Prologue

Rain was flitting down from dark clouds, coming down in sharp droplets. Pondstar was lying in his nest, his ears flattened against the water leaking through his den. He sighed, and heaved himself up, padding to the entrance of his den, sitting.

Duskstorm was just finishing weaving the warrior's den, tucking in reeds and brambles. Pondpaw trotted over to him, giving him more reeds. Duskstorm purred a thanks, and grabbed the reeds from Pondpaw.

A monster roared past on the Thunderpath in front of camp.

Pondstar knew his Clan would have to get used to it.

The gray leader looked back at his Clanmates.

Curlears was lying in her nest, feasting on a squirrel, sharing it with Finchwing.

Pondstar padded out of his den, sitting by the pond in the heart of camp. He leaned down, lapping some rich water up. He heard his deputy, Leafheart, padding over to him. "I would like to meet you in your den," the she-cat meowed.

Pondstar stood up, nodding. The two cats padded into the leader's den, ducking under the moss dangling from the entrance. Leafheart stared into Pondstar's eyes.

"Are you sure the decision to settle here is safe?" the tabby had an edge to her tone, angered. "Every time a cat leaves camp, they have to face the Thunderpath. I wouldn't want to be killed when I'm going hunting,"

Pondstar's heart started hurting, like a thorn pressing into it. "Yes, I know this place isn't the best for Clans to settle, but there was no other choice. The other places had twolegs swarming everywhere-"

"This place has twolegs swarming everywhere!" Leafheart's hiss was filled with bitterness. "All our cats will be either taken away or killed by twolegs! Are you fleabrained?" Pondstar tried to calm her down, mewling, "It's okay. We'll be fine-"

"Are you that fleabrained to think that a place filled with twolegs is safe, and that we'll be fine? There was a forest right across from us that was completely safe and twoleg-free! You aren't fit to be leader if there is something obvious dangling in front of your muzzle and you can't even see it!" Pondstar felt his claws unsheathe. "Leafheart! I was doing what was best-"

"Doing what was best, hm? When there was a healthy forest in front of us and and you didn't even suggest choosing that for a new home! Blind leader," the brown tabby she-cat flicked her tail and padded out, pelt bristling. She didn't look back to Pondstar, who felt hollow at what his deputy had said.

"Blind leader," Pondstar repeated, "Blind leader."