For those who aren't familiar with ZephyrClan, here is a glossary of all involved in the Prologue so you can get an idea of their importance:
Goldenstar—tom—the founder and first leader of IceClan, which ZephyrClan was originally called. Brothers with Howlstar. One of the Four in the Prophecy of the Star Scourge. (Character belongs to my sister, Courtney)
Howlstar—tom—the second leader and founder of ZephyrClan, which he renamed from IceClan. Brother to Goldenstar and mates with Duskbriar. One of the Four in the Prophecy of the Star Scourge.
Dawnstar—she-cat—the third leader of ZephyrClan. Mates with Cardinalshock. (Character belongs to my friend, Ro)
Raccoonmask—she-cat—the first medicine cat of IceClan. (Character belongs to my friend, Laney)
Tallflower—she-cat—the first medicine cat of ZephyrClan (Character belongs to my friend, Sophia).
Duskbriar—she-cat—Howlstar's mate. Was his first deputy, then stepped down to mother their kits. One of the Four in the Prophecy of the Star Scourge (Character belongs to my friend, Monroe)
Smokeflame—tom—close friend to Howlstar and Duskbriar. Mate of Tinybee, stepfather to Cardinalshock. One of the Four in the Prophecy of the Star Scourge (Character belongs to my friend, Jeanne)
Tinybee—she-cat—close friend to Howlstar and Duskbriar. Mates with Smokeflame, mother of Cardinalshock, mother-in-law to Dawnstar.
Cardinalshock—tom—thought of a son to Howlstar. Was Howlstar's deputy until he died of whitecough. (Character belongs to my sister, Courtney)
Now onto the story! Please review and enjoy :D
ZephyrClan: Return of the Wind
Prologue
Countless stars danced through the night, glittering with radiance and wonder against the shadowy backdrop of the distant dark. Galaxies of a thousand swirling hues spread across the great expanse of sky and showered diamond-like light onto the meadows of StarClan, which bloomed with starlit flowers that swayed with the gentle stream of constant wind that stirred life onto the vast territory.
The meadow had been formed long, long ago...when PineClan was attacked by a coyote pack, leaving nearly all dead. The deceased cats had come here, watching the living eagerly as Goldeneyes and Howlsong, two brothers, had survived and journeyed far to form their own clan...IceClan, with Goldenstar as its leader. But, after many moons, Goldenstar died and the clan was forced to relocate to avoid an undefeatable enemy. Howlsong became Howlstar and changed the clan's name to ZephyrClan before leading them over the Serpentine Mountains to their new home, a land of flowers that looked much like StarClan's endless meadows.
Now, years upon years after IceClan was first founded, StarClan was aglow with cats from all three clans. They lived happily in the surreal space, shimmering with celestial beauty themselves as they talked, hunted, and played on the vast stretch of starry land.
The grande centerpiece, located in the heart of StarClan's territory, was a massive tree that resembled the Maple of ZephyrClan, though was much, much larger in size. Huge branches jutted out from the trunk, large enough to provide dens that could hold vast numbers of cats, such as the Council Den where a muscular black tom sat. The den was located in one of the top branches and the narrowed tip of it was cut off, providing a gaping hole that offered a breathtaking view of StarClan's grounds. Another hole was slashed into the bark flooring, providing sight to the large, glittering pool that was located directly beneath, on the ground.
The regal tom breathed deeply, the stars in his fur shimmering brighter with each inhale and fading slightly with each exhale. His eyes were a glowing, stunning gold that matched the brilliance of the white star on his forehead. Draping his tail over his large paws, the tom turned as a eight cats slipped through the den's entrance in single file and began to sit beside him, forming a circle.
"Hello, brother," Goldenstar, purred, striding to Howlstar's side and sitting to his right. "I'm glad you called this meeting. We have much to discuss."
"More like much to complain about," Cardinalshock huffed, ginger neck fur bristling as he plopped down. "I mean, c'mon! They don't even laugh at good jokes anymore!"
"They don't even tell good jokes anymore," Smokeflame snorted as he settled down beside Tinybee. "I'm pretty sure all sense of humor shriveled and died as soon as that mange-pelt Petalstar became leader."
Dawnstar rolled her eyes. "I think their comedic pursuits should be the least of our concerns, but, yes-it does add to the problem."
"A problem that has gotten too large to simply complain about," Raccoonmask, the first medicine cat of IceClan, pointed out, sweeping her tail over her paws as she sat beside Tallflower, the first medicine cat of ZephyrClan. "I knew this day would come so long ago...I just can't believe it's really here."
"Hello love," Duskbriar purred, flicking her tail to quiet the chatter before exchanging a nuzzle with Howlstar and sitting down on his other side. "The others are coming, but got caught up with something. They said we could start without them."
