1. Plot

[-->SAPHiRE]

For as long as the cats of the forest can remember, there have been four equal Clans with DeathClan being seen as an insignificant add-on, unwanted but unthreatening. The four true Clans, MoonClan, NightClan, SunClan, and DayClan, have lived in relative peace with each other, knowing that they are all equally worth in the eyes of StarClan. But a prophecy long forgotten is about to resurface from the shadows of the past. For unknown to the cats of this age, Deathstar, the evil founder of DeathClan, was once the tyrannical ruler of this forest- back when Moonstar, Nightstar, Sunstar, and Daystar had no nine lives. When Deathstar destroyed their homes, their Clanmates, and everything they held dear, StarClan took pity on them and granted them each nine lives. Deathstar was stripped of all connection to StarClan and his throne of power and terror crashed when, with the help of the newly empowered Clan leaders, the starry warriors reclaimed control of the Clans and the forest.

But he left behind a prophecy. A prophecy that Death would one day lead the forest once more. The ominous words were long forgotten until Deathstar managed to rise again inside the mind of the current DeathClan leader, Fading. In an attempt to prevent the terrible fate that threatened to befall the clans, StarClan sent down ancient starry leaders to help guide four chosen cats toward a solution. Three failed. The only leader to succeed in establishing a connection and warning the clans about this new threat was Nightstar, who decided to appear in the mind of a NightClan she-cat named Silverheart.

Under their ancient founder’s command, DeathClan managed to capture Moonphase Pond and sever the Clans' connection to StarClan. For without the guidance of their warrior ancestors, the Clans of the forest were lost, and death reigned once again, just as the prophecy foretold. As the warriors came to comprehend the disaster that had struck, chaos broke out amongst them as their lives shattered before their eyes.

Now, almost like a gift from StarClan itself, a mysterious group of cats has appeared to the despairing Clans. They call themselves the Pride. And what they offer is peace, power, and help in rebuilding what the Clans have lost. The Pride are the Clan’s saviors, and they are soon regarded with high respect as being intelligent and powerful cats with control in their claws. But little by little, changes are seen. Traditions are disregarded, rules are altered, and the Clans slowly come to doubt in the blinding promise of glory. Is the Pride really all that every cat thinks it is… all that it claims to be?

And if not, what is it?