Prologue

Spiralpaw padded through ThunderClan’s forest, enjoying the warm rays of sun that slanted through the trees. Wait, didn’t I just go to sleep? she wondered. Didn’t I just have that vision of Heatherfur…? Then why am I outside again?

Spiralpaw padded deeper into the forest and realized there was a flat rock between two stumps that hadn’t been there before. The rock had moss all over its top, creating something like a flat nest to lie on.

As Spiralpaw watched, a half-transparent object began to form in the center of the moss. She leaned closer and realized it was growing, bigger and bigger, reaching toward the sunlight. It’s a flower!

The flower slowly reached its full height, and Spiralpaw waited for it to bloom, but it didn’t. It just stayed how it was, its petals curled up tightly in a ball. Spiralpaw stared at it, wondering why this was happening, and then looked around. She gasped as she realized the trees were glowing, stars sparkling at their roots. This is a vision! Are the trees supposed to be StarClan cats or something? What are they trying to tell me?

Spiralpaw frowned and glanced back at the still-curled flower. Curled flower. Curledflower…Curlflower! She gaped at the flower. What is StarClan trying to tell me about Swirlpaw’s sister?

Spiralpaw blinked in astonishment as the trees around her began to shrink until they were as tiny as the stars in the sky. The stars floated toward the image of the flower and started to form a circle around it.

Spiralpaw stared at the scene in wonder. The stars shone brighter than anything, while the curled flower in the middle of them glowed like the moon. The soft moss under them also seemed to glow in the light, while the rock shone silver. It’s beautiful, she thought, then forced herself to concentrate on the meaning of the vision. StarClan, what are you trying to tell me?

Suddenly Spiralpaw thought she heard voices. She closed her eyes and put all her concentration in her hearing, trying to make out the words. She let out a small gasp as she heard a name, unfamiliar but familiar at the same time.

“Curlstar! Curlstar!”

Spiralpaw opened her eyes and lifted her head to the sky. “Heatherfur!” she called. “Willowbranch! Nightstar! Ambercloud! Is the next leader of ThunderClan Curlflower? Is she the right cat to choose?”

There was no answer, just a continuation of chanting.

“Curlstar! Curlstar!”

I think I know what it means now, Spiralpaw thought, filled with new determination. I think I know who the next leader of ThunderClan will be now.