P.R.O.L.O.G.U.E
DISCLAIMER: As much as I wish I did, I don't own Warriors.
Moonlight washed over a grassy hollow. Stars shone like silver pinpoints in the night sky, standing out against the blue-black shade of midnight. A sparkling pool reflecting the millions of bright stars sat peacefully in the center of the small clearing, fed by a babbling brook. Nothing could be heard apart from the soft rustling of the leaves on the surrounding trees – until the faint thump of distant pawsteps sounded in the cool, quiet air.
The pawsteps came nearer and nearer, and soon it was clear that a creature was right outside the hollow. Just a heartbeat later, a dark brown tabby tom weaved his way through the throng of trees out into the clearing, his amber eyes gleaming in the sheer silver light as he stepped out into the open space. Another cat – an ash-gray tom with yellow eyes – slipped through two oaks and walked after the other cat.
The dark brown tabby padded slowly over to the beautiful pool. He crouched down, his pelt ruffling as a soft newleaf breeze blew by, leaving with it the sweet scent of flowers carried from somewhere further off.
The gray tom stepped forward and sat down at the other cat's side. He lowered his head, gazing into the water absentmindedly. It seemed like every one of his warrior ancestors were staring back at him.
"Bramblestar," he whispered, turning to look over at his leader. "We've reached the Moonpool. Shouldn't you share tongues with StarClan now?" The tabby glanced at him, a knowing look in his eyes.
He nodded after a moment. "Yes, Windfleet," Bramblestar mewed. "I suppose I should." He sighed and looked down at the water, staring at his reflection. "You should go to sleep as well, for it will take awhile for me to finish sharing dreams with them." Windfleet nodded, and stepped back. He laid down on the soft, relaxing grass and curled up. Soon, Bramblestar too settled down comfortably on the cooling grass. He closed his eyes and touched his nose to the piercing cold water, and it wasn't long before he slowly drifted off to sleep.
When he opened his eyes again, Bramblestar wasn't at the Moonpool anymore, although he was still in a grassy hollow. But this one was larger, and it seemed strangely familiar to him. It took a couple moments of thinking for the ThunderClan leader to notice the four big oak trees in the middle of the clearing, a large rock in the center of their trunks.
"Fourtrees…" he concluded under his breath. He recognized the old Gathering place of the four Clans of wildcats from the old forest, though it was many, many seasons ago that he had seen it last, when Firestar had still been alive.
In the distance, a blurry shape could be seen. It seemed to be moving closer… and closer… and closer, until Bramblestar could finally make out the shape of a cat. He didn't know who it was, but it was definitely a feline.
As the cat approached him, Bramblestar could see that it was a tom with a dark ginger pelt and bright green eyes. Stardust hung around his lean body, and his handsome coat shone in the light of the full moon that hung in the sky as if it were as light as a feather. At that moment, he knew who it was.
The ginger tom sat down in front of him and smiled warmly. Bramblestar's heart was wrenched with grief as he stared fondly at the regal cat.
"Firestar," he rasped quietly. The tom nodded, lowering his head a bit.
"Don't let the grief of memories overwhelm you, Bramblestar," Firestar encouraged gently. "Stay strong for ThunderClan; for all the cats up in StarClan that still love you, and always will." Above in the sky, the face of a she-cat identical to Firestar flashed among the stars, and Bramblestar nearly choked on his tears. Squirrelflight… The love of his life, who had been killed in a rockslide, crushed by giant boulders.
Bramblestar turned to look at Firestar again, not caring that the former ThunderClan leader watched as a single tear slipped down his cheek and fell to the ground.
"How can I forget?" he whimpered.
Firestar shook his head. "No, don't forget. Always remember. But focus on the joyful memories; forget the sad." Bramblestar nodded, though he knew he would never forget the deaths of those he had loved; Squirrelflight, his beloved; Goldenflower, his mother… Firestar, his mighty leader.
Firestar continued speaking before Bramblestar could say anything else. "An old prophecy has arisen, Bramblestar," the old tomcat meowed, his voice deep and wise. "Once again… fire alone will save the Clan." And with that, Firestar began to fade away, gone within heartbeats. Bramblestar remembered the seasons-old prophecy from stories he'd heard as a kit; Bluestar, the ThunderClan leader before Firestar, had received a prophecy, or rather had been told about the prophecy by the medicine cat of that time, Spottedleaf. Fire alone will save the Clan… It had turned out to be Firestar, who had been brought into the Clan to train as a warrior when he was just a kittypet. But even with the knowledge of what this prophecy was and what it meant for then, what could it mean for now?
"Firestar, wait!" Bramblestar called, leaping to his paws. "Come back! Who will save the Clan this time? What does the old prophecy mean now?!" But Firestar was gone.
Bramblestar yowled in alarm as Fourtrees was swept away in a wave of blackness, replaced by a dark forest, shadows cast upon the leaf-littered floor through small holes in the canopy of pine trees. He realized it looked just like ShadowClan's territory in the old forest. Small patches of dull, gray sky could be seen, and chill winds blew.
"Bramblestar… Bramblestar." A voice carried softly on the breeze, eerily familiar. He knew he recognized that voice, but its identity was undecipherable. Bramblestar's spine tingled, uneasiness prickling inside of him.
As he turned around, Bramblestar jumped in surprise; another tomcat was sitting calmly behind him, staring at him with an unwavering gaze. It was like staring into a reflection pool, for the cat looked exactly like him; a dark brown tabby with shining amber eyes. But this cat's shoulders and head were broader, and he had a murderous gleam in his eye. Bramblestar gasped as he realized who it was.
"Tigerstar…" he whispered. "Father." Although he wasn't too proud to admit it, this cat was Bramblestar's kin. Tigerstar, the most evil cat ever known, had gone as far as possible to achieve his disgraceful dreams; he had murdered innocent cats; he had been bent on revenge after being exiled from ThunderClan for trying to murder Bluestar to gain her leadership; and he had hated Firestar, the one who had revealed his treachery.
Tigerstar's top lip quivered angrily.
"Don't let it happen again!" he snarled. Bramblestar jumped back in fear.
"What?" he mewed feebly. "W-what are you talking about, father?" But Tigerstar and the shadowy forest were gone, and he was back in endless darkness, running… and running… He couldn't stop! He saw flashes of images he didn't recognize as he aimlessly raced about; huge, howling dogs, a massive tabby standing amidst the flurry of gray fur; dark ginger and dark brown toms snarling at each other; a tabby tom leaping at a blue-gray she-cat. So many things he didn't understand! What did Tigerstar not want him to let happen again? What did the old prophecy mean for these present days? What did Firestar and Tigerstar want with him?!
Bramblestar's eyes shot open. He whipped his gaze everywhere to see the small grassy hollow of the Moonpool around him. It was still dark, but night was ebbing away like an ocean wave, and dawn was pouring in.
Bramblestar saw Windfleet stir beside him. The ash-gray tom slowly opened his yellow eyes and looked up at the dark tabby at his side. The ThunderClan deputy rose to his paws and stretched the stiffness out of his muscles, swiping his tongue over his paw and rubbing it across his face. Glancing up at his leader's anxious expression, Windfleet stopped midwash.
"What's wrong, Bramblestar?" he mewed worriedly. "Is it the dream you received from StarClan? Are you alright?" After a moment of silence, Bramblestar nodded slightly.
"Yes, Windfleet," he assured his deputy. "I think I am."