Prologue
Three cats sat in a semi-circle in an unnaturally green clearing. A small, clear pool rippled in front of them; reflecting the light from the glittering stars above. A warm breeze ruffled their fur, carrying white petals in the starry sky.
The first cat, a long-haired white she-cat, spoke first. "My Clan has turned their backs on StarClan," She meows, her voice soft. She turns to her companions, her glowing deep blue eyes dull with worry. "It is time. We must pick out the Disaster Cats."
"Cloudstar, do not blame yourself. It is their doing, and theirs alone." The second cat, a large dark brown and white tabby tom, heaves himself to his paws, resting his thin tail on the she-cat's shoulder.
"But, whose Clan will contain the most Disaster Cats?" The final cat, a light brown she-cat with white paws and tail interrupts, her deep heather-purple eyes narrowed in impatience.
There is an awkward silence between the three Leaders until Cloudstar raises her tail across the pool. "Hazelstar. It is your Clan who will contain the most Disaster Cats."
The light brown she-cat puffs her chest out in pride, oblivious to the tom's growing annoyance with the arrogant she-cat.
"Birdstar, would you like to pick first?" Cloudstar steps away from the pool and wraps her fluffy tail around her paws neatly.
Birdstar throws Hazelstar a smug glare before running his paw across the surface of the pool, shivering slightly at its icy cold touch. "Thymeflower, fire. Falcontalon, air." He booms, before regaining himself and taking his place away from the pool.
"Hazelstar?" Cloudstar prompts, noticing the tension between the two Leaders.
Strutting up to the pool in an overly-confident manner, the graceful Leader swipes her paw across the surface of the pool, flinching as the ice cold feeling flows through her veins. "Opaquesong, fire. Berryleaf, poison. Splashheart, water."
Spitting ungratefully, the irritated Leader takes her place next to Birdstar, tail lashing.
"Unhappy with the elements?" Birdstar pries, a smug smile glued to his face.
"Unhappy with the cats." She growls, turning her back on the smug tom.
Finally, Cloudstar slowly moves her paw across the surface of the pool, gritting her teeth as the icy water numbs her soft pads. "Shadowheart, poison. Goldenfur, air."
"Never mind, it looks like Cloudstar go the unlucky choices." Hazelstar purrs darkly.
Ignoring the bitter she-cat's words, Cloudstar addresses the two Leaders. "These seven cats have been chosen to banish the Dark Forest. However, their paths are not sealed, so we will have to make sure they stay on the side of the Light."
The three Leaders nod in unison, before sprinting off in separate directions, the same thought running through their minds:
Will the Disaster Cats save us?