Prologue

He will come. The one with the power to take over the clans.
Bluestar's ominous message rang in Firestar's ears as he jerked awake panting. Unaware of her mate's troubles Sandstorm slept peacefully beside him, he nose tucked under her light ginger tail. Careful not to awake her Firestar padded to the den entrance and peered out into the gloomy night.

A soft breeze rustled the tops of the trees, hiding the sound of footsteps as a black tom led his warriors through the night. Pausing he stepped into a shaft of silver moonlight and sniffed the air. The frosty leaves under his paws crunched satisfyingly as the tom dug his powerful claws into the cold ground.
"This is the place," he mewed as a dark ginger tom came to stand at his shoulder. The tom dipped his broad ginger head before turning to address the cat's hidden in the shadows.
"We have finally found the place!" At this a series of excited yowls cut through the still night air.
"Silence!" barked the lead cat, his voice ringing through the air like ice. "Do you want our enemies to know we're here?" Instantly the cats fell silent and watched the black tom eyes glittering with apprehension.
The tom drew in a breath before issuing his final orders. "Cross, Jagger and Lash take your patrols around the lake. Kill any cat's you find. I'll take my warriors into this forest here." He decided flicking his long black tail over the stream at an oak forest. The cats nodded then raced off closely followed by their cats.
"Follow me!" the black tom spat and led his warriors into the forest.

Dustpelt shuffled uncomfortably. The icy ground stung his paws and made his hiss irritably. He was unaware of the approaching cats until it was too late. A dark grey tabby leapt from the bushes and slew Dustpelt. His eyes glazed over and he slumped to the floor. Looking over his shoulder the tom called,
"Tadpole, we're in." The black tom's amber eyes glinted in the small amount of light that filtered through the tree tops.
Raising his voice above the wind he yowled, "Attack!"
Immediately the strange cats filed into the ThunderClan camp screeching terrifingly.
Ferncloud jerked awake. Quickly she pressed her kit agaisnt her body. Leaning down she licked it's ears encourigingly before slipping out into the battle. She was unprepared for the onslaught that drove into her. A she-cat leapt onto her back and snapped her neck, without a second glance at the dying grey cat she leapt into the nursery and quickly took the kit's life. Rosepetal who was crouched at the back of the den raised a paw threatingly while shoving her kits through the bramble wall of the queen's den.
"Run Wavekit, take Silverkit! Go!" she mewed as she licked her kits one last time then she turned to face the white cat. Weakly she struggled to her paws, after only giving birth two nights before she was tired from lack of sleep. Bravely the dark cream she-cat scratched at the strangers muzzle with her thorn sharp claws. But it was in vain, a second cat creapt in from the side and cut Rosepetal's throat.
"Bumblestripe!" she called weakly before a black wave washed over her and she fell into a sleep she'd never awake from.

By the time dawn rose the camp was in carnage. Bodies littered the sandy clearing and the floor was stained with blood.
Exhausted Firestar only just managed to lift his head. His deputy Brambleclaw lay a short distance away.
"Brambleclaw, you're leader of ThunderClan now." Firestar gasped as he continued to bleed. The dark brown tabby didn't stir. "Brambleclaw?" Firestar called again, still he didn't move. Then with a last shudder Firestar's last life left him and he slumped to the floor dead, his dark ginger tail twined with Sandstorm's for the last time.