Firestar bounded into the clearing at Fourtrees, a wave of ThunderClan cats close behind him. The full moon shined bright in the clear sky above them as they meandered around the clearing. RiverClan and ShadowClan had already arrived, now waiting for WindClan's arrival.

Firestar climbed the Great Rock to join Leopardstar and Blackstar. "Greetings." He meowed. Blackstar dipped his head in response.

"Hello, Firestar," Leopardstar said, her voice tight. She was watching two cats below.

He followed her gaze and spotted two new apprentices among the RiverClan cats. A dark brown tabby tom with a white belly sat next to a dappled golden tabby she-cat. The tom was looking around the clearing with piercing blue eyes while the she-cat was gazing up at the stars with a soft amber gaze. Something about them felt familiar, coldly familiar. He didn't remember Leopardstar announcing a new litter of kits in the last few moons.

As he watched the moving cats below, he saw Graystripe talking with his kits, who now had their warrior names, Feathertail and Stormfur, Bramblepaw was talking with Tawnypaw. Cinderpelt was chatting with Littlecloud, Runningnose and Mudfur. The few apprentices that came were showing each other battle moves and telling stories they heard from their elders. There were a few elders near the edge of the clearing talking about rumors and tales from when they were apprentices.

The bushes at one edge of the clearing signaled the arrival of WindClan. Tallstar was in the lead as more cats began weaving through the crowd. He couldn't spot the deputy, Deadfoot, among them. Had something happened? As he was watching them, a light gray tabby she-cat suddenly looked up at him, holding his gaze firmly. Her sharp green eyes pierced his own. His heart began to race.

Why was she staring at him? Did she hate him? She almost looked like she wanted to claw his fur off. How did she look so intense, yet so calm? Did she have any reason for hating him? Or did she look at everyone like that?

She slowly looked away, flicking her tail and sat near Tornear, who was talking to Heavystep and Loudbelly. Firestar tried to look somewhere else, anywhere else, but he couldn't help glancing back at her. Maybe to make sure she was still there. As if she would disappear if he looked away for too long.

"Is everyone ready?" Leopardstar's words broke through his thoughts. The other three nodded and she stepped forward and yowled. She waited until everyone had quieted before speaking. "RiverClan's prey is running well. We have two new apprentices, Hawkpaw and Mothpaw." She paused as the crowd cheered the names. "Dawnpaw has earned her warrior name, Dawnflower." Everyone cheered for Dawnflower. Leopardstar turned and walked away from the edge, leaving an opening that Blackstar took.

"Runningnose has retired to the elders' den and Littlecloud is now our medicine cat. Cedarpaw and Rowanpaw have earned their warrior names, Cedarheart and Rowanclaw." The crowd below cheered for Cedarheart and Rowanclaw. "And prey is running well in ShadowClan." Blackstar turned and gave the spot to Firestar.

"Fernpaw and Ashpaw have earned their warrior names, Ferncloud and Ashfur." Firestar announced before more cheering followed. "We have three new apprentices, Sorrelpaw, Sootpaw and Rainpaw." Everyone cheered for the new apprentices, who were sitting with their chests puffed out with pride. "And prey is running well in ThunderClan as well."

He turned and sat near the other leaders as Tallstar walked to the edge of the Great Rock. "Unfortunately, we have lost Deadfoot in the past moon. I have appointed Mudclaw as our new deputy." His voice was solemn as he made the announcement. "In better news, Ashfoot would like to share that she is expecting kits. Prey is running well in WindClan."

Tallstar stepped away from the ledge and followed the leaders down the Great Rock. Firestar looked up at the full moon, still glowing bright in the sky above them, not a cloud in sight. He looked around and instantly felt someone watching him. His fur stood on end as he looked around, searching for whoever was watching him. He stood still as a beautiful tabby she-cat emerged from the crowd, her green eyes seemed to freeze every muscle in his body.

"I was wondering if I could have a word with you, Firestar," her voice was as smooth as silk. He nodded his head and followed her to the edge of the clearing, weaving around cats from different clans as they mingled and gossiped. They found an empty spot by the bushes near ThunderClan's border. He looked over the crowd of clan cats as they milled around.

Firestar swore he could feel the ends of his fur tingling as she sat next to him. "I wanted to thank you in person, for all you've done." She said softly. "For WindClan, and for RiverClan and ShadowClan. If it weren't for you, my Clan probably would've never returned home. Or Scourge would've taken all our territories. Our homes."

