Chapter One

The leaves crunched under Feathertail's paws as she raced through the tall oak trees to the riverbank. Evening sunlight filtered through the ever-thinning canopy of leaves above her. Bright colors of reds, oranges, and yellows covered her vision. Every now and then a chill breeze would whisper by and send the leaves flying through the air like sparrows. This was Feathertail's favorite time.

Leaves danced around her legs as she continued to race along. Soon she arrived at her destination. The river was wide and moving slowly. Carefully she padded up to its bank and peered in. Although SunClan cats rarely ever fished she knew that she must try. Ever since Hawkstar had become leader he had been trying out all sorts of new tactics. Her brother really was quite inventive.

She could see the fish swimming gracefully through the water, slowly idling past as they made their way to the ocean. She waited for what seemed like a lifetime until one ventured close to the bank. It lazily began swimming towards her, unaware of her presence. Quicker than lightning she struck her paw into the river, sending up a large, cold, splash of water. Her claws touched the scales and she flicked it out. It flopped for several seconds before Feathertail quickly bit hard on its spine. It tasted odd and it was very slippery.

She had finally caught her first fish. Every other warrior in her clan had caught one and she had finally been determined enough to catch one. She couldn't wait until she showed it to Rockclaw. Even her daughter, Leopardkit, would love to see it. She picked it up in her jaws and awkwardly began carrying it back to camp. It was large and heavy so she tripped several times when it caught on a branch or thorn.

Finally she made it back to SunClan camp. Mosquitoes were buzzing around her head as she slowly stumbled through the thorn tunnel and into the clearing. Lightning bugs were lighting up the wide area as she first dropped off the fish in the fresh-kill pile and then made her way to the nursery. It was too late to show Rockclaw and Leopardkit her kill; they would have to wait until tomorrow. The breeze picked up once more, bringing not the crisp scent of leaves that she expected, but the chilly scent of leaf-bare. Snow would be covering the landscape within a moon.

"Out a little late, aren't we?" a voice sounded from the shadows.

Feathertail nearly jumped, the voice scared her so much, "Who's there?"

Reedfur slowly padded out from under an overhanging tree branch, "Just me. What were you doing out so late?"

"I didn't mean to be, I was just hunting. And what are you doing?" she countered. The black tom always sounded so accusing.

"Hunting." His voice lingered on the word, causing Feathertail to think that his word was untrue.

"Really? Well then, where's the kill?"

He laughed, "I didn't have as much luck as you did apparently. No prey out today."

Feathertail rolled her eyes, there was definitely prey out in the forest, she had seen it. But, not wanting to start anything with him she just started walking away.

"Good night then Feathertail. Sweet dreams…" his voice trailed off as he entered into the warriors' den and she into the nursery. Why did he always have to be so creepy?

Inside the nursery it was warm and cozy, reinforced by soft moss, feathers, and twigs. Brindlenose slept on the edge of the queens, her kits were just starting to show in her growing belly. Fallowshine, Yellowbird, and Rosebloom's kits were snuggled close together in the center of the den, their mothers surrounding them. Fernfeather's smaller kits were nuzzled tightly against their mother. Feathertail spotted Leopardkit pressed up against Rosebloom, sound asleep. She slowly padded over, careful not to trip on any kits, until she was next to Fernfeather. She circled in her nest of moss before she lay down and fell asleep.

She was standing in a bright green field surrounded by wild flowers. The mountains soared high into the air in the distance. Closer to her was the lush forest, full of tweeting birds and other prey. She spotted a vibrant butterfly as it sailed past her on graceful, thin wings. Chasing after it she batted it down to the ground and pinned it there, watching it struggle against her paws. A helpless creature caught in the predator's claws. She couldn't bear to hurt it so she let it go.

Suddenly, the clear blue sky became covered with clouds. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled as great drops of rain began to tumble out of the sky. Louder than the thunder was a voice from the clouds, growing louder every second. It sounded foreign and odd, as though from a different time, "Waters that swallow and nests become bare. Green that kills and the small destroy. SunClan will die….SunClan will die." The voice echoed and ricocheted around Feathertail's ears, deafening her. She shook in her paws as something began to hit her side. She looked over but nothing was there. It hit her again and her eyes flew open. It was only a dream.

