⠀⠀ "Redflight! Whiteflame! Redflight! Whiteflame!"

⠀⠀ Two new warriors stood proudly atop the Tallrock. Redflight, the same terrified, fire colored apprentice that had told Lockstar and Ciphercry that they were to be named, now stood with his head held high and his chest puffed out. His sister, Whiteflame, was a white she cat with an orange tail tip and ears. Their eyes were both a glowing amber, comparable to the color of the sun just as it disappears below the horizon.

⠀⠀ "You will hold vigil tonight," the she cat reminded. They both nodded eagerly, taking their places at the entrance. Lionkit once again came wailing to the leader. She noticed that he had very large paws, making it difficult for him to get around as gracefully as a Windclan cat.

⠀⠀ "Hello, Lionkit," she mewed with a purr. He stared at her with a defeated expression.

⠀⠀ "When can I become an apprentice?" the fluffy orange tom asked, his head tilting almost to the ground. "They just got their warrior names, and I heard that Bluepaw was going to be Blue-whatever soon."

⠀⠀ "You'll be an apprentice in less than half a moon," she promised, nudging his forehead. He huffed and trotted back over to Emberkit, who was crouching behind a clump of grass. The tom sprung up and landed on his foster brother with outstretched paws, causing the two to fall into a ball of laughing orange and black fluff.

⠀⠀ Hollytail was padding out of her den when a sudden nausea hit her. She went rigid, fur bristling.

⠀⠀ "When flames bring darkness and many birds fall, one choice will determine the fate of them all," a voice called as she watched flames erupt from the ground. They became stiff and dark gray, nearly black, before disintegrating into ashes. Hollytail coughed as she collapsed weakly onto the ground. Lockstar gave her a curious look as the silver feline rose to her feet.

⠀⠀ "A prophecy," she choked out. The leader simply nodded.

⠀⠀ "Something about flames bringing darkness?" she mewed. The she cat nodded, amazed.

⠀⠀ "How'd you know?"

⠀⠀ "My mother told me when I was younger," she mewed with a shrug.

⠀⠀ "Wait. You're the... prophecy. Not for this one. For one I received moons before you came," she murmured. "A cat will arrive from the depths of the river, who will know of a prophecy. They must gain nine, and move on. Afraid of none. Oblivious to one."

A cat will arrive from the depths of the river,
Who will know of a prophecy.
They must gain nine,
And move on.
Afraid of none.
Oblivious to one.

⠀⠀ Startled, the she cat shook her head.

⠀⠀ "Who would I be oblivious to?" she growled. Hollytail shrugged.

⠀⠀ "I'm not quite sure, but remember that we have a gathering tomorrow. I wouldn't get too wrapped up in it," the medicine cat suggested. Lockstar hesitantly nodded and turned, bumping into Ciphercry.

⠀⠀ "Want to hunt?" he mewed hopefully. Realizing that it'd be the perfect thing to distract herself, she nodded. The ebony tom grinned and began to pad out of the camp, Lockstar following close behind. They made their way over several small hills before stopping to scent the air.

⠀⠀ The sight of a large rabbit nibbling quietly on a wide blade of grass caught Lockstar's attention. She motioned to it and Ciphercry nodded, crouching down.

⠀⠀ "I'll chase it towards you," she instructed. The tom twitched his ear in response and she took off, her golden pelt disguised by the grasses. The rabbit went rigid as she grew closer. With a low growl and dramatic leap from the brush, their target bolted to it's demise. Ciphercry pounced, his fangs clamping around the fragile neck like brittle leaves under heavy paws. With a final shriek, it was over.

⠀⠀ "Nice catch!" she praised. He grinned and attempted to speak, but his words were too muffled to be of any use. The tom dropped the large rabbit onto the ground and spoke again.

⠀⠀ "When will Lionkit and Emberkit become apprentices?" he asked with the tilt of his head.

⠀⠀ "Lionkit is a few days older than Emberkit, but I'm going to make them both apprentices in eight days," she mewed. "That's when Emberkit will be old enough too." Ciphercry nodded and lifted the rabbit before padding back to camp.

✵✵✵✵✵

⠀⠀ "Who's going to the gathering?"

⠀⠀ Lockstar glanced back at the cat and grinned. It was Redflight. He obviously wanted to go. His sister, Whiteflame, trotted up behind him and smiled, her tail curling neatly around her paws as she sat.

⠀⠀ "Coalfoot, Ciphercry, Redflight, Whiteflame, Heatherfrost, Shyleaf, Hailcloud, Bearwhisker," she began, turning to her senior warriors. "Birchtooth, Lilymist, Oakstripe," she glanced over at the pair of apprentices moving uncomfortably close to her. "Sparrowpaw, and Fernpaw." The apprentices grinned and trotted to the cats gathering at the entrance, waiting patiently for their leader.

