Leaves in the Wind
Prologue
. . .
The night was peaceful and calm, the only evidence of panic and shock-a serene wind that blew over, gently ruffling ears and fur. All around, surrounding a clear pool of water was a lush, green froest. On either side of the pool, were four large trees that served to divide the land into four territories.
Surrounding the pool on each side of precious territory, were four cats. Three fidgeted nervously, all the while eying the calmest one with wariness and doubt. The silent cat was a she-cat, beautiful with a long white coat and silver-tipped ears. She was eying the other three cats with something akin to amusement. Surrounding them all over, were cats from their respective territories.
And while the other cats were occupied with their seemingly nameless fear, it was then that she decided to speak.
"Are we all gathered?" Her voice, while strong and powerful, radiated a gentleness that made the other cats calm almost instantly.
"We are," a dark grey tom said smoothly, flicking his long tail.
"Yes," another she-cat responded, fluffing up her silken black fur. "Would you mind telling us exactly why we're here, Froststar?"
Froststar laughed, surprising the other cats present, before it died out all together, her face twisting into that of grave seriousness. "I called you here tonight on a matter of grave importance."
"And what is that matter?" A dark-red tom piped up, narrowing his multicoloured eyes at the white she-cat.
"The matter is, Russetstar," Froststar began. "That a new prophecy has made itself known."
"How do you know?!" Russetstar demanded, his long ears flapping impatiently.
"Because," Froststar said, "StarClan has spoken to me."
"Spoken to you?!" Russetstar sputtered, multicoloured eyes flashing. "Why would StarClan contact you?!"
"Because I am the most capable leader," Froststar answered smoothly.
"Because, as normal, ThunderClan thinks themselves superior!" Russetstar snarled, looking ready to pounce. "I don't know why your clan thinks they're better than ShadowClan!"
The cats on his side all yowled in agreement. One particular cat though, looked guilty. His sleek black head was lowered and he made an effort not to look his leader in the eye and made to glance in Froststar's direction. Russetstar however, seemed to notice. He pierced the tom with one watery blue eye, all the while looking furious.
"What have you done, Thorntail?" He whispered.
"I have done nothing!" Thorntail snarled back with surprising venom.
Russetstar looked shocked, but he quickly covered it and made to yowl until Froststar cut him off.
"We have no time for your petty quarrels, Russetstar!" She hissed.
Russetstar and the rest of ShadowClan looked ready to protest but one sharp look from Froststar's suddenly vicous blue eyes quelled them down almost immediately.
"I have no time for you!" Russetstar retorted venomously.
"As I was saying," Froststar murmured. "StarClan has contacted my Medicine Cat and myself."
"What did StarClan say?" The other she-cat piped up curiously, her green eyes crinkling. "What was the message?"
"There is a new prophecy," Froststar mewed, her tail flicking.
The majority of the cats gasped, their jaws going slack and their eyes widening.
"What was this prophecy?!" The dark grey tom demanded.
Froststar's blue eyes were solemn as she recited, "Rose and Thorns will come together to form two, fading away, a feather will tip the balance and plunge everything into darkness, Leaves will wither in the coming storm and Ferns will be shrouded, only two can survive."
She then turned to the other Clan leaders. "Russetstar, Ashstar, Thistlestar, I dearly hope you take this prophecy seriously."
"Of course we will!" Russetstar snarled. "Who do you think I am?!"
"The leader of ShadowClan," Froststar answered bemusedly. "But I have no doubts of your leadership, Russetstar. In fact, this prophecy may even relate to your clan."
"And it will," he scoffed.
"If I may ask," Thistlestar began. "This prophecy does refer to a cat, doesn't it?"
"Of course," Froststar mewed amusedly. "Though I have doubts of which Clan they will be born into."
"They are yet to be born?" Ashstar echoed, his tail going slack. As Froststar nodded, he continued in a more heated tone. "They could be any cat in this forest, how are to know?! And another concern:the only time StarClan brings out new prophcies is when disaster is about to strike!"
As he said this, yowls began to echo throughout the clearing.
"You're perfectly correct," Froststar answered grimly. "And when disaster does strike, we can only hope and pray to StarClan that we will survive."