A/N: I'm not going to post the allegiances because they're constantly changing

Prologue

                A reddish-brown she-cat was hunting alone in a forest. It was another beautiful day at the end of greenleaf, when the prey was the most plentiful and the threat of leaf-bare seemed far off. The she-cat crept carefully after the mouse, which was unaware of its predator only a few tail-lengths behind. Suddenly, another cat, a tom with thick gray fur, sprang from the bushes, missing by only a whisker. The mouse scampered off. “Mouse-dung!” the tom spat.

                “It’s okay, Mossfur. Keep hunting. I know you’ll catch something,” the she-cat meowed.

                The warrior padded away and the she-cat turned in the opposite direction to find herself face-to-face with a fox. The beast’s bushy tail was held erect and its eyes held a challenge. Its bright red fur stood in stark contrast to the green background of the forest.

                The she-cat glared back in defiance as the fox bared its teeth. She darted forward, raked her claws across its muzzle and nimbly leapt back out of range. When she charged again, the fox ducked and snapped its teeth at her. It grabbed her by the scruff and tossed her to the ground.  She flailed around wildly, trying to wound it and get it off of her, but to no use. After raking its claws across her belly a few times, it created a gash in her throat with sharp claws. Her amber eyes clouded and the fox marched away, victorious…

                The she-cat found herself in an unknown field surrounded by cats. Their pelts gave off a radiant light and sparks of white fire danced in their eyes. The she-cat stood in awe. Her own fur was starlit and gleaming. Directly in front of her, a pale copy of herself sat, faint and transparent. In the depths of her mirror image’s eyes, she saw her body, unmoving, on the leafy forest floor, blood gushing from a gash in her thick fur across her throat. “StarClan,” she breathed.

                A cat with the same russet fur and warm amber eyes padded from the ranks of the warrior ancestors to meet her. “Redstar, I’m very proud of you!”

                Redstar’s face shone with delight. “Mother!”

                Redstar’s mother’s expression turned solemn. “I have an ominous prophecy to share with you. Well, not really a prophecy, but a warning. Beware of your neighbors…”

                Before Redstar could ask any questions, the starry field faded and she found herself lying on the ground. Dizziness nearly caused her to sink back into unconsciousness but it slowly faded. “I must speak with Hawkflight about this.”

                Little did she know, at least at this time, that her trusted deputy was sneaking off to the WindClan border at that instant.

                The russet she-cat shook her head to clear her thoughts. She rose to her paws and decided to continue hunting.

                Redstar walked in the direction of the ShadowClan border and stiffened as she saw an unfamiliar dark ginger she-cat searching for prey. “A rogue!” she hissed quietly.

                Redstar was about to slip out of the shadows and ask who she was, but stopped as she detected the sound of faint pawsteps. Two cats emerged from the bushes. The older, taller one was a cream-colored tom with narrowed emerald green eyes while the younger had brown-and-white fur and pale green eyes. The older cat was muscular and looked like a formidable fighter while his apprentice seemed to possess more agility than strength.

                Redstar chuckled softly. “I thought Birchpaw was a WindClan cat for a moment!”

                The reddish-brown she-cat didn’t seem too concerned about the rogue. Rogues trespassed all the time and her cats would drive them out.

                Suddenly, Redstar’s gaze fixed on something behind them and her eyes widened with surprise and dismay. Two cats were seated behind Birchpaw and his mentor. One of them, a black-furred she-cat, rose to her paws as the cream-colored tom was about to address the rogue. “Greetings, Breezestorm. You too, Birchpaw,” Redstar’s rival meowed.

                Breezestorm gasped in shock and rapidly unsheathed his claws. “Lunarstar? What is this? Is ShadowClan trying to attack ThunderClan?”

                Lunarstar rolled her eyes. “You’re a fool, Breezestorm. I need to speak with Redstar. It’s important!”

                Breezestorm snorted incredulously. “Birchpaw, you attack that stranger and I’ll take care of these two.”

                Birchpaw leapt at the rogue and Breezestorm charged towards Lunarstar.  The ShadowClan she-cat jumped in front of the other intruder, a light gray she-cat with black paws, and clawed furiously at the tom’s nose.

                Redstar sighed with annoyance. “I suppose it’s time for me to intervene.”

                Birchpaw was locked in a vicious exchange of blows with the rogue, who was putting up a good fight. A long scratch ran down his flank and his ear was torn. But, the stranger bore far worse wounds. Her pelt was coated in blood so thoroughly that a cat couldn’t even tell the color of her fur.

                Redstar stepped forward. A shaft of sunlight pierced through the leafy canopy and struck her russet fur. “STOP!” she screeched.