Prologue

A large dark brown tabby tom prowled back and forth. His glowing amber eyes were narrowed, and he looked deep in thought.

"Tigerstar?"

A cat with the same fur, the same build, and the same fluidity padded out of the dark, never-ending trees. However, his ice-blue eyes burned like flames in the darkness.

"Yes, son?"

The first tom had turned around to face his son. His eyes searched the other, and he nodded. It appeared that this was the cue to speak, for the blue-eyed tom dipped his head to his father.

"She is in ThunderClan. She is Bramblestar's granddaughter."

"And Firestar's great-granddaughter," spat Tigerstar. "What a shame."

"We can still use her brother," suggested his son. "He is a tom, more likely to understand."

"With the name Flame, Hawkfrost?" countered Tigerstar. "No. We must use the she-cat."

Hawkfrost nodded. "She is the best choice."

"Very well," agreed Tigerstar. "We will visit her."

"When?"

"Now."

The two toms crept through the Dark Forest, their eyes gleaming greedily. Hawkfrost even licked his lips, though this was a metaphor to symbolize what was to come. Tigerstar sniffed the air.

"Get behind that rock," he hissed suddenly, pushing Hawkfrost behind a large boulder and then crouching next to him. The reason for this ungainly escape was that a silken black tom was passing in front of the rock.

"Darkstripe," murmured Tigerstar thoughtfully.

He padded out from behind the rock, tail swishing. He walked out proudly and powerfully.

Darkstripe gaped.

"Tigerstar! I thought I'd never see you again! I thought Dark Forest cats were supposed to walk alone!"

Tigerstar nodded. "They are. And this is my territory. Or rather," He paused, "me and my kin's territory."

"Your…your kin?"

"Get out."

The black tom raced away as fast as possible. He cast one last glance at his former idol…and turned away in disgust.

Then he was gone.

"Let's get to ThunderClan camp now," continued Tigerstar.

Hawkfrost, padding out from behind the rock, nodded. The two toms continued padding silently side by side. They finally reached the ThunderClan camp, and Tigerstar paused.

"She will be in the nursery."

They raced each other over to the nursery, where there were five cats curled up. One was a heavily pregnant golden she-cat. Tigerstar snorted.

"Non-Clan scum."

Then he turned to the white queen, and her three kits.

One was a dark ginger tom. He was the largest of the three. Curled next to him was a beautiful golden she-cat. And in between them was the smallest kit of the three.

She was a stunning silver she-cat with black paws.

"That's her," muttered Hawkfrost.

Tigerstar carefully picked up the she-cat. He set her down just outside of camp, shaking her to wake her up. She mewled helplessly. She was limp and weak.

"Listen to me," growled the large tom. "You will be my life in the forest. Do you understand?"

"Yes," murmured the kit, wishing to get back to her siblings and her warm nest.

"Thank you," hissed Tigerstar. He picked her up and padded to the nursery. He set her down exactly where she had been.

The two dark toms leapt into the air.

Then they were gone.

888xxx000xxx888

"Bramblestar!"
A small light brown tabby raced from the medicine cat's den into the leader's den. Bramblestar was curled up with his mate, Squirrelflight. Both cats were purring contentedly. As the tabby burst in, the tom sat up with a jerk. Squirrelflight twitched her ears in annoyance.

"For StarClan's sake!" exclaimed the leader. "What happened?"

"I received a prophecy."

Bramblestar's eyes widened, and he drew closer to Squirrelflight. His amber eyes were wide.

"A…a prophecy?"

The medicine cat nodded. "Yes."

"Well, what are you waiting for, Leafpool?" asked Squirrelflight. "Tell us!"

Leafpool looked to Bramblestar. The dark tabby nodded, and the medicine cat took a deep breath, her amber eyes burning flames.

"One will come with fur like stream,

shining with a StarClan gleam.

One will come with fur like stone,

shining with a StarClan glow.

Stream and Stone will shine in night,

shining with a spirit light.

Two will come to save the lake,

Two with eyes in midnight gleam."

"I've already told Jayfeather," continued Leafpool, breaking the silence.

"But what could it mean?"

"I don't know."