Prologue
Four hunched shapes sat around the Moonpool, shivering. Rain fell in sheets and fell on the cats. Grey fog shrouded the trees around.
"Why did we have to come here?" asked one of the cats, whose thick fur was soaked with the pouring rain. His yellow eyes flickered briefly towards a ginger coloured she-cat. The she-cat stared into the water.
"Yes, why did we come here, exactly, Mallowtail?" asked a she-cat with light brown fur. The grey tom next to her said nothing. His amber eyes took in the whole scene, looking from the light brown she-cat, to the golden brown tom and the ginger she-cat. The ginger she-cat began to speak.
"Greetings, Echomist, Stoneclaw, Thornclaw." Mallowtail said, nodding to the light brown she-cat and the two other cats. "I have asked you to come because all of us are going to be leaders soon, and I would like to discuss some things with you."
Echomist, the light brown she-cat nodded. "Yes. Redstar has been sick for a long time, and he is on his last life." Echomist felt a little uncomfortable sharing this with the other cats, but it was not a secret; many cats knew this already.
Thornclaw was getting ready to announce the death of Dewstar, the leader of LeafClan. He would become the new leader of his clan after tomorrow's Gathering.
Stoneclaw, the new deputy of MistClan would have a while until he would be leader. Sunsar looked fit and healthy, so Echomist figured that Stoneclaw would have to wait to become leader. LeafClan and MistClan had a huge battle, which caused Dewstar's death. LeafClan was far from forgiving MistClan.
Stoneclaw spoke. "What has been on my mind is, why there isn't a new prophecy." The grey tom looked thoughtful.
"That's exactly what I was thinking!" Mallowtail gasped. Suddenly a cold wind blew over the four cats. Echomist shivered, and a few snowflakes drifted from the sky. They touched the Moonpool, and just for a brief second, the Moonpool glowed with a bright white light. It chilled Echomist to the bone, and another cold wind ruffled the cat's fur.
"What was that?" Stoneclaw asked, looking terrified.
"I don't know..." Mallowtail said. Echomist began to hear a voice whispering with the wind.
"Darkness is coming." the voice whispered. "There will be four traitors to their Clans, one from each. They will rise, and destroy the
Clans. You will be powerless against it. One Clan will be overpowered by them, and shadows will work in their minds. That Clan will try to seize power in all the Clans. Soon a great battle will come forth, and they will be victorious. After the battle, many will be dead. And the reminding will scatter. The end of all you've know is coming to an end."
Echomist watched as the wind swarmed in angry gusts; she couldn't feel her body; she was numb. Echomist collapsed and blacked out.
Echomist stirred, waking from the screeches all around her. There were pools of blood every where and she saw cats fighting, not in honor, but fighting for their lives.
Echomist watched in horror as a dark tabby tom was clawed repeatedly by a cream coloured cat, and after a few more times, the tom stumbled and fell. The tabby tom did not get back up. The cream coloured cat's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, and then jumped on the back of a black she-cat. Battles raged all around her, and she saw a brown she-cat kick a white tom off of her, then rush over to a small ginger cat.
"Hallowpaw, no!" she yowled, burying her nose into the ginger fur. Her amber eyes glowed with anger, and she attacked a brown and white she-cat as she was licking her wounds.
Echomist was horrified. Then, she looked down at herself. Blood was dripping down one of her legs, and she saw the wound. It was a deep gash. Her head felt light, and she could not take it any longer. She closed her eyes and slumped onto the ground.
Echomist woke up with a start. She was lying near the Moonpool, and saw the other cats were slumped on the ground also. Stoneclaw's ears were twitching, and he was whimpering. Thornclaw was batting his paws into the air and rolling around. Mallowtail's tail waved around in the breeze. In just a few seconds later all three of them woke up screeching.
"What was that?" Thornclaw asked.
The wind started up again, and that voice began to speak again. "That was a glimpse into the future. That is what will happen to the Clans."
"How will we be able to stop it?"
The voice chuckled. "If you can remember these words, you may be able to save the Clans. The end is near. The Clans must stand together to battle the darkness that lies in their hearts. Then, if you last through Dawn, you may have a chance. A Dawn of Hope."
"Was that a prophecy?" Echomist whispered. The wind quieted down, and the snow fell steadily from the sky.
"I think so." Mallowtail said firmly. "We should get back to our clans now, and tell the Medicine Cats and our leaders about this."
All of them nodded in agreement.
"Good-bye. May StarClan light your path." Stoneclaw said. They all set out for their Clans.
Mallowtail padded silently beside Echomist. They spilt ways and Echomist headed into camp. She went straight to Honeyleaf's den and said, "Honeyleaf, I have to tell a few things."
