Prologue
The moon was bright in the sky, staining the stone hollow silver with her light. The rain from sunhigh had not yet dried and its drops sparkled in the night, making the camp look as though a dozen stars were scattered on the Earth. The serene air of the earlier fiasco of Clan life was well deserved and as the breeze blew the calmness of the night around the lake, silence settled upon the world, comforting it like a mother does her kit.
The silence was broken by a ginger cat who padded out of his den, green eyes troubled by the day's events. His flame-colored pelt- that was stained dark silver in the moonlight- still bristled with horror as he remembered the falling kit and the broken body that had followed. His ears rang with the cries of a dozen cats and his nose still burned with the scent of blood. He opened his mouth- revealing rows of glimmering white teeth- and tasted the sweet greenleaf air.
The sound of footsteps brought the tom's attention to a nearby den and he watched a tabby cat appear. The she-cat's amber eyes found the tom and she padded towards him, her paws light on the ground. Sitting next to the tom, the she-cat brushed her light brown fur against his, comforting him without words, but- as she predicted- silence was not he wanted. The tom wanted to be reassured with words and when he spoke, the she-cat knew she was right.
"How is Stripekit?" The ginger tom asked.
"Her wounds are many, but they are not deep. She is young and will recover quickly." The tabby she-cat answered.
"You are a truly gifted medicine cat, Leafpool. I'm sure that without your skills, Stripekit would have been lost." Leafpool nodded, her amber eyes looking at the stars above. The tom followed her gaze and asked gently, "Are you seeking out answers from StarClan?"
"In a way, Firestar," Leafpool paused and admitted, "I'm actually thinking about Jayfeather and wondering why he hasn't been in my dreams since his death." Leafpool paused again and then turned her amber eyes on Firestar, worry swimming in them like fish in a stream. "Do you think he blames me for his death? After all, I was the mentor and he was the apprentice. I can't help, but think that StarClan planned for me to die in the greencough epidemic."
"Leafpool," Firestar hissed sharply, "Don't you ever blame yourself for Jayfeather's death. He died saving his Clan from the sickness that claimed the lives of cats in other Clans. You used everything, but the power of StarClan to save Jayfeather's life and that's all he would have ever wanted. That's all I would have expected from one of my warriors."
"I guess so," Leafpool sighed and then added, "When I don't think about his death, though, I can't help, but think of his words."
"The prophecy?" Firestar asked.
"'The strongest of two will save the Clan.'" Leafpool recited, hearing the words that she already knew so well. Since Jayfeather's death, the words had been buzzing in her ears like an annoying bee.
"Do you think it might mean Stripekit?" Firestar suggested, "After all, she survived running off the edge of the hollow when grown warriors have joined StarClan because of our camp. She is also a pair of two."
"Yes, but what about Jaykit," Leafpool countered, thinking of Stripekit's sister who had been named for Jayfeather, "We don't know if she is the strongest, but I think it might be Stripekit. The prophecy defiantly circles around one of the two kits, though."
"Then we agree?" Firestar asked.
"For now." Leafpool said with a nod and then with a respectful dip of the head to Firestar, she went back to her den to check on Stripekit.
Unknown to Firestar and Leafpool on the other side of the camp, Jaykit twitched in her sleep, missing the warmth of Stripekit.
