There were three cats sitting in a circle in the clearing in the middle of a large forest that loomed around them. One looked very old, and was a black and white tom. The other was a large golden tabby tom with thick fur around his neck that resembled a lion's mane. And the last was an old pale ginger-coated she-cat.
"They must be destroyed," the black and white tom said.
"Tallstar!" the ginger-coated she-cat exclaimed. "They're just kits!"
"Goldenflower," the black and white tom addressed her, "they will destroy the Clans. Lionheart," Tallstar then turned his gaze to the golden tabby tom "what do you think?"
"What do I think?" Lionheart repeated. "They are my kin, I do not believe we should just get rid of them."
"How would we, anyway?" Goldenflower said, stepping in.
"There are ways, Goldenflower," Tallstar said to her.
"But they're just kits!" Goldenflower argued.
"And I know, that you wish to protect your kin," Tallstar said again. "But we can't risk all the Clans' future. One of them will grow up to be a monster, perhaps worse than Tigerstar!"
"What about their mother, Hawktalon?" Lionheart cut in.
Tallstar put his head down and said, "I know you wish well for her, Lionheart, for she is your kin. But we can not risk it!"
"No, maybe if we warn Hawktalon," Lionheart said. "She is familiar with incidents like this. She could help!"
"I see I am not going to win this battle," Tallstar said.
"I will warn Hawktalon," Goldenflower said. "She is my daughter. I will give her a prophecy."
"Fine," Tallstar said. "But remember, the Clans' future is at stake here." He then walked out of the clearing.
"When will you tell her?" Lionheart asked his sister after Tallstar had left.
"Tonight."
A small black and white she-cat was sitting in that same clearing a few hours later, talking to Goldenflower.
"Hawktalon, I have something to tell you," Goldenflower told her grimly. "It's a prophecy."
"What is it?" Hawktalon asked her mother with a worried look on her face.
"Only The Strongest Will Survive" Goldenflower said.
"Who is it about?"
There was silence for a few moments. Then, Goldenflower finally spoke and said "one of your sons, Hawktalon. One of them will go against his family, his friends, and his Clan."
Hawktalon looked crushed, as if a large hand had come down and squashed her. "Why tell me this?"
"Because," Goldenflower said. "Perhaps if you have a warning, you can stop him."
"Are you asking me to kill my own son?" Hawktalon asked her mother in disbelief.
"That is exactly what I am asking you to do."