"The territory can be easily separated so no cat will have to run too far. I think Onewhisker could lead the pack to here, where Fernpaw and Ashpaw can pick up the pack." Graystripe pawed at the ground and fixed his yellow gaze at me. We were working on the plan for the dog pack. Sunhigh had almost begun, and it reflected off of the trees; damp leaves from last night's rain nearly sparkled.

I nodded and glanced at the tree that Graystripe sat under. There were thick branches in good enough places that any cat could easily climb up them and into safety. "Graystripe, I must speak to Bluestar before it is too late. Tell Onewhisker that he can lose the pack by climbing up this tree." I leapt to my feet and flicked my tail in farewell to my friend.

StarClan, I need your help... Bluestar may flay me. I shut his eyes and silently prayed to StarClan.

A few moments later, I was back in the camp. My green eyes surveyed the camp in shock- no one was there except Bluestar, Onewhisker, and me. ThunderClan's camp has never looked so deserted.

"Good luck, Fireheart," Onewhisker whispered in my ear as I padded toward my former leader's den. I nodded to him in thanks and, giving a deep breath, entered the den.

"Bluestar," I began, "I must speak with you."

Bluestar was turned away from me; I thought she was asleep at first. The ThunderClan leader suddenly lifted her head and stared at me in confusion. I could barely see her icy blue eyes studying my face in the darkness.

"Sunstar...?" She whispered. "What is it? It's awfully early for the next patrol."

I blinked in confusion and thought back to the ThunderClan history that the elders taught me as an apprentice. Sunstar was the leader of ThunderClan before Bluestar. Has the former ThunderClan leader come to take Bluestar to StarClan? Does this mean that Bluestar is dying?

I looked back to the blue/gray she-cat in alarm. She had sat up and was washing her paw; one of her eyes was fixed onto my face.

"Well," she hissed, "what is it?"

"Uh..." I hesitated as Bluestar leapt out of her moss nest and exited her den. With a small sigh, I followed her.

I found the leader staring at her clan camp from in front of the Highrock. Her head shot from left to right like an arrow. "Did you see Snowfur's kits yet? Whitekit looks like he'll be a great warrior. He's all ready grown bigger than Yellowkit and Hawkkit."

"Bl-Bluestar..."

Bluestar frowned and tipped her head to the side in confusion. "Why are you calling me Bluestar? I am the warrior Bluefur, am I not?"

She thinks I'm Sunstar! Fine then, I'll play along. I smiled and raked my mind for all that I was told about her warrior days. "Of course, Bluefur! Er- I need you for a patrol at Sunningrocks. Thistleclaw came back last night and told me of RiverClan scent all over there. I believe that they are planning an attack."

Her eyes widened in alarm and pain was obvious in her eyes. "I-I can't Sunstar... I... I..."

Cursing under my breath, I remembered that Oakheart, Bluestar's mate, was in RiverClan. "It's just a patrol, Bluest- Bluefur."

Seeing that there was no way out of it, the confused ThunderClan leader gave in. "Fine. Who else is going?"

"Uh... You and I are, and... the rest of the patrol is all ready there."

"Fine." Bluestar leapt up and sat under the fern tunnel with her shoulder's hunched. I met her there and followed my former leader to the Sunningrocks.

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"Whitestorm... Whitestorm!" The great whit warrior pricked his ears from the top of the Sunningrocks. Bluestar was sniffing around the grass and frowning when she couldn't find RiverClan scent.

"What is it?" He jumped down and glanced at his leader. "How did you get her here?"

"I don't have much time. Bluestar's mind is wandering back to her warrior days. Just keep her here until I return, okay?" Whitestorm opened his mouth in confusion, but Bluestar beat him to speaking. As I raced into the forest, Bluestar turned to her nephew.

"Sunstar? Where are you going? Oh, hello Whitekit. What are you doing here?"

Thank you, StarClan... Leaving the white warrior to deal with his leader, I bolted as fast as my tired paws could carry me through the forest to where Graystripe was waiting. When my nose picked up his scent on a tree, I slowed and followed it until I found Graystripe under a tall oak tree.

"Fireheart! You made it!" Graystripe was pacing around a small patch of grass in slight panic. There was a large stretch from there to the gorge. "I was beginning to get worried that I might have to run this entire thing myself!"

I slid to the ground with a large sigh. "No... I'm here," I panted.

My friend frowned, and his yellow eyes narrowed. "How will you run with that exhaustion?"

"I'll be-" At that moment, a loud bark sliced through the air. "The dogs!"

"Hurry! Get to your spot! I marked it with my scent!" I nodded to Graystripe, who crept under a large holly bush.

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Where are the dogs? Great StarClan, please don't let anyone get caught. Ages had passed since I left Graystripe at the holly bush. My muscles ached with the pain of sitting still for so long, as I hadn't moved from this bush in a while. The sun had halfway set; the sky was ready for Silverpelt.

