Chapter 2

"A kit of smoke in dark shall lie, and only storms shall wake its eye."

Mooncloud was recovering from the news for a heartbeat, and then broke the silence.

"We need to tell Snowstar. Now." - she hurried out of the den, signalling with her tail for Skypaw to follow.

"Snowstar! Skypaw's had a prophecy!" -she meowed, and a few heads popped out of their dens. Leafwhisker, Twigpelt, and Stonefur returned from the patrol just as Snowstar's yowl rang across the clearing. 

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!"

"What's happening?"- Ravenheart's kits stumbled out of the nursery, their eyes wide with curiosity. 

"It's nothing scary, little ones."- their mother swept her tail protectively around them." You will know all in good time."

Skypaw and Snowstar stood on the Highrock, with Mooncloud closely behind them. 

"As you all know, Skypaw is Mooncloud's apprentice, and he has a prophecy to tell us."

Skypaw shuffled his paws. "Well, I really don't know if...." 

"Say it already!" - an impatient yowl rose from the group of cats below.

" It goes something like..um...I....I can't um....say it....."

Frustrated murmurs followed the silence.

Mooncloud glanced at him. "Why can't you? I can say it for you."

"No!" Skypaw flicked his tail across her mouth, regretting it immediately. "I...I have to work out what it means first."