I closed my eyes, having just woken from a nightmare about Squirrelflight killing me. I thought I heard pawsteps and I lifted my head. Nothing. Just shadows.

Then, one of the shadows took the form of a cat and placed a paw on my chest. I thrashed about, seeing an unfamiliar jet black tom with bright green eyes pinning me to the ground. He prepared for the death blow. I flinched as his paw swung downwards and struck my head.

Pain shot up my neck and I found that I couldn't breathe. Death gripped me with icy claws, and I found myself in StarClan, recovering from losing a life.

As soon as I woke again, opening my eyes and weakly trying to throw the rogue off, he killed me again...

3rd Person POV

After Bumblestar lay still, not breathing or moving, Night padded off and found Blossomfall out hunting. Blossomfall surprisingly honored her bargain and gave him the herbs, which she had taken from Jayfeather's abandoned Twoleg nest.

She returned to camp and realized Night must've hidden Bumblestar's body, because it wasn't in his den. She told the Clan that Bumblestar had been killed by a ShadowClan patrol while wandering through the forest, and that she had chased them off and then buried his body because she didn't want to have to carry it back.

Blossomfall announced that Thornclaw would be the new deputy. Blossomfall and the golden brown tom were good friends, so it wasn't a big surprise. Thornclaw also had much experience, and was the perfect choice.

She wondered what would happen when she encountered her brother in the Dark Forest one day. He certainly wouldn't have forgiven her; Bumblestar held grudges for a long time. Or maybe she would be able to make up for her murders by being a great leader; maybe she would make it to StarClan.

That was unimportant though. For now, she was alive and the leader of a fine Clan. Her brother was gone, and no cat would need to worry about his unpredictable actions anymore. ThunderClan could be rebuilt under a wise leader.

Tomorrow, she would journey up to the Moonpool to receive her nine lives. Jayfeather would accompany her; she wasn't going to be like Bumblestar and force him to stay behind at the hollow for her ceremony.

Every warrior in the Clan thought she was stricken with grief by her brother's tragic death and the end of his leadership. But in reality, this just proved her belief that every end was a new beginning. This was the beginning of her time, and she was excited to see how much she could accomplish.

It was time for Blossomfall's Reign.

A/N: End of Book 1!