A sudden howl met my ears. I jumped up and watched as Graystripe clawed up the tree next to me; he stopped and panted like no tomorrow at the top of the oak. With a quick prayer to StarClan, I raced forward and headed for the gorge. The snarls of the lead dog rang into my ginger colored ear; his hot breath flew down at my head.

Finally the gorge was in sight. I gave an exhausted cry of joy that quickly turned into panic. An older version of Bramblekit was waiting next to the gorge. His amber eyes were fixed on his large paws with boredom; he stood with a malicious grin when I appeared.

"Tigerstar," I snarled. The ShadowClan leader suddenly lunged at me and pinned me to the ground. His breath met my ear where the dog's had.

"You didn't think I'd let you get away, did you kittypet? I'm not about to let all my work go to waste." He paused as the excited barks from the pack grew closer. "Say hi to StarClan for me. Don't worry, ThunderClan will soon join you." With that, Tigerstar leaped onto a nearby tree branch; he watched with satisfaction as the pack caught up to me.

"StarClan, help me!" I cried out in pain as the lead dog's teeth meet my shoulders. My vision blurred as another dog picked me up by his sharp teeth and tossed my body like a piece of rotten prey against the tree Tigerstar sat in. The force of the blow knocked him out of the tall oak; the ShadowClan leader hissed as he fell and landed next to me. Dazed, I turned toward my enemy.

"Kittypet," the blurry image of Tigerstar howled before climbing back onto a strong branch. He watched me get tossed from dog to dog, then suddenly called out again. "The 'Great Fireheart', finally helpless. This is a sight worth seeing! I-"

Tigerstar stopped mid-sentence; I blinked in shock as a gray blur knocked the dogs into the roaring river. At first I thought it was Graystripe.

No, I thought, that's a she-cat... Mistyfoot? Wait, it's... Bluestar!

I dove into the raging river without second thought. "Hang on Bluestar!" I spotted the ThunderClan leader fighting with all her strength to get onto the shore. I tried to make my way over to her, but a large brown dog collided into me and I was forced underwater. The salty river filled up my mouth. My head then broke above the river; I gasped as air flushed out the water.

"Bluestar!" I called out to her as I frantically looked around. Where could she be? "Bluestar?"

"Fireheart! Grab onto me!" RiverClan scent flooded my nose and a mass of damp gray/blue fur snatched my scruff. The warrior dragged me next to a familiar she-cat. Bluestar!

"Thank you... Mistyfoot..." I panted as I stood, shook the water out of my fur, and looked to my leader.

"Is she okay?" Stonefur was sniffing at his mother; there was bright worry in his eyes.

"Bluestar," I repeated, " are you all right?"

"Oakheart... Yes, I am ready. Just please allow me to speak to our children... Thank you." The memory of her confusing me for Sunstar flashed into my head. This time, it was real. Oakheart has come to take his mate to StarClan.

"No! Bluestar, you can't die! W-we'll take you back to ThunderClan! It is safe now! Cinderpelt can give you herbs, you'll get better, and-"

The gray she-cat slowly shook her head and laid her tail over my mouth. "It is my time." She turned to her kits; a small smile came over her. "My kits... I am so proud of you! I watched you grow up, and... I'm sorry. If I had the chance to relive my life, I would defidently keep you. Can you ever forgive me?"

Pity flashed into Mistyfoot's eyes. "I forgive you mother."

"I forgive you," her brother echoed. The siblings slowly knelt down and licked their mother on the shoulder.

Bluestar gave a weak purr that was cut off by a snarl from nearby. "Take one more step you piece of foxdung...!"

Graystripe was standing under Tigerstar's oak tree. One of the ShadowClan leader's front paws was off the tree; he was fixing to leave for his territory.

"Yes, Oakheart, I am ready now..." I turned back to see Bluestar staring off with starlight in her eyes.

"No," I whispered.

"Fireheart, do you remember the prophecy Spottedleaf gave you?" When I nodded, she quickly spoke. "You are that fire. Now... now you must save ThunderClan..." The she-cat gave a sharp gasp before going limp.

"Bluestar..."

Mistyfoot bowed her head in respect to her mother. "She was a great leader."

"The best," her brother agreed.

"If it's all right with you, Fireheart, we'd like to come to ThunderClan and grieve for her," mewed the RiverClan deputy.

"Sure."

Stonefur bounded off to report to Leopardstar, and his sister silently grabbed Bluestar. I joined her; my mind clouded. Fire alone will save our clan... How can I save anything without you, Bluestar?

You are that fire. Now you must save ThunderClan... I'm not sure I'm ready to serve ThunderClan as clan leader yet, Bluestar. But I do know one thing. I am willing to give my life as you did to protect the clan you loved.