Chapter One

"Moonstar, are you awake? It's Berrysplash," a soft voice called through the hanging palm leaves covering the den entrance. Moonstar stretched in her nest, her pristine white pelt ruffled with sleep. She had had the most luxurious dream about chasing a parrot through the canopy just outside camp. She was just getting ready to hook one of its vibrant, viridian feathers when….

"Moonstar its urgent, I need to speak with you," the voice came again. She sounded a little more impatient this time, so Moonstar got up to her paws and padded over to her den's entrance. As she poked her head out, she noticed for the first time that the usually prim and proper calico was looking worn and disheveled. She gazed for a few moments longer at the Spritwalker before speaking.

"What's gotten you so spooked Berrysplash? I'm sure it can't be so bad," she purred softly. The last thing that had troubled the Beach Runners was a brave and curious boar mother, willing to stroll straight into the camp and try and kill anything she got ahold of. In the end, they took the she-boar's life but not before they found she was trying to scout out a safe place to raise her young. They left the piglets in the forest, where they hoped the father would find them but with as many predators that wandered in the shadows their fate was not certain.

Berrysplash slid into her leader's den without another word, her fur bushing out to almost twice her size. "Oh it was terrible, I had a dream," she choked out as soon as Moonstar had turned back to speak with her. "There was darkness and blood everywhere! Flowing into camp and drowning our camp mates," she wailed in fright.

Moonstar stood silent for what seemed like seasons, her tail flicking in thought. Was this her destiny that her father had trained her for? While she was training as an apprentice, her father told her countless times of a deep darkness that would threaten to swallow everything in its path but she had thought it was just a story until this moment. "A darkness," she meowed uncertainly, "I think you should wait for further dreams before we decide what to do."

Berrysplash dipped her head but her eyes were still alight with terror, "Yes, Moonstar." As she turned to leave the den, Moonstar brushed her tail encouragingly over the Spritwalker's pelt. She knew that whatever trouble lay ahead she would be able to conquer it. Pulling herself together, she exited the den and padded into the center of camp. Since it was still quite early no one was awake yet. It was just her and Berrysplash, who was now leaving camp to go out into the rainforest.

For a second, Moonstar thought back to her dream, where she was so content to catch birds in the treetops; but, that was just a dream. She was leader of the Beachrunners! She could not lead such a carefree life, not when her group was counting on her! She wished not for the first time that moon that her brother and father were still alive. Skykit died right before they were to be apprenticed, never fully healing from the sickness they both acquired once they were born. Her father, Shellstar had passed just a few moons before with almost the same sickness that claimed her brother's life. Sometimes it seemed as if the Star Runners were so cruel to her.

"I will overcome this," she whispered to herself. She knew that she would not have been named heir if she would not be able to lead her group through all the darkness that was ahead. Her father believed in her, and that was enough.

As she turned her head to the warrior's den, she noticed someone emerging. It was Frostedpeak. "Goodmorning," she mewed cheerily as the young tom approached. His blue eyes were still foggy from sleep but she needed him to lead the dawn patrol. He purred softly as he sat beside her, his black and white fur fluffing up against his lithe frame.

"It is a good morning, isn't it," he meowed. For you maybe, Moonstar thought briefly; but, she nodded eagerly to the warrior.

"Yes, it is. I was hoping you could lead the dawn patrol for me. Maybe catch some prey for Crimsongaze and her kits," she meowed, "I think you should take Antlerheart and Fernpaw as well." Fernpaw was coming along very well with hunting, the apprentice seemed to enjoy it more than any other task.

Frostedpeak dipped his head to his leader and bounded quickly back to the warrior's den to wake his denmate. She enjoyed how much energy the young warrior had but she knew Antlerheart would take a little while to warm up after being woken so early. She turned away as she saw Antlerheart's brown tail-tip flick out of the warrior den's entrance. Almost at once, the elderly Leafmender, Webpelt, walked slowly up to her.

"Have you seen Berrysplash," he croaked, "I can never seem to find her these days." Webpelt was healer back when her father was still leader. He had many moons of experience to mend any of the group's illnesses. He seemed to still have some moons left in him, but he would need to take an apprentice soon.

"She left out into the forest only a moment ago," she meowed to him. "I could go fetch her if you need to talk to her." Webpelt only shook his head stubbornly, his ears flattening against his head. He took a hitching breath and turned to walk back to his den, his tail flicking behind him.

"She just leaves camp more than I'd like," he grunted softly, almost too soft to hear. Moonstar had to suppress a purr at the old cat's gruff temper. He may still have moons left in him but some days he acted like a grumpy old crocodile! As she once again turned to leave the center of camp, she noticed her mother leaving the warrior's den. During her brief talk with Webpelt, the dawn patrol had left and a few more warriors were walking out into the weak sunshine. She took a small step towards her for a second, but she knew that she could not confide in her mother about the troubles ahead. She was to bear the burden of this prophecy alone with only the help of Berrysplash to show her the path she must walk.

