Really proud of this
In a deserted clearing, an old gray she-cat sat alone, staring up at the clear night sky. All around her in
the shadows she could hear the breathing and stirrings of sleeping cats.
A small tortoiseshell she-cat emerged from a dark corner, her pawsteps quick and soundless.
The gray cat dipped her head in greeting. “How is Mousefur?” she meowed.
“Her wounds are deep, Bluestar,” answered the tortoiseshell, settling herself on the night-cool grass.
“But she is young and strong; she will heal quickly.”
“And the others?”
“ They will all recover, too.”
Bluestar sighed. “We are lucky not to have lost any of our warriors this time. You are a gifted medicine
cat, Spottedleaf.” She tilted her head again and studied the stars. “I am deeply troubled by tonight’s defeat.
ThunderClan has not been beaten in its own territory since I became leader,” she murmured. “These are
difficult times for our Clan. The season of newleaf is late, and there have been fewer kits. ThunderClan needs
more warriors if it is to survive.”
“ But the year is only just beginning,” Spottedleaf pointed out calmly. “ There will be more kits when
greenleaf comes.”
The gray cat twitched her broad shoulders. “Perhaps. But training our young to become warriors takes
time. If ThunderClan is to defend its territory, it must have new warriors as soon as possible.”
“Are you asking StarClan for answers?” meowed Spottedleaf gently, following Bluestar’s gaze and
staring up at the swath of stars glittering in the dark sky.
“It is at times like this we need the words of ancient warriors to help us. Has StarClan spoken to you?”
Bluestar asked.
“Not for some moons, Bluestar.”
Suddenly a shooting star blazed over the treetops. Spottedleaf’s tail twitched and the fur along her spine
bristled.
Bluestar’s ears pricked but she remained silent as Spottedleaf continued to gaze upward.
After a few moments, Spottedleaf lowered her head and turned to Bluestar. “It was a message from
StarClan,” she murmured. A distant look came into her eyes. “Fire alone can save our Clan.”
“Fire?” Bluestar echoed. “But fire is feared by all the Clans! How can it save us?”
Spottedleaf shook her head. “I do not know,” she admitted. “But this is the message StarClan has
chosen to share with me.”
The ThunderClan leader fixed her clear blue eyes on the medicine cat. “You have never been wrong
before, Spottedleaf,” she meowed. “If StarClan has spoken, then it must be so. Fire will save our Clan.”
