The forest was quiet, the only noises being the light ripple of a perfectly clear stream, and the slightest shiver of leaves from the most calm breeze. The sky above was a dark blue, filled with countless glittering stars that lit up the never-ending night.

These stars shone down on the entire forest, giving everything a sort-of whimsical glow that would make any cat stare in awe. It also made the large pond of water set in the middle of a grassy clearing glow like a thousand moonstones.

It was blinding in the most beautiful way, however, the misty gray she-cat staring down into it wasn't phased at all, her pale blue eyes calm but intent as she stared down into the sparkling pool. Her long fur was tingling with excitement and anticipation, and her whiskers were twitching with curiosity.

She wasn't sure how long she had been sitting like that until she slightly lifted her head and twitched at the stirring she heard behind her. She then looked over her shoulder to see the flame-colored pelt of a tom she knew very well. "Not afraid of the water anymore, Mistpelt?" the tom purred, a teasing gleam in his green eyes.

Mistpelt narrowed her pale blue eyes, letting out a sniff. "Very funny, Firestar," she muttered. "I'd watch it – one of these trees might be struck by lightning, catch on fire, and then fall on you."

Firestar then rolled his eyes and purred with amusement. Mistpelt then only looked at her friend, old Clanmate, and leader that had come to StarClan after the Dark Forest battle for another moment before shifting her gaze back to the pool. "And no, I'm not afraid of this kind of water."

Mistpelt then narrowed her eyes, proceeding to lower her head even more to get an even deeper look into to the water. To any other cat – like Firestar, possibly – likely just saw a shallow pond from where they stood. However, from Mistpelt's view, this water was deeper and more mysterious than the largest oceans.

Just beneath her, Mistpelt had a bird's-eye view of the stone hollow she knew to be ThunderClan's camp – the place she had called home for so long, and the place she had gotten to enjoy for the second half of her life. The place where I found my daughter again after so many moons, Mistpelt then thought, the day she discovered her long-lost Wrenkit again after losing her at three moons old. And the place where I got to she her grow up in Clan life, have a family of her own, and become a cat that anyone would respect.

And Mistpelt found her heart swelling with an overwhelming love as she actually caught sight of her daughter below, where she was curled up in what Mistpelt recognized as the warriors den. Her long-time mate, Thornclaw, was pressed up right against her, his tail wrapped around her flank protectively.

"Ahhh," Mistpelt heard Firestar meow understandingly as she padded up to sit next to the fluffy she-cat. "Checking on our Lilypetal again?"

"Of course," Mistpelt meowed. "I may not be able to be with her physically, but I have promised her that I will be with her in spirit, in whatever way I can. And anyway,"

Mistpelt then let out a sigh. "Even though we were able to spend so many moons together once we both found our way to ThunderClan, I..." She then trailed off, closing her eyes for a moment. "After all we've been through – when we were both taken away... when we weren't speaking to each other soon before I..."

The gray fluffy she-cat then opened her eyes again. "I still feel as if I somehow to make up for lost time. Watch over her whenever I get the chance."

Mistpelt could see Firestar giving her an understanding, sympathetic nod. "I see," the flame-colored tom as he flashed her a supportive glance. "I am certain that she appreciates it, and feels it. Mistpelt, I can't even begin to tell you how she was grieving after you came here."

Mistpelt then let out a snort and began to shake her head. "Oh, I'm sure," she replied with exasperation as she thought about all that her daughter had gone through since Mistpelt had gone to StarClan.

Mistpelt had only seen a glimpse of it when she was alive, but to see the constant stress, fear, and anger that Lilypetal had gone through all because of a single sick, vengeful, and heartless Dark Forest tom, had torn Mistpelt to shreds. Sending Lilypetal guiding dreams during that time was the least that Mistpelt had felt she could do.

And hearing from Lilypetal after the Dark Forest battle just how much the dreams Mistpelt had sent had eased her and empowered her, Mistpelt had vowed that she would continue to do the same thing whenever her daughter was in dismay or trouble – leading Mistpelt to check on Lilypetal every single day.

She then heard Firestar let out what sounded like a mix of a sigh and a growl. "I still can't believe what that tom put her through," the former leader muttered, echoing Mistpelt's thoughts. "I would have tossed him into a bonfire for messing with my daughter all of those moons ago, but... what he did to Lilypetal... that constant shadow he casted over her... I cannot believe how resilient and brave she made herself appear through all of it."

