The claws of destruction tightened on the necks of the Clans.

The ancient Clans – their names long since forgotten – resided in an unknown far off land, whose stars faded from the sky. Strange, furless creatures began to build their dens inside Clan territories, using strange beasts of fire and blade to destroy the trees and upend the soils. The more creatures came, the more the stars faded from the sky. Prey fled, territory was razed, blood was shed, famine engulfed the Clans – and the ancients found themselves helpless to stop it.

The gods of StarClan used the last of their powers to send guidance in the form of a comet, streaking across the sky and towards the horizon. Nine cats and those who agreed to follow them – unshaken in their belief in the gods, despite their Clans falling to faithlessness – began their exodus.

The heavens led their way through the unfamiliar wilds. Cycles they spent trekking the treacherous lands. Even the strongest warriors were felled through the harrowing journey, but the group’s faith in the stars was unshaken. Their perseverance was rewarded in the end – for they were led to an undisturbed valley full of prey and fertile soils, shielded from the elements by mountains around them. The stars once again shone in the sky.

The nine cats who led the exodus would have their names forever remembered by history – Foxleap, Stoatsong, Lampreyfang, Owlmask, Sundewdrop, Ivythorn, Asphodelspear, Sedgewhisker, and Wolfhowl. They became known as the Founders. Anointed as leaders by the gods, they each began their own Clan: FoxClan, StoatClan, LampreyClan, OwlClan, SundewClan, IvyClan, AsphodelClan, SedgeClan, and WolfClan. Once they passed, their efforts were rewarded by StarClan – each were given their own place in the stars, to watch over the lands forever.

Thus, the zodiacs were born, and have been recognized by the Clans for cycles.

Over countless moons, the Clans amalgamated. WolfClan faded into obscurity; SundewClan starved out AsphodelClan, creating DewClan; IvyClan engulfed SedgeClan in war, creating NectarClan; OwlClan subjugated StoatClan, creating TalonClan; LampreyClan drowned out FoxClan, creating FangClan. Eventually, TalonClan conquered FangClan, creating MarrowClan; while NectarClan and DewClan mutually united, creating BarkClan. Cycles later, ZenithClan split from MarrowClan and BarkClan alike.