Letting out a sigh, she whipped around and charged out of camp. She did not want anyone else to stop her to talk. Her head was whirling with too much responsibility, feeling like it would overwhelm her. She kept running, through the trees and past a vast, winding river. Eventually she came to a place she was not too certain that her group had explored yet. It seemed as though the trees ended up ahead at a barren stretch of dirt and rocks. Then she remembered, I am close to the Red Mountain!

As she peeked out of the trees, her gaze rested on the enormous mound of rocks. It felt a little hotter out in the open than in the trees, which puzzled her. As she turned back to the trees, she felt a weight cascade ontop of her and then the world went dark.

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Moonstar opened her eyes to see she was back in familiar territory. The lush greenery of the rainforest surrounded her, calming her despite the events that happened just before. She didn't feel hurt, but she was still wary of standing. She felt as though she was being watched.

"You should be more careful around my den," a deep voice called from a cluster of rich green bushes. She stared at the bushes intently, her claws sliding out of their sheaths. She didn't need to be careful anywhere, this island belonged to the Beachrunners! How dare this stranger make a den here. Where did this stranger come from? There is no other land anywhere around here, she thought.

"Who are you," she called after a long moment's pause. "My group will come looking for me," she added hastily. One loner didn't stand a chance against her cats, but she wasn't sure what time of day it was. Frostedpeak's patrol could already be back in camp by now.

"Who I am isn't really important," the voice called, "I want to know who you are." The bushes waved violently as a black shape emerged. It was a very large specimen of cat, obviously male. His muscles bulged in his legs and shoulders, his pelt shimmering from being meticulously cleaned. For a moment she was taken aback from how handsome he was, but she couldn't let her guard down.

"I am Moonstar, leader of the Beachrunners," she meowed loudly, her voice echoing in the trees around them. She puffed out her chest and raised her tail into the air, trying to look as strong and confident as she felt.

The tom's green eyes flashed mischeviously as he took another step towards her. "That's a very beautiful name but I shouldn't be surprised," he purred. His voice made Moonstar's legs feel weak, her head started to spin. She tried to stay focused on the stranger but it was hard when he was having this effect on her. She had never felt this way before.

"Have you always lived here," she asked distractedly as she started to groom her paws. She didn't want him to see how flustered he was making her feel. His gaze had not left her since he walked out of the bushes; it looked as though his eyes were taking in every inch of her fluffy, white pelt.

"My kin have lived on this mountain for generations," the tom rumbled under his breath. He kept looking into her eyes, perhaps judging her reaction. She didn't know what to think, how another group of cats could have escaped her group's detection for so long.

"My father always told me the Red Mountain was dangerous," she meowed, "once in a great while it spits crimson water that destroys everything it touches!" The thought made her pelt crawl, thinking that at any moment that mound of rock and soot could explode in a spray of deadly red water.

The stranger snickered softly, his whiskers twitching slightly. "That hasn't happened in many seasons. My father's father kept my group clear of the water and just set up our camp again once it had passed." Moonstar could not remember the story exactly for what the Beachrunners had done when the mountain tip had shattered, she only knew it was when Shockstar was still an apprentice.

"So you live with a whole group," she probed a little further. She hoped she wasn't bothering him with her questions. She was just so unimaginably curious, she didn't know how she could keep all of the questions from spilling out of her. The tom took another few steps closer to her and sat down, only a fox-length between them.

"Yes, I lead my group," he began, "it is a tough job but I was chosen just like my father before me." She thought that she saw a shadow of regret in his eyes but it was gone in a blink. She had also felt the regret of a life she was chosen to live, but she also enjoyed to lead her resilient group. They were noble and brave, and she loved each of them like her own kin. As he leaned in a little closer she could just catch a whiff of his scent; it was musky and harsh but she found herself enjoying it tickling her whiskers

Just as she was beginning to relax her muscles, the tom stood up and turned to leave. "It was nice to meet you, but try and stay away from my land. I would hate one of my guards to catch you," he snickered softly.

"Well don't be too keen to trek onto my territory either," she challenged. He looked at her as if accepting a challenge and padded a few steps away until he vanished into the shadows of the towering undergrowth. She felt a little sad by his departure but she felt almost certain they would meet again.

Just as she was standing to leave, Berrysplash emerged into the tiny clearing. Her fur was spiked with suspicion. "Who's scent is that," she asked worriedly, "I've never smelled that smell before." Moonstar raised her paw to silence her, and turned to head back to camp.

"It was just a lost animal," she meowed casually over her shoulder. She didn't want to alarm her Spirit Walker with news of another group of cats. This was something she could handle by herself. She left Berrysplash puzzled as they both trekked back to their camp mates.