Erin Hunter - The Sight

LEADER

FIRESTARginger tom with a flame-colored pelt

DEPUTY

BRAMBLECLAWdark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

APPRENTICE, BERRYPAW

MEDICINE CAT

LEAFPOOLlight brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes

WARRIORS (toms, and she-cats without kits)

DUSTPELTdark brown tabby tom

APPRENTICE, HAZELPAW

SANDSTORMpale ginger she-cat

APPRENTICE, HONEYPAW

CLOUDTAILlong-haired white tom

APPRENTICE, CINDERPAW

BRACKENFURgolden brown tabby tom

THORNCLAWgolden brown tabby tom

APPRENTICE, POPPYPAW

BRIGHTHEARTwhite she-cat with ginger patches

ASHFURpale gray (with darker flecks) tom, dark blue eyes

SORRELTAILtortoiseshell and white she-cat with amber eyes

SPIDERLEGlong-limbed black tom with brown underbelly and amber eyes

APPRENTICE, MOUSEPAW

BROOK WHERE SMALL FISH SWIM (BROOK)brown tabby she-cat with gray eyes, formerly of the Tribe of Rushing Water

STORMFURdark gray tom with amber eyes, formerly of RiverClan

WHITEWINGwhite she-cat with green eyes

BIRCHFALLlight brown tabby tom

APPRENTICES (more than six moons old, in training to become warriors)

BERRYPAWcream-colored tom

HAZELPAWsmall gray and white she-cat

MOUSEPAWgray and white tom

CINDERPAWgray tabby she-cat

HONEYPAWlight brown tabby she-cat

POPPYPAWtortoiseshell she-cat

QUEENS (she-cats expecting or nursing kits)

FERNCLOUDpale gray (with darker flecks) she-cat, green eyes, mother of Dustpelts kits: Icekit and Foxkit

DAISYcream long-furred cat from the horseplace

SQUIRRELFLIGHTdark ginger she-cat with green eyes, mother of Brambleclaws kits: Lionkit, Hollykit, and Jaykit

ELDERS (former warriors and queens, now retired)

LONGTAILpale tabby tom with dark black stripes, retired early due to failing sight

MOUSEFURsmall dusky brown she-cat

LEADER

BLACKSTARlarge white tom with huge jet-black paws

DEPUTY

RUSSETFURdark ginger she-cat

MEDICINE CAT

LITTLECLOUDvery small tabby tom

WARRIORS

OAKFURsmall brown tom

ROWANCLAWginger tom

APPRENTICE, IVYPAW

SMOKEFOOTblack tom

APPRENTICE, OWLPAW

SNOWBIRDpure white she-cat

QUEENS

TAWNYPELTtortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes

ELDERS

CEDARHEARTdark gray tom

TALLPOPPYlong-legged light brown tabby she-cat

LEADER

ONESTARbrown tabby tom

DEPUTY

ASHFOOTgray she-cat

MEDICINE CAT

BARKFACEshort-tailed brown tom

APPRENTICE, KESTRELPAW

WARRIORS

TORNEARtabby tom

APPRENTICE, HAREPAW

CROWFEATHERdark gray tom

APPRENTICE, HEATHERPAW

OWLWHISKERlight brown tabby tom

WHITETAILsmall white she-cat

APPRENTICE, BREEZEPAW

NIGHTCLOUDblack she-cat

WEASELFURginger tom with white paws

ELDERS

MORNINGFLOWERvery old tortoiseshell queen

WEBFOOTdark gray tabby tom

LEADER

LEOPARDSTARunusually spotted golden tabby she-cat

DEPUTY

MISTYFOOTgray she-cat with blue eyes

APPRENTICE, DAPPLEPAW

MEDICINE CAT

MOTHWINGdappled golden she-cat

APPRENTICE, WILLOWPAW

WARRIORS

BLACKCLAWsmoky black tom

VOLETOOTHsmall brown tabby tom

APPRENTICE, MINNOWPAW

REEDWHISKERblack tom

APPRENTICE, POUNCEPAW

MOSSPELTtortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes

APPRENTICE, PEBBLEPAW

BEECHFURlight brown tom

RIPPLETAILdark gray tabby tom

QUEENS

DAWNFLOWERpale gray she-cat

ELDERS

HEAVYSTEPthickset tabby tom

SWALLOWTAILdark tabby she-cat

STONESTREAMgray tom

GRAYSTRIPElong-haired gray tom

MILLIEsmall silver tabby kittypet

Muddied tree roots shaped a small opening. In the shadows beyond, the knotted tendrils cradled the smooth soil floor of a cave, hollowed out by moons of wind and water.

A cat padded up the steep path toward the opening, narrowing his eyes as he neared. His flame-colored pelt glowed in the moonlight. His ears twitched, and the bristling of his fur gave away his unease as he sat down at the mouth of the cave and curled his tail across his paws. You asked me to come.

From the shadows, a pair of eyes blinked at himeyes as blue as water reflecting the summer sky. A gray tom, scarred by time and battle, was waiting in the entrance.

Firestar. The warrior stepped forward and brushed the ThunderClan leaders cheek with his white-flecked muzzle.

I have to thank you. His mew was hoarse with age. You have rebuilt the lost Clan. No cat could have done better.

Theres no need for thanks. Firestar dipped his head. I did only what I had to.

The old warrior nodded, blinking thoughtfully. Do you think you have been a good leader for ThunderClan?

Firestar tensed. I dont know, he mewed. It hasnt been easy, but Ive always tried to do what is right for my Clan.

No cat would doubt your loyalty, the old cat rasped. But how far would it go?

Firestars eyes glittered uncertainly as he searched for the words to answer.

There are difficult times ahead, the warrior went on before Firestar could reply. And your loyalty will be tested to the utmost. Sometimes the destiny of one cat is not the destiny of the whole Clan.

Suddenly the old cat rose stiffly to his paws and stared past Firestar. It seemed he no longer saw the ThunderClan leader but gazed far beyond, to something Firestar could not see.

When he spoke again, the ancient rasp was smoothed from his voice, as though some other cat used his tongue.

There will be three, kin of your kin, who hold the power of the stars in their paws.

I dont understand, Firestar meowed. Kin of my kin? Why are you telling me this?

The old warrior blinked, his gaze fixed once more on Firestar.

You must tell me more! Firestar demanded. How can I decide what I ought to do if you dont explain?

The old cat took a deep breath, but when he spoke it was only to say, Farewell, Firestar. In seasons to come, remember me.

* * *

Firestar jerked awake, his belly tight with fear. He blinked with relief when he saw the familiar stone walls of his den in the hollow by the lake. Morning sunlight streamed through the split in the rock. The warmth on his fur soothed him.

He heaved himself to his paws and shook his head, trying to dislodge the dream. But this was no ordinary dream, for he remembered being in that cave as clearly as if it had happened a moon ago, rather than the many, many seasons he had lived since then. When the old warrior cast his strange prophecy, Firestars daughters had not been born and the four Clans had still lived in the forest. The prophecy had followed him on the Great Journey over the mountains and settled with him in his new home by the lake; and every full moon, the memory of it returned to fill his dreams. Even Sandstorm, who slept beside him, knew nothing of the words he had shared with the ancient cat.