And Splashing Pools

Prologue:In the Night Sky
Three cats sat on a large, cool rock. Their pelts seemed to glow with light, though their eyes were harsh and scary for anyone looking into them. They glowed so brightly that it looked like they weren't even cats: just cat-shaped suns with big, floating eyes. Oh, their eyes! Cold, hard glares that made your heart sink to your paws and feel as if you were standing on the edge of death.

Hah, that's actually pretty funny. Jewelstar thought, bounding across the night sky towards the three cats. Her pelt danced with stars, and her face was pointed. She was a siamese cat with a brown face and paws, and though some would think her ugly the stars around her made her look beautiful.

She wasn't alone. Next to her ran three others: Grassbreeze, Sleekstar, and Blackpaw. All of them were great warriors of StarClan who had served each of their clans greatly. But she could see a bit of fear in the eyes of all her companions as well. Jewelstar gulped as they neared the three cats, who were still sitting on the rock, that turned out to be the moon.

"Would you look at that." one of the cats said in a creepy, echoey voice. This cat's eyes were a sickly green color.

"They've come to visit us, they have." the second one said, his eyes were the brown-gray color of dead grass.

Jewelstar concentrated on not stammering as she finally stepped onto the moon. "Yes, we have."

"What does StarClan want with us?" green said. "You left us long ago and said you would never need us again."

Jewelstar nodded. "We did. But we are not here for your help."

"Then why are you here?" the final one spoke in an even more bone-chilling voice, not even looking at the StarClan cats.

"Call your brother off!" Sleekstar hissed. His normally smooth gray tabby fur stood on end as he spoke. All his dignity as a great leader of DarkClan was gone the moment the final glowing cat had spoken.

"He's put up a barrier, preventing us from leaving the night sky to talk with our clans." Grassbreeze explained, her ginger fur still lying flat through some sort of self control that none of the others had. "All who have died since are trapped below, roaming as ghosts and unable to do anything."

"He also has stopped us from taking a cat who was ready to die." Blackpaw said, shuffling his black and gray paws.

"This isn't the first time ghosts were denied from StarClan." the third glowing cats reminded them. "Someone has been roaming down there for a long time, and you've done nothing."

The four StarClan cats exchanged a pained glance, then turned back to the three glowing cats. "That may be, but you gave us control over the deaths of our clanmates and the ability to warn them. You can't just take it back." Sleekstar said.

The final cat stood. "Unity is important." he turned to face them, revealing his eyes to be completely white with no pupils or irises. "But instead of doing what's important, the clans are splitting up more and more each day. We've planned this for centuries, and we're not letting you stop us. The time for clans has come to an end. They must join... or die."

Chapter 1:A Corporeal Friend
"It's the full moon tonight." Dewpaw sat in the center of camp, tail curled around her paws. She was a beautiful golden she-cat with brown paws. Lakekit, a blue-gray she-cat with white spots and a long tail, sat beside her.

"Chipear told me that long ago, before the events of the golden rain legend, all four clans would meet in peace and discuss recent events." Lakekit told her.

"Chipear is an elder of SteelClan?" Dewpaw asked. Lakekit nodded. "I remember Sweetflag telling me about a big battle that happened when I was just a kit. Rubylight was still an apprentice then, and Sweetflag told me how hard it was to heal a big wound she got on her shoulder from Chipear. She complained on and on, wondering how Chipear could even still fight at his age. More than six moons later, I'm not surprised he's in the Elder's Den."

Lakekit had no response, she just sat and listened to Dewpaw talk. The only cats that were out in WaterClan camp were Dreamscar and Sootstream. Both avoided the kit, Sootstream especailly. Lakekit was saddened by how coldly Sootstream acted towards her. The warrior had been a friend, one of the few cats in WaterClan who trusted her and defended her from the suspicous glances she had been getting ever since she joined them. That was until Sootstream's brother, Duskpond, had attempted to kill Lakekit a moon before. When Lakekit told the story, everyone, including all her friends, believed she was lying. But Sootstream had never forgiven Lakekit for accusing her beloved brother of attmepting murder on a kit.

"You seem to have recovered well." Dewpaw was saying ot the kit. "Not many cats get out of Deathpond alive. You managed it with a bitten tail, a twisted paw, and a bump on the head. You're a very lucky cat to live to five moons."

Lakekit nodded in agreement. "Do you think Icestar will let me an apprentice when I'm six moons old?" she asked.

"Of course she will! Why wouldn't she?"

"I still don't think anyone trusts me..." Lakekit sighed and her ears drooped.

"I trust you." Dewpaw said comfortingly, draping her tail over the kit's shoulders. "Duckpaw trusts you too. And Daisysong and Sweetflag, and though Lightfang sure doesn't like it, her kits have taken a liking to you." Dewpaw smiled kindly. "And I know Icestar must trust you. I'm sure the rest of the clan will warm up to you soon. When you become an apprentice, you'll learn how to fight and hunt for your clan, then they'll see what a great lcanmate you can be."

Lakekit smiled. "Thanks, Dewpaw. You're great."