Author's Note: Here is the prologue of Shattering Peace: book one of the Crystal Winter Trilogy. Book two will be Secrets of the past, and book three will be revealed at the end of book two. Enjoy! Don't forget to review and tell me what you think of it!

PROLOGUE

Echoheart stared down into the hollow that held the sacred Moonpool, where the cats of the present contacted the cats of the past. Her faithful medicine cat, Icestorm, stood by her side, and she knew, it was time. Echoheart's old leader, Birchstar, grandson of Dovestar, had died protecting his clan. And, as the countless leaders of old must have done, she plunged down swiftly into the hollow. The moonlight struck the pool, and Icestorm motioned for her to drink.

Lapping up the cold water, Echoheart instantly felt numb and fell asleep. Opening her eyes and lifting her head up to the heavens above, she realised, with a thrill, The stars were moving. The cats of Starclan prowled around her, eyes flashing with wisdom and faith. Their pelts smelt of fire and ice, wind, water, and the wild places of the night. Of shadows, and starlight.

All the cats she had ever known, loved, and mourned for seemed to be there. Filled with sadness and awe, Echoheart wondered which one of them would give her the first of the nine lives of a leader.

"Welcome, Echoheart." The voice was of one and yet of many, of the ancient warriors of Starclan. "Have you come to receive the nine lives of a leader?"

"Yes," Echoheart replied, straightening a little.

Her mother, the sweet Specklefall, stepped forwards and touched her nose to Echoheart's head. "With this life, I give you protection. Use it well to look after your clan." A bolt of excruciating pain shot through Echoheart, of the fierce protection a mother feels for her kits. She swayed, and then found her feet. Next, her father Runningfoot touched her head. "With this life, I give you decision. Use it well, to make decisions that will change your clan, for better or for worse."

Her heart was almost ripped apart with the pain of deciding the path for her clan. She knew what she chose would affect her clan forever. Gasping, she gathered herself for the next life. Suddenly, Rainstone, the lovely, kind elder who had retained her sense of humour for all her life, appeared and mewed: "With this life, I give you humour. Use it well to ease the bumps of life." This life left her breathless, as if she had just had a laughing fit. Her sides hurt, but in a good way. Echoheart smiled weakly.

Brightfire, the queen who had died giving birth to a Riverclan tom's kits, stepped forwards. "With this life, I give you loyalty. Use it well, in judging your actions." Sadness overwhelmed her. She felt what Brightfire must have, torn between loyalty and love. Her heart ached, and Echoheart almost collapsed. "I'm so sorry." She murmured. Brighfire's eyes softened and she licked her friend between the ears, and went back.

Spottedwing, the gentle warrior who had died in a rockfall one morning, took her place. "With this life, I give you tireless energy. Use it well, to defend your clan." Echoheart's paws tingled, and she felt like she was flying across the whole territory, in pursuit of a rabbit, her paws barely skimming the ground.

She took in huge gulps of air, as Barktail, killed by a badger, came forwards. "With this life, I give you wisdom." he whispered. "Use it well, to judge your clan, and…others." Echoheart felt like her head was going to implode. She was filled with battleplans made over countless moons, the advice of her senior warriors, and she glimpsed a pair of ice blue eyes.

But before she could ask Barktail meant, he had retreated.

And then her eyes widened when she saw who was next.

Runningsong.

The previous deputy, who was also her littermate.

"Runningsong!" Echoheart cried out. Her heart was wrenched with grief and joy. Her sister looked at her, and sadness cascaded over her like a waterfall. A vision appeared in her mind, of when they were kits. They had found a small bird, which was injured and dying. They begged with Birchstar to look after it, and released it when it was well.

"With this life, I give you compassion." Runningsong meowed gently. "Use it well, to care for those who are weak and in need of help." Pain racked her sides, and she knew she was dying. Hunger gnawed her sides, and she knew she was not going to live. Until, she saw two pairs of eyes: green and amber.

Too late, Echoheart realised that Runningsong was walking away. "No!" she wailed. "Don't go! Stay with me!" Her sister looked back. "I'm sorry." She whispered before turning away.

Echoheart was about to run after her when she glimpsed a grey tabby tom. And her heart almost stopped. It was Swiftheart, the handsome former medicine cat apprentice who had died after being hit on the Thunderpath. He had been her first love, and they both knew it. He had loved her, too, and she was devastated when Huntsong bought back his broken body.

"With this life," Swiftheart meowed softly, "I give you love. Use it well in your leadership of Thunderclan. Love them like your own kits, young and old, for all of time." Peace enveloped Echoheart, like her mother nuzzling her when she was little. Swiftheart murmured to her: "I'm so sorry that I left you. I didn't want to. But I had to. My time was up."

Finally, Birchstar padded up. "Greetings, Echoheart, my apprentice, my warrior, and my deputy." He dipped his head to her. "With this life," he proclaimed, his voice strong and proud, "I give you nobility and certainty and faith. Use it well in service of your clan. Prove to us you are worthy of the leadership of Thunderclan." Agony shot through Echoheart. She was filled with the fierceness of certainty to do what was right, the fiery faith in her clan. She stood on a branch of the tree where gatherings were held, wind rippling in her fur.

As she gasped, Birchstar announced: "I hail you by your new name, Echostar. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and starclan grants you the leadership of Thunderclan. Defend it well, care for the young and old; honour your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code, live each life with pride and dignity."

"Echostar! Echostar! Echostar!" chanted the cats of Starclan as they raised their voices in tribute, eyes shining with pride and happiness.

Suddenly, three magnificent cats entered the clearing. One was a fiery tom, with piercing green eyes. Echostar had heard of the legendary Firestar, who had been succeeded by Lionstar, then Dovestar. She shivered as she met the icy blue gaze of the second cat, a blue-grey she cat. Bluestar, one of the greatest leaders of Thunderclan, whose fabled name had been passed down through the ages. Finally, she uttered the name of the ginger tom with half-white legs.

"Thunderstar."

He smiled kindly. "Indeed it is." Then, his expression grew sombre. Bluestar meowed: "Echostar, we have come to give you a prophecy." Firestar added, "Listen carefully, as this will determine the future of Thunderclan, and all the other clans." Then, the three leaders leaned forward, and from their mouths poured the omen:

"The time of snow and the clear stone

Will come from a foreign land to hone

The ancient skills of claw and fangs.

Yet over their heads a prophecy hangs:

They will fight the one with foot of blood,

To prevent the danger-a Shadow flood.

But the last two lines made Echostar's fur stand on end and a chill crawl up her back.

"But beware, I will make this clear

If there is a mistake, the end will be near…"

Thunderstar sighed. "Fare thee well, Echostar. Rule your clan justly and well. Until we meet again."

"Until we meet again." repeated Firestar and Bluestar.

And the cats of Starclan began to fade.

Echostar's eyes snapped open. The three leader's voices whispered in her ear: "the time of Shadow has come…"

So? Like? Hate? Review and tell me! Whoever can guess who Dovestar and Lionstar are first receives a Bluestar, Thunderstar and Firestar plushie package! The second gets a Lionstar pillow, and the third a Dovestar badge!