"You don't need to convince me," Mistpelt muttered, a growl already beginning to rise in her own throat. "Ashfur is a name that can probably never be spoken to her without her eyes flashing with apprehension or anger." After all, he is the reason that Snowflight is here... why Thornclaw was almost here... why I'm here...

Mistpelt then let out a sigh, giving a quick shake of her head. "She is the strongest cat that I know, and I'm sure many of the cats around her now could say the same," she then meowed more evenly. She then closed her eyes once again as she was filled with pride. "She is more than deserving of the position as ThunderClan's deputy."

"I definitely concur," Firestar replied, his green eyes gleaming as he looked down at Lilypetal with pride. "I could not have felt more at ease with leaving ThunderClan in her paws, and in Bramblestar's."

The former ThunderClan leader then closed his eyes and began to shake his head. "After all she's been through, I think she deserves anything good that's coming to her," Firestar muttered. "With Ashfur gone, the Dark Forest defeated, and all of the Clans at peace, I can only hope that things are turning up for her now..."

Firestar then trailed off as she noticed Mistpelt's intense gaze now staring deeply and worriedly into the glittering pool. "What's the matter?"

Mistpelt's gaze was now locked on Lilypetal's brown tabby and white fur, her tail beginning to twitch anxiously. "Well, hopefully nothing, but..."

Mistpelt then trailed off this time, continuing to watch Lilypetal as she slept next to Thornclaw. While the golden brown tabby tom seemed to be sleeping soundly, Mistpelt quickly noticed that her daughter seemed to be stirring in her place, her eyes practically screwed shut as she seemed to readjust herself every few heartbeats.

Firestar seemed to notice the same thing. "Strange..." the flame-colored tom muttered. "Lilypetal's always been a restless one, and I know she's had her fair share of bad dreams, but... she looks like she's having quite an uncomfortable sleep."

Mistpelt narrowed her eyes even more. "I wonder if she's even asleep at all..." the she-cat speculated, even though in her mind she was already certain – her daughter's quicker breathing, her seemingly sealed-shut eyes, and the way she constantly stirred showed that she was nowhere near sleep at all. I've seen it over the course of several nights now...

"I can imagine she hasn't been sleeping very well lately," Mistpelt then murmured aloud, flashing Firestar a glance. "Yes, Firestar, Lilypetal more than deserves peace, but..." the fluffy she-cat emphasized. "With all she has been through, how strong she was through it all, I worried it would catch up to her someday."

Firestar said nothing, his green eyes now dark with worry as he stared down at the pool with Mistpelt. The fluffy she-cat couldn't help but feel a wave of gratitude at seeing the flame-colored tom so worried – he appeared as worried as a father would, and as worried as he would be if he were staring down at Squirrelflight or Leafpool. I practically feel indebted to him by how much of a father figure he was to my daughter, Mistpelt then thought, and in a strange way, it feels nice that we can share in this worry together.

Mistpelt then began to shake her head slowly. "What's she's been through... it's all something she will forever have to cope with, and will bring her a fair share of burdens."

Mistpelt then took a deep breath, feeling a wave of certainty run through her bones as the calming StarClan winds brushed her long fur, almost as if to send her a message. "But at the same time, I know it's making her stronger. It appears I still might have to remind her of that," she then meowed, watching as her daughter's beautiful hazel eyes suddenly opened, her brown tabby and white fur stretching out as she began to rise from her nest. "Because Firestar, Ashfur's reign wasn't the end to a story. There's more for her to experience... go through... to learn about herself..."

Mistpelt then let out a sigh. "And for me to tell her..."

"Oh?" Firestar then meowed as him and Mistpelt exchanged a knowing glance. "You're going to share... that with her soon?"

"I think so," Mistpelt breathed, now staring warily back at the former ThunderClan leader. She then looked back down at her daughter in the pool. "I'm just waiting for the right time."

"Are you now?" Firestar then murmured as he glanced up at the trees. "If things go in the future as we think they are, Mistpelt, that might be soon."

"I'll be ready," Mistpelt reassured the flame-colored tom. "She deserves to know, especially now that I am certain about it."

Mistpelt then let out a huff. "But that is just one, among many things that she will take on, learn, and go through in the future," she then meowed as she watched Lilypetal let out what seemed like an exasperated sigh before padding out of the warriors den and into the dawn light. "As much as she has gone through already, this is just the beginning for her. There is still a fire in her that has yet to be lit."