StarClan's forest

Chapter one

The moon shone brightly, reflecting on the water around the island. Stealthily feline shapes jumped onto a broad trunk and crossed over to the island. A dark gray tom crossed finally the trunk.

"Finally," a cat whispered scornfully, but loud enough to hear. "We're wasting so much moonlight."

The gray tom ignored the remark and led his warriors towards the center of the island, where they dispersed, exploring the inside of the island. The gray tom jumped onto the highest branch of the tree that overlooked the clearing. He watched as other Clans entered, frowning as the other three leaders jumped onto the lower branches, but greeting them with a friendly meow.

"Hrm," a brown she-cat with reddish paws and muzzle snorted, then nodded.

"Greetings, Duskstar," a black tom meowed unenthusiastically.

A brown tom dipped his head once. They let the Clan cats greet each other, then the gray tom, Duskstar, yowled, "Cats of all Clans!"

Immediately, the cats joined silently beneath the Great Tree for the night's Gathering. The brown tom, Shootingstar, raised his neck and meowed, loud enough, "I will begin this Gathering."

"We have a new apprentice and warrior," he mewed. "Brownpaw and Jaywing are attending this Gathering."

Duskstar saw two young cats sit together, heads held high. Shootingstar lowered his head. The brown she-cat with red paws and muzzle stood next.

"My Clan and I have no news, but for the birth of Flowermist's kits. Ivykit, Treekit, Deepkit and Gorsekit are all healthy kits."

"Redstar…" a low meow sounded from the she-cat's deputy.

"Shut up, Toothfang! Later!" Redstar hissed.

Toothfang looked meaningfully at Duskstar, who narrowed his eyes lightly.

"I will speak next," the black tom meowed. "Lovepool, one of our warriors, has decided to join into the mysteries of StarClan with joining Moontail as medicine cat apprentice."

Yowls of congratulations rose from the cats.

"That is all." Duskstar rose his neck as he meowed loudly,

"ThunderClan have a new apprentice. Her name is Thornpaw and she is attending this Gathering."

More yowls of congratulations, mostly from ThunderClan, rose from the still air.

"That is all -" began Duskstar, but the black tom, Strikestar, interrupted.

"RiverClan, WindClan and ShadowClan have news for you, Cats of ThunderClan!" Strikestar, Redstar and Shootingstar glared at Duskstar as Redstar continued, "ThunderClan have always meddled in our affaires. They are ours to settle. We will no longer stand for this!"

Shootingstar yowled in agreement. Strikestar joined in the yowling, and soon after every single cat in the clearing, but for ThunderClan, yowled in agreement.

"What?" Duskstar shrieked. "Three Clans allied against one? That's not possible!"

"It's not?" Strikestar sneered. "My dear Duskstar, it is. What you are living is a dream to use – a nightmare to you."

As the Gathering continued on in disbelief, Thornpaw watched anxiously. Why was she feeling dizzy, all of a sudden? She swayed slowly, everything swarming around her. Then, with a feeling of dread, all went black.

---

Thornpaw blinked. Where was she?

The apprentice was in a vast clearing. Four great oaks circled her. A great rock was standing gloriously in the middle. On top of the rock were a ginger tom and a gray-blue she-cat. Thornpaw stared in shock. She had heard stories of Bluestar, ThunderClan's great and noble leader. And of Firestar, once Bluestar's apprentice, warrior, then deputy.

"Greetings, Thornpaw," Bluestar meowed gently. Firestar dipped his head.

"W-where am I?" Thornpaw asked, bewildered.

"The Old Forest," Firestar murmured. "The old Gathering place, Fourtrees."

Bluestar's gaze traveled on first Firestar, then Thornpaw. Her ice-blue eyes were kind as she told Thornpaw, "Your destiny was laid by StarClan's paws. These are difficult times for both ThunderClan and the other Clans."

"We were sent a prophecy," Firestar added. "We chose the best cat to fulfill it. You."

"M-me? But I'm a new apprentice!"

"So innocent," Bluestar added, fondly.

"My great-great-great-great-great-great-great grand-daughter," Firestar sighed. "You will do well one day. That day is near."

The two former leaders disappeared in a ray of mist. Then, all went red. A cry of terror and war echoed through Thornpaw's ears, then a inaudible whispering.

War of Spite versus Innocence, hunters becoming hunted. Death prevails.