PROLOGUE
An old, grizzled she-cat sat beside a star-lit pool, yellow eyes narrowed in her flat face as she fazed intensely at the water. She seemed to be fading, the trees behind her clearly visible through her pelt.
She looked up as more cats padded up to meet her. A flame colored tom with piercing green eyes blinked warmly at her. "Hello, Yellowfang," he said, sitting next to her.
"Firestar," she said, dipping her head.
A silvered grey she-cat limped up. "What is it you want, Yellowfang?"
"Patience, Mistystar. We must wait for the others."
Mistystar snorted and sat down beside Firestar, who gave her a friendly flick with his tail. They all looked up expectantly as three more cats padded up. Firestar waved his tail at a broad-shouldered dark tabby.
"Come sit next to me, Bramblestar." The tabby nodded, amber eyes shining silver in the light of the pool as he squeezed himself between his former leader and Yellowfang, who whipped her see-through tail impatiently. "Hurry up, Blackstar! You too, Owlstar!" Mistystar snorted in amusement when the two cats growled softly as they padded down quicker than before.
Yellowfang stood up, much to Bramblestar's relief, and started pacing.
"We all know why we're here," she started. "We need to pick them now."
Blackstar stood, his white pelt starting to get a bit misty, but not as badly as Yellowfang's. "See and approve of ShadowClan's choices," he growled. His eyes glowed as murmurs of approval came from the cats looking down at the pool, where two shadowy figured had formed on the surface of the water.
He sat as Mistystar stretched her paw forward. "See and approve of RiverClan's choices." Two shapes appeared on the water, and Blackstar's shoulder twitched in surprise. "But she's an apprentice!" Owlstar explained, tail lashing to the side. Mistystar glared at him. "And?" She demanded, blue eyes flashing. "She is strong and clever; She will do well."
Owlstar snorted, whiskers twitching disbelievingly as he padded up to edge of the pool. "See and approve of WindClan's choices."
Mistystar's eyes glowed as she looked upon the shapes in the water. "That one is hardly more than an apprentice, Owlstar," she goaded. Firestar stepped between them as Owlstar bristled. "She will do fine, Mistystar," he said calmly, the grey cat huffing, but turning away from the former WindClan leader. All cats turned towards the water as Firestar spoke the ceremonial words for ThunderClan.
Every cat stiffened in surprise, shocked voices immediately welling up. Bramblestar's deep voice rumbled above the rest, quieting them.
"Are you sure, Firestar?" He asked. Firestar met his amber gaze evenly and blinked calmly. "She has lost everything, Bramblestar. She needs this more than most." The brown tabby dipped his head as Yellowfang stood up.
"She'll do fine. They'll all do fine." She turned towards Bramblestar. "Will you send word to Shadowstep?"
Bramblestar dipped his broad head, silvered muzzle even brighter as he stood and the pool bathed him in it's light. "Of course," he meowed. Mistystar sat up stiffly. "Well, we have seen the cats chosen." She nudged Bramblestar gently. "Go now, before he awakens." The tabby flicked her ear with his tail, then trotted off towards RiverClan.
Yellowfang sat down again beside Firestar, the ginger tom turning to lick her ear as the others slowly left the starry hollow. Yellowfang sighed and lay down. "Are you certain of her, Firestar?" She asked quietly, face expressionless as she looked into the water.
Firestar nodded. "Her destiny is long and hard, just like this journey. She needs the experience."
Yellowfang nodded in agreement, resting her head on her paws as Firestar groomed her vanishing shoulders.