Chapter 1

As soon as Spiralpaw opened her eyes, she scrambled out of her nest and raced out of her den into the center of camp. “ThunderClan!” she yowled urgently. “I have something important to tell you!”

At once Crystalpaw raced out of the apprentices’ den, her green eyes wide with concern. “What is it?” she asked. “What’s so important? You’re barely an apprentice, and you’re technically calling a Clan meeting!”

Spiralpaw shot a glare at her sister. “It’s important,” she mewed firmly. “Can you get Swirlpaw, and perhaps Goldenclaw and Moonshine?”

“Moonshine just kitted last night,” Crystalpaw told her. “Silverstripe came and helped.”

Spiralpaw blinked in surprise. “Oh, really? I never knew she was expecting kits. Okay, then, a few older warriors, and any cat you can get!”

Crystalpaw nodded solemnly and raced off toward the apprentices’ den, where Swirlpaw emerged. She exchanged a few words with the gray-and-white tabby, then veered off toward the warriors’ den.

Swirlpaw bounded over to Spiralpaw. “What is it?” she hissed. “Do you realize you’re only an apprentice?”

Yes, Crystalpaw already told me that. Out loud, she meowed, “I had a vision of ThunderClan’s new leader.” Swirlpaw gaped at her, and Spiralpaw added urgently, “You, of all cats, should know my visions are true! Do you not believe what happened on our journey?”

Swirlpaw gave her pelt a shake. “No, I do believe you,” she mewed. “It’s just hard to believe that StarClan would send a vision of the next leader to you, not a medicine cat.”

“Do we have a medicine cat?” Spiralpaw growled. “Seriously, Swirlpaw, sometimes you don’t make any sense.”

By now more cats had gathered in the center of camp, their gazes a mixture of confusion and annoyance. “Why have you called us here?” Lightningtail demanded. “You’re an apprentice!”

Spiralpaw glared back at her, frustration bubbling inside her. “I had a vision of the next leader of ThunderClan,” she explained to the Clan.

Exclaims of disbelief exploded from the gathered cats.

“She must be lying!” “Why would StarClan send a vision to her?” “She’s not a medicine cat!”

To Spiralpaw’s relief, Berrypelt yowled, “Stop!” The protests slowly faded away into silence. “Everyone should know Spiralpaw had a vision to go on her journey,” the dark ginger tabby continued. “And I believe that she had a vision now.”

“Yes!” Swirlpaw agreed. “I believe her. She’s a special cat that has been chosen by StarClan, and her visions are real!”

“Yes!” Curlflower meowed. “I believe her, too!”

“And me!” Crystalpaw growled.

“Why would we listen to a bunch of apprentices?” Lightningtail snarled. “Whoever Spiralpaw saw as the next leader is definitely not going to be worthy!”

“Of course she is!” Spiralpaw snarled, glaring back at the striped warrior. “It’s Curlflower!”

Every cat in the clearing fell silent. It was Curlflower who broke it. “Me?” she asked in disbelief.

“You,” Spiralpaw confirmed. “Of course it should be you. Who else would be better?”

“I agree with Spiralpaw,” Swirlpaw purred, curling her tail around her sister’s shoulders. “You’d make an excellent leader.”

“She’s too young!” Leafclaw called out. “Spiralpaw is also too young! Young cats don’t know what they’re doing.”

Swirlpaw turned on him, her tabby pelt bristling. “Would you ignore the will of StarClan?” she demanded. “Would you ignore a possibility of a strong, young warrior leading ThunderClan, when things are so dark right now?”

Goldenclaw rested his tail on Leafclaw’s shoulder. “We should believe them,” he meowed solemnly. “I believe them. ThunderClan needs a leader right now, and Curlflower seems like a promising choice.”

“We should do a vote,” Goldenpelt called out. “If you believe Spiralpaw’s vision and agree with StarClan’s choice, go over there by the elders’ den. If you don’t, stay here.”

As the cats cast their vote, Spiralpaw realized most cats were on her side. Only Lightningtail, Leafclaw, Rivertail, Snowfern, and Berryleaf stayed in the center of camp. Spiralpaw thought she saw Swirlpaw cast an annoyed glance at her mentor.

“Most of the Clan believes Spiralpaw,” Goldenclaw declared, “so, from now on, we will look up to Curlflower.” He turned to the gray-and-white she-cat expectantly. “What should we do?”

Curlflower’s gaze darkened with uncertainty. Swirlpaw padded over to her and whispered something in her ear. The young warrior’s eyes suddenly lit up, and she rested her tail lightly on her sister’s shoulder as a gesture of gratitude. “I will go to the Moonpool,” she declared.

Goldenclaw looked surprised. “But you’re supposed to go at night,” he protested.

Curlflower met his gaze steadily. Like a real leader, Spiralpaw thought. My vision was obviously real! “Look what happened last time a cat went by night,” the young warrior insisted. “She was killed by Bubble. We have to go by daylight now, to avoid trouble with that rogue.”

Goldenclaw hesitated, then nodded. “That makes a lot of sense, Curlflower,” he mewed, dipping his head to the new leader respectfully.

“Since we have no medicine cat,” Curlflower went on, “I will take a few warriors with me, just to be safe.” Her gaze raked across the assembled cats. “Swirlpaw,” she murmured, “will you go with me? I’m so sorry about what you had to see the last time you went to the Moonpool, but this time will be different.”

“An apprentice!” some cat muttered. “Why is everyone choosing Swirlpaw?”

Swirlpaw gazed at her sister, her yellow eyes haunted. “Of course I’ll go, Curlflower,” she whispered. “I’ll do anything I can to protect you.”

“Spiralpaw, Crystalpaw, and Berrypelt will also come,” Curlflower announced, and then headed toward the thorn tunnel. “Come on. We mustn’t waste any time.”