Prologue

A flash of white light burst in the night sky, accompanied by a deafening clap of thunder. Rain pounded on the ground and gusts of wind threw the yellow grass back and forth, sometimes ripping the blades from the earth and tossing them about on the wind. Trees swayed under the force of the wind and dripped raindrops from their branch tips to the ground. Clouds boiled across the sky, blotting out the moon and stars.

Grass whipped around a large patch of earth, with grass treaded down on the hard-packed soil to make a floor of sorts, beaten down by many feet. A stone hollow was sunken into one end of the clearing. A stone roof stretched over half of this hollow, and various pieces of prey- mice, other rodents, and a few rabbits- were piled under this roof, sheltered from the rain. Scattered around the perimeter of the clearing were bushes and bramble patches with hollowed-out insides to act as dens. A large, rounded stone sat opposite of the prey hollow, at the other end of the clearing. Its top was flat.

Two young cats sprinted out into the center of the clearing, playing in the rain and giving a yowl every time thunder rocked the plain. They pounced onto each other, screeching in excitement.

"Streampaw! Dawnpaw!" yowled a stern voice. A gray head was poking out of the large rock. Apparently it was hollow. The two young cats sprang away from each other. The third cat continued. "Get out of the rain, and stop screeching, for StarClan's sake!"

Streampaw and Dawnpaw hung their heads and called, "Sorry, Rainstar," retreating to their den.

Another cat, a white she-cat with black-striped legs, dashed across the clearing, herbs in her mouth. She vanished into the nursery den, her long tail whipping out of sight just as Streampaw asked, creeping over to Rainstar, "Where's Iceshadow going?"

Rainstar smiled. "Patchcloud's kits are due! Iceshadow's going to her."

Inside the nursery, a calico she-cat lay on her side, panting, and her eyes wide with fear and anticipation. A pure white she-cat was crouched over her, licking her ears soothingly. A mottled brown tom rushed up to Iceshadow as she squeezed through the entrance to the nursery. His wide amber eyes, surrounded by a black mask, glinted fearfully at the medicine cat.

"I think she's in pain!"

Iceshadow whisked to the calico's side. "Blackmask, you should go," she advised. "Toms are rarely welcome at a she-cat's birthing." When Blackmask hesitated, Iceshadow meowed, "Don't worry, I've got her covered." Blackmask left.

Iceshadow knelt over the calico she-cat. After a while, one kit heaved itself blindly over to the calico's belly.

"Great job, Patchcloud! Just keep going."

A while later, four healthy kits lay snuggled at Patchcloud's stomach. She purred down at them, then suddenly gave a sharp meow. The kits, blind and deaf, could not hear her, but Iceshadow instantly checked her breathing, and informed Patchcloud that one more kit was due.

Moments later, Patchcloud was licking a ginger kit with darker ginger stripes. Iceshadow purred and praised Patchcloud for giving birth to five healthy kits. Patchcloud, exausted, lay her head down to sleep while kits suckled.

Iceshadow purred and prepared to tell Rainstar the good news, but a tiny squeak from a kit stopped her, and she turned around.

One kit was looking at her- the tiny ginger tom. She could tell that he was looking, because his eyes were open. Kits' eyes were not supposed to be open right when they were born.

Iceshadow caught her breath. This kit's eyes were the deepest green she had ever seen- not the standard kit blue, but a miraculous green, even tinged with blue and lighter green. Iceshadow felt as if she were trapped in his innocent gaze.

Suddenly all went black, and everything was quiet. The thunder was silenced, the wind stop whistling through the brambles, and even the soft, quick breaths of the kits were no longer audible.

A pinpoint of light shone in the distance, growing closer and closer. Shining, starry cats padded forward and sat in a semicircle in front of Iceshadow. One of them stepped forward, a magnificent golden tom. He spoke, and his voice was laden with starlight. "The one you fear will bring you hope. Your enemy will bring you alliance. Even in the darkest battle, your most hated opponent will bring the Clan peace."

Iceshadow shivered, feeling the omen's weight on her shoulders. "This is our prophecy," meowed the golden tom seriously. "Bear it well, and believe in it, for if you do not, your home will be destroyed."

The cats stood and walked away, moonlight at their paws.

The thunder, wind, and the kits' breathing returned. The ginger tom turned away, and Iceshadow mulled over the prophecy.

The one you fear will bring you hope. Your enemy will bring you alliance. Even in the darkest battle, your most hated opponent will bring the Clan peace.