Here is the prologue of Zodiac Clans. Sorry if I didn't make the names of the cats clear but this is to keep the readers in suspense. Here's a hint: these cats are up to no good and it is the major plot of Zodiac Clans. Please read, enjoy and review! Thank you so much!

Crystalpelt

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Prologue

It was already moonhigh. A half moon glowed on the smooth stones around the forest, turning them silver. The stars in Silverpelt were shining brightly over the forest, lightening the path for their beloved mortal friends. It was such a peaceful night. No ululating hoots of the owls and no croaking of the frogs. The silence was only broken by the ripple of water from the crystal clear river and the whispers of trees in the forest beyond.

At the edge of the forest laid an old barn, its roof dusty and rusty. The barn looked like it was about to collapse in any moment. Two windows were situated at each side of the barn, allowing the gentle moonlight to reach into the barn. There in the barn, several cats, big and small, old and young, sat there in a circle, discussing something in a very stern and soft voice.

"Good idea, old one!" a white she-cat meowed out loud, her emerald-coloured eyes shimmering under the moonlight that shone on her face as she stood up. The moonlight washed over her white fur, making her seem that she was glowing like an angel. The white she-cat smiled and looked down to the other cats, who were murmuring among themselves. They seemed to like the idea too.

"I will send my two beloved daughters there and they will live there until the time is right," the she-cat continued, padding around the crowd, observing the faces of each cat, hoping to find an agreeing face among them. As she walked around her friends, she heard them murmuring about their own ideas.

"That is very nice of you to be the first volunteer," the old cat who suggested the idea at the first place stood up and announced formally. "Then so be it, you will send your daughters there to seek for answers," he flickered his dark gray tail over to the white she-cat who spoke earlier and slowly, his olive-green eyes flashed around the group of cats, waiting for another cat to voice out.

A tom held his head high and the moonlight shone on his face. One of his eyes was closed and the other one was small and had a scar right below it. "I shall send my two only kits there as well," he purred. There was a hint of anger in his tone as he spoke. "I'm sure that my mate would want it too. I dreamt of her last night and she told me that she totally agreed with Patch's idea," he finished his sentence and cuddled his two remaining kits close to him.

The old cat spoke, "I'm happy she liked my idea and I am happier that you have finally sent your kits to participate in our plan. Don't worry, my young one, they will seek for answers and they will survive." The younger tom nodded and lowered his head, his eyes staring at his beloved kits whose mother had died recently.

The murmurs grew even louder after Patch had spoken. Then, a tortoiseshell she-cat nudged her kits forward and announced, "Count my kits in, Patch. They will want to participate as well." Her tortoiseshell fur was a mixture of brown, gray and black. One of her kit looked like her and he ran back towards his mother as she nudged him. "Don't fear my dear, you are doing me a favour," she licked her kit's ear gently. The other kit of hers stood in front of her older brother, blue-coloured eyes flashing with anticipation.

"That was nice of you to send your kits for this wonderful plan too, Snowy," Patch meowed, his olive-green eyes locked on Snowy's two kits. One looked so shy and frightened while the other was brave and determined. "That tom of yours seems to be a little frightened but I'm sure that his sister will take care of him," the old cat said after a long pause. Snowy licked her son and reassured him.

Then, the whole barn quieted down. No more murmurs rippling around the group. All pairs of eyes were focusing on a silver-furred she-cat whose kits were playing fight with each other. Patch approached her and purred, "Wave, how about your kits? Do you plan to send them on this mission?"

The queen stared in horror as she heard Patch's question. "No way I'm leaving my kits!" she yowled, her voice ringing through the whole barn. "It is alright, Wave," the old cat consoled her. "They will be all fine. They will help us to achieve our goal in ruling the forest," he meowed, lifting his head up high and staring into the stars.

The terrified queen thought twice before reporting her conclusion. She thought back when she was still expecting her kits. A group of cats chased her and her mate out of their home – an abandoned hollow. Her mate was sacrificed and fortunately, she was found by Patch, who took her to this barn. This barn was her home now. "Fine, my kits will attend the mission and seek for the right answers," she meowed, eyes closing into slits as she licked her kits. "I hope the answers will help us," she murmured under her breath.

"The eight of them are our only hope," Patch said solemnly, turning to see the eight kits huddled together. Some were determined to run this errand and some looked terrified. The old cat crouched down and murmured something in each of the kits' ears and pointed to certain parts of the forest with his tail. The kits nodded understandingly and bid farewell to their families. At dawn, all eight of them left the barn and ventured into the forest, seeking the answers to their questions.

The eight cats walked and walked deep into the forest. No one knew what happened to them. No one knew who survived. One by one, they parted ways, wishing each other good luck in searching for the answers to their questions. Before sunrise, they found their rightful places to their answers.