The Fallen Three

To Amanda, just because.

Prologue

Fawnstar padded along a dusty forest trail strewn with pine needles and old, dry bark. He looked up, as he reached a small clearing, at a tree that seemed to glow in the moonlight. The Moontree. He pulled a few dry, silvery needles into a pile at the foot of the trunk and settled into his makeshift nest. The needles crackled when he lay on them, and one poked into his side in the most bothersome way. As he drifted off to an uncomfortable sleep, Fawnstar thought of what had brought him there, to that small clearing under the tree.

Fawnstar had been having strange and disturbing dreams that haunted him throughout the day. Screeches of cats in battle and the wail of mothers who had lost their kits. He had come to the conclusion that the only way to stop these dreams was to talk, face to face, to the source of the dreams. StarClan. So, there he was, waiting for a representative of StarClan to appear to him. Fawnstar awoke to a sunny, lush version of BloodClan territory, full of life and prey. He could hear the brush of pine needles against fur as a cat slid through the forest towards him. The scent of herbs hit his nose as his former medicine cat, Bluewhisker, strolled out of the bushes in front of him. Fawnstar opened his mouth to speak, but Bluewhisker silenced him with a flick of his tail. The medicine cat's eyes clouded and he began to spout a prophecy.

Great change is coming to the forest, Fawnstar. The Fallen Three will rise when ocean meets blood, and everything will change. Amber flames will race through the forest, and snow will follow. They will save the clans from the darkness that ensues. But beware, for the broken and the bloodstained will do anything to stop this, and if they succeed there will be no hope. The clans will fall.

Fawnstar's former medicine cat's eyes cleared. "You must also bring this message to Sunstar. This involves both of you." He ordered briskly, beginning to fade. Fawnstar stuttered. "B-But what are the broken and the bloodstained? I thought BloodClan would finally be at peace here, amongst the other clans! Was my father wrong to bring them here, all those seasons ago?" Bluewhisker solidified and looked at Fawnstar, alarmed at the thought. "No!" he spoke strongly. "StarClan and the Others do not know what the prophecy means either, but we are SURE it was BloodClan's destiny to come to this new land." Fawnstar paused. "Wait, who are the "Others"…?" He trailed of as he watched his friend fade. The last thing he heard was a soft, almost muffled voice whisper "StarClan be with you" in his ear before his vision went black and he woke at the foot of the Moontree.