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The strange ThunderClan she-cat looked satisfied at Feathershine's answer. "I think we all do. My name is Leafgaze," she replied. Feathershine nodded. "I'm Feathershine." Leafgaze nodded as well. "You're Silverdrift's apprentice, then. How is she?" Feathershine sighed. "In StarClan." Leafgaze sat down next to the RiverClan medicine cat. "Leafgaze-there's something I have to tell you. It has to do with the future of our Clans," Feathershine said after a long pause. Leafgaze gave a start. "What is it? I'll do anything to save ThunderClan. Oh, and the others too," Leafgaze added hastily. "You're a loyal warrior," Feathershine said, satisfied, "Come closer. The wolves must not hear."
Feathershine took a deep breath and repeated Silverdrift's prophecy. "What does that have to do with me?" Leafgaze asked, staring at Feathershine. "You're one of the four. Not too long ago, I had a vision. I was sitting by the lake with four other cats-one of them slim and swift, another bursting with spirit, one an oddity among others, and lastly one that was calm with a spellbinding gaze. You." Leafgaze blinked slowly at Feathershine. "Are you sure? I mean, not that I doubt StarClan, but are you completely sure that I'm one of the four?" Feathershine nodded firmly. "Yes. Right after the vision, Silverdrift spoke to me. She said, 'Four from each-one with the knowledge of its ancestors of the River, one with the gaze of leaf-fall's leaves of Thunder, one with the swiftness of Wind forever, and the last the oddity of Shadows'. You're part of ThunderClan. Your eyes are like leaf-fall's leaves, green and amber," Feathershine pointed out. Leafgaze smiled slightly. "Then I'll have to accept Silverdrift's words. And I might know who the 'oddity of the Shadows' is. Have you heard of Darklight?" Feathersine blinked, then shook her head. "He's the strangest ShadowClan cat you could meet. Darklight's a bright white cat with some really weird hints of orange and gold all along his pelt. And he's got bright blue eyes. Darkstar says that Darklight is hopeless as a warrior, even though they share the same beginning in their names." Leafgaze's oddly flecked eyes glowed with amusement. "I'm pretty sure it's Darklight you're looking for." Feathershine twitched her whiskers. "The more you talk about him the more I think you're right!" Leafgaze dipped her head. "Oh, it's nothing. It's just that Darklight rarely goes to Gatherings and he isn't that popular amongst ShadowClan," she replied.
"You two! Stop the talk!" Selora snarled. Swift, who happened to wake up at Selora's voice, flattened her ears and cocked her head. "They'll talk as long and as loudly as they'd like, eaglebrain!" Swift hissed. Selora growled and glared at Swift but did nothing except stalk away in defeat. "What was that about?" Leafgaze asked, narrowing her eyes at Swift. "That's Swift that Flies Through the Stars. And Swift, this is Leafgaze." Swift dipped her head at the ThunderClan warrior, who stiffly returned the gesture. "What's wrong?" Feathershine asked Leafgaze. "Why won't they hurt her? Has she got an alliance with the wolves?"
Overhearing the comment, Swift snorted. "With them? No thank you! They just won't touch me because of Stoneteller. If they kill me or something the Tribe will escape and the wolves didn't really enjoy the mountains." Leafgaze surveyed Swift through half-closed eyes. "All right." Feathershine shook her head. "Leafgaze, we're all in one situation here. It won't help to be suspicious," she meowed. Leafgaze sighed. "I guess it's because I can't believe that ThunderClan was defeated, and I just finished my vigil about two sun-rises ago!" Feathershine and Swift both let out sounds of sympathy. "Don't worry, Leafgaze. We'll find the four." Feathershine's ears twitched and she shoved Swift. "Fishbrain, Leafgaze is one of the four!" Swift's eyes widened. "Oh! I'm so sorry, Your Fourness," she said. Leafgaze grinned and her tail nudged Feathershine. "Now that's something I like!"
Meanwhile, Nieforan and the other fighting wolves were planning their next attack. "Which Clan?" Nieforan muttered to himself. "I think we should overtake ShadowClan first, my leadership," a wolf with eyes like gold stepped forward; "They alone know the night as well as we do." Fanerog glanced at Nieforan. The pack's leader was deep in thought. "You are right, Golharen. Yes, we will conquer ShadowClan. What is the name of their current leader, Fanerog?" The second-in-command's eyes darkened, trying to recall the name. "Darkstar! His name is Darkstar," Fanerog said after a pause. "Very good. It will be Darkstar I will confer with-his Clan might serve me more highly above the others. Any'wolf have an idea for our tactic?"
A strongly built wolf in the back raised his tail. "I suggest we attack them head-on, no hiding or lightning attacks. We will allow them the relish of full-out battle," he suggested. "Well said, Queronan. Yes, it is a good idea. Any others?"