Howlstar nodded. "Thank you, my love. Thank you for coming, everyone-this night has been one that has been much anticipated and is most certainly very needed. It takes a lot to summon a Prophecy Council, but I think we can all agree that we have no other choice. ZephyrClan's corruption has been burning bright, especially in these last three generations of leaders."
Goldenstar narrowed his eyes. "We have had so many generations of wonderful ZephyrClan leaders-twenty, to be exact, including and starting with myself. But, unease started during the reign of leader eighteen. Heronstar let her ego make the best of her and made enemies with all three bordering clans. ZephyrClan was once known for their compassion, but Heronstar made SunClan, BrushClan, and SableClan more hostile than ever, driving firm wedges between clans that should respect one another. Waging wars on all three bordering clans led to her own untimely death, and also the deaths of so many of our cats. The next leader, Rushstar, did an equally poor job-he let his own emotions play too firmly in his decisions and his poor morals created a generation of cats with poor morals. Then came the current leader, Petalstar, who was an unusually young cat to become leader. Now, he has been leading for years upon years and-"
"He just can't seem to die off," Tinybee finished, lashing her tail. "Now he is an old lunatic who is the opposite of Rushstar-he hesitates too much before every decision and is too much of a dung pile to do anything about the corruption."
Goldenstar let out a snort of disapproval at the warrior's word choice, but nodded. "And to make it worse...his choice of deputy turned out being very unwise."
"Of course he just had to choose the one cat that would break when life turned sour," Duskbriar sighed, rubbing her forehead with a paw. "I know his deputyship seemed wise at the time, but now Petalstar should have enough sense to appoint a new deputy."
"Literally anybody but Ravenlight," Cardinalshock cried with a loud moan of exasperation. "I mean, c'mon Petalstar...you can't let his damage become your damage! That's...well, that's too much damage!."
"Petalstar is too passive to make his own choices and was easily manipulated by Ravenlight, who is the epitome of the term 'instigator'," Dawnstar agreed, pelt bristling. "If Ravenlight becomes leader, I fear that he will drive ZephyrClan to the ground and burn it to its end."
"And he isn't just ambitious," Duskbriar pointed out. "He truly has swayed far from the path of good."
Howlstar raised his chin. "Which is why we need to aid the cats of ZephyrClan before it is too late. As you all know, it takes a lot of power on our part to create a Prophecy, and sometimes it isn't even possible. But we haven't sent a prophecy to ZephyrClan since Ripplestar, leader number fifteen. We have the power."
"And the timing," Raccoonmask added, rising to her paws. "This isn't just an issue that arose with no warning. Back in IceClan, I received a prophetic vision of the future. I didn't know from what time it foretold, but I knew what I had to do and I knew the details of the prophecy involved," she meowed, nodding to the medicine cat at her side.
Tallflower stood as well. "This prophecy's name has been echoing across the stars for quite some time. It isn't a Prophecy of Warning, like the Prophecy of the Star Scourge, or a Prophecy of Influence, like the Prophecy of Falling Snow. It is a Prophecy of Power, something we haven't seen in a very long time."
Raccoonmask looked out the hole in the side of the bark, gazing upon StarClan's vibrant fields. "As you all know, I take trips every now and then to visit the medicine cats of other StarClans. The group of four clans closest to us, ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, and WindClan, had a similar prophecy not so long ago-it revolved around three cats, Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Dovewing, who were part of a Prophecy of Three."
"It is very hard, on the part of StarClan, to form a prophecy at all. But it is extremely difficult to link cats in a Prophecy of Power who aren't connected by a strong common ground, " Tallflower reminded them. "Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Dovewing, for example, were all linked by a blood relation to one of ThunderClan's great leaders, Firestar."
"So this is what Tallflower and the other medicine cats and I have been thinking," Raccoonmask continued, looking at the gathered cats eagerly. "Now, this Prophecy is going to use up all of our energy-ZephyrClan may be destroyed if it isn't saved by these cats, so no effort can be spared. We've been thinking that, since we have a common ground they share, this prophecy should be a Prophecy of Six."
Cardinalshock let out a strangled cry as he choked on his own saliva. "Six?"
"Six," Tallflower meowed firmly.
"That seems...a bit excessive," Dawnstar meowed with concern, "though I'm sure the job could be done well if six cats had unique powers."
Tallflower's expression became somewhat reluctant. "I'm afraid that isn't the case. Because of the poor morals within ZephyrClan and the corruption, it seems that the cats don't value StarClan much anymore. Their own medicine cat is a high instigator of this. Without a strong connection to and belief in StarClan, out powers are limited...horrifically limited."
Raccoonmask's neck fur bristled. "We'd only be able to give a true, prophetic power to one cat out of the six."
A stunned silence filled the hollow.
"ONE?" Smokeflame demanded, jaws hanging wide with shock. "One? We all know why prophecies that directly impact one cat are usually disastrous-because nobody will believe them unless it is a power they can prove. Please tell me it is a power that can be proven."
