Prologue

All the Clans stared at the young kit, whining in the middle of Fourtrees. It was pure black with ginger around its eyes. A flame coloured tom was the first to walk to the kit.

"Firestar be careful." A tortoiseshell mewed.

Firestar looked at the young apprentice. He padded slowly to the kit, mewing louder.

"Mousefur," Firestar meowed to a dusky brown she-cat.

"Yes?" the she-cat mewed.

"Take it back to camp – to Sandstorm and her new litter."

"Are you sure, Firestar?" Mousefur mewed.

"Yes, we'll just have to keep a close eye on it." A gray tom meowed.

"What reason would we have to watch it for? It doesn't mean the cat is evil." Firestar hissed.

"I have to agree with Graystripe." The tortoiseshell mewed.

Firestar hissed at the young apprentice. Sorrelpaw flattened her ears back.

"Mousefur, take it back to the camp." Firestar hissed.

"What about the Gathering?" a gray WindClan queen asked.

"Yes we'll still have the Gathering." An old black and white tom meowed.

Firestar nodded and glared at Mousefur. The she-cat picked up the kit and headed south of Fourtrees to the ThunderClan Camp.