"Take Dustpelt and Ashfur." meowed Firestar. "You'll need them. We need prey; we're running a little low. I want enough for sunrise." With a flick of his tail he mentioned them away. He had sent away Sandstorm, Ashfur, and Dustpelt for a late hunting patrol. After all that had happened with Hawkfrost, Firestar felt exhausted. As he walked to his den drowsily he thought about Brambleclaw. Firestar felt downed in sleepiness, and the decision to make now Brambleclaw deputy. He settled into the now-familiar den's mossy bed, and slept crept up on him.
Firestar opened his eyes. He was in a very recognizable moonlit forest. StarClan's forest, he thought with excitement. He turned his gaze to find Cinderpelt next to him. He blinked, unknowing for a second. "Cinderpelt!" suddenly cried Firestar. He buried his head in her moonlit fur. It took him a couple seconds to realize Cinderpelt's gaze on him. Firestar took his head out of her fur and looked embarrassed. Cinderpelt flicked her tail, amused. "You sure have taken responsibility, with duties- with deaths, with Brambleclaw." her eyes gleamed with appreciation. "Bluestar made a good choice." meowed Cinderpelt. "But praise is not what I brought you here for." The gray she-cat's eyes looked steadily at Firestar. "I have a prophecy, passed down from Bluestar herself. 'The Sun and the Moon will bow down, and it will rain blood. All that is peaceful will corrupt; all that is corrupt will be peaceful.' That is all they have told me." Cinderpelt gave him a desperate look. "Firestar; I myself don't know what this prophecy means. I'm a StarClan warrior; but I am not as powerful as those of a higher rank." Cinderpelt's pale blue gaze rested on Firestar. "You don't understand, Firestar. Someday you will." Cinderpelt flickered her tail towards StarClan's beautiful night sky. Firestar's gaze wondered into the sky. Firestar saw- stars. Brighter, more beautiful stars. But how could that be? He was in StarClan. His mind drifted back to the prophecy. "Cinderpelt, what am I to do? I am clueless to these prophecies just as you. I always thought StarClan would be there for me, but how can that be if StarClan's prophecies never help ThunderClan? StarClan has warned us many times when danger is around, but never reveal the danger." Firestar's confronting meow didn't make any difference. Cinderpelt let out a mrrow of amusement and then vanished. Firestar was left alone in the beautiful moonlight of StarClans's forest. "Cinderpelt!" he yowled. "Cinderpelt, please!" Firestar's yowling was answered.
"Firestar, you mousebrain!" came a teasing voice. He awoke immediately. Firestar felt embarrassed as Sandstorm walked in, with a piece of fresh-kill in between her jaws. "I'm sorry Sandstorm," Firestar noticed she looked anxious. "Firestar, I need to report something," Sandstorm dropped the fresh-kill beside Firestar. "Me, Dustpelt, and Ashfur found a black cat, about apprentice size, stuck in thorns. I led it to camp, and we could use another warrior.." Sandstorm trailed off with excitement. "Don't get over your tail, Sandstorm. I suppose if the black cat stayed, it would need a new name and a mentor.' Firestar's gaze turned to Sandstorm. "I suppose i could let Thornclaw take a new apprentice." Firestar teased. "You stupid mousebrain! What about me? I can mentor the black cat!" Sandstorm's disdainful gaze fell upon Firestar. Firestar was amused. "I'll see that you get the black cat." meowed Firestar.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the High Ledge for a Clan meeting."
All the cats gathered around. Leafpool was hurrying along a young black cat. Cloudtail drifted his gaze to the black cat, who tried to hide behind Leafpool. "It's a ShadowClan cat!" yowled Cloudtail. Gasps surrounded ThunderClan. With a swift move, Cloudtail sprang toward Leafpool. Before anything could happen, Firestar yowled for silence. "Sandstorm has informed me that they have found this cat while on late patrol. I have noted that we could always use more warriors. If you want, you can stay." Firestar's green gaze was fixed on the young black cat. "Wait a minute, Firestar," Cloudtail's defiant gaze was fixed on the young black cat. "Do you not smell the disgusting ShadowClan scent on him?" Cloudtail's blue eyes were as disdainful as Sandstorm's. Firestar's tail flickered with amusement. Every cat knew that Cloudtail despised ShadowClan, and he had a understandable reason to hate them.
