*~* PROLOUGE *~*

Greenflight looked around at her surroundings. She seemed to be in the forest on Thunder Clan territory, but the surrounding trees looked younger, and the scent that filled her nostrils was unfamiliar. She heard whispers as the breeze slid over the leaves. With a start, Greenflight realized that these whispers were not the making of the wind, but of cats.

Greenflight padded cautiously towards the whispers, expecting some familiar cats. What she saw startled her. Yes, these were familiar cats. But they had died long ago. She recognized Brindlescar, her brother, who had died in a war against River Clan. Brindlescar was not as she remembered though. His fur was still brindle, but it was silvery, and she could stars speckled in his fur. Lightfur was there as well; her usually tan fur was also dappled with tiny stars. Lightfur had been Brindlescar's mate. She died in the same battle as Brindlescar, though Lightfur died fighting against River Clan at the border, and Brindlescar fought to defend the camp. The past leader, Sunstar, sat with her tail curled around her feet. She sat, but nervously. Greenflight could see her fidgeting. Sunstar had passed after giving her last life for her only surviving kit. Boulderheart had been fighting a loner, and Sunstar had jumped in the way as another rouge tried to strike him on the neck. Sunstar took the blow, and she was no more.

Brindlescar padded towards Greenflight, and Greenflight started to back away. Brindlescar stopped and stared at Greenflight. His eyes flashed silver. Greenflight curled her tail closer to her body, and she saw Brindlescar purr in amusement. She uncurled her tail, and tilted her head, questioning his laughter. Lightfur stepped forward, to stand beside her mate. She smiled good-naturedly.

"Dear Greenflight!" Brindlescar mused, "I've missed you! How is Thunder Clan?"

"Brindlescar... why am I here, in Star Clan?" Greenflight asked, "Has green cough caught me?" Greenflight took another look around the small clearing. There were only the three cats in front of her, but she felt like she was being watched.

"No, Greenflight. You are here to learn of a prophecy." Brindlescar sat, suddenly serious. Sunstar rose and walked over. She took her place in front of Brindlescar and Lightfur, before staring at Greenflight.

"They once were here; the makers of the clans. Now they all shall return and take the burden from our clans. Shadow, Thunder, Wind, and River; they all shall return and take their places in the clans. A war shall ensue, and many will fall, Wind will recover, but Shadow will fall. Thunder and River, forced into one, now must come up with a way to merge into one." Sunstar looked at Greenflight, who recoiled. Greenflight shook her head. This made no sense…

*~* CHAPTER ONE *~*

Boulderheart padded into the nursery, where his mate, Duskpool lay. She was expecting a litter within the next moon. He checked on her between his duties, which he had a lot of ever since he had been appointed as the deputy. Duskpool purred when she saw Boulderheart approach.

"How are you Duskpool? Want some fresh kill?" Boulderheart flopped onto the cool floor of the nursery beside Duskpool. She chuckled and licked him gently between his ears.

"Some squirrel would be nice. And could you tell Greenflight to bring me some more poppy seeds? I'm in pain again." Duskpool managed to lay her tail on Boulderheart's back. Boulderheart jumped up, and quickly left the nursery to do as Duskpool asked.

Boulderheart shuffled along the edge of the camp clearing. The apprentices were playing, and it was never safe to be around them when they did. He slipped through the hole in the bramble into the Greenflight's storage room. Boulderheart quickly found the poppy seeds, but Greenflight was strict about inventory, and he knew that he couldn't take any without permission.

"Greenflight," Boulderheart called out, "Duskpool wants some poppy seeds." He stepped in further, and let himself enjoy the scent of Greenflight's herb filled den. He jumped when Greenflight's soft voice –the one she used for kits and apprentices- called out his name.

"Boulderheart, I'm in the back." Boulderheart heard Greenflight shuffle around whatever she was doing. He entered the den further. He could see her silver tail just around the corner. It twitched as she worked.