⠀⠀ They walked around the brim of the lake, remembering to stay within the permitted area. Shadowclan was already there. They took their place on the opposite side, still shooting glares at the menacing clan. Lockstar narrowed her dark eyes at Redstar, who in turn gave her a peculiar look. He must have expected a different leader.

⠀⠀ Riverclan arrived, and as they filed in, each one gave the Windclan cats confused glances. Badgerstar's shoulders drooped as he saw that his friend was gone. He dipped his head to Lockstar and took his place beside her in the tree. Finally, Thunderclan filed onto the island, each cat shooting wary glances at Windclan. Lockstar fought the urge to hiss something at Wrenstar, who was attempting to figure out which branch to perch upon. Her belly was large, and Lockstar figured that she had been eating rather well. Once she had made the carefully calculated choice of sitting on the highest branch possible, she cleared her throat.

⠀⠀ "Thunderclan has lost a valiant leader to none other than Windclan's own," she began through false tears. "We mourn Willowstar's death, along with Timberwing, who was killed before his time. I can only hope that Starclan will provide justice." Gasps rippled through the clans as yowls of protest erupted from Windclan. Riverclan cats mumbled among themselves while Shadowclan cats hissed at Windclan.

⠀⠀ "Quiet!"

⠀⠀ All eyes turned to Badgerstar, the eldest of the leaders. He was the same age as Violetstar was, and the most respected of the leaders. The clans silenced as he sighed, shaking his head.

⠀⠀ "I'd like to hear Windclan's side of the story," he said, speaking calmly. Lockstar nodded and cleared her throat.

⠀⠀ "Willowstar sent a warning to us, stating that if we did not surrender a section of our territory, she'd take it by force. Unwilling to back down, Violetstar prepared the clan for battle. She se-"

⠀⠀ "No. You came up with the idea, Lockstar. She was going to ask Coalfoot to lead the clan, but she was impressed by how wise you seemed to be at such a young age," Bearwhisker interrupted with a slight grin. She dipped her head to the silver warrior before continuing.

⠀⠀ "I sent the vulnerable cats to a hiding spot and prepared the rest of our members for a battle. Thunderclan came, and I watched both Voleclaw and Violetstar die right before my eyes. Voleclaw was killed on the spot, while Violetstar had enough time to give her final orders. Windclan is strong," she finished, growling the last part through gritted teeth. Yowls of approval rippled through the island, coming from all Windclan and Riverclan cats. Thunderclan cats hissed curses at them, while Shadowclan remained silent for once, too engrossed in watching as a distinct separation revealed itself to say anything.

⠀⠀ "Riverclan is stronger than ever," Badgerstar declared, nodding to the large group of heavily built cats that crowded around him. "We have had no further border disputes with Shadowclan. I believe that Redstar finally understands," he spat. The russet tom bared his teeth at the eldest leader.

⠀⠀ "Shadowclan is powerful as well," he hissed. "We have learned nothing."

⠀⠀ "Oh! That explains it!" a Riverclan apprentice sneered. Though she was scolded by several of the senior warriors, the cats of Riverclan and Windclan couldn't help but snicker at the shocked expression of the leader. Even a few Thunderclan cats gave in to the temptation.

⠀⠀ "Control your apprentices, Badgerstar," he growled. "Or will I have to do it for you, considering your mind has been tampered with by moons upon moons of eating foul smelling fish?" The Riverclan leader lashed his tail and released unexpectedly large claws into the bark of the tree, fracturing it like glass.

⠀⠀ "I'm called Badgerstar for a reason, Redstar," he mewed, the tone of a warning lacing his words. "Riverclan cats have learned a few things over the past moons. Why do you think we consistently defeat you?" The Shadowclan tom scoffed in response and leaped from his perch.

⠀⠀ "Shadowclan is dismissed!" he yowled, casting a dagger-like glare at his rival. Badgerstar sat triumphantly upon the bough, giving Wrenstar a pointed look. She picked her way down, her belly swaying with each step as her clan followed her retreat.

⠀⠀ Badgerstar padded over to Lockstar, tipping his head.

⠀⠀ "Violetstar spoke of a prophecy," he murmured. "I certainly hope that it's you, or the clans will be lost. Be wise, young leader, and know that Riverclan is your ally." The golden leader dipped her head to the white tom with the gray tail.

⠀⠀ "Windclan is your ally, as well," she replied. With that, the clans departed, leaving their past lives behind them.