Vineleaf padded beside Sunheart. They had been traveling for almost half a moon now and Sandstorm said they were getting close. Vineleaf herself couldn't wait to get there. She felt pretty tired. She could tell Sunheart fekt the same way.

Sandstorm suddenly raised her tail and the patrol halted. She tasted the air. "We're at the border," she meowed.

"We are?" Leafpool asked, looking uncertain.

"I remember this border well. After all, Firestar and I helped the SkyClan cats set their border," Sandstorm assured her.

"Who's there?" came a growl. A dark ginger tom appeared leading a pale gray she-cat and a gray and white tom.

"Greetings, Sharpclaw," Sandstorm meowed.

"How do you..." the ginger tom began but then stopped. "Wait! Sandstorm! Is that you?"

"Yes, it's me Sharpclaw," Sandstorm assured him.

"It's great to see you again!" the she-cat came up to Sandstorm smiling.

"Same to you, Petalnose," Sandstorm meowed.

"So you're the Sandstorm I've heard of," the other tom meowed.

"Yes. Sandstorm this is Waspwhisker," Sharpclaw introduced.

"It's good to see SkyClan has grown," Sandstorm meowed.

"Who are your companions?" Petalnose asked looking at the patrol.

"This is Graystripe, Firestar's best friend, Leafpool, one of my daughters, Sunheart and her sister Vineleaf," Sandstorm introduced, flicking her tail at each cat.

"Speaking of Firestar how is he?" Sharpclaw asked.

Sandstorm, Graystripe and Leafpool bowed their heads. "He's dead," Sandstorm answered. "He lost his last life in the battle with the Dark Forest."

The SkyClan patrol bowed their heads. "SkyClan will honor his memory," Sharpclaw promised.

"So who's ThunderClan's new leader?" Petalnose asked.

"Bramblestar, who also was Firestar's last apprentice," Graystripe answered.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Waspwhisker meowed.

"Please allow us to escort you to our camp," Sharpclaw meowed, leading them into SkyClan's territory. They then made their way down into a gorge that was filled with cats. Vineleaf stared in aw.

"I never thought a camp could be made in a gorge," Sunheart meowed, echoing her thoughts.

"The Clan is so much bigger than it was when I left," Sandstorm purred.

Sharpclaw then ran off to one of the dens. Some cats came up to the patrol and smiled at Sandstorm. "Sandstorm! It's so good to see you!" meowed a black and white tom.

"Glad to see you're doing alright Patchfoot," Sandstorm replied.

"I thought we'd never see you again," meowed a dark brown tabby.

"Same here, Sparrowpelt," Sandstorm replied.

"Is it true what I hear from Sharpclaw? Sandstorm is here?" The cats clustered around the patrol parted to reveal a brown and cream tabby she-cat with amber eyes making her way toward the patrol with Sharpclaw right behind her.

"Leafstar! It's so good to see you again!" Sandstorm purred.

"And you, Sandstorm," Leafstar agreed. "I'm so sorry about Firestar."

"He insisted on fighting beside his Clan," Sandstorm meowed.

"And I hear you have a daughter with you," Leafstar meowed.

"Yes. Firestar and I had two daughters and one is with the patrol," Sandstorm replied, signaling for Leafpool to come forward. "This is Leafpool. Leafpool, this is the cat you were named after."

"It's nice to meet you," Leafpool meowed dipping her head to Leafstar.

"The pleasure is all mine," Leafstar purred. She then looked at the rest of the patrol. "Who are the others?"

"We have Graystripe, Firestar's best friend, and Sunheart and Vineleaf," Sandstorm introduced.

"Any friend of Sandstorm and Firestar are friends of ours," Leafstar meowed. "Welcome to the SkyClan camp. What brings you here?"

Sandstorm glanced at Sunheart and Vineleaf. "You tell her, Sunheart," she meowed.

Sunheart nodded and stepped forward. "Firestar told me to come and talk to you," she began. "My sister and I are part of a prophecy but I don't think I can do it. I need advise."

Leafstar stared at her for a moment before nodded. "Come to my den, all of you. We'll talk then."