A/N: Hi everyone, and it's good to be back! Sorry it's taken so long, but I am finally uploading the prologue to Rising Sun Volume 1 (I still have a bit of writers block). Expect a lot more drama (and action, of course)! So, do you know what would be a great way to celebrate the return of this story? Reviews! At least one, please =)

Disclaimer: Nothing has changed since the first story…I still unfortunately don't own Warriors.

Prologue

Countless stars twinkled in the night, shining on the SunClan camp. In the warriors den, a golden-colored she-cat was sleeping soundly, breathing steadily. For once, her head was free of worry, and she slept, dreamless. Above, cats with star-covered pelts watched.

"How can cats sleep when there is such a terrible danger coming?" a gray tom rasped. He paced around in a circle impatiently, but the other cats ignored him.

"It's not as if they know about the danger," another cat replied calmly, whose fur was black, yet there were so many stars mixed in, it looked white. "Any time to rest is good, because they don't know how much time they have left before they have to face… the danger."

"Danger!" the gray tom spat. "If I could, I would rip the pelt off of those cats who think they have more power than the Clans."

"At least the Clans have the prophecy," a brown tabby tried to add in, but a hiss from the gray tom made her back off.

"I don't know how that prophecy is going to help them. Those prophecy cats don't even know what it means! How are they supposed to help the Clans?"

An old tortoiseshell she-cat stepped up to where the cats were arguing. "Those cats were chosen for a reason, and eventually they will find the strength . . . However, some of them received special help when they were not supposed to."

Her gaze swept to two cats that were sitting at the back of the group, their heads bowed. A younger tortoiseshell glanced up, her eyes rebellious, but the ginger tom brushed against her side to calm her down. She dipped her head again, but her tail twitched in frustration. A soft hiss escaped her mouth.

"Meadowleaf, you know very well we can't interfere with these cats' lives! What if it affects the prophecy?" the black cat added, with others nodding in agreement.

"I don't regret helping her," Meadowleaf replied. "If Flamefeather and I hadn't, she probably would've thought that StarClan abandoned her!" She leaped to her paws, pelt bristling, as she faced the other StarClan cats. Flamefeather stood up as well in protection, although it was obvious she didn't need any.

The gray tom opened his jaws as if to scold her about something, but before the meow escaped his jaws, he was leaped on by Meadowleaf. The tortoiseshell pinned him to the ground easily, and even though her claws were sheathed, the tom looked up at her with a nervous expression. They stayed in that position for a while, until another cat ran over and butted Meadowleaf off of the tom. The cats were about to begin fighting until the other tortoiseshell yowled loudly.

"Enough!" she exclaimed. The StarClan cats reluctantly backed off from each other, Meadowleaf joining Flamefeather again. Once everyone seemed to settle down, the old cat spoke again. "Well, we all know why you wanted to help, Meadowleaf, but what about you, Flamefeather? What's your reason for wanting to 'help'?"

The red-brown tom did not answer; instead, he kept his gaze fixated on a bug that was crawling on the ground. He flexed his claws, sinking them into the mud, as the other cats gave him curious looks. When it was obvious that Flamefeather would not reply, the cats moved on from the question.

Together, they all surrounded a small pool of water, which was glittering with stars. The brown tabby and the older tortoiseshell exchanged a look before glancing down into the pool, which was beginning to change. The faces of four cats appeared- golden, silver, gray, and tortoiseshell. Meadowleaf glanced up from where she sat, but she did not move forward, and neither did Flamefeather.

"The danger is brewing . . ." the gray tom murmured, "more than I could've ever imagined. These cats have to stay strong, because if not, the Clans will be destroyed."

They all nodded their heads in agreement, when suddenly darkness enclosed on the StarClan cats. A few wailed in surprise, but as soon as it had happened, it was over. Meadowleaf gasped, and the others turned to look at her; her green eyes were clouded, and she trembled slightly.

"What is it, Meadowleaf?" they wondered. Although they were annoyed by her, they were still curious about what she had just experienced.

"If the cats do not succeed, the Clans will be engulfed in darkness forever, and all will be lost," the tortoiseshell meowed seriously. The group all exchanged worried looks, well, all except for the gray tom. He began to stalk away with his eyes narrowed.

He yowled, "I predicted this! I can't stand around and watch my former Clan die." With that, he disappeared into a nest of ferns and never looked back.

The remaining cats didn't say anything else; instead, they began to think about what Meadowleaf said. It was an omen, and the clans would have to hear about it. The older tortoiseshell didn't like it, though; most cats didn't even know about the original prophecy. What would they say about this addition?

"The Clans have a difficult future," she started, "but they will make it. I have faith in these young cats, and I know they will succeed."

"Let's hope so," the black she-cat murmured, but nobody paid any attention to her.

The tortoiseshell was padding over to Flamefeather and Meadowleaf again. "From now on, I expect you two to watch and not interfere. If you try to help, you might be asked some questions that you won't be able to answer. Do I make myself clear?" she hissed.

Reluctantly, the ginger tom and tortoiseshell she-cat bowed their heads, saying nothing. The she-cat nodded sternly before heading off, and the two cats were able to sit together peacefully. Flamefeather gave a loud sigh before standing up, stretching his back in a long arch. He glanced at Meadowleaf with sympathetic eyes, but she was already licking the ruffled fur on her body.

I'm not giving up, she thought to herself. I won't be told what to do like a mewling kit . . . I'm going to do everything possible to save SunClan. I was useless when I was alive, but not anymore. I need to do this.

She glanced up, meeting Flamefeather's with innocent green eyes, and she knew he was completely unaware of what she was thinking. She had given up once before, but it wasn't going to happen again. The Clans needed her.