Leopardkit was barreling into her side, bouncing with excitement. Racing around in circles at the sight of her awake she shouted, "Guess what? Guess what?"

Feathertail sighed, "Calm down Leopardkit! You're nearly an apprentice, now start acting like one, what is it?"

"There's this wet white stuff covering the clearing! Oakkit says that it's something called snow, but I don't believe him. He said that it fell from the sky and is exactly like rain because his mama told him that. But that can't be true can it?" She took a deep breath as she finished her sentence and looked imploringly up at her mother with large eyes.

Feathertail rolled her eyes, "Oakkit was right, it is called snow and it's very, very cold rain."Leopardkit looked up at her disbelievingly. "Come on, let's go out there."

The little kit barreled out of the nursery, nearly tripping on Nettlekit. She raced into the clearing straight into a pile of snow as big as herself. Brownkit started laughing as she pulled herself out and shook herself off.

"Does the big bad snow scare you Leopardkit?" he sneered in-between guffaws of laughter.

"No!" Leopardkit raced up to him and shoved him hard on his side, sending him rolling head of paws into Hawkstar.

Feathertail ran up, righting Brownkit back onto his paws. "I'm terribly sorry Hawkstar; you know how kits can be."

He looked down on the patched tom as he said, "Yes, they can be a little like a root sticking out of the path can't they." He chuckled. "Just make sure that you try to be more careful, you don't want to offend anyone, do you?"

Brownkit looked at his paws ashamed, "Yes Hawkstar, ok." He mumbled.

Feathertail looked up from the small kit to notice Rockclaw returning from the dawn patrol, jaws laden with three mice. She raced up to him beaming, "You'll never guess what I caught last night!"

He dropped his prey on the fresh-kill pile and looked back up at her grinning, "What?"

She thought for a second before calling Leopardkit over. Rockclaw looked confused for a second before her kit ran up to her paws, "Yes mama?"

"Ok. So last night I went for a late night hunt. I was by the river when I caught a fish!"

Leopardkit bounced around Feathertail, "Really?! That was your fish on the pile this morning?!" Rockclaw licked between her ears and gave her a warm smile.

"Yes that was her fish. We knew all along that you could do it Feathertail."

Leopardkit looked up at her father, "Nuh-uh. You said yourself that mother could never catch a fish."

"Leopardkit, shush. I never said anything of the sort." He looked away hurriedly, "Oh, I think Blackear is calling me. Well got to go, bye." He ran over to where the deputy was organizing patrols.

"Why don't you go and play in the nursery with Petalkit and Squirrelkit. I have to go see someone."

She looked up at her for a moment, as if to argue, but turned around and sprinted into the den.

As Feathertail made her way to the medicine cat den she noticed the camp slowly coming to life. Silverpaw followed close at the paws of her mentor, Patchpelt, as they padded towards the training area. The grumbles of the elders became even louder as she neared their den, which was behind the medicine cat den. She chuckled to herself, wondering how they survived their own complaints. And speaking of complaints, Lilystream was in the midst of a whining conversation with Fernfeather.

"…had a little cough."

"I'm sure she'll be fine. Nettlekit probably had a little kitten-cough. It'll pass in a couple of days."

"But what if it isn't!" Fernfeather protested.

"Trust me, it'll pass." Lilystream insisted.

Fernfeather stalked past Feathertail fuming. She turned to look at her den mate as she headed back to the nursery. She hadn't heard her kits cough at all.

"Lilystream, I need to talk to you."

The medicine cat looked up from her herbs, "Can you believe her? Questioning a medicine cat over what she thinks is a sickness! Honestly!"

Feathertail smiled, "Fernfeather's a worrywart. Everyone knows that, even Redfoot."

"Still, I know I haven't been medicine cat for moons and moons and moons, but you'd think she would know to trust me." Lilystream snorted and continued sorting out various herbs into piles.

"Um, I was wondering if I could tell you something." Feathertail asked timidly.

"Oh! I completely ignored you! Yes, what is it?"

"I had a troubling dream last night." She recounted her dream to Lilystream, not leaving out a single detail.

"That does sound bad doesn't it?" She looked confused, "Let me think about its meaning. I'm not sure, but you might've received a message from StarClan. I don't know why they would give one to you, but there must be a reason. I'll think about it, thank you."

