A white cat with stars in his fur trod down the narrow path that led to a shining silver pool.
"You took your time," a black she-cat mewed softly.
"I seem to have arrived before the others, Ravenstar."
Ravenstar snorted. "They won't be here until after moonhigh, no doubt." Her gaze sharpened. "Did you come alone?"
The white tom nodded. "Yes. Why is that so important to you?"
"Not to me," she replied. "I was not the one who called this meeting, Whitestar."
The silver and gold cat waiting in the shadows pricked his ears.
A brown she-cat and a golden tom stepped into the circle of light around the pool.
"Thornstar, Lionstar!" Whitestar mewed.
"You're earlier than I expected," Ravenstar said.
Thornstar purred in amusement. "Typical Ravenstar."
"It's good to see you again," Lionstar mewed, dipping his head to the former BirdClan leader. "And you too, Whitestar."
"Same to you."
"Enough of this," Thornstar cut in. "Why are we here?"
Ravenstar wrapped her tail around her paws. "I don't know."
Thornstar growled in annoyance. "How can you not know? You called us together."
"She did not," a faint but firm voice cut in.
The four leaders were on instant alert, unsheathing their claws and glancing around nervously.
"Where are you?" Thornstar snarled. "Show yourself!"
"Curb your tongue and your temper, Thornstar. It will get you in trouble one day."
A faded white she-cat materialised.
Ravenstar dipped her head. "FadedSpirit."
The other leaders looked in surprise at the famed cat who had brought the Clans together.
"Trouble is coming," FadedSpirit mewed. "Trouble the likes of which we have never seen before. StarClan will be powerless before it's might."
"We must choose living cats to defend the Clans, then," Lionstar mewed.
"We must be careful who we choose," Whitestar warned. "We need strong-minded cats."
"Indeed," FadedSpirit said. "Two strong, young cats chosen by each of you, and I shall choose another."
"Nine cats," Ravenstar mewed.
"Nine lives," FadedSpirit agreed. "Nine lives that hold all our futures in their paws. Nine lives that have the power to beat back the gathering darkness."
"But will they succeed?" the gold and silver cat murmured to himself. He smiled as an idea hit him. "Perhaps you can help, Earthsong. You have the power to change everything."
Well, that was the prologue. Hope it was ok and please review.
-SkyStorm