The frost gleamed in the moonlight. Trees rustled in the soft breeze that blew over the cliff. Nothing moved and it seemed as if the world was holding its breath. Then, a golden she-cat emerged from the thickness of the forest and padded slowly and confidently towards the edge of the trees. She emerged in front of a cliff which rose up in front of her. A river fell over the edge creating a waterfall and the water made a steady din as it fell downwards striking the pool at the base. There she sat, by the edge of the pool, waiting.
The half-moon slowly began to sink in the sky as another cat appeared from the waterfall. His grey fur shone in the moonlight quite dry after taking the dry route through the secret cave behind the waterfall. One leg was held off the ground in a limp. He greeted the she-cat with respect.
'Greetings Goldstar, what brought you out here on this cold night?
'Times are hard Leafbrook. Winter has taken its toll on all of us. Have you any news from Starclan?' the she-cat meowed.
'I fear they have abandoned us,' the cat murmured, 'they have not spoken for two moons now.'
At this the she-cat struck the hard earth with her paws and growled, 'They will never abandon us.'
The tom looked up at the stars and sighed. Goldstar could see the light of the stars reflected in his eyes. She turned and looked down at the pool. As she did so she heard a gasp from Leafbrook and she looked at the sky in time to see a bright star fall. Leafbrook looked at her with suppressed delight.
'Starclan have spoken,' he purred.
'What did they say,' Goldstar meowed, and flicked her tail impatiently.
His eyes clouded with confusion as recalled Starclans message.
'Linked by blood, heart and courage, Darkness will show the way, Thunder and Lightning will join at the head, but rain and wind won't rest until the four are dead.' He mewed puzzled, "Thunder's apprentice is the first, her sibling as well. Two born from lightning, wild and fawn, their fates intertwine to reunite the five clans."
*
Curled up in a warm bed of their mother's fur two kits slept. They were only a few hours old and were sleeping. Their mother's pale silver coat glistened in the darkness. Her two kits, one silver and one brown, mewed in distress as a cold draft blew in. Their mother shifted and gave them a quick lick before falling asleep again. Their murmurs quietened as they too, fell asleep.
*
Not that far away in the forest on the other side of the waterfall, another she-cat was sleeping. Curled up besides her were three small kits. Two looked just like their mother with brown tabby stripes. The other looked frail and delicate in her soft white and brown kit fur. The small family slumbered on peacefully.
Four little kits with their destiny intertwined were both unaware of the prophecy that would haunt their every paw step.