Firestar’s Quest

“They don’t like you going,” Sandstorm murmured, “but they will accept it if it is the will of StarClan.”

Firestar hoped she was right; selfishly, he didn’t want to leave with the protests of his Clanmates ringing in his ears.

He straightened up, even though every bone in his body was screaming at him to change his mind, to stay in the forest where he belonged. “Good-bye, all of you.”

There was an ominous silence, and Firestar felt his pelt singed by many scorching stares. He knew what was in his Clanmates’ minds as clearly as if they had spoken out loud.

Where are you going? Why are you leaving us? Has StarClan promised to bring you back? He longed to reassure them, but telling them he was being sent away by a warrior ancestor they’d never even heard of would only cause them more pain and confusion.

At last Sootpaw stepped forward. “Good-bye, Firestar!” he called.

Slowly the other cats joined in.

“Good-bye!”

“Travel safely!”

“Come back soon!”

Firestar leaped down from the Highrock and wove his way through his Clanmates with Sandstorm at his shoulder.

Cinderpelt was waiting for him beside the entrance to the gorse tunnel. “Good-bye,” she mewed, swiping her tongue over his ear. “May StarClan light your path.”

“And yours,” Firestar replied. A sudden bolt of sorrow choked him and he couldn’t say any more.

Dustpelt came up to Sandstorm, with Sorrelpaw bouncing along behind him. “I’ll take care of your apprentice,” he promised, fixing the lively tortoiseshell with a severe look. “You’ve obviously been far too lenient with her.” Though his words were harsh, there was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

Sorrelpaw waved her tail, not at all crushed by her new mentor’s words. “I think Sandstorm is a great mentor!”

Taking a last look at his Clan, and the clearing that had been his home for so many seasons, Firestar pushed through the tunnel and out into the ravine. Sandstorm and Graystripe followed him.

The sun had just cleared the tops of the trees, shining from a blue sky with a few puffs of white cloud. A gentle breeze stirred the branches, carrying the scents of prey and green, growing things. Firestar stood still for a moment, feeling it ruffle his fur. He knew that whatever he found on his journey, there could be nowhere as beautiful as this. SkyClan must have been devastated to leave. Two days of rest and good food had restored his energy, and now that he was actually beginning his journey his paws tingled with excitement.

Though his heart was torn about leaving, he wanted to see what lay beyond the forest, and to find the cats who had once been SkyClan.

At the top of the ravine he halted and turned to face his deputy—his best friend, and the cat without whom he would never have been able to lead his Clan. “Will you come to the edge of the forest with us, Graystripe?”

The gray warrior shook his head. “This is your journey, yours and Sandstorm’s. I’ll say good-bye here. Good luck, both of you.”

Sandstorm and Firestar leaned forward to touch noses with their old friend. “I couldn’t leave if I didn’t have you to look after things while I’m gone,” Firestar murmured.

“Every cat knows I can’t fill your pawprints,” Graystripe replied. “But I’ll do my best.”

“You’ll have to take Firestar’s place at Gatherings,” Sandstorm reminded him.

Graystripe nodded. “We mustn’t let ThunderClan seem weak. I’ll tell them you’ve been called away by StarClan, but you’ll be back soon.”

“I hope you’re right,” Firestar meowed softly. “But if I don’t come back—”

“Don’t say that!” Graystripe’s tail lashed. “You will

return; I know it in my heart. I’ll wait for you however long it takes.

Whenever you come back, I will be here, just the same.”

“Which way first?” Sandstorm asked.

They had left Graystripe behind and were heading through the forest toward Sunningrocks.

“The SkyClan warrior told me that his Clan fled upstream,” Firestar replied. “I guess that means we should follow the river.”

“How far?”

Firestar felt his neck fur begin to bristle, and he made himself relax until it lay flat. He didn’t have a clue where to find the scattered Clan, or a place where they might live. He was even less sure what he would have to do to bring the Clan together again. He had hoped for more guidance, but his dreams since the night he spent in Smudge’s garden had been dark and empty. Did that mean that the SkyClan ancestor wasn’t watching him any longer? He felt as if he were stepping into a dark, dark night without moon or stars to guide him.

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I suppose StarClan will show us, or maybe it’ll be obvious.”

Sandstorm’s green eyes glinted, and Firestar braced himself for a scathing comment, but his mate only twitched her whiskers and went on in silence.