Prologue

A fool moon gleamed over the forest. Beneath the trees, in a clearing, cats began to stir. Clouds had gathered around the moon, creating a silvery shadow over the clearing. A heavy mist hung over the ground, making it hard for them to see.

One cat stood in front of a bramble thicket (A/N: I don't remember what the nursery looked like). His eyes were wide with fear and panic, as a gray she-cat stepped forward.

Her jaws were filled with herbs; plants used to help with birthing or give strength to others. The gray cat was known as the medicine cat, and she was the wisest in the Clan. She knew something was coming; something that could change the very future of the Clans. That something could easily destroy their lives as well, though she did not voice her thoughts or beliefs.

"How long will it take?" murmured the cat who stood in front of the nursery. He had thick, blue-gray fur, and a scar stretched over his muzzle. He was one of the Clans' most trusted warriors, despite the fact that he was not a senior warrior.

A second cat stood beside him. She too was worried, although she had given birth herself. She was a jet-black she-cat; her pelt was as black as night, and yet she moved as fast as a lightning bolt flashed in the sky, which was what gave her her name. Her eyes were a bright green, which made her seem mysterious and shy. But she was one of the most talkative cats in the Clan, and often shared stories with younger cats who were willing to listen.

"Waterdream hasn't told me," she replied in a low, alarmed voice. "But she said there would be two."

"Two?" The tom's eyes widened in fear. "Grayfeather told me there would be three!" His voice was thin with grief. It had been a hard leafbare. Perhaps the cold and lack of prey was what killed the third kit before it could even come. Either way, he bowed his head for the nameless kit.

Suddenly a yowl split the air. All cats jerked their heads up in alarm. Now there were several cats gathered around the nursery, with worried expressions in their gazes.

Something was blocking the moon. It all happened so quickly. More yowls came, but they were not that of Grayfeather. They were the cries of warriors who were watching the moon disappear behind a black circle. Ridges of its light could be seen, but the tom dared not look, for he would be blinded. The stars seemed to glow eerily through the darkness that fast approached.

The mewl of a kit came from the nursery. A moment later, and another ear-piercing yowl tore through the air. The tom winced when he realized that Grayfeather was in pain. And yet, he could not help her anymore then Lightningstar could.

Finally, after what felt like moons, a cat emerged from the nursery. It was Berrytail, another queen who's kits would come soon. She too had a belly that was swollen like Grayfeather's was. But instead of joy like most mothers, her eyes were wild with fear.

"They've come, but there's something wrong," she meowed when the tom looked at her.

His gaze stretched from a look of fear to that of pure terror. He lunged forward without warning and braced himself for the worst. But to his surprise, Waterdream was only crouched beside Grayfeather, who was panting heavily. Her eyes were drooping with exhaustion, and she looked ready to pass out. But she was safe, and that was all that mattered to her mate.

"They're beautiful," he murmured when he got a good look at them. One was a silvery-gray she-cat, while the other was a pure black tom, with etches of blue-gray streaks around his fur. The tom was amazed at how much they resembled their parents. He was pleased with this, but there was something troubling about the way the she-kit moved. That was when he noticed something.

To his dismay, the little she-kits' body was beginning to fade, as though it was made from a fine mist. He could see that she was still alive, but she acted as though he were in a dream. And the tom. Oh, the tom horrified him. The black tom was too quiet. He wasn't mewling like a kit should. Instead, the tom just remained silent and suckled from his mothers' teats.

"I warned you," muttered Berrytail.

"But how?" he whispered. He could hardly believe they were related. The she-kits' fur was turning solid again, but she still gave him chills.

"The eclipse," replied Waterdream. Her eyes were closed and she lashed her tail every now and then, as though she was thinking of something. "It gave them powers that not even StarClan can control. They must be treated with the utmost care."

At this, Grayfeather let out a startling growl. "My kits, are not different!" Her tail swished around in the air and she glared at Waterdream. "They will grow into the strongest and most loyal warriors in the Clan!"

Her tone was defiant and sharp. Her motherly instincts had kicked in. The tom did everything he could to cheer her up, but nothing seemed to work. Instead, she just constantly badgered her kits and licked them until they let out annoyed mewls. Well, the tom didn't mewl at least. He still remained silent.

Soon, the Clan began to forget about their misfortune. The kits would grow up, and learn that something was different about them. Even Grayfeather, who had defended them at birth, would give up. They were named, Mistkit and Eclipsekit, after the night they were born. They would one day become the stuff of legends. And they would spread terror around the Clans.

So what did you think? I'm updating my profile so that this story is there instead of the other one. Maybe, just maybe I'll actually get a review!