Treefur had fallen asleep among his clan; his friends, family, litter mates. But he was there no longer. He was in the middle of a gorgeous forest. It seemed almost perfect; the sounds and smells of the most prey-rich forest that he was certain he would never walk in again. Almost too perfect. He became suspicious where he was and why.
He stood up, his brown pelt blending in with the leafy ground. But it's green-leaf... Treefur thought to himself. The trees loomed around him- all oak trees like in the ThunderClan territory. The sun just barely shone through the treetops. The smells of leaf-fall were in the air; the fresh air, a strong smell of leaves, and prey running frantically to stock up for leaf-bare- even though Treefur thought this forest looked too perfect to ever have endured one.
"Marvelous, isn't it?" a gentle, but strong voice said from somewhere beside him. Treefur looked left and standing, looking up was a tom cat. His back was light gray while down his chest was a bright white. He had dark- almost black eyes. One of the largest cats Treefur had seen in his life. The newcomer looked down at Treefur. "I am Wolfheart, your ancestor."
Treefur just glared suspiciously at Wolfheart. "I'm Treef-"
"I know who you are, Treefur," Wolfheart interrupted him.
"How...?" Treefur asked Wolfheart.
"That isn't important," Wolfheart told Treefur. "The only thing that is important is you and your brothers and sisters must break the cycle."
Treefur looked at Wolfheart as if he'd just said 'you are a dog'. "What... 'cycle'?" Treefur asked, obviously confused.
"For three generations now," Wolfheart began, "Tigerstar and his colleagues have been murdering your ancestors; starting with a young she-cat named Hawktalon, whom you've obviously never heard of." Treefur shook his head and Wolfheart bowed his head low, sighed, and sat down. Treefur sat down next to him. He could tell this would not be a short story. "You see, your great-great grandfather was Darkstripe, one of Tigerstar's allies and-"
"Who's Tigerstar?" Treefur interrupted. Wolfheart lifted his head quickly in shock the young warrior had never heard of Tigerstar.
"He was a very evil cat," Wolfheart said. "He caused the deaths of many warriors. He wanted power of all the Clans, and he murdered and blackmailed until he got it... somewhat. But that's not what's important right now. Right now what's important is you and your littermates. They're in trouble, Treefur."
Treefur's eyes got wide. His ears pointed toward Wolfheart, ready to hear what had happened. "What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.
Wolfheart bowed his head again and sighed. "You have to break the cycle. Make sure your kits never deal with Tigerstar or Darkstripe. Keep a close eye on them." He looked Treefur in the eyes. "I'm not sure how much this may help, but it'll keep your kits alive."
"What about my littermates!" Treefur asked impatiently and furiously.
Wolfheart was almost taken aback with Treefur's tone. But he understood. "I know what it's like for your littermates to be in danger." Treefur didn't say a word. He just looked at his paws and began shifting them shamefully.
"I am sorry," Treefur said apologetically. "I should've never spoken to you like that."
"I understand," Wolfheart said. "But for now, we have to-"
Treefur woke up in his den at home- in WindClan territory. He was surrounded by all his clanmates, and more importantly his family. Until he realize his brother Birchstripe was gone. "Birchstripe...?" Treefur mumbled. He sat waiting for a few minutes; Birchstripe didn't come back.
Flowerheart and Lilypetal began arousing in their nests. Treefur wondered where his brother had gone...
Treefur went over to his sisters and nudged Flowerheart with his paw. "Huh...?" she trailed off sleepily, falling back asleep. He nudged her harder. "What do you want!" she demanded furiously, looking up at him.
"I don't know where Birchstripe is!" Treefur said desperately and confused. "I don't know where he went!"
Flowerheart sat up and stretched. "He probably just got out for some fresh air or something," she said yawning.
Lilypelt blinked, sat up, and stretched as well. "Don't get your fur into knots. He's fine."
"But I've been up since sunhigh! He's not been back once. And, um... I had a dream."
"Oh, a dream? Really?" Lilypetal mocked him.
"It's not funny!" Treefur argued. "It was about our ancestor; Wolfheart. And about..." he trailed off thoughtfully. "Oh! Darkstripe and Tigerstar!" he remembered victoriously.
"How do you know those names!" a furious mew came from behind Treefur. He jumped to find Crowfeather- a gray tom cat with green eyes- behind him. "You were never suppose to know those names! I promised your father I'd keep you from knowing them."
"Why?" Treefur asked Crowfeather.
"Your mother and father thought that maybe if you knew nothing of them that they may not haunt you as they did your ancestors for the past two generations." Crowfeather bowed his head. "Obviously they were wrong."
Treefur looked back at his sisters and they looked back at him.
"So, you've talked to cats from StarClan?" Lilypetal asked Treefur.
"Yeah," Treefur said. He led his gaze back to Crowfeather. "He said we're all in danger. But how? They're dead!"
"There are ways, young warrior," Crowfeather said. "Unfortunately I'm getting too old deal with these kind of things. You three and Birchstripe are going to have to fight Tigerstar and his followers and put an end to this before your kits have to deal with him. I'm afraid though," he bent his head, "that he can only invite you into the Dark Forest- there's no way he'll take you all there. He's smarter than that."
"What if we made an ally with a cat from the Dark Forest?" Treefur asked. Crowfeather's expression was pure shock.
"You never want to do that!" Crowfeather yelled back at Treefur.
"If it's the only chance we've got..." Lilypetal trailed off.
Crowfeather looked at Lilypetal then back to Treefur. "You must never make allies in the Dark Forest, you hear? Your great great grandmother did and she paid for it dearly."
Treefur, Lilypetal, and Flowerheart nodded their heads halfheartedly. Crowfeather, still suspicious of the young warriors, left the den.
"How can I get into the Dark Forest...?" Treefur asked himself out loud, looking down thoughtfully.
Lilypetal and Flowerheart glanced at each other nervously. They looked back at their brother and Lilypetal said "what if you really can't?"
Treefur looked at her thoughtfully.
"What if you really can't get into the Dark Forest without Tigerstar inviting you?" Lilypetal continued.
"I can..." Treefur mumbled desperately, half to himself. "I know I can. I have to!"
Over the next few days Treefur did everything he could to find out how to get into the Dark Forest; he asked the elders about the Dark Forest constantly, at Gatherings he would always the other Clans' elders, he ever asked warriors and apprentices. But none told him anything he really needed to know.
One night Treefur's needs had been fulfilled... Tigerstar invited him to the Dark Forest.