Spirits of Before

The Spirits of Before are eight cats, who are basically gods. They barely make contact with mortals, and the mortals look up to them as omens of good and bad, or sometimes varying with each cat.

The Spirits of Before split themselves into two groups: one that wished for a more peaceful solution to their arguments over the land, and the other that believed in the "survival of the fittest" rule.

In one group was Empathy, Hope, and Memory. In the other is Despair, War, Greed and Envy. Between them, however, argued over and treated like a toy two kids wanted, was Vision.

Each of these cats did as their name implies, but not just. Empathy could fight, Hope could feel anguish, and Memory wasn't just to remember other things. Despair could feel optimistic, Greed could give things up, and Envy doesn't only talk about how things are unfair. War can work with others quite well, and come up with great plans, just as a war-chief should.

Vision wasn't just a cat to be fought over. In the end of The War, he was the one, with Memory and Despair, who truly ended The War.

The Spirits of Before are let out into the world, free of Vision's binding of each of the Eight to the Orb of Khlre'Grun, for three years every half century, to roam and watch what the end of their fighting has created.