Chapter One

The day had started just like any other. Thick, toiling storm clouds stretched overhead like a bushy gray tail across the horizon. Stormchaser raised his muzzle towards the sky, sniffing the breeze as it rushed over his whiskers.

I feel something troubling in this storm, he thought warily as he continued his trek across the barren landscape. Cool air slicked his black spotted fur against his sides, refreshing despite the humidity.

He knew this path well, it had to easily be his sixth time passing through. The Path of Storms usually always stuck to the same air currents, making it easy for Stormchaser to follow.

He could remember his first time setting out on the dangerous pathway, but it was easy with the elder Stormchaser at his side. It was quite different than when he was a kit back in CloudClan.

They were one of the countless groups of cats, who lived close to the route that the storm clouds used to travel across the atmosphere. He almost wished he could go and visit his old clanmates, but it was absolutely forbidden for the Stormchaser to leave the Path of Storms.

There were exceptions though. When it came time for Stormchaser to train an apprentice, StarClan would send him a sign and he could travel to the nearby Clans to find his successor. But other than that, Stormchaser was bound to the storm like an ivy tendril winding up the trunk of a tree.

Even now, with the storm whirling overhead, he could hear the faint whispers of his ancestors in his ears. Each crack of thunder meant something far more menacing than any normal Clan cat could imagine.

The lightning cut down through the air and struck the ground a mile or two away. A vision swam through his mind, making him stop.

With a new storm, new puddles form.

He could see a cave, with the faces of many cats inside. As the storm continued to unload its rain, a puddle started to form at the entrance to the rock. I think this means new beginnings, he thought confidently.

Looking across the landscape, he tried to see if he could spot any sign of Clan cats. I wonder which Clan it's about.

Before he had any time to think, another massive jolt of thunder shook the skies. Stormchaser could feel his whiskers trembling with the blast. In moments, a thick red fog started to cover his paws.

This looks bad, he thought as the fog started to rise up over his shoulders and head. All he could see was a cloud of red, so thick he couldn't see anything in front of his nose.

"Hello!" He called, hoping that a StarClan cat may be trying to come forward to him. But the only response was a maniacal laughing. It was so loud, it drowned out the thunder in the distance.

Stormchaser crouched down, squeezing his eyes shut and holding his paws over his ears. The laughing continued, getting louder and louder.

"An ancient black tide will smother the light that dares to shine in the darkness." A booming voice invaded Stormchaser's thoughts. It was such a strange, high pitched voice; it made his heart start to race.

"Smother? But none of the Clans can be smothered! That means that they'll..." Stormchaser felt something like icy claws slash at his skin, tearing his fur.

He opened his eyes to see long, pointed teeth and bloodshot eyes. They didn't look like cat eyes.

With a yowl, Stormchaser jumped up and started to run as fast as he could. The thick cloud of red didn't seem to end. He just kept running... and running... until he finally flopped over and fell unconscious.

Stomchaser opened his eyes to find that he had no idea where he was. Thick vegetation and towering oak trees surrounded him. He looked up to the sky, dismayed that the storm system was nowhere in sight.

"Oh no.." he mumbled, scrambling to his paws. He tried to remember which way he had been running, but he couldn't recall anything. Just the thick red fog that had blinded him.

What am I supposed to do, he thought wretchedly.

"Who's there?" A hesitant voice called through the bushes. He could see the gleam of white fur through the branches.

"I'm just a little lost..." Stormchaser began. A patrol of white pelted cats appeared, surrounding him. He wondered how odd it might feel to them, seeing a cat with a black spotted pelt.

"This is ShineClan territory," a large white tom with black whiskers and nose growled as he stepped closer to Stormchaser.

ShineClan, I wonder if the omen was about them. "Don't worry, I'm not here to cause any trouble," he reassured them. He tried to keep his fur flat but it was hard with the thought of long, sharp teeth sinking into his flesh.

"Well you can explain what you're doing here to our leader. I'm sure she'd love to have a chat with you," the muscled tom grunted.

The other white cats nodded their agreement as they closed into an even tighter circle around him. Oh great, now how am I going to get back onto the Path of Storms!