Prologue

It was dark. Very dark. Leafpool was at the hunting grounds of StarClan. Then, a tortoiseshell with a white muzzle and gentle eyes trotted towards her.

"Spottedleaf," Leafpool dipped her head in greeting.

"Leafpool," Spottedleaf meowed, "how do you think you have done as a medicine cat?"

"I don't know," Leafpool meowed, her eyes dull with sadness and grief. "I tried my best but I let Molepaw die. Sorreltail was so sad."

"That's not your fault," Spottedleaf replied gently. "The herbs did not respond and that's is it. And someone is here with me today."

A gray she-cat with enormous blue eyes padded forward.

"Cinderpaw!" Leafpool exclaimed cherrfully. "Cinderpaw, I'm sorry I couldn't…"

But the she-cat trotted forward and touced noses with her. "Do you remember who I am?"

Leafpool recognized the voice and scent immediately. She would never forget Cinderpelt's voice!

"Cinderpelt! I missed you so much! Where have you been?"

"Cinderpaw."

Leafpool stood rooted to the ground. No wonder Cinderpaw looked so familiar.

"A silent one will break a heart." Cinderpelt whispered, her enormous blue eyes wide with fear.

"Break a heart?" Leafpool echoed. "Please tell me more!"

"This is a prophecy and it cannot be revealed too early," Spottedleaf reassured her.

"So now, my dear apprentice," Cinderpelt meowed, "it is time for us to go."

"Wait just tell me more!" Leafpool cried, "Please!"

But the two cats had disappeared, leaving Leafpool alone and pleasing to know more. Then, she woke up. Awake from StarClan's hunting grounds, Leafpool stood up, stretched her legs and padded out of her den. Then as she saw Brambleclaw enter the nursery, it rang a bell.

Could it be? Leafpool wondered. That the silent one is in my sister's litter?

She padded back into her den, praying, I pray I'm wrong. I do not want this to happen…