Autumn stood still, barely moving as Night Sky moved closer to her. Carefully, he licked her ears and she fell against him.

"I can't believe it," he kept muttering. "I can't believe it."

"Night Sky," Autumn whispered. "I'm pregnant with kits, too."

Night Sky drew in a sharp breath of air. "Mine?"

Autumn dipped her head.

"I can't believe it. I'm going to be a father to the best mate ever," Night Sky purred.

"We should go back to the camp," Autumn suggested quietly.

"I agree." Night Sky inclined his head and they padded side by side through the secret tunnel. This time, the walk didn't seem long, rather, Autumn was sad to see light again.

The night ended and Autumn was left alone in her nest, wishing she had realized what Night Sky meant for her earlier.

Sunrise came and Autumn was up immediately, bouncing out of her nest, excitement radiating in every strand of fur. Sun noticed her energy suspiciously but saying nothing.

Autumn lolled around the camp for the morning before deciding to find something to do. Perhaps Night Sky was finished from the morning patrol he had been sent on?

It was sunhigh before Night Sky finally padded into camp. Autumn lit up but she forced herself to stay calm.

You're not a kit. Calm down!

Autumn flicked her tail idly as she eagerly watched Night Sky drop a young falcon on the prey pile before his eyes met hers.

Night Sky let out a purr and sat down next to her. They shared tongues in the camp, gazing into each other's eyes.

Night Sky opened his mouth to speak, pausing from his licking. "When you have the kits, what should we name them?"

Autumn purred; her tail curled around Night Sky. "If we have a tom, I want to name him after both my brothers. Stormwind."

"I love that name," Night Sky agreed immediately. "I was thinking perhaps if we have a she-cat, we could name her after my mother. She was a wonderful cat and her name was Moonlight."

"I would love that," Autumn purred again.

"I'm not sure I'm ready to be a father though," Night Sky continued, his eyes trained on the floor.

"Why not? It's too late to say no now," Autumn protested.

"I don't want to have so many responsibilities," Night Sky sighed. "We're just so young. What are you, barely twelve moons old?"

"I might be less than twelve moons," Autumn snapped. "But I didn't ask to be expecting! It just happened!"

Night Sky leapt to his feet, bristling. Autumn had a sense of uncertainty and she stood up too.

"Look, Autumn. I'm not ready to be a father. I'm afraid you'll have to raise the kits on your own," the black tom mewed, his expression cold.

Autumn's jaw dropped and she watched silently as he stalked away.

He stalked away...

My dream!

Autumn let out a cry of fear and spun around, trying to find Sun. The leader wasn't anywhere in camp. She took a cautious sniff of the air and realized she could smell smoke already.

"Leave the camp!" she raised her voice to a yowl. "Fire!"

There weren't many cats in camp, just Autumn, Night Sky, Shadow, Fawn, Eclipse and Flash. Worry flashed through her for Night Sky and Eclipse in particular. Despite her argument with her mate, she still loved him.

Fawn reacted quickest, nudging Shadow to his feet and running out of the camp, Flash a few pawsteps behind them. Night Sky was slow to respond and hurried to the camp entrance without a second glance at Autumn. Pain clawed her as she turned to survey the camp.

I might never see it again.

"Eclipse! Let's go!" Autumn caterwauled.

The black she-cat ran over her, the smoke getting thicker and little flickers of fire dancing in the camp.

Autumn led the way cautiously through the camp but once they reached the tunnel, she recoiled. It was black and burnt, and as she touched the soft dirt on the stones, it was burning hot. She winced and took a few pawsteps back. "We can't go through!"

Eclipse paced in a circle, the fire spreading closer and closer. "Autumn, goodbye. I'm afraid this is the end."

"No! Eclipse! You saved our lives!" Autumn howled, nudging the she-cat to her paws. "There's another exit!"

"Where?" Eclipse's eyes were filled with trust and hope.

"Let's just go! Follow me, and don't be afraid!" Autumn ran into her den and to her horror, half of it was ablaze and Sun was unconscious, lying on the ground.

Terror ran through her from her ears to tail tip. Night Sky must have told him about the tunnel, and he must have come back in to try and save us.

She had no time to be angry at her mate, she had to save Eclipse and Sun. "Go first, Eclipse!" she ordered.

"No! I'm not leaving!" Eclipse growled, trying to drag Sun towards the back of the den and away from the flames that licked at his fur.

Already, his fur was charred and was blackening.

My dream is coming true.

Lifelessly, Autumn stumbled across to Eclipse and began to help her. With a glitter of sparks, a branch fell down into the ravine, sending the sparks towards the cats. Autumn brought a paw up to her face to protect it from the sparks while Eclipse moaned in agony as the fire came closer.

"We have to leave him!" Autumn commanded, her eyes stinging with pain and grief. "We'll die!"

"No! He's my leader! I have to stay!" Eclipse cried, her teeth digging into Sun's scruff.

But the she-cat was small, small for an average cat, while Sun was a fully grown tom. There was no hope.

"Eclipse, please," Autumn begged. "Come with me!"

"I will not, Autumn. I told you, this is the end of me. You go ahead," Eclipse mewed in a soft voice.

Autumn bit back her whimpers of pain as the fire crept closer and closer. Sun's body was half hidden in the towering flames. Eclipse winced in pain and hobbled over to where Autumn stood, frozen in horror and shock. "Go!"

Autumn nodded dimly and clambered through the tunnel, desperate to outrun the flames. Bitterness swept through her as she remembered the last time she had gone through this tunnel; Night Sky had been with her.

They had still been perfect.

---

Two sunrises later, Autumn padded down the tunnel to her old den, Wild Wind behind her. She paused at the exit. "I don't know what I'll find," she mewed softly, her body shivering.

Wild Wind pressed against her and they walked out together.

The scene that met them was devastating. The walls of the den were fine, being stone, but the moss was all charred and burnt. Two bodies lay in a corner of the den; Sun's and Eclipses.

Autumn let out a choked whimper of pain and lay down in between Sun's body and Eclipse's. "I'm sorry..." she whispered. "I'm so sorry..."

Wild Wind let out a yelp of surprise as Sun stirred, his eyes blinking open.

"Sun!" Autumn took a pace back in her surprise. "You're alive!"

"I'll go get Storm," Wild Wind offered immediately.

"No, Wild Wind," Sun let out a harsh hiss. "It's too late."

"What about Eclipse," Autumn trembled. "Is she...?"

"She's gone," Sun sighed. "She saved me from the fire, using her body as a shield. I won't ever be able to repay her."

Sun broke off into a fit of violent coughs.

"Sun! You need Storm," Autumn mewed, alarmed.

"Don't, Autumn. I can feel Truth calling to me," Sun eyes had dimmed, and his body was barely moving.

"The Dynasty needs you," Autumn argued feebly.

"No, the Dynasty needs you. Autumn, you will be the next leader. I have good faith in you." Sun let the last words die in his mew before his head fell backwards, his body stiff and the heat leaving rapidly.

Autumn stood up, shaking her pelt. Her green eyes burned with determination, fury and grief. "I promise that from this day onwards, I will do everything in my power to uphold the traditions and laws of the Dynasty. I vow that I will protect the Dynasty with everything I have, even if it takes my life. Nothing will stop me from breaking this promise. Nothing at all."