and kicked the water. She felt teeth sink in her scruff pulling her back up. A white light filled her vision as she heard cats calling. wailing. screaming. "leafpool. leafpool. leafpool. LEAFPOOL. LEAFPOOL."

"CINDERPELT!" She jumped to her paws, finally air filling her lungs as she panted heavily. She looked around the den, and for a second, just a brief heartbeat, she saw-'Leafpool.' The one in her dreams. Next to her were the kits! Cinderpelt blinked, and cats were gone. There, as small as a rabbit, exactly were Leafpool was standing-was Leafkit.