A/N: Right….I haven't been on in a loooooooooooooooooong time, but I'm bored so yeah. ;D
Disclaimer: The concept, land and warrior code all belong to 'Erin Hunter', though I use it to write this story. ;o
Chapter 1: Prologue
Moonlight danced on the shadowy cats as they slipped into the clearing, none of them uttering a word.
" You all know why we're here," a large golden tom broke the silence. The cats nodded or murmured a faint 'yes' in reply.
"We cannot let the Cats of Deathclan take over!" yowled a blue-silver cat, anger glinting in her icy eyes.
"Yes, Bluestar, we know," the golden tom-cat replied, perfectly calm.
"Lionheart, how can you be so calm?" the she-cat called Bluestar, asked, clearing incredulous he was so calm when innocent cats could be killed any minute, depending on what they do.
"Yes, how?" a new voice sounded, belonging to a red tom, with a very large, bushy tail.
"I know that Pantherstar will understand her clan is at stake, if Leopardstar will send her a dream, Tundrastar for Blackstar, Rabbitstar for Onestar and Dewstar for Bluestar," Lionheart explained patiently, glancing at the tom.
"Will you do it?" he asked, turning to three cats, who were seated beside Bluestar, half concealed in shadow.
"I will go to Rabbitstar," Onestar offered, leaning forward. His face was thrown into relief by the movement and revealing many battle scars on his face.
"Of course I will," Bluestar meowed, her eyes flickering to the two cats who hadn't yet moved or mewed yet. "Will you, Blackstar and Leopardstar?"
"I will," a new voice sounded in the crowd of cats. A silver cat made her way through the crowd, her blue eyes calm.
"Feathertail." Lionheart inclined her head to the new arrival. "Leopardstar? What do you say?"
"Let her do it," Leopardstar agreed. Feathertail smiled, her eyes twinkling happily.
"And Blackstar?" Lionheart meowed, as all of the cats turned to the cat who had yet to speak.
The white tom looked conflicted for a minute, his brain working furiously. His eyes flickered to the cats watching, to the other leaders and landed on Lionheart.
"I will." He meowed at last. "Tundrastar might be as stubborn as Tawnypelt, but I can try."
The cats let out a breath they all had unconsciously inhaled.
"It will be done tomorrow night," Lionheart mewed. The starry cats left the clearing in silence, only one cat staying behind.
"Have I done the right thing?" the cat mewed, looking down at Thunderclan camp. With a sigh, Bluestar left the clearing.
● ● ●
"Bluestar!" a golden she-cat yowled, looking around for the source of the she-cat's scent. Mist was blocking her surroundings from the she-cat as she bounded, desperately searching.
"It's fine," came the soothing voice of a blue she-cat, who had emerged from the mist. "Starclan has a message for you, Dewst-"
But she broke off, looking around for something Dewstar hadn't noticed or heard. Suddenly another cat came from the mist; a smaller she-cat.
"Dewstar? Bluestar?" the apprentice asked tentatively. "Where are we? Why am I here?"
Bluestar stared at the apprentice, but her face showed no surprise. Dewstar was looking at Bluestar, than the arrival, then back to Bluestar.
"Rosepaw," Blustar meowed,nodding. "Sit. This is important." She flicked her tail the spot beside Dewstar. "Starclan has a warning for you."
The mist cleared, replaced by cats with hatred in their eyes. They circled the clearing, growling and sheathing and unsheathing their claws menacingly.
"The power of Deathclan grows strong,
The lake will red again,
As the power of Starclan is drained….
Together alone, the clans can fight the horrible leadership of Tigerstar."
The mist appeared again, as the cats and Bluestar vanished. And with a jolt, two cats awoke in Thunderclan camp.