The water in the pool rippled as four cats stalked through the pale grass up to it. Stars shone in its depths, a reflection of the night sky. One of the cats spoke, a silvery-blue queen.

"Blood has spilled blood," she meowed, her strong voice echoing.

"And the lake has run red," agreed a black and white tom.

A light colored tabby with a twisted jaw flicked his tail. "There will be peace at last, as is right."

But a small tortoiseshell, the fourth cat, shook her head. "No, Crookedstar. There is new trouble arising."

The silver-blue queen by Crookedstar cocked her head. "What do you mean, Spottedleaf?"

Spottedleaf closed her eyes. "The Clans feel hate towards certain cats, Bluestar. I believe that this problem is not over yet." She bent down and touched the pool with her nose. Immediately the surface changed, revealing two warriors. "These two have danger in their future."

"Half-Clan cats," remarked Bluestar. "What do you think of this, Tallstar?"

The black and white tom sighed. "What Spottedleaf says is true. RiverClan has driven out that one, for being half ThunderClan." The leader glanced at Crookedstar, as if blaming him for this hostility.

"What of the other?" meowed Crookedstar, ignoring Tallstar. "The ShadowClan she-cat."

"Trouble awaits them," hissed Bluestar.

Spottedleaf's eyes burned with an amber fire. "But three can help."

The surface of the pool rippled and changed again. It now showed a sleeping cat, fire colored and battle-scarred. Spottedleaf leaned down until she was almost touching the surface of the water.

"There will be three," she mewed. "Kin of your kin, who hold the power of stars in their paws."