PROLOGUE
Wind tugged at the dark brown fur of a slender she-cat as she sat perfectly still on the bank of a small river, staring out across it. The dusk sun was beginning to sink behind the trees on the far bank, casting an orange hue across the flowing StarClan water. She she-cat swiveled her pretty ears around as the sound of grass swishing behind her caught her attention. Turning her head around, over her shoulder, she looked at the three cats that had emerged onto the sandy bank through golden eyes.
"Greetings, Meadowtail." A brown tabby tom with a frosty white underbelly padded to her side. "Thank you for meeting us here." Meadowtail dipped her head politely.
"Of course, Cedarfrost. Greetings." She flicked her gaze towards the two other cats with them. "Larkclaw, Thistletail." She dipped her head to each tom, who in turn, also dipped their heads.
"Why are we meeting here?" Larkclaw leaned over to glare at Cedarfrost, his pale blue eyes daunting.
"We must discuss FleetClan, of course!" Thistletail butted in, twitching his spiky-furred tail at Larkclaw. The dark gray tom hissed at Thistletail.
"There is nothing to discuss! The two remaining Clans have been driven from their territories. So what? Fernstar failed to acknowledge StarClan's warning. There is nothing we can do about that!"
"Larkclaw, how can you say that? Your daughter and mate have been driven from their home! Don't you want to help them?" Meadowtail's voice was scathing. Cedarfrost rested his tail on her shoulder, to calm her. Larkclaw was on his paws, lashing his sleek tail.
"Don't be a mouse-brain! Of course I want to help them! But what can we possibly do?" Thistletail brushed passed Larkclaw and shoved him back.
"We do not need to quarrel." He meowed. Cedarfrost nodded.
"Thistletail is right. We must try to help our Clans."
"But how?" Meadowtail asked, fluffing out her sleek fur as best her could to protect herself against the cool evening breeze. She looked at Thistletail and Larkclaw. Thistletail shook his head, unsure of what to say, while Larkclaw simply flattened his ear against his skull and turned his head away from her, angry that he also didn't know what to do. Cedarfrost flicked his tail back and forth.
"BreezeClan and TinderClan must unite against FleetClan and win back their home!" His golden eyes glowed in the dusk light as he gazed across the water, his eyes blazing with determination. Larkclaw looked disgusted.
"BreezeClan can fight their own battles! They should not have to rely on other Clans for protection. Especially weak Clans, like TinderClan." He spat, his white claws sank into the sand. Meadowtail rounded on Larkclaw.
"Does it look like BreezeClan can beat FleetClan right now? No. Cedarfrost it right, Larkclaw." She snapped at the headstrong tom. "Honestly, Larkclaw, I don't know what Ambersong ever saw in you!" Before Larkclaw could snarl back a reply, Thistletail pushed between them, waving this tail for silence.
"This is all perfect as prey lining up at your paws, but, BreezeClan and TinderClan are nowhere near each other. How can they battle FleetClan when they're scattered?" Every cat was silent. Then Cedarfrost twitched his ears.
"We will have to lead them to each other."