Raccoonmask and Tallflower exchanged a dampened look. "Well…not exactly," the elder Medicine Cat meowed at last.
"And what use are the other five if they don't have powers?" Tinybee snorted.
Howlstar stood, raising his tail for silence.. "Raccoonmask and Tallflower have already discusses this plan with me, and I am in favor. While the other five cannot have a prophetic power, they can have an influence over the Starseer. Here...let's start with showing the six cats that Raccoonmask and Tallflower suggested." Padding forwards, Howlstar stood next to the gaping hole in the floor of the den. The other felines scooted forwards as well, all looking through the hole at the stunning pool underneath.
"We all know of how few litters have been born into ZephyrClan since Heronstar's reign," the coal-hued leader began. "The population numbers of ZephyrClan still haven't recovered and aren't what they used to be. But, fortunately, three ZephyrClan litters are about to be born this week. With our influence, they will be born on the same day, allowing their birthday to be their common ground."
Howlstar waved a paw over the hole in the den, and the water of the Viewing Pool began to ripple and shimmer. Then, the reflection in it changed to six separate images that held six separate cats.
"These are the cats we were thinking," Raccoonmask meowed. "These images are of what we know they will look like after they are born. We have Mossdapple's three kits, who are of direct descent of Howlstar and Duskbriar through the father, Nighthowl. Then there are Yellowbird's two, with direct descent of Pharaoh and Solarstreak, and Shortleaf's single kit."
All were silent for several moments.
"Are we sure that we want to include Shortleaf's kit in all this?" Duskbriar questioned, looking from cat to cat. "Her choices have had some bad consequences and the kit won't even be born in ZephyrClan."
Tinybee gazed fondly into the water's reflection. "She is a descendant of Smokeflame and I-she might have inherited our good traits."
"You have a point, Duskbriar," Howlstar meowed, "and I can certainly sense great conflict and struggle in this young she-kit's life...but I can feel the good she possesses."
"That's the other problem about a prophecy in which the chosen few are yet to be born-we don't know how things will turn out," Duakbriar mentioned, eyes soft with concern. "They could be fantastic cats, or they could be swayed to the shadows and use their gifts for all the wrong causes. It's happened before, but was able to be corrected. What if it can't be corrected?"
"But we don't have much of a choice," Howlstar said gently, gazing at the images in the pool with his intense yet loving golden gaze. "We are going to have to trust in these six cats and guide them and help them in any ways possible. We will not have much strength or energy to physically aid them after this, but if they seek us out, we will always be there to provide answers in a dark place-in a dark time."
Goldenstar nodded. "They will never be cut off from us, as long as they seek us out. Now comes the tricky part-which kit do we bestow the power to?"
"What about that one?" Smokeflame suggested, pointing a paw at the Viewing Pool. "One of Yellowbird's kits."
"I have a feeling that that one would be a bit too...aggressive," Tallflower murmured. "Maybe the sibling?"
"Too easily impacted," Raccoonmask responded, narrowing her eyes. "I think that the best would be that one-one of Mossdapple's kits. I can sense a personality already...traits that I can already detect are loyalty, honesty, and thoughtfulness. That seems a pretty solid foundation."
"That sounds alright with me," Dawnstar meowed.
The other cats nodded, looking at one another and feeling the weight of importance in the air.
"That leads us to the power," Howlstar continued, golden gaze intense. "It is like nothing I've seen before and it will be hard to control and understand, but that is what the other five are for. Mossdapple's kit that we've chosen will be the Starseer-the Lock. The other five are the Keys. The Starseer's ability will be one of unveiling-too many lies are thickly woven into ZephyrClan, too many secrets rest in the shadows, too much treachery now lies deep within the hearts of ZephyrClan. This ability will bring light to dark places and bring truth to all hearts so that a new, better ZephyrClan may be built upon the foundations we created so long ago. They will resolidify what we stand for, what we created."
"If they don't die," Smokeflame murmured, brow furrowed. "We all know what happens if one dies."
"And if they are divided by fighting or torn by circumstance, it will all be for nothing. They must be united for their true potential to be revealed," Dawnstar added with a firm expression. "So many things could go wrong...but so many things could go right."
"Such is the way of prophecy," Raccoonmask sighed.
"Such is the way of life," Goldenstar meowed.
The council looked from one face to the other, all hearts heavy with the choices that weighed upon their decisions.
"If there is anyone who disagrees with the paths we seek to pave or the seeds we intend to plant, speak up now," Howlstar called loudly, gaze soft yet expression serious as he looked around the den. All cats attending the Prophecy Council nodded their agreement and approval.
"Then let us find the others and tell them of our decision," Goldenstar instructed, rising to his paws.
Howlstar inhaled and smiled softly. "And let the Prophecy of the Six Stars begin."
