Allegiances

ThunderClan-

Leader: Bramblestar

Deputy: Squirrelflight

Medicine cats: Leafpool

Jayfeather

Alderheart

Warriors: Brackenfur

Brightheart

Thornclaw

Cloudtail

Whitewing

Birchfall

Berrynose- Apprentice: Thriftpaw

Mousewhisker- Apprentice: Plumpaw

Poppyfrost

Cinderheart

Lionblaze

Rosepetal- Apprentice: Stempaw

Bumblestripe- Apprentice: Shellpaw

Blossomfall

Ivypool

Cherryfall- Apprentice: Flippaw

Molewhisker

Ambermoon- Apprentice: Eaglepaw

Dewnose- Apprentice: Flypaw

Stormcloud- Apprentice: Spotpaw

Hollytuft

Fernsong

Sorrelstripe- Apprentice: Bristlepaw

Leafshade

Larksong

Honeyfur- Apprentice: Snappaw

Twigbranch

Finleap

Apprentices: Stempaw (Blossomfall and Thornclaw's son)

Plumpaw (Blossomfall and Thornclaw's daughter)

Shellpaw (Blossomfall and Thornclaw's son)

Eaglepaw (Blossomfall and Thornclaw's daughter)

Snappaw (Cinderheart and Lionblaze's son)

Spotpaw (Cinderheart and Lionblaze's daughter)

Flypaw (Cinderheart and Lionblaze's daughter)

Bristlepaw (Ivypool and Fernsong's daughter)

Thriftpaw (Ivypool and Fernsong's daughter)

Flippaw (Ivypool and Fernsong's son)

Queens: Daisy

Sparkpelt (mother to Larksong's kits: Shadekit, Puddlekit, Rainkit, and Flamekit)

Elders: Graystripe

Millie

WindClan-

Leader: Harestar

Deputy: Crowfeather

Medicine cat: Kestrelflight- Apprentice: Lilacpaw

Warriors: Nightcloud

Gorsetail

Leaftail

Emberfoot

Breezepelt

Heathertail

Larkwing- Apprentice: Flaxpaw

Sedgewhisker

Slightfoot

Oatclaw

Featherpelt- Apprentice: Sootpaw

Hootwhisker

Brindlepelt

Smokeheart

Apprentices: Sootpaw

Flaxpaw

Lilacpaw

Queens: Fernstripe (mother to Oatclaw's kits: Surgekit, Robinkit, and Flickkit)

Elders: Whitetail

SkyClan-

Leader: Leafstar

Deputy: Hawkwing

Medicine cats: Frecklewish

Fidgetstep

Mediator: Tree

Warriors: Sparrowpelt

Cherrytail- Apprentice: Swallowpaw

Macgyver

Plumwillow- Apprentice: Quailpaw

Sagenose

Harrybrook

Blossomheart- Apprentice: Snakepaw

Cloudmist

Tinycloud

Sandynose- Apprentice: Pigeonpaw

Rabbitleap

Bellaleaf

Violetshine- Apprentice: Bloompaw

Nectarwing

Dewspots- Apprentice: Sunnypaw

Gravelfoot

Fringeclaw- Apprentice: Redpaw

Reedfur

Apprentices: Quailpaw

Pigeonpaw

Sunnypaw

Bloompaw

Snakepaw

Redpaw

Swallowpaw

Queens: Palecloud (mother to Dewspots' kits: Morningkit and Dawnkit)

Elders: Fallowfern

ShadowClan-

Leader: Tigerstar

Deputy: Scorchfur

Medicine cats: Puddleshine- Apprentice: Shadowpaw

Warriors: Tawnypelt- Apprentice: Lightpaw

Dovewing

Snowbird

Berryheart

Sparrowtail- Apprentice: Pouncepaw

Cloverfoot

Juniperclaw- Apprentice: Conepaw

Strikestone- Apprentice: Gullpaw

Slatefur- Apprentice: Sunpaw

Stonewing- Apprentice: Frondpaw

Grassheart

Mintfur- Apprentice: Spirepaw

Nettlesplash- Apprentice: Hollowpaw

Antfur

Blazeheart

Snakefang

Whorlpelt

Flowershade

Apprentices: Gullpaw

Conepaw

Frondpaw

Shadowpaw

Lightpaw

Pouncepaw

Hollowpaw

Spirepaw

Sunpaw

Queens: Cinnamontail (mother to Antfur's kits: Fiercekit, Runningkit, and Smokykit)

Elders: Oakfur

Ratscar

RiverClan-

Leader: Mistystar

Deputy: Reedwhisker

Medicine cats: Mothwing

Willowshine

Warriors: Duskfur

Minnowtail

Mallownose

Curlfeather

Podlight

Heronwing

Shimmerpelt

Lizardtail

Havenpelt

Sneezecloud

Brackenpelt- Apprentice: Weedpaw

Jayclaw

Owlnose

Icewing

Softwing- Apprentice: Streampaw

Dappleheart

Breezestep

Harebreeze

Gorsewhisker

Apprentices: Streampaw

Weedpaw

Queens: Lakeheart (mother to Jayclaw's kits: Stonekit and Mossykit)

Nightwind (mother to Gorsewhisker's kit: Blackkit)

Elders: Mosspelt

Prologue

Long strings of heather blew in the wind beneath an intense and cloudless blue sky as small waves rippled across the surface of the lake. The air was peaceful and warm, silent. The slight breeze felt wonderful on the ginger tom's fur as he lied on the coast of the lake, drowsily dipping a paw into the water to watch the ripples he made connect with those made by the wind. His intense green eyes stared back at him when he looked into the water. In some ways, he was happier than he had been in a long time. Relaxed. Not a care in the world.

A twig snapped behind him, tearing him away from his peace.

