Warrior Cats || Burning Stars || Book One || Stepping Stones

Prolugue

        The wind seemed to whistle threw the forest, a soft melody. But it did not seem to disturb three hooded figures huddled together at the mouth of a cave. The grass was short and pure, gently moving north in the light wind. There voices were tense and important, unsure but final.
"...so sure?" The tallest one was meowing. His cloak covered most of him, but you could see his tan paws and tail. His tan ears were invisible, for they were torn long ago in the Ancient War.
"Of course I'm sure, Sand of the Hottest Deserts." The second one with a long black tail witch was wrapped around her paws replied, sure and calm.
The skinniest one,but obviously the oldest, spoke in a raspy voice. "Raven of Darkest Nights..Sand of the Hottest Deserts.." He was old and scrawny, with short sleek fur. He had pure white fur and shining blue eyes. Though multiple scars marked his body, he remained upright. "You remember the Ancient War? When us three were alive, healthy warriors in the Tribe of Swirling Mist?"
The other two nod, memories cloud there eyes. "How could I forget?" Sand whispered sadly. "So many lives lost."
Raven nodded, and spoke in a low voice. "Many seasons ago..there were two tribes. Our tribe, the Tribe of Swirling Mist, and our enemy...the Tribe of Burning Flames. The two clans often had arguments over food and borders. For we were wild cats..with sharp claws and sharp teeth..."
The others listened, though experienced this for themselves they still respected the story. They found it important to repeat the story of The Fallen.
"We had no Warrior Code. Nothing bound our souls but the cave roof above our heads. But one day, the Tribe of Burning Flames decided they were tired of slow and painful fights. On Full Moon, Coal of a Hundred Ashs challenged our leader, Wolf of a Thousand Songs, to war. Cats of the Tribe of Swirling Mist stared upon the two leaders, a silence so tense you could hear a cat flick there ears. No one dared to move as the Leaders stared at each other, standing on the Great Rock. The moonlight shone down upon them, both tails raised. When Wolf spoke, no sound was heard. Like the whole mountain was holding there breath. When she agreed, Coal turned around and left." She paused and looked at her fellow companions. They were silent, faces grim. "War raged on for seasons after seasons." Raven continues. "But on one fateful night, on Full Moon, when all cats were fighting, Ash Wings stood adopt the rock and yelled out to all remaining cats. She stopped the war, after seasons after seasons."
"But now a new threat has risen." Sand spoke next, once Ravens voice settled and the words set in to there ears and hearts. "One witch will test all the clan cats strength,loyalty,and bravery. This isn't a threat any cat has faced before. This comes not from StarClan nor the Dark Forest. Scar, what do you say? What is there prophecy?"
The oldest one spoke. "Darkness is coming and with him comes death. Only the silver ashed tree can rise upon the rest and save the slipping four."
For a moment, silence was spread across the cats, but Desert spoke at last. "If that is how it will be, then that is how it will be. Who shall we tell first?"
For a moment, they all huddled together.
Then it was decided.
/Darkness is coming and with him comes death. Only the silver ashed tree can rise upon the rest and save the slipping four. But the silver cat must call upon the scarred wolf for help, wanted or not."