Prologue
The grass rustled gently under the twilight breeze. Ripples washed over the lake. A pale tabby cat sat at the edge of the lake, his green eyes glowing in the moonlight. The twigs crackled as another cat entered. The new cat sat beside the tabby tom. "Is this what our Clans are going to have to deal with?" she asked, her thick white tail swishing anxiously. "Are they ready for hardships that will follow?"
"They will be ready, Cloudflash," the tabby replied to his companion. "It will come whether we want it to or not. We can't prevent it."
"I know, Boulderclaw," Cloudflash sighed. "It's just that I don't want my daughters to join StarClan too. They still got a long life ahead of them."
"I know how you feel. Nobody wants cats so young to join StarClan. It happens, though. All we can do is guide them."
"May I give a message to my daughter, Leopardpaw?" Cloudflash asked hopefully.
"Of course." Boulderclaw nodded his head in farewell, and padded into the forest behind them, leaving Cloudflash alone by the lake. She walked over to a lilac tabby she-cat curled up nearby.
"Leopardpaw," she meowed gently. The lilac tabby, Leopardpaw, jumped at the sound of her voice. "Darkness lurks at every pawstep..."