Prologue

A handsome ginger cat crouched as he looked into a pool that shimmered as if filled with all the stars in the sky. He watched as cats he once knew celebrated their victory and tried to repair all the damage the battle had caused. He watched as they buried far too many cats, most too young to deserve this. He sighed and turned away from the pool, too forlorn to keep watch for too long.

The cat, Firestar, stood and walked aimlessly through the boundless territory paws heavy with grief. He walked until he reached a clearing with four great trees surrounding a large stone. Firestar padded up to the rock and sat down in front of it. His ear twitched as another cat started to approach. An old gray molly with a broad flat face sat next to him brushing her pelt against his.

"Yellowfang, it's been a while since I've seen you. You look well-" Firestar started, the she-cat snorted at that, "I would hope so considering this is StarClan. If I looked worse here than in life I would have something of an issue with these old mouse-brains."

Firestar shook his head, his whiskers twitching in amusement at the old molly. The same old Yellowfang, always someone to tongue lash.

"I'm afraid I have some unfortunate news, Firestar." She sighed, keeping her gaze on the Great Rock before them. "Thunderstar would like to see you. He has some things to talk over with you, though I fear it will be a one sided conversation."

Firestar looked at her sharply, "What in StarClan could the first leader of ThunderClan want from me?"

"Don't you give me that look," she rasped. "I am not privy to his thoughts. I cannot tell you what I do not know but I have a bad feeling about it. Few cats ever see the old ones for something good."

"We shouldn't keep him waiting I suppose," he meowed. The ginger cat sighed and sat still for a few moments more before gracefully lifting himself to his feet,turning away from the Great Rock. Yellowfang stood and pushed her way in front of him, flicking her tail for him to follow her.

They walked calmly through the woods until the trees thinned out and they found themselves in another clearing. In the clearing sat many different cats but in the center sat a massive ginger cat with white paws and glowing amber eyes full of starlight. Thunderstar.

"Thank you for bringing him, Yellowfang." he spoke, nodding for them to approach. Firestar glanced at the she-cat before walking forward with the calm confidence of a leader that has gone through many tribulations. When he got a fox-length away he sat down and merely looked at Thunderstar waiting for an explanation.

Thunderstar looked at him for a moment and then spoke, " Firestar, you have gone through a lot in your time. Fulfilling not one but two prophecies in order to save not only your Clan but all the Clans - even SkyClan." He paused and glanced at the cats surrounding him before continuing.

"StarClan once more has something to ask of you. We lost as many as we gained in the Great Battle, more for the ranks of StarClan but some cats will never return, silenced forever by the Dark Forest. I and some of my fellows have decided to try to right the wrongs that the beings in The Place of No Stars caused. We have chosen you to be the one to right the wrongs, to fix what has happened. In doing so you will save many cats from wrongful deaths and hopefully prevent the loss of Starclan residents." The tom stopped as Yellowfang hissed in disapproval.

"How can you do this? What more does he have to do to earn peace?! He has already fulfilled his destiny! You can't ask more than what he has already done." She said, tail lashing in anger. Firestar looked at her in shock as she voiced her thoughts in front of all the cats in the clearing. He looked back at Thunderstar and watched as a gray-blue cat pushed her way to the front.

"Yellowfang! Firestar will do whatever is necessary to save ThunderClan. You know this just as well as I do. He will not falter. You also know that he will not find peace until he resolves his own regrets about what happened all those moons ago." The gray molly snapped.

"Bluestar, you can't seriously agree with this load of fox-dung! Firestar was the fire that saved us, it's true, all the more reason to let him enjoy watching over his legacy from here. Not scurrying about redoing everything! Choose any other cat." Yellowfang snarled back.

"I'll do it." Firestar said, pushing his way in between the two cats. "I suspect that I don't actually have that much of a choice in the matter anyway."

Bluestar took a step back and sat down once again. Firstar looked at her and Thunderstar before sighing and shaking his head. "What StarClan decided I cannot change. That's how it has always been though I had hoped that would change once I joined you."

Thunderstar didn't acknowledge his words but stepped forward until he could rest his muzzle on Firestar's head.

"You will once again be the fire that will save us all."

There was a flash of light and then nothing.