Chapter Text
A light breeze brushes against silver-gray fur as blue eyes open to their new surroundings. The awakened tom cat stretched his hind quarters and let out an exhausted yawn. After blinking a few times, his eyes adjusted and he took in the beauty of StarClan: the nimble blades of grass swaying in the wind, golden patches of sunlight peeking through the dense trees, and the tranquil sound of birds’ singing. But all of this ended as another cat with a flame-colored coat emerged from the bracken. The former dipped his head and avoided the second one’s emerald eyes. He was stopped by a gentle mew.
“Jayfeather, you don’t have to do that every time.” Jayfeather looked up to who addressed him. The orange cat was purring in amusement and leaning forwards. “You show manners here and yet are jabbing at everyone’s flaws in life.” He swayed his tail slyly, “You can be yourself with me… Just don’t cuff anyone’s ear.”
A prickle of annoyance hardened the medicine cat’s eyes as he lashed his tail at the former leader. “I have walked into countless dreams before and never once laid a claw on any StarClan resident.” He gave a low growl and his pelt bristled as he retorted, “Don’t you think I take my duties seriously, Firestar?”
Jayfeather’s former leader merely shrugged it off. “If by seriously, you mean growling your head off, then yes. You do that quite well.” His eyes glinted mischievously as another growl was heard. Firestar’s lighthearted mood soon dissipated, and a frown formed on his face. “But I have more important things to discuss.” Jayfeather knew the look all too well.
He sighed under his breath, “It’s another prophecy, isn’t it?”
The dead cat nodded and shook out his glossy-fur coat. “It will be for you to carry out when the time comes.” He stood at attention and recited, “Smoke brings death and the old is new. But the flames of fire will burn through the shadows, revealing the lone star to purge all darkness.”
Jayfeather wrinkled his nose, “Mind elaborating that?”
Firestar closed his eyes apologetically. “I’m sorry, Jayfeather, but that is all I can say.” He opened them again and turned back to the forest. His mew could still be heard as he trotted away. “Be vigilant, Jayfeather, for the time is drawing near.”
“Firestar, wait!” Before Jayfeather could stop him, an invisible force yanked him to the ground. The grass faded below him and was replaced by darkness as he fell through the world and into his own. The gray tom jolted awake to pitch-black darkness. There was a numb tingling on his nose and he raised his muzzle out of the moonpool. As he sat in the still silence, he thought back to Firestar’s words. Smoke brings death and the old is new… but the flames of fire will burn through the shadows, revealing the lone star to purge all darkness. Jayfeather frowned at the memory. What is ThunderClan up against this time?