When you entered the medicine cat's den, there was a small den at first, which Greenflight used for storage. When you went further back and turned right, there was another smaller den that had some vines hanging in front. This was where Greenflight treated her patients, and where they rested until they were better. Greenflight leaped up onto a rock-ledge above that den and slept on the soft moss that grew on it. Recently a storm knocked over a large hollow tree that hung right over her bed, and she could use it for an easy secret pathway. She could go anywhere in camp, just by climbing on it and traveling through the trees, but if she followed inside of it, it led to a secret clearing, that was surrounded by briars. It seemed impassable, but there was one way out. A cat would have to climb up a lone birch tree, and jump down from it to get out of the clearing. No other trees were near it, so no cat had to worry about an invasion.

Boulderheart ventured to the vine curtain, than stopped. Greenflight seemed busy. "…and that will teach you not to mess with briar balls, right Ravenpaw?" Greenflight whispered softly.

"Yes Greenflight, no more briar balls for me." was the black apprentice's quiet reply. Boulderheart waited, but Ravenpaw didn't come out to play with her friends. Boulderheart pushed aside the vines, and found Ravenpaw curled into a moss bed, her head down. Her fur seemed matted, and he suppressed a gag as he saw that her fur was matted with blood. Just then, Ravenpaw lifted her head, Boulderheart saw that half of her beautiful face had been bloodied, and he could make out the tiny pricks of briar sticking out of her skin. Her eye was closed, but she seemed to be crying. Boulderheart actually gagged when he saw that the so-called tears was actually blood. Greenflight spun around and nudged Boulderheart out.

"How did that happen!?" Boulderheart managed to blurt. He had wanted her as his apprentice; instead he got her sister, Icepaw. Icepaw was white with blue eyes, but had an attitude that would make a grouchy elder cry. He loved Ravenpaw, and mentored her a lot, due to the fact that her mentor was Duskpool. Ravenpaw cooled Icepaw down, and Icepaw kept Ravenpaw cheery. Boulderheart's throat tightened when he realized that Ravenpaw would probably never be able to open that eye again.

"The other apprentices started to stick briar in the moss balls, and she didn't know. One was launched at her, but she didn't know of the briars. Hit her right on the face." Greenflight said sadly, "Didn't help that she started to try to wipe them off, or hide it in her fur. She'll be okay. And no more briar balls." Greenflight added. She sat down carefully, and arranged her tail in the dirt. Her green eyes looked at Boulderheart with affection. They had been friends for a long time.

"That's terrible; I'm going to tell Duskpool immediately! But first… I need some poppy seeds, Greenflight. Duskpool says that she's in pain." Boulderheart tried to force the image of the young she-cat in the back room, whose face was never going to be the same. He sat down as well, waiting for Greenflight to get a leaf and put some poppy seeds on it. Instead, Greenflight's eyes lit up, and shone with a new intensity.

Greenflight rushed around her den, getting poppy seeds, but getting other herbs as well. She bundled it up into a large leaf and rushed over to Boulderheart, who was having trouble understanding what was going on. "Boulderheart, go get a few pieces of fresh kill. At least three. It doesn't matter what they are, but I would like a bird in there too, GO!" Greenflight rushed back into the den with Ravenpaw and continued, "Come on Ravenpaw. Bring as much moss as you can… no, don't worry; there are no briar thorns in them. Come on! I need your help!" Greenflight burst out from the vines.

Boulderheart rushed to do as Greenflight asked. When he got the fresh kill, he didn't know where to go: to the nursery, or to the medicine cat's den? A stifled moan from the nursery told him to go there. When he arrived, he was shocked.

Greenflight was already there, and there was moss all over the ground, in a kind of bed. Duskpool was splayed out over the moss, and Ravenpaw lay next to her, licking her carefully. All of the herbs were lying about, carefully organized in a way that Boulderheart didn't understand. Suddenly, a convulsion swept through Duskpool's body. Realization hit Boulderheart so hard, he almost collapsed. Another convulsion ran through Duskpool's body.

Boulderheart only managed to mutter "Kits," before falling over, unconscious.