The wolves shook their heads.
"Queronan, would you like to add to your strategy?" The wolf nodded. "We will attack in the daylight, since the darkness would serve us no purpose. I think we should snatch a few at first and then rush in as one and surprise them with our signals. I believe that there is a certain time of day when the cats are especially relaxed. Let us attack from there." Nieforan smiled thinly. "If Fanerog were not descended from Gorfaanes I might have chosen you as my second-in-command." Fanerog bristled as Quenoran shot a smug look at him.
The wolves disbanded and went to help guard the cats. "Wait! Stay here, Quenoran. I wish to discuss something with you," Nieforan called. Fanerog stared at his leader. "Fanerog, go and dispute the duties properly. I will be quite all right here," Nieforan added. Fanerog lowered his head slightly and scrambled out of the half-cave. "Well then, Quenoran. Do you know anything at all about this relaxed time you speak of?" Nieforan asked. "I believe the cats call it 'sharing tongues'. Although, I have not the faintest idea why." Nieforan laughed softly. "Oh, I think that we all know by now that cats are strange creatures and are nothing compared to the skill of wolves. Thank you for this information, my loyal fighter." Quenoran half-bowed and then padded away from the cave.
Nieforan alone witnessed what happened then.
Materializing from thin air appeared four cats with stars for fur and all with different characteristics. Startled, Nieforan leaped back with his teeth bared. "The Clans will survive," the cats said, their voices many and separate but somehow Nieforan heard them all. "What do you want?" he snarled, trying to leap at them. They nimbly dodged and continued to speak in the same monotone and the same message.
Suddenly a she-cat stepped from the four and they silenced their muttering at the sight of her. She raised her head proudly with a glare at Nieforan that made him feel oddly small. "Four from each will rise in a time of utter darkness, four with the power to control the elements of our lives and destinies," she said clearly and loudly. But for some reason the other wolves didn't see or hear the StarClan cats. The she-cat repeated her prophecy, this time with four young starry cats slowly appearing behind her. "Four, joined together, will overthrow the wolves altogether. Four, joined together, will restore freedom and harmony amongst the Clans. Four, joined together, will change your fates for the worse!" she yowled. Nieforan stepped back again, this time staring at them with new eyes. "And the four will defeat you, wolf, once and for all," she snarled, her face less than a mousetail's length from Nieforan's. "I will not be defeated! I will use the Clans and conquer all other wolves and any other creature that stands in my way!" he screeched, raising an unsheathed paw to the she-cat's face.
It went right through her without distorting the starry image.
"Wrong move, wolf. Have you not wondered why your bunch of wolves and you yourself can understand the cats, and we alike can understand you? Your fates are linked! But not in the way you believe, coward. You think that the prophecy made about you long ago means that you'll conquer Binaera and the other wolves. You won't! You read the prophecy wrong, and look what has happened to your wolves! Diminished, to half their size!" the cat continued to screech; "Your pack is weakened no matter what you tell yourself! And the Clans, with the Tribe and the other kittypets you managed to catch, will escape the rule of your pack." With a last glare that seemed to make Nieforan's legs weak, the cats disappeared.
Thrilled through with shock and horror, Nieforan's paws buckled under him and he sank onto the soft soil of the half-cave. It cannot be. The prophecy-that cursed prophecy-must mean that I am the rightful leader to all of the wolves and any other creature alike!
And Nieforan remembered that dark and yet star-lit midnight, so long ago. . . .
"Look, Nieforan! A falling star, there, to the north!" Scennia, the starwolf, cried. "What does that have to do with me?" a younger version of Nieforan demanded. "Everything, my pup. Look how long its tail is, covering that part of the sky. That is your fate-you will conquer the other packs, and you alone will emerge victorious," Scennia said. "How do you know this?" Nieforan asked, mystified. Scennia smiled ruefully. "It is my own destiny, my fate, to read the stars and other celestial things. Look at the way that star is stationed tonight, my dear. It stands in the way of the falling star, but look how the star streaks right over it! That is you, also." Scennia gazed at Nieforan, who was watching the sky with renewed interest. "No creature, wolf or prey alike, will stand in your way, Nieforan. It is your destiny . . ."
But to the west, escaping the wolves' notice, was another falling star. It shoots straight into the other star, and a dull, muted collision occurs. The original star falters and the brightness of the other star from the west shines brightly, and at last falls from the dark sky. . . . Only Nieforan sees this happen. But nothing can put out his newly found joy and ambition and he believes that it was the northerly star that survived.
Somehow, Silverdrift, the cat who had confronted Nieforan, entered his mind and saw him remembering that night. And then she knew-the fate of Nieforan spelled doom.
