The star-speckled cats, their eyes unsettled, said their prophetic words to the brown tom.

"A disaster is coming. Large monsters, sticks of death, indescribable destructive power will soon destroy the forest. Only the one who knows the Twolegs will save the clans."

With that sentence, the cats faded away, giving one last, serious glance at the tom. "Good luck, Rustfur."

When he woke up, the medicine cat was still, dumbstruck. What did that mean? Rustfur thought. Sticks of death? Power? What kind of power? What did StarClan mean?

He left the Moonpool and headed back to the WoodClan camp. He kept on thinking about the prophecy, in deep thought. The one who knows the Twolegs will save the clan... He reviewed that line in his mind. Knows the Twolegs? Was it a kittypet?

Before he knew it, Rustfur was back at the camp. It was surrounded by thickets, with a fallen log the only entry.

Most of the camp was an abandoned Twoleg structure, the only Twoleg structure in the entire forest. It was a large platform, with a high roof that could only be described as non-existant, for most of the roof had crumbled to the platform.

The platform was hollow, and had a single big hole. Inside was a large hollow space, where the cats made dens. On top of the platform was a taller platform, where the leader would get on when he had announcements.

"Rustfur! You're back!" meowed a tiny, brightly colored kit. "What was it like?"

"Oh, hello, Silverkit," Rustfur sighed. "You already know, I've described it to you several times."

"Yeah," the kit admitted, "but it's fun hearing about it! Besides, I am going to be your apprentice, aren't I?" Silverkit said in pride.

"Well, yeah, I suppose, but I don't see how, in the 5 months since you've been born, you could hear it..." Rustfur began to count. "...16 times and not get bored."

"17 times," corrected the grey-furred kit.

"Should you even be proud about that?" wondered Rustfur. "Fine, I'll tell you about it for the 18th time after I tell Mintstar about it."

"Well, that'll be the 19th time, then." whined Silverkit.

Rustfur rolled his eyes. He couldn't get sidetracked by his soon-to-be apprentice. He had to be serious, as tempting as it was to forget about the morbid prophecy. He went into the leader's den, ready to be the bearer of bad news.