Thick clouds covered the chilly night sky, blanketing the dense forest in suffocating darkness. The air was thick with the scent of blood and dead leaves, an omen in itself to any soul that lingered. All was silent except for two cats; a lithe white tom sat huddled next to a brown tabby, their heads bent in discussion.

"You have only been leader for six moons, I worry what danger this prophecy brings for you, Blizzardflash." the brown tabby muttered darkly. His eyes cast around the shadows on the earthen floor, wary of any prying ears.

"BlizzardSTAR," the white tom corrected him hotly, "just because you were leader before me doesn't give you the right to call me that anymore." The white tom's fur fluffed up in agitation. He knew he should have at least earned his name as leader that previous night.

The brown tabby chuckled, his shoulders bobbing with each breath. "You are still cocky from your battle with Breezeclan. Do not forget that lives were lost on this night." he meowed sternly.

"Just a medicine cat, nothing crucial." Blizzardstar shrugged it off. Losing lives in the name of battle was a common occurrence in these lands; even if it was just a healer. The brown tabby growled, growing frustrated.

"You need to stop acting so arrogant! This life of battle and blood shed is not how we are meant to be." the tom hissed. He unsheathed his claws to take a slash at Blizzardstar, but thought better of it.

"How do you expect to keep living in this forest if you all kill each other first?  You need to realize that your lives are better off when you aren't fighting." he meowed, his temper fading.

"But we've always battled for our honor, clearly that is what's right." Blizzardstar reasoned, feeling confused at what his acquaintance was telling him. To believe that the lives of his kin had been carelessly wasted in battle was a cruel thought. His mother had died when he was still a tiny kit, his father had been taken in a viscous border skirmish, and his beloved sister had been killed in a raid on the BreezeClan camp.

Truly, both clans had been riddled with loss almost their entire existence. It was hard to imagine the forest without the sweet scent of blood and battle cries drifting on the breeze. Blizzardstar opened his mouth to say something to his companion; but suddenly, a far off look entered the brown tabby's eyes. It was as if he was staring off into a distant future. "Times are changing... you must choose the right path if you are to survive." the tom mewed softly.

Blizzardstar bristled in fright, his eyes growing wide. "What do you mean Mudstar? I don't understand!"

"Before there is peace, an ancient oak will herald a coming storm. May bonds be formed for the better, lest the forest be forever drowned in darkness." Mudstar recited slowly, his eyes burning with wisdom as he continued to stare into the murky distance.

Blizzardstar gasped, feeling like his pelt was drenched with icy cold water. "Will this mean destruction for Iceclan?" he asked, his voice shaking with fright.

"You need to travel to the scene of the battle. Hidden among the darkness is a bright, shining light. You must not let it be snuffed out." Mudstar meowed mysteriously.

Blizzardstar could feel dozens of questions bubbling on the tip of his tongue. But slowly, Mudstar was starting to fade from his vision. His dream was coming to an end and a thick fog was starting to engulf his white pelt. "Just remember, when the time comes you need to choose the right path!" Mudstar meowed desperately as the fog grew thicker and the shadowy forest was devoured in a murky white cloud.