~Prologue~

A gray tabby she-cat lay in a mossy nest. Her mate, a large orange tom, paced nervously. She would give birth to her kits any minute now, and she was worried.

"Flame," she meowed, "Will my kits be okay?"

Flame purred, "Don't worry, Willow. They'll be beautiful, just like you."

Willow didn't respond. Her stomach convulsed. She let out a sharp yelp of pain.

"The kits!" she gasped.

Flame instantly crouched down to her level. She cried out again as another spasm rippled through her. He gently licked the top of her head and whispered, "You'll be okay. It will all be worth it when it's said and done, I promise."

After about an hour, Willow had finally given birth to three kits. One was a large orange tom, like his father, with big white paws.

"Thunder," she named him, purring.

There was also a small gray tabby she-cat, like herself, with black flecks.

"Pepper," Flame decided.

The last was a white tom, with a kinky ginger tail. Willow smoothed down his spiky fur.

"Lightning," she whispered.

Willow could tell that her kits would move on to do great things. They would be known throughout the forest. She looked at Thunder, whose broad orange head rested on his paws, eyes closed. A voice seemed to whisper in her ear, He will be a great leader.

Willow's gaze shifted to Pepper. The voice spoke again, She will die for one she loves.

She let her eyes settle on her last kit, Lightning. His crooked tail twitched. The voice returned one last time, He will be a hero.

Willow shivered. What was in store for her kits?