The water was as still and clear as a mirror. Black stone and jagged peaks surrounded the pool, hiding it from the casual observer. The moon and stars reflected off its surface, and its depths were so deep that the naked eye couldn't glimpse the sandy floor. However, those with a special kind of sight could see more than moon and stars reflected in this pool.

One of these particular cats sat on a slab of stone overlooking the pool. He was slim and small. His fur was sleek, silver with darker stripes. His eyes were a deep blue, and they shined as they gazed upon the water.

There he remained, until a golden tabby tom stalked up behind him. His eyes were also blue, but of a lighter shade. He dipped his head so low that his chin almost brushed the stone beneath his paws. Before the newcomer could speak, the silver cat beat him to it.

"I've already told you, Flaretail," he growled. "She was chosen. She cannot be unchosen. Your insistence will not change my mind."

"Riverclan needs her," Flaretail replied, voice steady. "They will not last long without their only medicine cat. You know that."

The other tom's ear twitched. "She has a greater destiny than that of a simple medicine cat. Besides, there needs to be a medicine cat supporting the others for the Clans to even take them seriously."

Flaretail sighed. "I'm not saying we discard her altogether. Maybe we can send someone else in her stead."

The silver cat scoffed. "That defeats the purpose! They need a companion capable of healing should they get in trouble. And like I just said, they need the word of Starclan to be legitimate. If some other cat is sent in her place, that could mean the failure of the prophecy!"

Flaretail padded forward and rested his tail on the other cat's shoulder. "What other choice do we have? If she goes with them, there may be only three Clans left to return to, and the prophecy would fail nonetheless."

The silver cat shrugged off Flaretail's act of comfort. He glared angrily into the pool for many heartbeats before collecting himself. "I can't think of any other Riverclan cat to take her place in the journey."

"Neither can I," Flaretail admitted.

The silver tom shook his head darkly. "There's no right way to this," he growled. They were silent again as they contemplated. With a sigh, the silver cat finally said, "Let her decide."

Flaretail blinked. "What do you mean?"

The other cat shrugged. "At this point it doesn't matter who we send. She will know best who to trust with this responsibility." He turned to his companion. "Let her know when the time is right."

Flaretail nodded. "I will." He began to pad away, until the silver cat called back to him.

"Remember Flaretail, this needs to be handled just right." He stared deep into Flaretail's eyes. "If not, then they will all fall over the precipice. And after all these generations devoted to preserving them, the Clans will die."

Flaretail nodded once before bounding over the rocky walls of the hollow. The silver cat turned back to the pool, his fur glowing with the moon's reflection upon the water. In its depths he could see much and more. He gazed upon the Clans, then he gazed upon a waterfall, where he knew the cats of the mountains dwelled. His vision expanded further, until he looked upon a rocky chasm, where the forgotten Clan resided. And finally he drew his eyes to a run-down twoleg nest, one that was home to the descendant of the exiled apprentice. All these cats had a part to play in his plans, and he hoped against hope that it would be enough to save the wild cats from extinction.

It is time for the prophecy to unfold.