The moon hung over a misty clearing, turning everything its light touched pale. In the center of the grassy area was a pool. Here a gray and white kit could be seen staring into the waters. Her green eyes stared at the image that could be seen in its depths. Her distant kin had just given birth.
"There you are, Mosskit," Mosskit swung her head around to see her mother, Bluestar, approaching . "What are you doing?"
"Birdsong had her kits," she replied. "Look." When Bluestar complied, she added, "Look at the black one. He's so small."
"That he is," she murmured.
Mosskit looked up at the former ThunderClan leader. "Mother? Do you think that he'll survive?"
Bluestar hesitated, a strange light glittering in her eyes. Finally, she purred, "Of course. He's strong and healthy. Before you know it, he will be a warrior just like his kin."
Mosskit nodded, satisfied with her answer, but before she could speak once more, a flame-colored tom bounded up to the two.
"Bluestar?" Firestar panted. "You wanted to see me?"
The blue-gray she-cat nodded. "Yes." Turning towards her daughter, she added, "Mosskit. Leave Firestar and I alone to speak, please."
She felt a pang of disappointment that she couldn't stay, but Mosskit nodded and bounded off in search of Adderkit and Blossomkit.
Bluestar watched her scamper away until she was out of sight and then focused her eyes on her former apprentice. "Firestar," she meowed, "we need to find Amberstorm."
The tom tilted his head. "What do you mean find her? Don't you know where she is?"
"She no longer walks under StarClan's skies." She sat down. "I secretly met with Bramblestar and he has agreed to help us. We are going to-
"Bramblestar?" Firestar interrupted with a growl. "You can't trust him no more than you can trust a fox! How do you know that he'll help us? Besides, we're still at war with those poor excuses for cats."
"It's unlike you to oppose a plan that could help a Clan, Firestar," Bluestar mewed softly.
"I refuse to work with a killer," he said simply.
The she-cat snorted. "Who said you were going to be the one to help him? I just brought you here because I assumed you would know where the one that will go with him is. She is your daughter, after all."
Firestar's gaze immediately darkened. "No, Bluestar, absolutely not. He has caused her enough pain."
"She's not a kit anymore. I believe Squirrelflight can choose to help or not on her own. Now where is she?"
For a moment, Firestar stood there, glaring at Bluestar. Finally, he growled, "She is with Feathertail in the sandy hollow."
She dipped her head. "Thank you, Firestar." When she received no reply, she bounded off towards the hollow.
Soon, she heard the two she-cats talking. Finally, she thought as she approached them. "Greetings," she said when they noticed her.
Squirrelflight bowed her head. "Hello, Bluestar. Is there something you need?"
"Yes. I need your help."