A/N:I have decided that the clans will be made up of big cats. ThunderClan will be Sumatran tigers, RiverClan jaguars, ShadowClan leopards, and WindClan sand cats. WinterClan snow leopards, SummerClan lions, SpringClan Siberian tigers, and FallClan clouded leopards. And cats that are not their species' natural colour just have colour mutations.
In StarClan…
A beautiful pool rippled in the moonlight although there was no breeze to disturb it. Out of a cave that would be invisible unless you knew to look for it slid a pretty white she-cat. She padded silently to the pool and crouched there, her tail flicking back and forth. Then many more cats slid out of crevices and caves, some leaped gracefully from trees at the edge of the clearing, and all gathered around the pool. The white cat still crouched there, and then suddenly she rose and looked around anxiously.
"What is wrong Winterstar? What have you seen in the Pool of Future?" one cat asked.
"I have seen a danger to come. A great change. See, look into the pool. Four other cats walked up to the pool and gazed into it. Others tried to peer into it as well. Finally, the cats looked up. The first cat mewed, "You have all seen what is to come, a doom will come, and there will be doubt and a great challenge."
"Can nothing change what will happen? Not even the Great One's power?" a lean ginger she-cat asked.
"The doom will come, but if the clans meet it like warriors they may survive." the white she-cat replied, lifting her head to let her luminous gaze travel around the hollow. "You know what must be done. Sixteen cats must be chosen to hold the fate of the clans in their paws. Are the founders ready to make their choices of the cats?"
As she finished speaking, eleven other cats came towards her, and the pool rippled, though there was still no wind to disturb it.
"We must choose sixteen cats, although there are only twelve clans choosing. We need some of the great clans to choose more than one cat. Most of the cats will be kits, and none can be warriors. You don't have to say your cats now; you may wait until you present them before all of StarClan. Summerstar, would you like to start?" the she-cat mewed.
"I will choose two cats, and you will see them at the ceremony." the ginger she-cat seen before mewed softly.
"I will choose two cats also," a gray she-cat purred, "and they are Lilykit and Foxkit."
"My turn, I think. I will choose one cat." a ginger tom meowed. There were some disapproving murmurs at this.
"Fallstar, how can we trust FallClan to do this right?" a black she-cat questioned.
"This cat can be trusted, and will be trusted. I have seen her thoughts, and she is loyal." Fallstar meowed strongly, and turned his head away from that cat, as if that settled the matter.
"I will choose three cats then." Winterstar mewed, "The rest of the founders will choose one cat from their clan, and so now we will present those cats." The cats then went back and gathered around the pool where the other cats of StarClan waited.
"I will begin." a ginger tom meowed. "Here is my choice. See and approve it." A small orange shape appeared on the surface of the water, and the cats craned their necks to see the shape.
"A good choice." a silvery gray tom meowed. "Does the clan approve?" A murmur of assent rose from the crowd, and the cat sat back down, the shape on the water disappearing.
Next, a brown she-cat stood and mewed, "See and approve my choice." A pale gray shape formed in the pond.
"That one? Are you sure Windstar?" a blue gray she-cat murmured.
"Of course I'm sure. The cat will get stronger, and will succeed with this task." Windstar retorted.
"Does the clan approve?" Winterstar asked. There was some hesitation, but it was not long before murmurs of approval rose from all of the assembled cats. The gray shape faded away.
"My turn, I think. See and approve my choice." A black she-cat mewed. She gazed proudly at an image of a young cat with black fur and broad shoulders.
"That one? You never cease to surprise me, Shadowstar!" a bracken colored tom purred.
"Why? He is a noble, young cat, and is fit for the tasks this prophecy brings." Shadowstar's tone showed she was offended.
"Did I say he was not?" the cat inquired. "Does the clan approve?" A murmur of approval came, strong and certain. Shadowstar gave a contemptuous flick of her tail and turned away.
"I will present my cat now. See and approve it." a silvery gray tom meowed. A blue-gray image formed in the pond.
"A good choice. She is strong." Winterstar mewed. "Does the clan approve?" A soft murmur of approval rose from the collection of cats. The shape faded away. Now, a gray tom stood and a ginger shape materialized in the water.
