Prologue:
The leaf-fall air was brisk and cold. The tall dark trees covered the starlit sky, blocking out any light. A small group of thin, ragged cats crept along the forest floor stealthily, their paws making no noises on the soft earth.
"Ugh how can ShadowClan stand this? Underneath all these trees? It's no wonder StarClan never contacts them. I much prefer the open moorland," a black and white she-cat muttered, staring disdainfully around the forest.
"Spottedmask, be quiet. Do you want them all to wake up?" hissed a black tom with silver fur sparkling his muzzle.
Spottedmask flattened her ears in embarrassment.
"Sorry Strongstar," she whispered.
Strongstar glared at the female warrior with malice. Then he turned to the other cats grouped around him.
"Volefur, you take Cloudspot and Spottedmask and go around the back way. When I give the signal, you attack. I'll take these four," Strongstar jerked his head towards a light orange she-cat and three toms, "and Deerpaw. We'll go in through the front. Remember that they're still weak from the Twoleg's attack. Don't hesitate to kill."
A few cats looked nervous at these words, including a white tom with black spots on his tail.
"Kill?" he asked softly.
Strongstar whipped his head around and cuffed the tom's head hard.
"Yes, kill. I saw you, Cloudspot, when we attacked RiverClan. You ran out like a frightened kit. If you don't perform better today you might as well return to the apprentice's den," he said coldly.
Cloudspot looked at the ground. "Yes Strongstar."
"Good. Then let's go."
The cats split as Volefur, Spottedmask and Cloudspot disappeared into the night, skirting the outside of the camp. Strongstar growled at his remaining warriors and they swiftly ran through the bushes and trees, right into the ShadowClan camp.
xxx
High above the forest, a small collection of shiny silvery cats watched them, their images twinkling like stars, their tails curled around their feet.
"WindClan is too greedy," a tall, shimmering white and black tom said. "They will bring about the destruction of all the Clans if they aren't careful."
"Tallstar, can't you speak with them? Surely Littlewood doesn't agree with this," a light orange she-cat pleaded from her perch on a cloud.
"I wish I could Leafpool. But Littlewood is dead. Strongstar killed him yesterday. He joined our ranks this morning."
Leafpool gasped. "No! Who is their medicine cat now?"
"He has forced an apprentice, barely six moons old, to become WindClan's medicine cat. Poppypaw is not meant to be one. She cannot receive dreams from StarClan. I believe Strongstar has forsaken us," Tallstar said sadly.
A gray she-cat growled, her anger making her luminous fur stand up. "How dare he! That puffed up furball is intent on taking over all the Clans. The way he attacked RiverClan; disgraceful. He's completely going against the warrior code."
"I know Mistyfoot. I agree with you. But there's nothing we can do now except warn the other Clans," Tallstar sighed.
"RiverClan has already been warned," Leafpool said. "Leopardstar has been corresponding with RiverClan's newest warrior; Icepool. They say she is the one the prophecy is talking about."
Mistyfoot nodded. "She is. Hopefully she will be able to stop this treachery before it is too late."
"And I assume ThunderClan has been alerted?" Tallstar inquired, gazing at Leafpool.
"Of course."
"And Tawnypelt has spoken to Tearstar," Mistyfoot said.
"That's not helping them much though, is it," Leafpool replied quietly, watching the battle raging on the ground.
The three cats sat silently for a moment, staring grimly at the flashes of claws and flying fur below them.
"ShadowClan will fall," whispered Mistyfoot.
No one contradicted her.