⠀ A delicate wind tugged at the branches of the trees, causing them to sway in a meaningless, yet intricate dance. A trio of cats sat beneath the clouds, their starry pelts intertwined. They whispered of things only they knew of, going silent as a bulky she-cat entered the small circle.

⠀ She was a smoky gray, but moons of living in Starclan caused her pelt to fade to a dull silver. Her tail was short like that of a rabbit's, and her toes were a pale white. She was riddled in scars, which had seemed to fade less than her fur. She looked at the trio with deep brown eyes and dipped her head. They did the same, awaiting her words.

⠀ "There are wars to come," she murmured solemnly with a twitch of her large ears. Petaleye, a black she-cat who had recently joined Starclan, sighed and looked at her paws.

⠀ "Who will the clans be fighting, Dewfoot?" she mewed. "Surely there must be a way to stop it."

⠀ "There is no way for us to stop it," Gorsetail replied harshly. He was a marbled tabby with a white spot on his muzzle, and he was merely a silhouette. The she-cat shot the ancient tom a glare and turned her attention to the feline who had remained quiet.

⠀ "Amberflight, I need you to send a message to the clans," she instructed. The sandy medicine cat tipped her head and stared at the bulky warrior.

⠀ "What message is there to send? There will be a war. Aren't there always wars?"

⠀ "No," Dewfoot snapped. "There has not been a war like this." Authority pulsed through her voice and she raised her chin. "Each of our clans are in danger. If you do not want to send the message, I will find someone who will."

⠀ Amberflight shook her head. "I did not mean to upset you, Dewfoot. What is the message I must send?" The gray warrior looked at the other two before speaking, her eyes glinting in apprehension.

⠀ "It is a prophecy. Each medicine cat must receive it at half moon on their visit to the Silver Tree," she hesitated, took a slight breath, and continued. "Peaceful dawn, violent dusk. Birth through blood or death through dust."

⠀ Amberflight nodded, not questioning the statement. She knew what it meant, and a pang of sympathy tugged at her heart as she thought about the cat of the prophecy. How difficult, she thought to herself with a frown.

⠀ The slender, sandy-colored she-cat turned and padded into the tall grass, her usual light steps weighted by the words.

⠀ Birth through blood or death through dust.