The book then goes back to Bluestar's kithood, during which Goosefeather, the Clan's medicine cat, receives a prophecy about Bluepaw being a fire that blazes through the forest, but who will be destroyed by water.

Snowfur is later killed when she is hit by a speeding car, leaving a heartbroken Bluefur to care for her son, Whitekit.

After having a vision of Thistleclaw drenched in blood, Bluefur realizes that allowing him to become deputy and then leader would be deadly to the Clan.

After Sunstar loses his final life to dogs, she becomes leader, receiving her own nine lives and taking on the name Bluestar.

After successfully leading ThunderClan for several seasons, she receives another prophecy from the ThunderClan medicine cat, Spottedleaf: “Fire alone can save our Clan.” Later, while on patrol with Whitestorm and her deputy, Redtail, she catches sight of a bright ginger house cat named Rusty.

According to a prophecy, blue-gray she-cat Bluekit will possess a fire-like power that win her a dominant place in her Clan's ranks, but even that gift can not protect her from one swift foe.