Prologue

Three cats stepped out of the shadows. "It's not safe here," the tortoiseshell she-cat warned, "we don't have much time."

The silver tom laughed bitterly. "It's not safe anywhere."

"Anyways," the brown tabby she-cat meowed, "why have you called us here, Spottedshade?"

The medicine cat closed her eyes and let out a sigh. "We need a place to think, and not to run. We have to defeat him."

"Here? Of all places? Why would you make us come here?" The silver tom hissed.

"He wouldn't expect us to be here," Spottedshade explained.

"So should we do our usual way of solving things?" The brown tabby asked.

"Silverstar, you should organize an attack, Treestar, you can spread the news. Let's meet here again in a week, with everyone else." Spottedshade ordered.

"I'm not taking orders from a medicine cat." Silverstar muttered, but nodded anyway.

"Alright." Treestar meowed. "Let's go before he finds out where we are." Just as they were about to leave, a voice boomed.

"Why, a little meeting, out here in the Dark Forest. You should've invited me." The voice chuckled.

"He's here." Spottedshade panicked. The air was immediately filled with fear-scent. A cat stalked out of the shadows. "He hasn't changed yet. Run." Spottedshade mewed, voice trying to maintain calm, but failing. Just as she finished her sentence, the cat transformed. First he grew night patterned wings, and then two pitch-black horns sprouted out. Silverstar ran, no doubt wondering why the other two weren't. As the cat changed, Spottedshade and Treestar took a step back.

Then he finished the transformation. A huge black NightWing loomed over them, hovering above the two cats. "Who should I kill first?" He blew fire; a warning. The cats stood there, stunned. They'd heard rumors of the dragon form, but they'd never seen it theirselves.

The NightWing suddenly dived down, breathing fire, and the cats ran. But Spottedshade was too slow. The flames engulfed her tail. They ran faster, and disappeared in the woods. The NightWing hissed. "Someday, I will rule completely… I will find it."

One day later, Treestar and Silverstar found each other. "Where's Spottedshade?" Silverstar meowed, looking around.

"Healing." Treestar responded simply. "Listen, we should do what Spottedshade would want us to do." Her eyes narrowed. "We will attack and find the answer."

Far, far away, on a different planet, a week later, Fatefinder jolted awake, in the middle of the night. She'd just had a nightmare. I have to tell him. But then suddenly she gasped and opened her mouth.

"Six strangers come from deep below,

Full of tall tales and nothing will they know.

Five days hence the moons will move,

And the ruler will soon improve.

But be aware:

They will have to share."

Fatefinder staggered back. What was that?

Meanwhile, Silverstar sank down to the bottom of the pool and touched the ginormous glowing crystal. A voice boomed.

"Four cats go zoom up and out,

Minds full of fluff and being in doubt.

Long time later, the moon will move,

And the ruler will soon improve.

But be aware:

They will have to share."

Silverstar's bitter thoughts returned. All that trouble for some cryptic mumbo jumbo? He knew all of StarClan (well, what used to be StarClan, anyway), would hit him on the head for even thinking that. But he swam out of the pool and stalked to the newly made base.

"I WILL NOT! IT'S NOT IMPORTANT ANYWAY!" Silverstar shouted later in the day.

Spottedshade sighed, eyes full of sympathy. "Silverstar, I get it. You're mourning. But the prophecy is important. Please tell us what you heard.

"A bunch of mumbo jumbo, that's what." Silverstar hissed. The other cats gasped, and some surged forward, trying to attack him, but Silverstar threw them off. Spottedshade raised a paw to stop them.

"Silverstar. Please." Spottedshade mewed gently.

"Fine." Silverstar relented. He started meowing in monotone. "Three cats go zoom up and out, minds full of fluff and being in doubt. Five days later, the moon will move, and the ruler will soon improve. But be aware: they will have to share."

Spottedshade tilted her head thoughtfully. "Let's tell the medicine cats at their monthly meeting. Silverstar, you can-"

She was cut short when Silverstar hissed. "No. I'm leaving."

"Silverstar, think. It's not safe out there, and we need you here."

"You need me to sacrifice myself just like she did! You know very well I'm the strongest here, and can handle it out there. It's all your fault she died! I'm leaving, and you can't stop me." Silverstar whirled around, and he walked out of their camp, walking faster and faster until he broke into a run.

"He'll come back soon. He'll get over it." A cat meowed hopefully. Spottedshade stared at the blurry outline running away from them.

"No," she said sadly. "He won't anytime soon."

Fatefinder slowly walked into her father's room, and cleared her throat. "Father?"

The large NightWing turned around. "What is it this time? Are the Rebels attacking again?"

"No, Father." Fatefinder replied. She hesitated for a moment, then said, "There's a prophecy."

"Prophecy? Aren't you able to control your power well enough to not have that nonsense?" He spat out the last word.

"I thought that, too. But listen carefully.

Four dragons go zoom up and out,

Minds full of fluff and being in doubt.

Long time later, the moon will move,

And the ruler will soon improve.

But be aware:

They will have to share."

"The ruler will improve…" Her father murmured. Fatefinder sensed her father was on to something, so she bowed and left to let her father think.

"I'll find it soon." She heard her father mutter.