Memories flooded back from that night. Fur and claws flying, the cacophony of yowling cats, the scent of blood overwhelming his senses. The rage he felt when Sandstorm stood between him and Scourge. The cat who wanted everything they had for himself. The cat who was willing to kill any cat, even Tigerstar, to get what he wanted.

A soft tail ran down his spine, drawing him back to the present. "We all saw what she did." The she-cat said calmly. "I thought you were going to rip her throat out for a betrayal like that." She met his gaze, a small fire burning in them. "No one blames you for how you reacted. We know you two were close."

"She's gone now." Firestar said sharply. "What's done is done."

"Yes, life goes on," she mewed. "How are things going with Graystripe as the new deputy?"

"He's doing good so far. I'm sorry to hear about Deadfoot, I had a lot of respect for him." Firestar recounted the times the black tom had guided him and helped him along his journeys as an apprentice and young warrior.

"He will be missed by many in WindClan," Runningbrook mewed wistfully. "I know Ashfoot is taking it harder than anyone, but she needs to focus on her health, for the sake of her kits."

"Ashfoot?" Firestar said inquisitively. "Wait, was she mates with Deadfoot? Is she carrying his kits?" Runningbrook nodded solemnly. "Oh. Will you give her my condolences? She was one of the first WindClan cats I met."

"I know, I was there the day you found us and helped us take back our home." She nudged him playfully.

Firestar fur grew hot with embarrassment. Had he really not noticed her among her clanmates for so long? He tried to think back to that day by the thunderpath tunnel. He tried to remember seeing her piercing eyes in the darkness that covered many of the WindClan cats. He envisioned her stepping out of the tunnel, the moonlight shining on her smooth pelt. He blinked and he was brought back to the present.

"Let's go, WindClan," Tallstar called out from the edge of the clearing. The WindClan cats wove among the crowd to follow Tallstar through the tall grass towards their camp.

"I should go," Runningbrook mewed. She stood and took a few steps before looking back at the ThunderClan leader. "I hope we meet again soon, Firestar."

His pelt grew hot as he nodded. "Safe travels, Runningbrook." With the flick of her tail she bounded away towards her departing clanmates.

~~~ 3 moons later ~~~

Firestar lay under a bush at the edge of Fourtrees, hoping the claw moon would provide enough shadows to hide his bright orange pelt. He scanned the glades of the moorland once more, his senses stretching to pick up anything.

Finally, he spotted motion in the tall grass as it parted. Something was moving through it. The trail stopped as the tall grass tapered off. Suddenly, a dark shape bolted towards him. It slid under the bush next to him, barely shaking it. The bush swayed as the cat turned to face him, a pair of soft green eyes looking down at him in amusement.

He sat up and pressed his muzzle against her's. A purr resonated through his sore muscles at her touch. He licked her cheek and forehead, knowing what he had to tell her wouldn't be easy to hear.

"There's something I need to tell you," Firestar whispered in her ear. "But, you can't tell anyone else." She moved away enough to look into his eyes, her expression full of apprehension.

"I've been called by StarClan to restore SkyClan, a Clan that was driven out of the forest many generations ago," he explained slowly, watching her expression carefully. "Cinderpelt is training Mousefur as much as she can so she can accompany me. I don't know when I'll return." He paused, giving Runningbrook an opening.

"Wow, StarClan is calling you to restore another lost clan?" She seemed at a loss for words. "Out of all the cats in the clans, they chose you. Why must they choose you for this dangerous mission?" She looked up at the cloud-scattered sky accusingly.

"I was able to bring WindClan back, with Graystripe's help," Firestar pointed out. "They must know something I don't. Maybe I'm the only one who-"

"What if you don't come back?" Runningbrook interrupted him. "What if you become lost too? What if you die trying to restore the clan, whatever that means? What if you…" She trailed off, not wanting to finish the question. Not wanting it to be answered.

Firestar leaned forward, resting his forehead on her's. "I will come back. I will come back to you, to my clan. To my home." He leaned back and met her gaze with determination. "I swear to you, I will come back."

She pressed her head against his chest, rubbing against his neck. She tried to take in every sense of his presence. His scent, his thick, warm pelt, the beating of his heart, his chest pressing against her with each breath. She felt she already knew the answer, but she had to ask. "I can't come with you, can I?"

"I need you to stay here," Firestar said softly, "I need to know that you'll be safe."