PROLOGUE
Stars swirled around in the pool, twinkling. The water's surface was so still that it almost seemed frozen, completely undisturbed.
A blueish-gray she-cat emerged from the bushes at the edge of the clearing. Stars glittered in her fur just as they did in the pond. Her blue eyes were fixed on the shimmering water as she approached it, her paws not making a sound as she walked.
The she-cat settled down in front of the pool, tail wrapped around her paws. Closing her eyes, she bent down to touch her nose to the water. It rippled for a few moments, then returned to being perfectly still. The gray she-cat sighed, visibly worried.
"Bluestar."
The former ThunderClan leader whipped around, pelt bristling. The other cat, a white tom, stood calmly at the clearing's entrance. Bluestar's pelt flattened. "Whitestorm," she meowed, nodding her head in greeting. "I wouldn't expect for you to be out at this time of night."
Whitestorm chuckled, joining Bluestar at the edge of the pool. "You and I both know that StarClan cats don't need to sleep." He gestured to the pond with his tail. "Are you checking up on the Clans again?" Bluestar shrugged. "I'm still worried about them. I know it's been years since the battle with the Dark Forest, but..."
"But?" Whitestorm asked, curious. Bluestar sighed, staring at the water. "But I have a hunch that something awful is going to happen. Something beyond our control."
Whitestorm shook his head. "Bad things happen every day. I don't think it's anything to worry about." He licked his chest, flattening a stray piece of fur.
Bluestar relaxed slightly. "Are you sure, Whi-"
The water began to rock around violently, spilling out onto the ground. Whitestorm backed up, his eyes wide with terror. "Bluestar, get away from there!" he screeched to the gray she-cat, who simply stared, frozen.
Suddenly, the water went eerily still. Bluestar still stared at it, seemingly in a trance. Whitestorm approached her hesitantly. "Bluestar?" he called softly. Her head snapped up, eyes glittering. "There is a prophecy," she whispered. "...A prophecy?" Whitestorm asked slowly. Bluestar nodded, unblinking.
"The starling's shadow will shroud the Clans in darkness, and only the power of water and fire can bring back the light."