Feathertail was worried by how much Lilystream looked alarmed by her message. It was just a dream after all, wasn't it? Nothing bad could come by it. It was probably just a bad mouse that made it so vivid. She pushed her thoughts away and started out of the den.

"Wait!" she stopped, "Do you know where Blackear is?" Lilystream asked.

Featheretail thought back to the patrols he had assigned the previous day, "I think he's supposed to be on a border patrol with a couple others. Nothing big though, just the BreezeClan cliff. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, I just wanted to check up on a sore pad was all."

"Okay then." Feathertail left the medicine den. She hadn't heard Blackear complaining at all. When Blackear complained, it was always loud. She then padded over to where Willowfall was grooming herself. Her eldest daughter's sleek coat shone in the midday sunlight. She looked up warmly to her mother as she approached her.

"So, has Fernfeather come to you about anything?" Fernfeather was one of her daughter's closest friends, and they shared everything.

"Yes she did. Apparently Nettlekit has got a cough. She said that it kept her up all night worrying." Willowfall looked skeptical yet worried.

Feathertail rolled her eyes, "Typical Fernfeather, always worrying about everything. I'm sure she just swallowed a bit of fur."

"Is that all you wanted?"

Feathertail looked around quickly to see if anyone else was listening in on their conversation, "Actually, I was wondering if you could help me with something."

"What?" Willowfall asked.

"I…I had an odd dream last night and I was wondering if you could help me with it." Willowfall was gifted in interpretations but not so in herbs. That was why she was a warrior instead of a medicine cat.

She nodded her head in agreement, "Make it quick though, I have a patrol soon with Redfoot."

After she recounted her dream again, her daughter had the same worried look on her visage as Lilystream did. Willowfall looked up at her mother, troubled by what she had just heard, "Have you had any other dreams like that one or was that the only one?"

"That's the only unusual dream I've ever had. It frightened me so much and it was so realistic, like it actually happened."

As her daughter left for her hunting patrol Feathertail wondered. Was her dream just that, a dream? Or was it a prophecy sent from StarClan? She closed her eyes tight and just hoped that none of her dream came true. If it did, her clan was doomed.

When she walked in she noticed that Brindlenose was all alone in the nursery. She padded over to her and sat next to her, "So where's Longwhisker? I never see him in here."

Brindlenose cast an uncomfortable glance across the clearing where her mate was talking to Aspentail, "He comes in here sometimes, he's just so busy."

Something didn't seem right to Feathertail. The way she was looking at him signaled that there was something deeper between them "Is everything all right? You make it sound as if-"

"I don't think we should discuss this here right now." Brindlenose whispered in a quick and hushed voice.

"Well, where then?"

She glanced over to where Fernfeather was cleaning her two kits, "Just wait until everybody's gone. I know I can trust you, but I'm not so sure about anyone else."

Several minutes later the nursery was emptied. Fernfeather had gone to get something to eat and taken her kits with her. Feathertail turned back towards the pregnant queen, "Now what is it that's bothering you?"

Her tail twitched nervously and she shifted in her nest, "I...I think that Longwhisker is meeting with another cat." She said slowly.

"Like from SunClan?" Feathertail asked warily.

Brindlenose shook her head, "No, from BreezeClan I think."

Feathertail replied urgently, "That's a serious accusation Brindlenose! You have to have some sort of evidence to back you up."

She looked sadly into Feathertail's eyes, "Unfortunately I do. Nearly a half moon ago I followed him out of camp-"

"You shouldn't have, Lilystream ordered rest for you!"

Brindlenose replied frustrated, "Just let me finish will you?" she nodded her head in consent, "Alright. I followed him all the way to the cliff-side border with BreezeClan. He went straight up to the rock face then disappeared."

"What? That doesn't make any sense! Cats can't just walk through rock." she stated confused.

Brindlenose gave a slight laugh, "It didn't make any sense to me either. So, I went up to where he was. It turns out there's a tunnel hidden by some old plants."

"Did you catch him?"

"No, I waited underneath some pine trees until he came out again. After he was back in the forest I snuck into the tunnels. I followed it all the way up to a cave behind the waterfall. It was full of the distinct smell of SunClan and BreezeClan."

The two were quiet for a moment as Feathertail registered what she had just heard. Brindlenose had discovered an illegitimate relationship between clans. It was forbidden and wrong and it completely went against the warrior code!