"This is a young kit, are you sure about your decision Firestar?" Shadowstar mewed challengingly.
"Of course I'm sure! He may be young, but he is strong. He will succeed." Firestar meowed harshly.
"What do you say?" Winterstar's gaze went around the circle. "Do StarClan approve? Remember that every clan will be lost if one of our chosen cats should weaken or fail."
Instead of a murmur of approval, the cats muttered at each other in small groups, casting uneasy glances at the shape in the pool and the cat beside it. Firestar stared back with fury in his eyes, his fur fluffed up so that he looked twice his size. He was obviously ready to take on any cat who dared to challenge him.
At length the muttering died away and Winterstar asked once again, "Does the clan approve?" The assent came, but it was low and reluctant, and a few cats did not speak at all. Firestar let out an ill-tempered growl as he turned and padded back to his place.
"Your turn, Waterstar." a gray she-cat mewed softly. Another blue-gray she-cat turned and acknowledged her words.
"I know Springstar, I was just getting ready." Waterstar meowed. She got up and a silvery image formed in the water.
"A good choice, but she was not born in WaterClan, was she?" Shadowstar inquired.
"That might make her a good choice. This task involves contact with cats outside her clan." Winterstar mewed. "Does the clan approve?" The assent rose from the assembled cats, loud and certain.
Now a gray tom stood and the pond showed a black image curled up in a tight ball of fur.
"That is a good choice Rockstar, but he will need a watchful eye on him to make sure he does not take over the group. That is for another cat. Does the clan approve?" Winterstar murmured. A purr of approval came from the crowd of cats. Rockstar sat back down and another light gray tom stood and padded to the pond. A white shape now formed. It was curled up against another, larger cat.
"That one? Are you sure Airstar?" a brown she-cat asked.
"I thought this choice would please you Ivymoon. After all, she does have good lineage." Airstar mewed.
"She does have good lineage." Ivymoon's neck fur rose as if he had said something to challenge her, then it lay flat again. "Does the rest of StarClan agree?" she asked.
A murmur of approval rose from the cats. Now, a ginger tom rose and walked to the pond.
"Wait, wait. Why are you choosing a cat?" one cat interrupted. "We can't trust your clan."
"No, it's fine. We trust Fallstar, Wolfspirit. Continue Fallstar." Winterstar muttered.
"Okay. I know most of you are not happy that I am choosing a cat," this was met by many agreeing but unhappy mutterings. "but I assure you this cat is loyal." Fallstar meowed. A light brown image formed in the water. The image was licking her ivory coloured paws.
"Yes, we see what you mean, Fallstar. I have seen her thoughts too, and I can agree that she is loyal." a cat named Lynxheart agreed. "Does StarClan approve?"
There were some disagreeing mumblings, but there was a more overpowering rumble of agreement from most of the cats. Fallstar padded back to his place and a lean ginger she-cat waked up to where he had been. The brown form disappeared, and in it's place were two more, one dark brown and the other black. The black one was smaller and had a shape on it's forehead, but the image wasn't clear enough to tell what it was.
"Good choices, Summerstar; but why choose that one? We don't want him taking over the group either." Wolfspirit mewed.
"He won't Wolfspirit. He will let the one destined to be the leader of the group, be the leader of the group." Summerstar replied. "Now, do StarClan agree?"
A murmur of assent rose into the air. Summerstar padded back to her place at the edge of the water. Now the gray she-cat known as Springstar rose to take her place. Now two ginger shapes, one with a white tail tip, formed in the pond.
"Those are very good choices, and the lighter one has a good future ahead of her." Winterstar mewed softly. "Do StarClan approve?" A murmur of approval rose. The shapes disappeared, and when the water was clear again, Rainstar mewed, "You have not made your choice for WinterClan yet, Winterstar."
"I know, but I am ready now. See and approve my choices." Three images formed, one a golden colour, another dark gray, and the last a gray tabby.
"Those are good choices. Any disagreements?" Rainstar asked. There were none.
"Now, go to your cats dreams and tell them of the future." Winterstar mewed.