The ginger tom spun around quickly, claws sheathed. Whoever snuck up on him could not be an enemy. Not here.

A dark gray she-cat with matted fur and a flat face stared back at him. A hint of amusement shone in her dark amber gaze. She purred and pushed past him, sitting at the edge of the water. She closed her eyes and lowered her head.

"It's odd to see you so far from the forest, Firestar," she said with a raspy voice.

Firestar purred and joined his old friend by the water. He sat and gently ran his tail down her back in greeting. Then he curled his tail around his paws and looked at their reflections in the water. Yellowfang's gaze stared back at him from within the reflection. The amusement was gone, replaced now by a sense of urgency.

"Yellowfang, what is it?" Firestar asked worriedly.

"Trouble is brewing. I sense something coming. A force strong enough to wipe the stars from the skies we walk in. And I fear that we will be powerless to stop it," she meowed with uncertainty.

"A prophecy?" Firestar asked curiously.

"Not yet. The time will come for that, but now it falls on me to warn the rest of our fallen warriors," Yellowfang responded sadly.

Firestar closed his eyes and allowed the information to wash over him like the waves. The water pushed past his paws and fell back quickly. He opened his eyes and saw the darkness in the lake. Like a wildfire, it spread through the water until all of the light was snuffed out from its surface. The pitch black water rushed back towards Firestar's paws, and he jumped back, startled.

"You see it?" Yellowfang asked, having already taken a few steps back. She was leaving to warn the other members of StarClan.

"Darkness rises to wipe the light from the sky forever," Firestar whispered, half to himself.

"Only half of the prophecy has been revealed, Firestar. We must warn the others to see what they may know. Walk with me," the old gray cat demanded.

Firestar looked back as he began to walk beside his old friend. He wanted to keep the picture of the darkened lake in his memory. For now, the threat of darkness rose above all else.

…

The oak trees that guarded the forest grew tall and sturdy, acting as a shield between the forest clans and the forces from outside them. The leaves whispered with the breeze and the bright sunlight shone through the branches of the trees. The hardened earth was warm and marked with the pawsteps of many cats through the passing of the seasons.

The wall of oak trees opened to reveal a clearing in the middle of the forest. A large lone tree trunk sat in the center of the clearing, the sunlight filtered through the branches and shone brightly on the trunk. A small group of cats sat around the trunk of the ancient tree, each there for the same purpose as one another.

Firestar and Yellowfang were the last cats to filter into the clearing. Firestar took a seat among the crowd, while Yellowfang hopped up onto the trunk. She sat in the spot where the sun shone brightest.

Firestar checked to see who he was sitting beside. To his right, a blue-gray she-cat stood with her blue eyes clouded. Bluestar, the leader of ThunderClan when he came to the forest. Unsurprised, he turned to the left to examine the cat there. Cinderpelt, Firestar's former apprentice and Yellowfang's replacement in ThunderClan, sat with her tail curled around her paws. Firestar noticed gladly that her limp leg was healed among the stars.

Yellowfang turned and met the gaze of each representative of the clans. From RiverClan, Oakheart stood with Leopardstar and Mudfur. From ShadowClan, Blackstar sat proudly between Littlecloud and Rowanclaw. WindClan's representatives were Onestar, Barkface, and Ashfoot. The newest members of their ranks, SkyClan, stood slightly away from the other representatives. Awkwardly, Echosong sat with Sharpclaw and Skywatcher. Though each proud in their own right, they knew they were the youngest StarClan representatives. Since SkyClan's rebirth, its sole leader had not died. Their last leader, Buzzardstar, was half-faded somewhere among the tall pines.

"Is this the end?" Skywatcher asked calmly, the first to speak.

"As long as there are clans around the lake, StarClan will never die!" Bluestar responded angrily, although her anger was not directed at Skywatcher.

"Mm," Yellowfang murmured from the tree trunk. "Endings come in many ways, Bluestar. Just look at those gathered here. Sharpclaw, killed in battle. Oakheart, killed by falling rocks. Mudfur, killed by age. And you, Bluestar, killed by water. Who is to judge what ways endings can and can't come? Certainly not you or I."

"Endings don't have to be bad, either," Littlecloud, ever the optimist, chimed in. "What if whatever is coming ends up being a good thing?"

"When has darkness ever been good?" Onestar hissed. "Do you not remember the Dark Forest? Or my son, Darktail?"

"Of course I remember, Onestar," Littlecloud responded calmly. "But the clans have faced larger threats than an unspecified darkness."

"Whatever this darkness is, we can't just expect it to be good," Echosong mentioned.

Firestar stood and leaped onto the trunk to stand beside Yellowfang, not thinking. He opened his mouth to speak when he heard a comment from below.

"Leave it to Firestar to take the lead in a meeting," Blackstar muttered.

Firestar turned and met Blackstar's annoyed yellow gaze. Without breaking his stare, Firestar said, "I saw the darkness in the water. I heard what it had to say. Darkness rises to wipe the light from the sky forever. I've only heard half of the prophecy, but from how it sounds, the threat is far from good, and very, very real."

"And what of the other half?" Barkface asked nobody and everybody.

"We don't know," Yellowfang answered. "And that is what scares us the most."

The group of gathered cats fell into thoughtful silence. Nobody had anything else to say and they began to leave the area without a sound. Finally, Firestar stood alone in the clearing with Yellowfang and an annoyed Sharpclaw. The two ginger toms looked at each other for a moment before Sharpclaw finally spoke his mind.

"I've trusted you with my life in the past, Firestar. Please don't let me down now," he demanded.

With that said, Sharpclaw turned and left Firestar and Yellowfang in the clearing. They were no closer to knowing the meaning of the prophecy's words than they were at the start of the meeting.