SHADECLOUD

            The cold wind ruffled Shadecloud’s fur as she trudged towards the Moonpool with the other medicine cats. They finally arrived at the Moonpool, which sparkled with starlight.

            “I wonder where Mothwing and Willowshine are,” Kestrelflight meowed.

            Just then, they heard quick pawsteps and the sound of a cat gasping for breath. “Sorry, I’m late,” Willowshine panted. “Mothwing was sick with greencough and she died just before sunset.”

            “Mothwing is dead!” Shadecloud’s mentor gasped.

            “Do you need catmint?” Littlecloud asked.

            “All of our other greencough victims have recovered,” Willowshine wheezed.

            The five medicine cats crouched beside the Moonpool. Shadecloud lapped the icy water. It tasted of stars and a shadowy darkness engulfed Shadecloud.

            Shadecloud opened her eyes. A huge golden tom sat in front of her. “You will not  be the hero again,” Lionheart meowed in a deep voice.

            “What do you mean?” she asked him.

            But he was almost completely transparent now and his faint outline vanished. Shadecloud was alone in an unfamiliar forest. She raced through the trees, looking for another StarClan cat. She crashed into a flame-colored tom with emerald eyes was staring at her. “Are you Firestar?” Shadecloud asked.

            Firestar nodded. “I have come with a prophecy,” he said.

            “What is it?” Shadecloud asked.

            “Squirrel will finish the battle,” he meowed.

            “StarClan cats,” Shadecloud muttered under her breath. “Always have to be vague and ambiguous.”

            Firestar ears twitched. “I heard that. StarClan have their reasons for being so unclear. Knowledge is a powerful tool. Too much of it is a bad thing. Knowing too much of your destiny can change it,” he mowed seriously. “And not even StarClan knows everything.”

            Shadecloud nodded. “Do you know what this prophecy means, though?” she asked.

            Firestar hesitated. “Yes, we know what this prophecy means,” he meowed finally, carefully choosing his words. “But the meaning is not meant for your ears.”

            Firestar’s orange pelt began to fade. “May StarClan light your path, Shadecloud,” he said.

            The starry warrior disappeared and Shadecloud woke up back at the Moonpool.