Prologue

Bramblestar felt his breath hitch as he gazed up at the stars with wonder. They whirled and spun around him like fireflies, like tiny glowing orbs to light up the night sky. They danced as if they were alive.

He was drifting in a black void that was filled with nothing but the pulsing stars. Sometimes they moved so close that he could almost touch them, yet they dangled just out of his reach.

A ghostly form like fog suddenly appeared and began to pad toward him. It moved with a fluid motion that reminded him of water, of grey mist that hovered just a few inches above the ground. Bramblestar recognized the floating spirit as Firestar. His amber eyes widened when he finally realized that he was dreaming.

Firestar's fiery pelt had now sizzled down to a pulsing silver coat that shimmered with the stars, and he radiated a gentle glow like the moon. The two touched noses in greeting. Bramblestar dipped his head in respect.

The former Clan leader purred, "Is ThunderClan doing well? It's surely been a long time, hasn't it?"

Bramblestar grinned. "You don't need to worry about anything. The prey is running smoothly and the sun is always bright. It might be difficult, but I can manage."

The StarClan warrior nodded. Suddenly, Firestar took a step back and sighed deeply, as if he was worried. The stars dipped lower toward the ground and seemed to dim slightly.

His brow furrowed. "Listen, Bramblestar," he said quietly. "There will be tough times ahead of you. An evil that no cat has ever seen. The fight will be fierce and bitter, and much blood will be shed." He looked up and blinked his green eyes. They were the color of Newleaf grass, like the shades of the forest that he had loved so much. They were pained and worried, speaking things that he didn't dare say out loud.

Bramblestar felt the frozen tang of ice as it was raked down his spine. His heart fluttered with a trill of a warning. Dark times were ahead of him? But the battle with the Dark Forest had ended so many moons ago! What else was there that could threaten the lives of ThunderClan? Could he really stand up to it?

When he gazed into Firestar's calm eyes, he relaxed slightly.

The spirit nodded firmly. "But I have faith in you," he continued. "I have no doubt that you will lead ThunderClan strongly through the dark times ahead."

Bramblestar answered, "Thank you."

The StarClan warrior took a step back, as if preparing to leave. The stars hovered just out of reach.

"But you alone cannot manage to defeat this dark future. Since this upcoming evil is so wicked and fierce, StarClan has agreed to take more drastic measures," he mewed.

Bramblestar blinked in confusion.

The starry cat then stood and gazed at the swath of orbs circling around them, as if he was trying to find the answers hidden in the heavens.

He took a deep breath, and when he spoke again, it was as if another voice joined his own, a voice that was ancient and gnarled and filled with stones:

"For there to be victory over the evil, secrets must be unraveled, old enemies be forgotten, and new friends be forged. Through the dreaded time, a conquerer will arrive, a rescuer that was born to quake the ground and shake the frontiers. Water must quench fire, light must filter shadows, and a new storm must be forged and banded together in order for the sun to come out again."

Bramblestar felt the hairs at the back of his neck quiver. His tail lashed with anticipation. Yet, somehow, he felt that those words weren't really meant for him. It was as if Firestar was speaking right through him, talking to someone else that was a million miles away.

The former Clan leader dipped his head and turned away. He started to pad softly back into the shadows of the void, back where he came from, back to the depths of StarClan's territory where no living cat dared to venture.

Without turning his head, he meowed, "StarClan has prepared a gift for you and ThunderClan. But don't bother looking for it. It will find you soon enough."