A misty shape wove through the sharp-edged trees, the only sound coming from ghostly claws rustling the covering of moldy leaves. A waving mane flickered and the form solidified into a battle-scarred lion, his green eyes surveying the clearing where he had stopped.
"It'll do," he growled to himself before circling three times and settling his powerful haunches against the soft soil. He shook out his fur and let out a small, territorial roar.
"Well, well," hissed a soft voice from the shadows. "If it isn't my dear old friend Amberstar." A leopard leapt down from a well concealed tree branch and padded forward, deadly sharp claws cutting through the undergrowth.
The lion's head shot up, but his muscles immediately relaxed. "Windheart," he breathed, only the smallest snarl detected in his voice. "You're finally dead." It wasn't a question.
"Dead and with a prophecy," the leopard snapped, and tilted her head, assessing him.
Amberstar leapt to his paws. Flattening his neck, he showed his teeth and growled, "Give it to me."
"Beat me dead and leave me to rot," Windheart retorted. "The answer is no."
Amberstar flexed his paws threateningly, shredding the leaves beneath his broad claws, before taking a deep breathe. "Knowledge is power. We must share the knowledge. Please." He bowed his head for a second, sides heaving.
Windheart snorted and rolled her eyes skyward. "All right, if you're that desperate." Her yellow eyes contained a single gleam of excitement.
She began:
"The precious stone begins its flight,
As rising storm brings on the night,
Death falls high as rain begins,
And youthful Leo starts its wins."
Windheart snapped her mouth shut and glared at the tom-lion. "Satisfied?" She growled.
Amberstar hissed. "The youthful Leo... A young leopard, that's clear enough." He squeezed his eyes shut in concentration.
"Anything else, Caption Obvious?" Windheart retorted.
"Death..." Amberstar twitched his tail and shook out his main. "No..."
"But yes," the leopard's eyes filled with malice. "This place is about to get crowded."
"The end of the..." The powerful lion's eyes filled with fear.
With a single bound, Windheart skimmed the distance between herself and the former LionClan leader, lashing her tail against his flank as she slammed an unsheathed paw against his cheek. The lion snarled and swatted her away with a muscle bound paw, before brushing his tufted tail against the place of injury, looking in dismay as it turned the deep scarlet of blood.
"What," his words were slow and dangerous, "is your problem?" His green eyes were filling with darkness and anger, kindling a flame that sparked ominously when the leopard only lifted her head elegantly and stared directly back at him.
"Please, you can't say it." She whispered this now, her neck rippling as she ducked her head reluctantly. "You can't confirm the future." Her eyes clouded over to hide the fear before the lion spotted it. "But now, you know what to do."
Amberstar nodded somberly. "The youthful Leo," he rumbled. "It seems our only chance."