The Apprentice's Quest/Prologue

Jayfeather and Leafpool are chatting about catmint while walking to the moonpool together. Leafpool exclaims that they should collect more because greenleaf is almost over. They met up with the other medicine cats ; Mothwing and Willowshine of Riverclan, Littlecloud of Shadowclan and Kestrelflight of Windclan. Jayfeather whispers about how long it has been since he has shared tongues with Half Moon before settling himself by the water's edge. He is reminded of Flametail when he picked up the sound of Littlecloud's breathing.

When Jayfeather wakes in the dream, he realises they are walking in one another's dreams. The medicine cats of all the four clans stood together on the sunny grass of Starclan's hunting ground. Firestar, the former Thunderclan leader who had died eighteen moons ago, appears, Leafpool runs to touch noses with her father. Suddenly Barkface, Leopardstar, Flametail and former Shadowclan leader Blackstar appear. Jayfeather noticed there where more cats in the shade of the trees, but he didn't recognize any of them. Firestar cleared his throat and glanced at the other Starclan cats. The other medicine cats gather around Jayfeather. Kestrelflight suggests that the medicine cats of Starclan should speak to their own clan, thinking that it should be disgussed in private with the clan. Barkface answers that it is a prophecy that concerns all the four clans. A time of great change is coming for all the clans. ''Embrace what you find in the shadows, for only they can clear the sky. ''The shapes of the Starclan cats started to fade before anyone could ask their questions. The sky darkened as if clouds were racing to cover the sun. Before the vision left Jayfeather, he spotted a very young tom standing a pace or two back from the circle of medicine cats. When Jayfeather tried to face him, he bounded away. All he could see was a white-tipped tail.

Jayfeather realized that it was a living cat, and it smelled strongly of Thunderclan.