It started with StarClan. If they hadn't sent their cursed prophecy, it would never have come true…

Everything started on a warm day in greenleaf. Duskheart lay stretched out in a shady corner of camp, enjoying the few moments he had with his mate while no patrols were going on. He purred softly, gently grooming Hill's soft ears. A perfect afternoon…

"Duskheart?" Hill looked up at him, her blue eyes glimmering with happiness. "I have news for you."

"Hm?" He met her gaze, amber eyes half-closed against the sun.

"I'm expecting kits." She purred the words, her gaze sparkling.

"Great StarClan…" Duskheart gasped, breaking into an excited purr. "I can't believe it…" Happiness flooded his veins to the point where he wanted to leap up and announce the good news to the entire camp. He was going to be a father! "How long have you known?"

"A moon or so." Hill twitched her tail a little. "Amberpool first told me she suspected back at the beginning of the season. But I didn't tell you until I was sure."

Duskheart nodded a little. "I still can't believe it...I'm going to be a father!"

Hill stretched, purring happily. "We're going to have our own little family. Finally…" She yawned, leaning a little against her mate and half-shutting her eyes.

Duskheart let her lay there, understanding that this whole thing must be exhausting. The heat of the sun made it nearly impossible for him to tell that anything might be wrong...until Hill started to cough. Duskheart's fur bristled with concern. Great StarClan… While the bout passed quickly, Duskheart knew now that something wasn't right. He hadn't noticed it before because of the way the sun warmed the pair's fur, but Hill felt much hotter than usual.

Anxiety spurred him forward. He gently pulled away from Hill, leaving her to rest in the shade while he hurried towards the medicine den. Spiritflame would know what was going on...she or Amberpool. One of them always knew.

Except when he reached the medicine den, he heard voices almost immediately. Spiritpaw, the young medicine apprentice, was attempting to explain something to her mentor. "I don't understand… Shineleaf was trying to tell me something, wasn't she?"

"I imagine so." Amberpool's calm, gentle mew sounded from deeper inside the cave. "What, exactly, did she tell you?"

"She...she said something about a great storm." Spiritpaw meowed. "And a falling hill. And 'son of the evening star,' whatever that means."

Amberpool fell silent for a long time before answering. "Spiritpaw, it's a prophecy. I received a similar message moons ago, when I was Snickerleaf's apprentice…" Her voice faded for a moment, then she spoke again, her tone filled with new mystery. "In the hottest of seasons, the clouds will gather and bring a great storm upon the Clans. The hill will fall, and the child of the evening star will rise in her memory, bringing destruction upon the forest. Only the silver dusk, mystic soul, and raven's heart can save us now."

A silence befell the den for a long while. Duskheart very nearly stepped inside, about to pretend he hadn't been eavesdropping, when Spiritpaw spoke again. "The hill will fall...is that...is that about an actual hill, or... "

Duskheart felt his hackles rising again. StarClan's kits...this is about Hill… Whatever illness his mate had come down with must have been worse than he thought. He scanned the camp anxiously, concerned for his mate. A great storm...well, he only knew of one cat who fit that description. His half-brother, Stormclaw.

Stormclaw had trained with the Dark Forest as a kit, when he didn't know any better. And since learning that, Duskheart had been unable to trust the tom. After all, some nights, he could see the shadowy echoes of Dark Forest warriors following in Stormclaw's pawsteps...Perhaps they had a good reason, but he didn't trust the young warrior at all. It wouldn't surprise him at all if Stormclaw was the "great storm" of the prophecy…

He had to be stopped. Forgetting his desire to speak to the medicine cats for the time being, Duskheart bounded out into the forest. He needed a quiet place to think...think and plot. How could one stop a former Dark Forest warrior? If Stormclaw intended harm on Hill, Duskheart would be completely powerless against him. Stormclaw knew moves that even Timberstar himself had never learned. So how in all the stars could Duskheart protect his mate?

Duskheart's amber gaze sparked with an idea. He had to take out the threat before Stormclaw had a chance to hurt Hill. He would save his mate...no matter what it took. With a dark purr, his claws slid out. The young tom would fight tooth and claw for his mate and kits...even if he had to kill to save them.

A/N: Well well well, looks like things are heating up in here! Question of the day: Who's your favorite character so far?