PROLOGUE
Silence crept over the forest as the stars of Silverpelt started to wink into existence. Two cats watched the moon rise, overly bright eyes the only sign of their sorrow. The powerfully built solid grey tom flicked an ear then looked down towards the clearing; his yellow eyes shifted from Silverpelt to the flame-colored pelt of the former ThunderClan leader. Shifting his weight, he turned his attention to the small dark gray she-cat sitting beside him. His gaze fell on her twisted hind leg and he remembered how hard Firestar and Yellowfang had fought to save her. "Cinderpelt, I…" His voice trailed off and he lowered his head and pressed it against the Medicine Cat's shoulder, breathing in her sweet scent.
"Graystripe," She mewed as she stood up and moved her shoulder away from him. "You are ThunderClan's leader now." Her voice was soft and comforting and when he raised his head to meet the she-cat's blue eyes, he saw that they were filled with grief and determination.
"I don't want this." Graystripe hissed, eyes turning to ice. "I don't want destruction to be brought to the ones I love. I don't want to have to grieve for the loss of any warrior who is at my command. We may be united now, the four Clans, but we still have our differences. Some day those differences will be too much and where will we end up, at war!" He lowered his yellow eyes and hunched his shoulders, not looking at Cinderpelt. She watched the fierce-looking gray tom and sighed. She knew he was thinking of those he had lost: Lionheart, Silverstream, Feathertail, Bluestar, and finally Firestar.
"Their deaths were not your fault!" Cinderpelt hissed, lips curling into a snarl. "You have no choice!" Graystripe looked up and met her eyes, tail lashing back and forth angrily and the fur on his shoulders bristling. Suddenly, the fur lay flat again and when he spoke, his voice was calm. "I know," he whispered, lying down. " I just never thought I was going to lead the Clan. I was happy enough following Firestar and Bluestar; I never wanted this responsibility!"
Cinderpelt's icy gaze softened as the gray tom spoke and she stepped over to him, brushing her tongue along his ears and emitting a soft purr. "Firestar would have been proud of you Graystripe and is in StarClan. He's there, watching you and guiding you." As the she-cat spoke, a brilliant flash of light filled the sky and then faded. When the two cats blinked their eyes clear of spots, the looked up and an orange star had appeared. It was larger than those surrounding it and was positioned near to the moon. Cinderpelt started to purr but then broke off with a gasp. "No, not now," She mewed, voice and eyes stricken with pain. Before Graystripe could ask, Cinderpelt spoke. "Betrayal…one among us shall betray us and only water can stop the destruction."