Chapter 1, a time in the past

Hollyclaw crept into what was now Rainstar's den. She still remembered the day that Leafstar had died...

"Hollyclaw, fetch Pinepool," Leafstar gasped, coming home from patrol. I sped off, with all my speed behind me. What I had seen still shocked me. Leafstar had been surrounded with worried warriors and a pool of blood. Mintleaf had been there too, and had explained as they rushed back to camp, "a badger got her. We were patrolling the RiverClan border and we thought we smelled smoke but then this badger came lumbering out of the woods behind us. We sent out Starpaw, Doveflight and Mudclaw to search for its set but we couldn't find a trace. We didn't have time to look more thoroughly."

"Is that why you are the only one in the patrol?"

"Yes."

As we burst through the gorse tunnel Pinepool was just padding towards us with stalks in her mouth. "Come quickly, it's Leafstar, and she's bleeding!"

***********************************************************As Pinepool pressed herbs and cobwebs into Leafstar's many wounds, Mintleaf told the story in full. "Leafstar had gone after a mouse, and she came back coughing smoke. Then the badger came lumbering through. It ignored the rest of us, just going for Leafstar. It was so strong! Much stronger than an ordinary badger!"

When we looked over towards Leafstar, Pinepool said, "There's nothing I can do... She is in the paws of StarClan now..."

Mintleaf bent over Leafstar, and I asked, "Where is Rainfur? He should be with her in her final moments."

"He's on a hunting patrol."

I bent over Leafstar, murmuring softly to her, "Did you know ever since I was a little kit I wanted to be just like you?"

Leafstar said, "I was only a young warrior when you were a kit."

"I know, but you were always so... brave, and daring, but also kind..."

Leafstar sighed in contentment, her last breath draining away in smoke...

Hollyclaw snapped out of it. "Rainstar?"

"Yes Hollyclaw?"

"I'm here to report twolegs to you."

"Again?" his tail trailed on the den floor. "Where?" he sighed.

"Along the ShadowClan border."

He sighed again. "So many intrusions. Is only the WindClan border safe?"

"No, Rainstar. Along the WindClan border they are hostile, claiming their prey is scarce."

He said drily, "Thank you Hollyclaw, that's just what I need to hear."

"You're welcome, o almighty leader. Rainstar, it isn't always about what you want."

"You always were bossy, even when you were an apprentice."

"I'm older than you, I have a right to boss you around!"

"I'm Clan Leader!"

"And I'm your mate!"

Rainstar sighed again. "Sometimes I wish we were still apprentices.

"Without any responsibility? Without any kits? That sounds like the life..."

Mistpaw breached the silence by bringing a scrawny rabbit to Rainstar. "Here's your meal, Rainstar."

"Mistpaw!"

"Yes Rainstar?"

"Don't call me that... I'm your father, not... well, I guess I am your leader too... I'll have to think about that..."
Mistpaw giggled. "You're funny!"

"Are you telling your Clan Leader he's funny?" Hollyclaw demanded.

Mistpaw giggled again and skipped across the clearing to where Ivypaw was.

Starpaw glanced up at the two. "What're you giggling about?" she asked unfriendly as ever.

"Rainstar!" Ivypaw exclaimed ecstatically.

Starpaw started giggling. Snowpaw nudged her and said, "What are you giggling about? That's not funny! He's our Clan Leader!"

"Pf!" Starpaw exclaimed. "He's a rogue gone Clan."

Mistpaw and Ivypaw abruptly stopped laughing. "He's our father!" Ivypaw mewed reproachfully.

Snowpaw leapt to the defense of her sister. "So it's alright for you to laugh behind his back but not us? Because you're so special? We're Clanborn, you aren't!"

Mistpaw said to Ivypaw, the more aggressive of the two, who was bristling, "Ignore them, let's go to bed." Mistpaw shoved her way into the apprentices den, not waiting for Ivypaw, who was still gazing aggressively at Starpaw and Snowpaw. As she slept, she had a strange dream.

"Mistpaw!" A strangely smooth voice called out. "Mistpaw, come here! There is a prophecy for you!" Mistpaw ran around the misty clearing, wondering where the voice came from. "Over here!" A cream shecat, about the same size as Mistpaw said, "I am Poppypaw of ShadowClan, the only medicine cat of the ancient Clan.

The misty light and the frozen ivy must unite with the pawprints in the snow and stars to save the clans before each has reached their full potential. The past and present meld together and the frozen ivy must fight to stay in one. The misty light's heart will be torn and the blood of ivy and mist will mingle and will herald a new power greater than even StarClan..."