"Dawn!"

Luna's heart leapt inside her chest as she caught a glimpse of her mother's sleek form and familiar warm eyes, and she bounded towards her, stifling a purr. Dawn looked healthy, her fur was sleek and her eyes were bright; almost nothing like the weak cat she was in her last breaths.

She skidded a few feet away from Dawn, suddenly realising that she could see the walls of Tree's den through her mother's coat.

"Luna! Oh, I've missed you, and I'm proud of you." Dawn padded forward, dipping her head to look at her daughter. "And look how you've grown!" She blinked sadly at Luna, before shaking herself as if trying to regain her composure. 

The calico cat twitched her whiskers as a sudden burst of coldness blossomed near her chest, making her shiver. She glanced quickly at Dawn, realising with a start that the sense of coldness had come from her mother. Confused, she glanced at Tree, who was also staring at Dawn, his head tilted as if deep in thought.

"Tree. Thank you for allowing Luna to see me, if only for a few minutes. You don't know how important this is to me."

"Of course. I understand I've lost family, too." At this, the wise tom dipped his head, before padding away. His pawsteps faded, leaving Dawn and Luna alone. 

"Tree's powers are very special. I've been following your journey, and he has allowed you to see me, if only just for a little while," Dawn meowed, in answer to her daughter's questioning gaze. 

"I'm glad you've been watching me from the stars," Luna meowed softly. She cast her gaze to the sky, before murmuring softly. "I've got to get back soon, though. Silver will be wondering where I am."

"Of course. Which is why we need to talk fast."

Dawn's form flickered, and she gave a wail of disbelief as she gazed at her paws. "Luna!" 

Her urgency sent another cold shiver down Luna's pelt, and she forced her fur to lay flat. 

"You'll see the path of the stars tomorrow; make sure you talk to a kittypet. They know what it all means; tell them to lead you to the places where you can see the stars fall. Follow it, and you'll reach the forest by two days."

Luna's thoughts whirled in her head as she gazed at Dawn, who was staring at her in both fear and anguish. 

"Oh, Luna. I don't want to go back. It's lonely in the place where I walk now..."

"You'll never be alone," the calico cat meowed fiercely. "And I will avenge you, even if I have to walk to the stars and back."