Hidden Stars
Prologue
In a dusky meadow, sat two cats, talking in whispers.
"Moonstar," whispered one. Moonstar turned to the other cat. Moonstar was a tall silver she-cat with bronze eyes. The other cat was Dewwhisker, a handsome tabby tom.
"I know." Snapped Moonstar, "Where is my deputy?"
"He was catching a bird and fell out of a tree. He's in my den now."
"We must go back and tell him, about the stars…" Both cats looked back to the sky. It was black, there was not even a moon.
Dewwhisker nodded and led Moonstar to the Medicine Cat Den, where a small black cat was sleeping.
"Ivyclaw," Dewwhisker said quietly, "Ivyclaw, wake up!" Ivyclaw opened his sleepy eyes.
"What now?" He stood on his feet awkwardly. He squinted to see the medicine cat and his leader.
"It's so dark. Is something wrong?" He was suddenly alert. He looked up and cried in a startled voice,
"Where are the stars? Why are they not out?" Ivyclaw looked frantic. Moonstar silenced him. She shook her head.
"Starclan isn't up there, we know. Tomorrow we shall go to highstones. I'm sure it is nothing," she tried to reassure them and herself, "But be wary. This could be something very serious after all."
The three cats nodded to one another. In agreement, they separated until morning.