The New Light of Hope: Books I to VI.

Prologue: How the Southwest Forest Was Formed and the Prophecy.

The animals that live in Southwest Forest get along well with each other; however, a lone time ago, this was not the case. Instead, the animals lived separately, fighting for their territories and as well as their survival and food; they would constantly caused rivalries amongst themselves and each other, this eventually led to Diane to punish them by setting their home on fire, which led to even more fighting and the death of the leaders. This got the attention of the remaining animals that they violence and constant rivalry, war, and bloodshed was not the way to live life. And so, they decided to work together to find a new home-they searched day and night until they came across the southwest side of the forest, in which they would call their forever home; they vowed to never fight for any reason and to get along well with each even if they were divided into five Divisions.
However, what if I were to tell you, that the Southwest Forest wasn't always their home? While yes, the animals found peace and serenity, the Southwest Forest would eventually meet its fate. But when all seems to be lost, there is hope even during the darkest of times. And this is the story.
...
Chief ArrowHeart watched as his son, Antler rushed off to the Nursery to rest for the night.
One year had passed by and everything changed for the Forest Spirits Division; there were new offspring and new apprentices at that. Chief ArrowHeart himself had eight pups of his own with StealthHunter; Dawn, Crystal, Cream, Dusk, Antler, Stone, Storm, and Birch. His sister, MistFur and her mate, ShadeHeart had a litter of three pups; twos sons named Cedar and Shade and a daughter named Silver, who just started their apprenticeship. His closet friend and co-leader, MoonStone and his mate, SunFoot, had two sons named Falcon and Silver. He knew that DeerPounce and his mate, SunnyHeart, had three sons named Swift, Patch, and Fox during the month of December while he was still the co-leader, right before Chief CrimsonPelt's sudden and untimely death. And his former apprentice BlackFang and his mate, RainPelt, had five pups; three daughters and two sons in October. HawkTalon and SageEyes' pups Osprey, Brindle, and Night, were almost done with their apprenticeship and he believed that by the end of next month, they would receive their last names. Though during the fall and winter of the previous year, FlowerHeart and General WidowPelt had retired to the Elders' Den, but they still contributed for the Forest Spirits Division. He watched as everyone was finishing up for the night and headed into the dens for sleep where he then caught a glimpse of his co-leader, MoonStone merging from the Nursery as he walked towards him. "Today was quite a busy one." MoonStone told him. "Yes, indeed it was." He agreed. "By the way, have you heard anything about Chief TimberHeart and his opinion about the water shortage?"

MoonStone: "Why, yes, I have. You do as well?"

Chief ArrowHeart: "Yes, from what I was told, droughts are quite uncommon here, yet he still has no idea how the water level suddenly lowered. Which is exactly why both us, Chief TimberHeart and RowanFoot, Chief DoveFeather and BoulderSnout, Chief FalconTalon and CosmoPelt, and Chief GorseHunter and EmberNose, have all made an agreement to ration the water that we have left and to not foolishly waste it."

MoonStone: "I hope the river levels will rise again."

Chief ArrowHeart: "I hope so too."

MoonStone: "Though I must ask: What are we going to do about the food shortage? We already made plans and ways to help out with both shortages, yet the hunting patrols have very little luck finding anything except for birds and mice."

Chief ArrowHeart: "I will ask StealthHunter in the morning and see what she thinks. But for now get some rest, you will need your energy for the morning, my friend."

MoonStone: "All right. Goodnight, Chief."

Chief ArrowHeart: "Goodnight."

As he left, he went to the Nursery and saw that StealthHunter was still awake, she looked a bit worried and frightened. He quietly went in to console her. "Are you okay, dear?" He asked. "Not really." She admitted. "With both a food and water shortage, why wouldn't I be worried?"

Chief ArrowHeart: "Try not to worry or feel anxious too much, you might get sick."

StealthHunter: "I will try my best."

Chief ArrowHeart: "I know it is hard and I am scared too. But we all need to think positively and keep praying in a time such as this."

StealthHunter: "But I do have this feeling that TIO, Diane and Gabriella are behind all of this."

Chief ArrowHeart: "You could be right about that. But I do not want to scare you by saying that they are causing all of this."

StealthHunter: "I know."

Chief ArrowHeart: "But please, try and get some rest and we will talk in the morning. Okay?"

StealthHunter: "All right, I'll try. I love you."

Chief ArrowHeart: "I love you, too."

StealthHunter: "Goodnight."

Chief ArrowHeart: "Goodnight."

He left so that way she could rest and he headed back to his den to sleep.
…
When Chief ArrowHeart woke up, he had found himself in the dead center of the forest, but he was calm because he knew this was only a dream and not reality. But it was not peaceful for long; he could smell the scent of very something unpleasant and bothersome and something that was never to be inhaled. Smoke! The smell of smoke caught his attention, when he turned around, he saw a small patch of fire, but it was not long until it began to ignify and spread even further, the trees around him were burnt in the matter of seconds–there was no escape. Chief ArrowHeart felt himself coughing from all of the thick smoke. Somebody please… help! But he was alone, no one was there to help him. And just like how he saw the trees being engulfed, he was swollen whole by the smoke.
…
He then found himself in the black abyss of the Vision Realm–the dream of course was a false reality, but to him, it felt real and it made him panic. Chief ArrowHeart. A voice said. He looked to see that it was Chief GorseCloud, former leader of the Forest Heroes during the Second Generation–he remembered hearing the story of the Second Generation when he was younger and remembered the elders mentioning him; the stories he heard described GorseCloud as a male wolf with dark brown fur, white front and back legs and tail, and yellow eyes who lived in the Night Runners Division. "Chief GorseCloud?" He turned to face the wolf. "There is not a moment to waste, Chief ArrowHeart." He said. "What you witness just now is fate."

Chief ArrowHeart: "Fate? How so?"

Chief GorseCloud: "The animals must flee from the west."

Chief ArrowHeart: "What?"

Chief GorseCloud: "The waters will be overtaken by the blood of the young, middle-aged, and old. Head back to the place where it all started, ArrowHeart! Time is limited!"

Chief GorseCloud then left, leaving him alone.

The sudden moment Chief ArrowHeart jolted awake, he felt panicked and anxious but he then calmed down, for he knew that by panicking, it would only worsen things. Once he felt a state of calm, he went back to sleep. But he did forget about the prophecy.

He knew exactly where he, MoonStone, Eagle, Leopard, and Compass had to go and why: To retrieve the Heroes and bring them to the forest to help the forest out once more.