"Dandelionpaw," Starfur whispered in his ear as she prodded his shoulder with her paw. "It's time to go to the half-moon meeting."

      "Really?" Dandelionpaw yawned and opened his eyes. A wave of excitement suddenly washed over him. He was going to see the Startree!

      "Yes, really!" Starfur seemed to share his excitement. "Let's go, or we'll be late!" She nudged him up and led him across the clearing.

      Mousesqueak was standing guard by the entrance, her dusky brown coat turned silver in the moonlight. She dipped her head respectfully to the medicine cats. "May StarClan grant you a safe journey," she said.

      "Thank you," Starfur replied with a smile, and padded past her. Dandelionpaw followed, the Startree heavy on his mind.

      "What's the Star Hollow like?" he asked.

      Starfur flicked her ear and fell silent, probably thinking of an answer. "It's enchanting," she said finally.

***

Enchanting. That was an understatement in Dandelionpaw's opinion. Enchanting, didn't do the hollow justice. Slim white trees were grown close together with pale green leaves that sparkled with moonlight. The streams that wound around the trees were flowing with silver water and shiny, round pebbles lined them. The grass underneath their paws was velvety and soft. Dandelionpaw felt very enchanted by the mystical forest.

Dandelionpaw followed his mentor through the trees. He couldn't stop staring around, and Starfur often had to come back and snap him out of his revere.

      "Starfur!" A voice came from a little further back. Dandelionpaw turned his to see two gray cats making their through the forest toward them. They must be from BrookClan, he thought.

      "Oceanwave," Starfur greeted. She turned to her apprentice. "This is my apprentice Dandelionpaw. Dandelionpaw, this is Oceanwave and his apprentice Fogpaw."

      "Hello," Dandelionpaw said nervously.

      "Hey!" Fogpaw replied happily. The pale gray apprentices blue eyes were warm and welcoming.

      Starfur and Oceanwave took the lead. Fogpaw padded beside Dandelionpaw. "This is your first time at the Startree, isn't it? Mine was two moons ago."

"That's great," Dandelionpaw said, uninterested. He focused his attention ahead, trying to catch a glimpse of the Startree through the copse. He didn't see any sign of it.

"When are we going to be there?" he called to his mentor.

      "Soon," Starfur promised.

      "I made a couple landmarks," Fogpaw told Dandelionpaw. "So I can tell how close we are."

      "Neat." Dandelionpaw tried his best to sound enthusiastic, but he didn't really like Fogpaw that much. Burrowpaw would like him, he thought. She likes outgoing and friendly cats. Maybe I'll introduce them at the next Gathering.

      Fogpaw flicked he tail at a large pile of pebbles. "That's the last one, so we're really close!"

      And then, Dandelionpaw saw it. A huge tree. It's trunk was thick and seemed to sparkle. It's branches were covered in shiny green leaves that were bigger than a cat's head.

      "Almost time," Starfur said as the cats entered the clearing. A stream flowed all the way around the trees, seeming to prevent them from going any closer. It was easy to cross.

      The medicine cats gathered around the beautiful tree and waited. And then, the moon was shining directly above the tree, and the Startree shined even brighter. "It's time," Oceanwave whispered.

      Starfur nodded. Turning to her apprentice, she said, "Dandelionpaw, is it your wish to enter the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?"

      Dandelionpaw thought for a second. Is this what I really want? He quickly answered himself. Of course this is what I want! "It is." He tried to keep the tremor out of his voice.

      "Warriors of StarClan, I present to you this apprentice. He has chosen the path of a medicine cat." Starfur looked up at the sky as she spoke. "Grant him your wisdom  and insight so that he may understand your ways and heal his Clan in accordance to your will."

      "Now, lets share with StarClan," said Oceanwave, and the other medicine cats curled up beside the Startree's thick roots. Dandelionpaw followed suit. He closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

      He opened his eyes, and realized he was no longer beside the Startree. He looked around and saw trees that looked similar to the ones in the Star Hollow.

      Then, he saw two cats approaching him. One was a pale gray tom with amber eyes. The other was a reddish-brown. She reminded Dandelionpaw of Phoenixwing, the newest nursery queen. Stars sparkled in their fur and he realized he must be in StarClan.

"Hello, young one," said the second cat, her ginger fur shimmering.

"Hi," Dandelionpaw said. He didn't know if he should feel excited or nervous. He was talking to StarClan!

"We have a prophecy to share with you," said the first cat.

"For me?" Dandelionpaw asked, shocked. "But I'm just and apprentice! Why not give it to Starfur?"

The two StarClan cats ignored his question, and spoke together in an ominous tone, "Blood will spill between the echoes and the brooks, unless you find the two brave enough to look. . . ." The two cats began to fade along with the starry landscape.

"Wait!" Dandelionpaw yowled to the fading warriors. "What does it mean? Come back!"

He woke with a start. He was back beside the Startree and the other cats were beginning to stir. He was the first one up. His mentor woke soon after and walked over to him, nosing him up.

      "Did you speak to StarClan?" she asked. Dandelionpaw nodded.

      Starfur smiled, her golden fur bright in the shine of the Startree. "Good. Let's go home."