Chapter 1 – The deal

Sara was practically in tears from the lack of sleep at this stage. The bright light of the sun blinded her, and everything just seemed white with shadows at this point. She could barely see anything, yet was expected to continue helping Maxx with the Battle-claws. Not that she minded, of course, every claw was needed at this point of time during the war, but still, the blazing fire combined with the hot sun on her back did not make the day go any faster. Maxx turned his soot-covered face (One of the few dark things she could see in this darn light) and looked at her. Hopefully with sympathy, but Sara simply couldn't tell with the harsh glare of the sun.

"Sara, you need to sleep." The large-for-his-breed Burrowing owl stated. Sara opened her beak to argue, but decided against it, and the yawn that came out helped with this fact.
"Maxx, if you e-e-e-ver need any help just send someone up to wake me." Sara said drowsily as a yawn tried to sabotage her sentence. Maxx nodded, and booted her out gently with his strong legs. The large barn owl stumbled out obediently and thought about the position her life was currently in. She thoughtlessly took flight, using the faint shadows against the bright light and her memory as a map to guide her back to her hallow. Life at the great tree of Ga'Hoole was stressful. Rumours, no, not rumours, that meat there was a likely chance they were there, more like sights of Hagsfiends had been seen, and Glaumora spirits had appeared to various owls at the Great Tree, screaming about danger and wars. Owls that had heard the "rumour" of Hagsfiends went searching, and some had teamed up. Owls had started attacking Guardians, and battles had started. Now that the Guardians were busy and a quarter of the tree had to stay up late like Sara and Maxx had tonight. Battleclaws were important, as the opposing owls tried to steal the Guardians ones during battle from fallen corpses or even where fighting mid-air. Sara flew quietly into her hallow, and ducked her head under her tawny wing that faded to a light grey at the tips. Her brother Klukk murmured lightly in the corner, and nestled deeper into his nest before resuming his quiet breathing. Sara closed her eyes, and blocked out the white before being able to nod off.

-

The comforting dark was present, and her wings effortlessly lifted her off the ground. Sara closed her eyes and enjoyed the silky feeling of the night rushing over her, before realising she didn't know where she was. She angled herself and landed on a smooth branch. Bright, misty figures emerged from the night, and the young barn owl ruffled her feathers. Were these scrooms? Didn't scrooms appear in strange and eerie places? Turning her head around, she could see that this place was divine; in fact, it looked like what Glaumora had been described as. A meadow of grass, and the heartbeats of prey could be heard. The misty figures, however, were not owls she knew, or, in that matter, owls at all. The figures slid from the grass below and clawed their way up to her branch. Sara felt like she was about to scream. These were like small cougars, just smaller then foxes. She had read about them before. They were cats. Their yellow eyes stared at her with interest, and Sara moved her foot to claw the nearest one, to find her movements were slowed, like she was moving it through water.
"Do not attack us, young one." The nearest one spoke. Now they were closer, and her eyes had adjusted to the brightness, she could see they were not at all made of mist, but their fur (which all had different patterns and colours) seemed to be covered with glowing specks like stars. "I am Stormstar, the previous leader of Pineclan. We come from lands away from yours, but only a sky away from your ancestors."
Sara stared with her beak slightly open. These… these CATS could speak? They had leaders?
"Wha-Who- How- Why are you here?" She questioned, the slowed movements apparently having no effect on her voice. The dark grey tom with darker stripes – Stormstar – answered her.
"You know of the war going on in your world. The Hagsmires – do not interrupt – have been revived once more. The dark owls of your past times have been revived as spirits, and are currently influencing other owls as they dream. Our dark ancestors have been doing the same. The Dark Forest, where the spirits of evil cats are sent, appears to have started working with your ancestors. You and several other owls are being visited by other Starclan cats, and several cats are being visited by Gluamora spirits. If the Dark Forest and Hagsmire work together, neither group of us, Clans or Great Tree, will survive for very long. But together… together we might be able to survive."
Stormstar paused for a heartbeat. "Cats shall come from the clans to help fight the Evil, and in turn, Owls must go to the clans to protect the clans." Sara blinked a few times. It was a lot to take in. After letting it sink in for a moment, she asked
"When are the cats coming?"
The murky brown she-cat answered her this time.
"You will have one day- I mean, one night to prepare for their arrival. They will arrive at sundown tomorrow. You are to meet the other owls at the edge of the spirit woods when you wake. You must tell no other owl about this until the cats arrive. Do you understand?" Sara took a deep breath. What if this is only a dream or a Hagsfiend illusion so I go off on a wild goose chase? Sara finally made her decision.
"I will go, but mark my words, if these cats cause any problems they are going to have to swim through the sea of Hoolemere without any help, where they will hopefully drown."
The two cats appeared amused by this.
"Then it is a deal?"
"It is."