Chapter 2:

"Sandstorm?!" Echosong exclaimed. "Echosong, it's so good to see you again." Sandstorm mewed. Echosong, her eyes still wide with disbelief, couldn't help asking, "How did you, you know, get here?" A saddened look clouded Sandstorm's eyes, unspent tears brimming, she mewed, "After Firestar gave up his ninth life for his Clan, I tried, but the grief of losing him was too much." Echosong felt her heart wrench again, both in sympathy and shock 'Firestar's dead?'

"Sandstorm I'm so sorry, if there was anything I could have done…" Echosong trailed away. Sandstorm shook her head, "There was nothing a medicine cat could have done, and even then, you were moons away." Echosong bowed her head in grief, 'I just wish there was something I could have done, could do." "Can I see him, is he here?" Echosong mewed. Sandstorm let out a small amused purr, "Haven't you guessed already?" she asked, "Even Leafstar has started to figure it out."

"What?" Echosong mewed quizzically. Sandstorm remained silent, Echosong was still puzzled when Sandstorm mewed, "There is something you can do Echosong." Echosong looked up sharply, realization dawning on her face, "You don't mean…" Sandstorm cut in, "Yes I do mean." Echosong swayed, the world spinning around her, Sandstorm's voice sounded in her head, "He is destined for great things Echosong, he has accomplished amazing things and will continue to do so, as was his promise, ThunderClan means everything to him, and he will do everything in his power to ensure the Clans safety."

'As was his promise' Sandstorm's worlds still rang in Echosong's ears as she groggily woke up. Wildfire stretched his stiff muscles in the morning sunshine, his ginger pelt flaring like fire. He went to sneak out when Leafstar's mew stopped him, "Wildfire, you are to remain in this camp until we can organise a cat to take you home." Wildfire shot her an irritated look and mewed, "Leafstar, why are you being so hospitable, I am from an enemy Clan, surely you would want something for my release, wouldn't you?"

Leafstar shook her head, a ginger and white tom padded up to her, murmuring. Leafstar looked at him, mewing, "Not now Billystorm, later, ask Sharpclaw for something to do." The tom dipped his head and headed off to find the deputy. Leafstar turned her gaze back towards Wildfire, "My Clan and I have no quarrel with you or ThunderClan; we will forever be in their debt." Wildfire felt confused, so he decided to ask, "Why Leafstar, tell me why." Leafstar settled down and began the story of how Firestar, leader of ThunderClan and his loyal mate Sandstorm had rebuilt SkyClan.

Wildfire nodded as Leafstar finished her story, "That makes sense to me." Leafstar dipped her head and padded away, leaving Wildfire with his own thought. 'Who am I?', the thought flashed through his mind. He heard pawsteps behind him, swivelling his ears, he listened in, 'Echosong'. "Hello Wildfire, are you coming?" She asked. "Going, where?" Echosong flicked her ears, looking up at the sky. Wildfire followed her gaze, realizing the sun was going down. "It's the full moon tonight, which means Gathering." Echosong told him. "I know that." He snapped, irritated that he had forgotten all about it. Echosong's whiskers twitched with amusement, and Wildfire silently cursed all medicine cats, 'Why did they have to know everything?', he thought.

Wildfire followed Echosong and the other cats as they padded to the highest point in the camp. Wildfire looked around at the other cats, turning to Echosong he asked, "Is this the Gathering, we haven't even left the camp, where are the other Clans?" Echosong looked at him, her eyes searching. Slowly, she mewed, "There are no other Clans here, it is just us, even though the other Clans drove us away all those years ago, we still gather, to honour the truce that lasted for countless moons."

The Gathering wore on throughout the night, the SkyClan cats sharing tongues and talking to their ancestors. They spoke about everything that had happened since last Gathering. Even the 'daylight warriors' came, Wildfire still didn't quite get their reason for coming but he acknowledged that they were trying to be part of the Clan. Echosong had told him about how she had joined SkyClan, how she used to be a kittypet, and then when she dreamed of StarClan cats. Wildfire pricked his ears when he heard the story.

"I was a loner once, when our dead ancestors, who became StarClan, decreed that the cats living in the forest would join in Clans under the best cats, they were Thunder, River, Wind, Shadow, and Sky." Wildfire paused, taking in The Clans were named after these great leaders, I knew Thunder, he was an impressive cat, but he had this leadership element, which is why I joined him when he invited me. He gave us all warrior names, I was Fire, but Thunder said that in honour of my years in the wild, and the fact that I moved around as a loner, he called me Wildfire."

Echosong slowly nodded, the new information cascading through her mind. 'Fire, fire is the key to all of this.' She thought. Wildfire suddenly felt tired and frail, as though he were an elder. The feeling passed quickly and left him with a sick stomach. Groaning he got up off the ground, as he did so, Leafstar called an end to the Gathering and he, along with the other SkyClan cats, trekked back to camp.

Settling back down to sleep in his den, he closed his eyes, thinking about what was happening to him. 'I need to visit StarClan' was Wildfire's last conscious thought before he slipped into sleep. Sleep for Echosong on the other hand, was elusive. She lay in her den for hours before rest came to her. 'Sandstorm, where are you?' She thought. Eyes flying open, Echosong stood in StarClan's hunting grounds. "Echosong, it is good to see you again." Echosong turned to see Sandstorm, a purr rising in her throat. "Sandstorm!" she exclaimed. Sandstorm lifted her tail, signalling silence. "Echosong, I assume you have a question for me." Echosong stood straighter, "Yes, yes I do."