Chapter One:
Prologues and Prophecies
The starlit pool reflected the indigo sky above, but that only made it blend into the area even more. The only constant thing all around this particular area was a consistent indigo-like darkness. Stars twinkled above, reflecting in the pool--the only give away that it was a pool. But gathered around the pool was something other than the darkness. Four cats sat around the pool, gazing into the darkness.
The biggest of the four, turned his gaze to his comrades. His light gray pelt shimmered beneath the stars and his amber eyes gave him a ghostly appearance.
"I fear that the troubles heading towards our Clans may be too much for them to handle," he said in his deep grumbling voice.
The other three cats looked at the cat who had spoken. A small orange she-cat twitched her tail, a slight indignance floating around her. Her bright blue eyes were hard and emotionless.
"Ghoststar are you afraid for your Clan?" the she-cat sneered, "Are you scared that SkyClan may not be as strong as you think?"
Ghoststar twitched his whiskers, ignoring the taunt that had just been issued towards him. He sighed and looked to the other two cats.
"I think what Smallstar meant was; our Clans may not have the strength to pull together....I have faith in my Clan's strength, it's just their willingness to work with the other Clans I'm worried about."
The other cats nodded, understanding his worry. They too were feeling as though the four Clans might not pull through the next barrage of troubles. Ghoststar looked to Smallstar, knowing that her hardened exterior was merely a shield for what was really going on.
"Smallstar," he said, "I know our Clans have had their differences, but...we have to bring them all together if they are to survive."
"I agree with Ghoststar," said a fair-sized black tom, "Just because of some petty Clan rivalry, we can't let them all die off."
Ghoststar nodded, looking to Smallstar. His amber eyes were still pleading with the she-cat.
"Swiftstar is right," said the last cat, a white she-cat with gray ears and a single gray paw, "Think of your Clan--think of the kits you left behind Smallstar!"
Smallstar's blue eyes flashed with annoyance briefly, before she put some serious thought into what had just been said. It was probably true that if she wasn't willing to cooperate and help her fellow StarClan cats, the ones still not with them may die. She turned her gaze to the pool, conceding to the fact that if the Clans were to survive, she would have to cooperate with the former SkyClan leader.
"Fine," she meowed, "Differences aside, we must do what is right for the Clan. Yewstar, you first..."
The white she-cat nodded and touched her nose to the pool before them. The other three followed in suit, causing the pool to ripple and reveal the images of four cats. The four former leaders of the four Clans all leaned back and looked at the choices made.
"It's up to them now," said Yewstar, "I just hope they were the right choices..."
The four cats exchanged glances one last time before gazing into the pool and upon the cats chosen to save the Clans.