Prologue: The Prophecy

"I'm telling you, Flightkit is the one the prophecy is speaking of!" A silvery-blue she-cat stomped her paw on the ground, glaring at the other cats in front of her. A grey tom and a red and white she-cat nodded their agreement behind her. Around them in the grassy grove stood four other groups of cats, each headed by the former leader of their respective Clans. The ancient trees around them seemed to go on forever into the sky, where not a single star twinkled. In the middle of it all, a small pool of water reflected back the image of a sleeping kit, her white fur dotted with grey and black spots.

"It can't be! Thunderstar gave us the prophecy, so it must be talking about ThunderClan, not WindClan, Lakestar!" A brown and white tom, Eaglestar, snarled back, a white and grey she-cat, a dark brown tabby tom, and a tortoiseshell she-cat backing him up.

A cream dappled she-cat sighed at the two former leaders. "Now let's not be hasty…. It very well could be an unborn kit from RiverClan or ShadowClan as well… After all, Riverstar was the one to give it to RiverClan." A ginger she-cat nodded along with her.

"Quiet, Lilyleap," a small yet strong looking amber tom shushed her. "I can stand up for my own clan." Many a ShadowClan cat stood behind him, ghosts of the battle that had taken place only a few moons ago.

A long-haired tiger-striped tom, Orangestar, glared at the former ShadowClan leader. "You do not speak to my warriors in such a way, Strongstar. It is not your place." It now seemed like every StarClan cat was snarling at someone else, arguing over the prophecy the four original leaders of their clans had given to each of them, or their rights as a former leader of one of those same clans.

A deep, rumbling chuckle resounded through the grove, silencing the cats. "You cats never change, do you?" The deep voice spoke amusedly, although the tone was still kind. It seemed to come from every corner of the grove, and many cats turned to face away from the water and to stare into the forest. A couple hissed and unsheathed claws, instigating another round of laughter from the voice. "Oh please," it spoke again with gentle sarcasm. A breeze blew through the woods, flattening the fur of the cats. "Why don't you turn around? You all look so very silly."

Gasps rang through the group as they turned around. A cat now sat in the center of the water, calmly licking his paw. He didn't sink through the water though; rather, he sat on the surface, as if it were solid ground. That wasn't the strangest thing about him, though. His pelt seemed to be ever changing, first long and dark, then short and light. It was never one color for too long. Sometimes it was spotted, or calico, or tortoiseshell. The eyes changed too, although they always held the same starry pupils in the center. Not a single cat could name the one in front of them, but all of them felt awed by him. It wasn't until Orangestar stepped forward that anyone spoke. "Who are you?" the former RiverClan leader spoke, a false bravado in his voice. "Why are you here?"

The mysterious tom chuckled again. "Who am I? How boring. Yet interesting. How would I describe myself to you? Humans certainly have plenty of names for me, but how would you call me?" The glint in his eye turned both thoughtful and playful. Whispers were muttered by the StarClan cats. "Oh yes, you don't call them humans, do you? Twolegs, right?"

Strongstar stepped forward next to the former RiverClan leader, a low growl in his throat. "How do you know so much about us?"

"Patience, Strongstar. I still haven't answered Orangestar's questions yet," the tom shushed him. Surprised murmurs rose from the crowd. "Now, as to who I am… The twolegs have called me God, Allah, Yaweh, Christ, Vishnu, Buddah….. Many, many names. But for your purposes, I think Nova will do. As to why I'm here?" The now blue eyes searched the cats faces. "I'm here to help."

Eaglestar snarled, his long, talon-like claws unsheathing and digging into the ground before him. "We don't need the help of some kittypet. I don't know how you got here, but I suggest you leave."

Nova blinked once, twice, before throwing back his head and roaring with laughter. Startled by the sudden laughter, the cats stepped back, puzzled by his reaction. His laughter eventually died down, and he wiped a tear from his eye. "Kittypet? You think I'm a kittypet?" he continued to chuckle. "I am more ancient than any of your clans, although watching you grow and gain a code has been interesting. But I am no kittypet." His gaze hardened a bit, and his tone became more sober. "Now, if I may, I do believe I've found the cat you seek."

Lakestar looked smug as she spoke. "So it is Flightkit. I was right, of course."

"No, it is not Flightkit. This is not her destiny," Nova turned to stare at the she-cat leader, and she immediately shrank away. "The cat I speak of is… Well, why don't I just show you?" He hopped off the pool, and in the ripples behind him appeared the image of a human teenage girl, dark wavy hair falling around her face as her odd golden hazel eyes ran over the words on the paper in front of her.

Howls of protest rang through the forest. "Impossible! That is a twoleg girl, not a cat! Certainly not a clan cat!" Strongstar hissed, preparing to attack Nova. Other cats shouted their agreement and gathered behind him. However, a dappled cream she-cat leaped in front of them and faced them, hissing in their face. Nova blinked in surprise, but nodded his thanks to Lilyleap.

"She isn't at this moment, no. But she has the heart of a warrior," the tom spoke, turning back to the pool. "Inside, she is not a girl, but a she-cat with the ability to save ThunderClan, for it is ThunderClan who is in danger. And tonight, she will become that she-cat." The ever-changing eyes followed the girl as she stood up and climbed into her bed, instantaneously falling asleep. He pressed an iridescent paw to the water, and the image shifted to show a brown and black kit with the same hazel eyes. "This is the one the prophecy speaks of. She will save ThunderClan from the frosted soul, darkened claws, and empty eyes."

Now awed by the cat, the four leaders bowed their heads. "I-I will send someone to deliver the prophecy right away…." muttered Eaglestar, turning back to his followers. "Meadowbreeze, go." A tortoiseshell she-cat nodded, and dashed off into the forest.

The other cats started to melt back into the forest, heading off to discuss more privately the scene that had just happened. Nova lifted his head. "Lilyleap, wait." The she-cat stopped in her tracks, turning back to the mysterious tom. "Stay with me a moment," he said, a serene calmness on his face. "You will help me tonight." She nodded, a mysterious shiver running up her spine as a breeze only felt by them danced through the clearing.

So? How was it? I kind of love the character of Nova... I know he might offend some of you, although I honestly don't mean to. It's a bit of my own spirituality coming out through this. If you are offended, I'm sorry, but that will not make me change this prologue. I'm pretty proud of this, and it gives some sense as to why the girl is changed into Flyingkit. Sorry, but please don't flame me for it. It won't get you anywhere.

~~~Flyingsong