With Death Comes Hope
Prologue
"I have come, Bluestar," mewed a tiny tortoiseshell she-cat. "What do you want?"
"You know very well why you are here, Spottedkit," Bluestar pointed out. "Now we must show you something."
The blue-gray she-cat walked over to a pool, where another tortoiseshell she-cat was standing. She muttered something to the tortoiseshell, whose name was apparently Spottedleaf, then touched her nose to the pool.
"Watch," Bluestar ordered Spottedkit. The young cat did as she was told. To Spottedkit's astonishment, an image formed in the pool. She watched as it showed four leaders standing on the branches of the Great Tree she had heard of that was on the Island. With a jolt of horror, Spottedkit recognized the four cats. They were her and her littermates. A voice spoke in her head as the vision changed into a field stained with blood and littered with bodies: Willows waving in the breeze, ripples on clouds, splashed pelts, and spotted skies will bring new power. These are the only things that can either save, or destroy us all.
* * *
The screeches of pain turned to howls of victory as ThunderClan retreated from the battle. The remaining warriors struggled back to their camps. WindClan had won the battle. ThunderClan were ashamed.
As they were going home, a young ThunderClan apprentice strayed away from her group. All of the sudden, a huge tabby tom blocked her path.
"Where do you think you're going?" he growled. A few more warriors surrounded her, cutting off every escape route. The young tabby and white she-cat was terrified.
"Come on, Leaftail. Let's get her back to camp. Then we can finish off Ashfoot, and Onestar will make you deputy!" a black she-cat hissed.
"The apprentice can hear you, Nightcloud!" a brown and white tom warned.
"I'm not stupid, Harespring!!! And she's too terrified to do anything anyway!" Nightcloud snarled.
"She's got a point!" a dark gray she-cat added.
"Let's just go now before anyone notices we're gone," a black tom hissed.
"I agree with Breezepelt. Let's just go," Leaftail concluded. "Breezepelt, Swallowtail, you guard the apprentice. What's your name young one?"
"M-my na-name is Ivyp-p-paw," the apprentice stuttered.
"Well Ivypaw, when I become leader I'm going to make you a WindClan warrior. But first you must learn to be a WindClan cat. I'll ask Onestar if Breezepelt can train you," Leaftail told her.
"Why me?" Breezepelt complained.
Just then, some barking sounded nearby.
At the same time, all of the WindClan cats there whispered, "The dogs!!!"