A/N: Well, this is my first real fanfic… yeah. I own nothing.

Sky really didn't understand what the Nether was happening.

Of course, you never do understand what's happening when you wake up in a dark cave and can barely see your hand in front of your face. There was a light, cool feeling pressing down on his skin, along with a smell that reminded him of the rainwater that sometimes trickled into the mines from the surface. The surface of the amethyst on his amulet had a thin layer of condensation resting on it.

"Ty? Jason? Anyone?" he called, only for the words to echo back mockingly. He peered through the shadows a best as he could, and as far as he could tell, he was in a circular cavern with a small opening at its top, a gigantic stone of some sort under that opening, and devoid of any signs of life.
So, being the person he is, Sky decided to do the only thing that felt logical.
Yell and run around in circles.

Granted, it was not his best plan ever, as he slipped on a damp patch of stone about five minutes into it and fell flat on his back, staring up at what he presumed to be the roof of the cave. A water droplet plummeted from the stone, landing right in the centre of his forehead. He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with chilly air, then sharply exhaled as the cavern was bathed in a bright, white light emanating from the giant stone, that, now that Sky could see it, was a gigantic diamond with the shape of a cat's head with a star in it etched deeply into the crystalline surface.

"Notch, that's bright, " he muttered, carefully rising from his spot on the floor into a kneeling position, carefully shielding his eyes from the blinding rays, seeing as his familiar sunglasses were nowhere to be found. As his vision gradually adjusted, he noticed the small shape of a familiar-looking mob silhouetted against the stone, its long tail lashing from side to side.

"Hey there, little guy, " Sky murmured, kneeling as the cat padded slowly closer to him, its orange fur sparkled like it had hundreds of tiny stars woven into the hairs, and its emerald green eyes were sparkling with intelligence. It examined him with interest, though it seemed wary. The feline finally came within an arm's reach, and Sky was sure his mouth dropped open in shock as it spoke.

"You are pure of heart," the cat meowed in a distinctly male voice, and pressed his warm nose against Sky's palm. "I give you leadership."
And with that, Sky felt his senses growing black, the flame-coloured cat seemed to burst into starlight and flow into his chest, and he felt himself shrinking, a gentle warmth enveloping his body.

Dapplespots could feel the weight of the oncoming storm on her pelt. Even under the cover of the tree's branches, the ThunderClan Medicine cat knew the sky beyond them was an angry gray, ready to unleash its burden on the territories below.

She bushed out her fur, refocusing her attention on the task at hand; gathering catmint. For many moons, the Medicine cats of ThunderClan had been taught how to care for the precious plant in the shade of what had once been a twoleg nest, now a rotting wooden shell of what it used to be. Dapplespots's ears perked up at the sound of pawsteps behind her, and she turned to see a small, gray tom slipping through the gap between two flat pieces of wood. As the cat came closer, she identified a few stalks of goldenrod clamped between his teeth.

"Well done, Smokepaw," she praised her apprentice, who set down the flowers and smiled gently. "I hope that you didn't ask Rainstripe where to find it this time. Smokepaw shook his head quickly.

"No, Dapplespots! I found it on my own!" "Of course you did," Dapplespots purred, flicking her tail against the young cat's ear affectionately. "Now, can you go and look for borage? StarClan knows we'll need it, with Applefall and Cloudfrost in the nursery. I also have a feeling that Mothwhisker may become their denmate soon."

Smokepaw nodded , spinning around and scampering off into the forest. Dapplespots sighed. Smokepaw was a paw full to handle, and even though he had a really good memory for herbs, his energy was limitless.

A squirrel leapt overhead, bounding off through the clattering branches. Dapplespots peered after it in amusement, then turned, intending to go back to her herbs, but was startled to find two pale paws separating the fresher shoots from the rest. Her gaze travelled upwards until they came to rest on the strange cat's face. Sharp, pale blue eyes glared back at her, and she took in the cat's appearance in full.

It was thin, though not weak-looking, with mottled, gray tabby fur. A thin scar ran down one flank, and a slender tail delicately waved in the soft breeze. Its scent washed over her, and it was made clear that this cat was a tom, but the rest of his scent was nothing like she had ever smelled. Crisp, clear water, with the metallic smell of stone and musky damp earth mixed in faintly, alongside a hint of catmint, though that could've just been the plants around them. As Dapplespots examined him, she realized with a jolt that he was slightly transparent, the growth behind him clearly visible through his pelt.

Even though she had been Thunderclan's sole Medicine cat for a good six moons, Dapplespots still wasn't used to being visited by StarClan.

"W-who are you?" she stammered. She had not seen this cat in her previous dreams at Moonpool.

"That doesn't matter," the tom stated in a firm voice with a rasp around the edges. "I come bearing a message."

Dapplespots's vision began to sway, and as it faded to black, she could hear the same voice whispering in her ear.

"The eight from beyond the stars shall come to defend the clans from the claws of night."

"-plespots! Dapplespots!"

Dapplespots's eyes shot open to see Smokepaw standing over her, his yellow eyes wide in fear.

"W-what is it, Smokepaw?" she murmured, still trying to get a grip on reality. "Did Cherrypaw step on a thorn again?"

"You wouldn't wake up, I thought you had been knocked out or something!" Smokepaw exclaimed, and Dapplespots realized he was quivering.

"I'm fine, I just got a bit tired," Dapplespots mewed, hoping to calm the frightened apprentice. She turned her head to herbs, and saw that there seemed to be more catmint stalks than before. She blinked, confused for a few seconds, then the events from before she blacked out pooled in her mind. She felt the fur along her spine rise in fright, and forced it to lay flat.

"Let's head back to camp, I need to speak with Stormstar."