Prologue
Lithe shapes slid out of the shadows, as if made of starlight, they gathered around the small tidal pools in the cave. Moonlight filtered in from holes above as the one in front spoke.
"It is time a new prophecy must be fulfilled. For a dark presence descends upon the forest," She yowled.
The tidal pools immediately rippled and broke into fractured images. A full moon, a badger, four cats. The group started muttering among themselves before the first regained control with a sharp yowl.
"Wavemoon, are you sure you want her to represent OceanClan?" One voice rose above the rest.
"Yes, Shadowmoon. You question my choice?" She hissed testily.
"Of course not," He replied respectively. "And now I shall show you, my fellow warriors, my choice." He stepped forward into the light of the moon and the tidal pools rippled once again, changing into a different image.
The cats began muttering again. "But Shadowmoon!" Another voice mewed loudly. "She's just newly apprenticed!"
"Clearmoon!" He yowled. "I least expected you out of all to criticize my choice! And yet you never questioned Wavemoon about that when she chose an apprentice as well?" He slipped back into the crowd of cats, confirming his choice.
"Now, my fellow warriors, see my choice," A dark tabby tom growled, stepping up. The tidal pools rippled yet again.
"She'll never last, Cedarmoon!" The black tom yowled.
"Shadowmoon, she will," The tabby hissed with finality, giving a curt nod to the last cat who had not presented.
"And this shall be my choice," The last cat, a silver she-cat, mewed. The tidal pools rippled slightly and a new image formed.
"That one is too cocky!" A voice yowled.
"She will go!" The she-cat yowled with such fierceness that everyone was silenced.
The first she-cat stepped up again. The tidal pools now changed to show various images. "A prophecy is to be fulfilled," She yowled. "'A great danger has come to the shore. Four daughters of moon meet badger. When opposite sun-resting waters flow blood red.'"