Prologue

It was a moonless night. Only stars shone brightly in the sky. Grey soft clouds scudded across the black sky. A lone owl hooted in the distance, getting ready to take off for his nightly flight. The forest began to come alive with the sounds and rustles of nocturnal creatures.

It was a perfect night for secrets.

Two black figures crept through the undergrowth, taking care to stay hidden from sight. They were soon in coming to a forest of pines, and one parted from the other with a quiet good-bye. The cat went on into the forest, a bundle of fur clamped in its jaws, the other watching somberly as its partner disappeared from view.

"Shadefeather," came a mew.

The black she-cat flinched and turned around to face the direction the voice was coming from. "B-Badgerstar," she gasped as she saw the starry ex-leader of ForestClan. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

"My granddaughter, I am worried about your choices," the grey and black tom calmly mewed, staring at the she-cat sternly. "Tanglefire was a good choice in mate, however bad your choice of mating with an enemy Clancat."

Shadefeather hung her head in shame. "I'm sorry..." she whispered. "I didn't mean to break the warrior code... It's just... I love him." She lifted her head to stare levelly at her dead grandfather. "And I made a good choice in giving him to Tanglefire to join ShadowClan, right? Now I can become the rightful deputy in place of Cedarwing."

Badgerstar nodded. "Yes, a good choice indeed. You are destined to be a great leader, and will lead your Clan through many hardships. Cedarwing's path was destined to be full of carnage and loss had he become leader. But, stay loyal to ForestClan, and know where your heart lies. I expect more from you, granddaughter."

"Yes, Badgerstar. I will do my best." The she-cat dipped her head respectfully, and Badgerstar started to fade.

"Good-bye, Shadefeather, I shall watch over you and your kit." He was gone.

Shadefeather sat for several more heartbeats, thinking about her meeting with her long-dead grandfather and turned around to head back to camp.

"Owltalon."

No response.

"Owltalon! Wake up!"

"Hnnh...?" the speckled brown cat groaned, stretching out his legs. "Hhhhwhat do you want now, Badgerstar...?"

"I need to talk to you," replied the black-masked leader.

"What about?" Owltalon had gotten up and was now grooming his matted fur. "I just started to doze off when you woke me up," he grumbled.

"You've been sleeping half the day," Badgerstar muttered and rolled his eyes. "Anyway, I just talked to Shadefeather."

"Oh? Still watching out for your children, huh?"

"Whatever. Last night, she gave Tanglefire the kit to bring back to ShadowClan." Badgerstar's eyes widened. "Do you know what that means?"

Owltalon's eyes widened too. "What?"

"It's fitting with the prophecy!" he exclaimed.

Owltalon gave him a confused look. "What prophecy?" he moaned. "You and your prophecies!"

Badgerstar raked the ground with his claws in frustration. "When all turns dark, look to the light of the half-Clan cat who holds the power of flame in his paws!"

The brown tom snorted. "Yeah, I think you're just going kerbonkers, there is no way that prophecy is even true. Besides, Thistleleaf would've known about it! She is like the best medicine cat ever."

Badgerstar sniffed. "It is too true," he whined.

"Not listening," Owltalon said in a sing-song voice.

Badgerstar huffed and walked away. 'I know who will believe me,' he thought angrily.

A little while later, the dark leader reached a cave. He took a tentative step in, and immediately the scent of herbs and flowers wreathed around him. "Willowsong?" he called out.

"Here," came a muffled voice from the back of the den.

Badgerstar sighed in relief and walked to the back where the stench of herbs was the strongest.

"What do you need?" the pretty gray she-cat asked, turning to her former leader with bright blue eyes.

"I just wanted to talk to you," he began.

"About the prophecy?" she guessed, turning a leaf over and sniffing at it.

Badgerstar stared at her in shock. "You know...about the prophecy?" he gasped.

Willowsong gave him a look. "Of course, silly furball," she teased. "I'm a medicine cat, remember?"

"B-but... what about Thistleleaf? Does she know about it?"

"Yes. Yes, she does."

"Why didn't you tell me then? It does concern my kin, you know!" Badgerstar growled.

Willowsong put down what she was doing and turned to him. "We thought it best not to. But then obviously it slipped somehow, and that's how you know about it."

Badgerstar shook his head. "It was supposed to be a secret? But...that's wrong! Starclan shouldn't be full of secrets..."

Willowsong gave a sad sigh. "Well, we all have our secrets..." she murmured. "StarClan, most of all... Not everything is for every cat's ears."

Badgerstar frowned. "So you're keeping it secret from not just me?"

The medicine cat nodded. "Only the medicine cats know of it. Everyone else is oblivious."

The darkish leader mulled that over. "Well, what about it is so secretive?" he finally asked.

"We're not entirely sure who it's all about, to tell you the truth," the she-cat admitted. "All we know about it is that it's a half-Clan cat."

Badgerstar hung his head. "Is that all you can tell me?" he muttered.

"Yes, I'm sorry," mewed Willowsong honestly.

Badgerstar gave a bitter half-smile and turned to go back to the entrance. "Well, thanks," he meowed. "I better go now."

Willowsong waved her tail in response. "See you later, Badgerstar," she replied and turned back to her herbs.

Badgerstar left the den. He gazed somberly up at the dark midnight sky. 'Oh, StarClan. Life after death can be really stressful...'