After Duststar had left, Silvernight explained that he was a very important cat, so they would not see him much. She also explained that a father "helps make kittens" and "teach them". Emberkit and Moonkit nodded. "So Duststar helped make us?"

Silvernight smiled. "Yes."

A couple of days later, Emberkit noticed another slightly older kit watching them. Or, more specifically, Moonkit.

"Hi there," said Emberkit, walking over. "Why are you staring at my sister?"

The kit quickly looked away. "I'm not staring."

Emberkit rolled her eyes, but let it drop. "What's your name?"

"Scarkit."

Emberkit looked at him curiously. She knew that scars were scratches that didn't go away. "How come?" asked Moonkit, who had come nearer without them noticing.

Scarkit took a half step back when he realized Moonkit was right next to him. "Because of this."

He flipped over on his back and revealed a long scratch down his belly.

Emberkit was fascinated. "Wow! How'd you get it?"

Scarkit glanced nervously at Moonkit, then said: "Well, when I was born, a fox broke in the nursery and attacked me. My mom hit it hard and it ran away, but it cut me." He looked at Moonkit again, who was looking slightly disgusted. "I'm alright now," he added unnecessarily.

Moonkit walked away from him, calling over her shoulder to Emberkit, "C'mon, let's play a game!"

Behind her, Scarkit looked crestfallen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Scarkit's POV)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Where am I?" wondered Scarkit, his voice sounding tinny and echoing oddly. He seemed to be surrounded on all sides by thousands of tall trees. It was very, very dark. And cold. Scarkit shivered.

"Hello," hissed a voice in the darkness. Scarkit nearly jumped out of his fur. Slowly, a ruffled and unkempt cat stepped out of the shadows.

"Where am I?" asked Scarkit again, this time directing the question at the mysterious cat. "Who are you?"

The cat cocked her head and smiled at him. But it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Why, my name is Mapleshade. I'm a former ThunderClan cat. And as for where we are..." She paused, seeming to consider how to answer.

"Former ThunderClan cat?" asked Scarkit. "Are you dead? Is this StarClan?" It didn't seem like any description of StarClan he'd heard of, but that was the only place dead cats went, right?

"Yes, I am dead. And of course it's StarClan."

"Why am I here? Am I dead too?" he said, panic creeping into his voice.

"No, of course not," said Mapleshade soothingly. "I took you here to show you a vision. Come closer, my dear."

Obediently, Scarkit crept forward. Mapleshade placed a paw on his head and concentrated on what she wanted him to see.

Scarkit was running, running happily back to the ThunderClan camp. He went into the nursery and up to Moonkit, but she was now a full-grown and beautiful she-cat. "Our kits," she said, moving her tail so he could see them.

Four pairs of eyes peeped out at Scarkit. "Father!" they all said in delight, and mobbed him, climbing him and pulling his tail. He laughed, and Moonkit stared at him lovingly. "I love you, Scarpelt," she said, staring at him fondly. "I love you too."

Suddenly the ThunderClan camp began to fade, and in its place appeared the dark, cold forest once more. Mapleshade stepped back and smiled at him.

"You two are destined to be mates. You know that, right?" Mapleshade's voice was fading as he woke up from his dream.

Scarkit smiled. "I'll love her forever."