Prologue
The dark gray tabby padded into the clearing, his ice blue eyes scanning the surrounding area. He sat, wrapping his tail around his paws, and waited. The cat spotted something coming towards him at the far end of the clearing. It was another cat with white fur with gray patches that seemed to sparkled.
"Hello Dawnstar." The tabby bowed his head in respect as the she-cat approached him.
"Smokestar, my son, I have come to deliver an important message," the shining cat mewed, "you have always had a special connection with Starclan so we wish to tell you but first we must wait for Rosecloud."
"Very well," Smokestar mewed. They sat and waited in silence. Soon another cat approached. She was a young cat with a creamy ginger pelt and a white underbelly. Her amber eyes were fierce but gentle as she nodded at Smokestar and greeted Dawnstar.
"Dawnstar, I thought I would never hear from Starclan again. I have not had any signs from you all leaf-bare and it has been tough," Rosecloud admitted.
"Yes, Thunderclan is suffering. Food is scarce and one of our elders already died from hunger!" Smokestar added.
"We are aware of that, and Stripetail hunts here, in Starclan now. We have not abandoned you, we have been waiting and watching," Dawnstar assured the cats.
"Waiting for what? All you have been watching is cats suffering and dying!" Smokestar was getting angry now, but he was trying to be as respectful as possible. Being leader of Thunderclan was stressful, he was just waiting for Starclan to show that they truly haven't abandoned them.
"Smokestar, I have come to help you and your clan! Why do you think we are here right now?" Dawnstar snapped.
"You're right. I'm sorry Dawnstar," Smokestar mewed, embarrassed at how he had acted.
Dawnstar nodded her head and mewed, "Listen carefully. The forest will be saved by an unexpected enemy, but a sacrifice will be made. Beware the cat you thought you could trust, but respect him all the same."
Smokestar stared at Dawnstar with a puzzled look on his face. "Wh-," he began to ask what that meant but Rosecloud cut him off. "Thank you Dawnstar, we will think hard about what you have said," Rosecloud mewed bowing her head. And without another word the Starclan warrior turned and walked away.