PROLOGUE
It was a dark and still night; clouds covered much of the sky, only allowing a hint of moon and starlight to filter through to the earth below. The dim light barely illuminated the ancient rocky formation at the cliffside; smooth stone from centuries of weathering only just showing in the gloom. This was no issue for the inhabitants of this place, however. The moonlight caught the reflective eyes of a sleek spotted tabby cat as it moved nimbly across the boulders with practiced deftness. Sorrelwind knew her camp like the back of her paw and her eyes were well suited to darkness.
Ordinarily, she would be asleep right now, with most of her clanmates. She nodded a silent greeting to the two cats on the nightwatch nearby. A familiar yowl had awoken her, and now she needed to go see what her mate and leader needed. His den was at the top of the rock formation, past the high stone where he gave his clan addresses, and into a small cave that had been formed in the cliff wall. Sorrelwind's ears twitched as she hesitated a moment at the entrance. Inside it was pitch black, with no light able to reach it on a night like this.
"Icestar, it's me." She calls softly; her voice echoing slightly into the cavern.
"Come in." A rumble returns. He sounds a little strained, though Sorrelwind can't tell if it's out of excitement or agitation. Even after all their moons together, she couldn't read him perfectly. She glances over her shoulder and catches one of the nightwatchers quickly looking away again. Of course they are curious. She pads into the narrow passage that leads to Icestar's den.
Her eyes adjust quickly to see the white tom pacing back and forth across the den, his orange eyes wide. "I have been sent a prophecy from Starclan." He says hurriedly in place of a greeting. She can see the fur standing on end across his broad back and down along his spine. It seems that his dream has spooked him somewhat. He pauses in his pacing to lift his large head and look at her. "It's the first time they've spoken to me since I became leader." She nods slightly. Icestar was a private cat, but he had shared Starclan's silence with her before; while spiritual matters were usually referred to herbalists (or healers, as two of the other clans called them), she was his one true confidant in everything.
"I knew it would only be a matter of time they would speak to you again. You've only been a leader for a few moons, after all." Sorrelwind replies smoothly, not trying to push the information out of her mate, though she was certainly curious to know.
He blinks at her, flicks one of his small black ears, then continues his pacing. "It was different from the leadership ceremony…" Icestar rumbles. "The whole thing… It puts my fur on edge." Even now, she could sense his tension. It was unusual for him to admit he was nervous about anything.
"Was the prophecy bad?" Sorrelwind settled down, curling her tail around her paws neatly. "Gorseclan really doesn't need anything else to go wrong…"
"No… not at all." He pauses again, and lifts his head high. She can see his orange eyes shining with excitement as she meets his stare, even in this darkness. His voice has taken on that proud, ambitious tone that she'd always found attractive. They were both confident, high achieving cats with a mutual attraction to that sort of power. It made them well-suited for each other, both as mates, and as leader and deputy.
"So then, what did Starclan tell you?"
"Gorseclan will revive stronger than ever, Sorrelwind." Icestar replied, lifting his tail. "Starclan laid out the path ahead for me… A great danger is coming, but Gorseclan has been chosen to lead the way to the future… I have been chosen! We will be the greatest clan since the Ancestors!"
Sorrelwind wasn't sure what that meant, though she trusted Icestar; they'd always had each other's backs, and this wouldn't change now, even if she had never been as faithful as he was. She left the strong belief in Starclan to her herbalist brother. It was common for Gorseclan cats to have a looser attachment to their ancestors, though Icestar had always been an exception. He seemed to have taken this dream of his strongly to heart. As far as Sorrelwind was concerned, Starclan could lead them down any path they wished, if it meant greatness for their clan. The actions of their former leader combined with growing strength in their rival clans had put them in a tenuous position in recent moons. She'd hear this prophecy out regardless of her personal feelings.
As the white tom moved closer with those fearsome eyes of his that she loved dearly, the dark night suddenly seemed to be abuzz with a feverous energy. Sorrelwind hadn't seen this much life in Icestar outside of battle in a while; it was refreshing… Something momentous was going to happen soon; it didn't take a spiritual cat to feel it. She reached to touch his nose, her muzzle so small and narrow compared to his.
"Then I shall follow you, wherever Starclan wishes to lead you."
