Chapter One
It was dark in the secluded clearing, and quiet. A gentle wind rocked the branches of the massive trees that surrounded the general area, their uppermost plant-like tendrils extending the sky, almost the point of touching the glittering white stars that served as the only source of light. A pool of water rippled in the center, its reflection mirroring the beautiful black and speckled canvas above. Even a kit could tell this wasn't a normal place, and the cat-like figure that padded softly in wasn't either.
She was a petite and pretty elder, a pelt of short blue fur and light blue eyes marked her as the legendary Bluestar, and with each glittering starlit pawstep, she made her way to the pool calmly. As she sat down, others soon joined her, a small black and white tom with amber eyes, and a large light brown tom with a crooked jaw and green eyes. Tallstar and Crookedstar, one of the oldest leaders of clan history. Then, many cats entered. A fiery red tom with green eyes, the legendary and loved Firestar, took his place among the other leaders, followed by a thick shouldered, dark brown tom with amber eyes… Bramblestar. This wasn't a normal Starclan meeting. Soon, other past leaders started padding into the clearing, Darkstar, Onestar, Leopardstar, and many other, less known leaders soon filled the area around the pool in huge masses, each of their faces grim. This was a meeting… Of all past clan leaders…
Whispered words were exchanged, each one of them dark and gruff. Whatever was happening, it wasn't good news. Soon, the red tom called Firestar, raised his tail, Bramblestar beside him, face stony and amber eyes narrowed. A hush preceded the action, and the past Thunderclan leader's voice rang loud and clear as he proclaimed, "This is a time of uncertainty… This is a time of confusion and fear I know." Sharp green eyes surveyed the assembled cats. "You have a right to be afraid. It would be mouse brained otherwise… We have all received disturbing visions… The future of the clan is uncertain. The future of what used to be OUR clan is uncertain, but we must remain strong… Keep your composure; you once LED for Starclan's sake!"
"But this is different Firestar!" yowled a tom in the crowd of leaders, "We have survived many powerful threats, from bad leaders, to the Bloodclan invasion! When we moved twice to find a new home, we went through the prophecy of the three, and even when things looked bad, we held fast and like any other challenge, and we triumphed!... Through faith and the warrior code, we always survived…" The tom looked dark… "But nothing experienced before was like what we all saw…" The tone was terrified, haunted, and disturbed… "We have never encountered such a threat before…"
"Are you forgetting who you are!?" Hissed Bramblestar, "Quit cowering like a kit! Like Firestar said, we are leaders!" Yowling broke out soon after, arguments and screeches of the best course of action were exchanged chaotically, and discipline was soon broken. A blue tail gently rested on the large tom's shoulder, and Bramblestar calmed down, forcing his hair to rise down as Bluestar stepped forward, although his amber eyes were still furious. "We have company…" Was the simple statement she muttered calmly, and the whole clearing went dead quiet. Many heads turned around behind them, to show four other cats padding in… The founders… Thunderstar, Shadowstar, Windstar, and Riverstar...
Following them was what at first appeared to be a huge, glow of light down the dark forest path… Only to reveal on closer inspection, a pure white tom with eyes like the sun itself… There were no pupils in them, only glowing spheres that bathed the clearing in a faint, golden glow… The tom turned to all the shocked, assembled cats, and proclaimed in a faint voice that echoed off the trees, "We are all here now… let's get started." The strange, otherworldly tom's golden eyes started to increase in brightness… A blinding light…
A blinding light entered Hawkwing's dark blue eyes and the young grey tom turned over, grunting impatiently as he shielded them with a paw. He was in the warrior's den… There was a storm last night… So every Windclanner sought out the dry den. Harsh light was drifting through the opening, irritating the tom's sensitive eyes. It was morning… "Five more moons…" He moaned pitifully. He closed his eyes again, and a lazy purr entered his throat as he drifted off to blissful sleep yet again…
It didn't last long, as granite colored paws slammed into his side rather harshly. Eyes wide with surprise and slight pain, Hawkwing got into a coughing fit, drool and spit going down his lower lip as he stared angrily at the attacker… It was a large granite tom with black eyes. If you looked at him, it seemed he was no older then apprentice age, yet he was so HUGE, easily the size of a large tom in his prime. Hawkwing continued to glare at the smirking tom as he wiped the drool off. By Starclan his sides hurt… "Well? What do you want Stonepaw?" Hawkwing asked in annoyance. The strange, muscular tom smiled in amusement.
"Hoping you will get up for the dawn patrol." The voice was unnatural… it was very rough, very gravely, and Stonepaw's throat vibrated when he spoke. Hawkwing could feel the ground shake ever so slightly… Maybe that was his imagination… Of course, Hawkwing had gotten used to that voice… heck, they were friends, very close friends. Stonepaw was just strange… Many of the other clanmates were scared of the massive tom. His unnatural appearance and strength was unheard of, his mentor Stormtalon LOST to the prodigy during their first battle training. When it came to hunting, Stonepaw was anything but. The older, yet smaller dark grey tom could still remember when his father welcomed him in the clan. "Was the attack necessary though," Asked Hawkwing in a dry voice.
Stonepaw chuckled deeply, rolling his pure black eyes in amusement. "You almost look dead sometimes, it was a wonder I could wake you with THAT!" Stonepaw exclaimed sarcastically. "Oh foxdung to you Stonepaw. Let's just get going." The tone was harsh, but there was a relaxed smile on his face as they got up and padded out the den…