The gray cat shifted in his nest as the images swirled in his mind. Blood pooling in his camp, the cats as dark as shadows filling the clearing, screams of fear and death. And, worst of all, Fallen Leaves crouching over a dead body. A body of a cat with black fur and green eyes, which would forever be dull, never to shine with humor or mischief again. Hollyleaf. Greif dampened the cat's mind as he pictured his dead sister, so he decided that a walk in the forest would help clear his thoughts. He stood up, shook himself, and padded out of the herb-filled cave.
Outside, the cat sniffed wearily, his blind eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
"Jayfeather. You're awake?" The voice sounded close by. Jayfeather swiveled his head around to the cat that had spoken.
"Yes. But you are awake as well, Bramblestar." Jayfeather heard Bramblestar leap down from the Highrock.
"Well said, Jayfeather." They sat together in silence for a while.
"It's been so long." Bramblestar's mew surprised Jayfeather.
"So long since what?" he asked.
"The battle." Jayfeather remembered the images he saw before.
"I can't forget it," he admitted.
"Neither can I. But it's over now, right?"
"I'm not so sure." Jayfeather felt Bramblestar stiffen at his words.
"What do you mean? Has StarClan spoken to you?"
"No, not entirely. But they are restless, sending warnings of darkness to come to our Clan."
"How can we stop it?"
"I don't know, but there was something else. Among the dark images, there showed a small light of hope. But it was strange. I wonder if they were wrong."
"StarClan? Wrong? But-" Jayfeather cut off Bramblestar with a grim mew.
"The light was shining from Twolegplace."