---Chapter Nine---

When Flamepaw woke up, he expected to see bright rays of starlight glowing through a light mist that hung in the air, and one or two-of fifty-StarClan warriors standing over him, welcoming him into their clan. When he opened his eyes, however, he was surprised to see that his prediction was true, or at least somewhat true.

Rays of sunlight from the dawn sun that shown through the fog illuminated his fur. The fog was now starting to disappear, but plenty of it still hung in the air, and a couple stars still shown in the sky. And a cat that he had never seen before was looming over him. Flamepaw blinked a few times at the reddish brown tabby warrior staring down at him. His eyes were two gleaming circles of starlight. The young flame-colored cat tried to stand up but all of his muscles ached from the swim and forced him to fall back down again and land awkwardly on one side.

The strange warrior took a step forward. "You should rest young one. You nearly drowned in there you know." The large tabby nodded towards the river, which was easier to see now that some of the fog had gone away. The water was calm and silent now, and no more cries of fear were to be heard. Remembering the scared, terrified mews of the three lots kits, Flamepaw jerked himself up on all fours. The pain of moving his sore muscles made him wince and he felt strangely dizzy.

"W-what happened?" Was all he managed to say until some of his strength returned to him. "What happened to the three kits?"

"There were only two kits." The reddish brown warrior purred. "And they do not need saving...yet."

"I could've sworn there was three. I could hear three separate cries." Flamepaw looked up at the strange warrior but he only shook his head. "They wanted me to help them--"

"Like I said," The tabby tom interrupted, "They don't need help just yet."

"You mean they're still alive?" Flamepaw mewed. Some drops of water that still dampened his pelt flung off when he flicked his tail hopefully.

"Of course they are." The reddish brown warrior twitched his tail impatiently. "But right now there's something else I must warn you about." The tom's eyes narrowed and they seemed to be looking straight through Flamepaw, as if the warrior was staring at something that the ginger apprentice couldn't see.

"Thunder's Rain and Thunder's Fire,
Along with the Bird of Wind
And the Bird of River,
Will each start something dire,
A battle of the clans is on its way,
Kin will fight alongside kin,
And one will be lost that you admire."

When the tabby warrior had finished the prophecy he focused his eyes on the flame-colored cat, who gaped back at him stupidly. Flamepaw didn't know what to say. He titled his head to one side as he looked up at the mysterious warrior.

"Why do I keep getting all these prophecies?" He asked. "Why not Cinderpelt or Leafpool? Or Firestar even!"

"Because StarClan has chosen you to receive these prophecies." The warrior smiled down at him as if he had known Flamepaw his whole life and was bursting with pride for him. Flamepaw still didn't understand, but he had a feeling that if he asked any more questions the warrior would only give him short meaningless answers that would only spark more questions.

Flamepaw shook his pelt which still felt weighed down with water before asking, "Who are you?"

The reddish brown tabby warrior let out a mrrow of laughter. "I was wondering when you were going to ask that." The warrior lifted his hansom brown head and once again grinned at the ginger apprentice. "If you really must know I am Oakheart of StarClan."

Flamepaw's eyes widened. Firestar had told him all about how Bluestar, the former ThunderClan leader, had had kits with the Riverclan deputy, Oakheart. Firestar had said that there had been three kits, but one died with Bluestar on the side of the river when she was handing them over to Oakheart. One of the two who survived was Stonefur, but he later died. Mistyfoot, his sister, was currently RiverClan's deputy.

"Did you save me from drowning?" Flamepaw wondered.

"Yes," Oakheart purred, "But don't feel like you need to pay me back. I've never met a cat before who died in their dreams anyway." The tabby tom kneaded the ground with one paw. "I have to go now." He nodded towards Flamepaw. "This won't be the last time I see you." He turned and padded away and disappeared into what was left of the fog.

"G'bye. Tell Spottedleaf I said hi!" Flamepaw called out after him, though he wasn't sure if the warrior could still hear him or not.