Silently, several figures move through the shadows of Everfree. The moonlight barely breaking the tree tops to add any luminesence to the forest ground. The shadows closed a gap between them and large roosting bunches of fur.
The slender figure at the head of the pack motioned with its head. The others nodded and scaled the tree with ease, within moments their prey cried out in terror as they quickly took flight. The figures that scaled the tree landed, their eyes glittering with satisfaction at their catch between their teeth.
"Good work, warriors." Meowed the lead cat, her breath forming a plume of smoke. "Those Parasprites will surely feed all of our clan for today." The she-cat's yellow eyes glowed as he looked over the five figures. "You have made ShadowClan proud!"
The she-cat leanded down and took a toad in his mouth, motioning with his tail as he darted off, the other cats close behind. The cats melded with the darkness, in the blink of an eye they were gone.
Nestled within a boggy part of the forest, a barbed area protects a path to their home, a hollow of sorts. A bone chilling leaf-bare breeze shook the stalwart pine trees as the first snows began to drift down from the sky. Few cats stirred from other dens as the hunting cats returned, adding their prey to a pile in the middle of the clearing.
A terrible hacking cough echoed through the camp from the far side of the hollow, drawing worrisome glances from the few cats about. The cough came again, from within a structure made by two rocks leaning upon one another.
In this den, a small light gray she-cat coughed and hacked as the emerald eyes of another smoky black cat sat somberly looking over her. The tom looking down at the writhing she-cat knowingly shook his head. After a few heartbeats, the little cats's body went limp within her mossy nest. The light faded from her golden eyes.
"That makes five," The tom flatly said. "If you keep losing lives like this, you're going to break poor Wilyfangs heart, Mousestar..."
For what seemed like seasons, Mousestar's body laid there progressively getting colder as her life came to a painful end. Without warning, the she-cats body sprang up and shuddered as she gulped in a deep breath then gagged as her new life began. Once her breathing stablized, she panted hevily her eyes shifting about her den. "Pop... Poppy... Fern." She said between sharp painful leaf-bare breaths.
"Nice of you to join us." The tom sarcastically purred. His joking ceased once he caught a glint of fear in his leader's eyes. "What's wrong?"
"A... A prophecy from StarClan..." Mousestar shuddered as she continued, her eyes dark and plagued by anxiety. "ShadowClan... our home, Poppyfern burning to the ground!" The she-cat yowled.
"Calm down." Poppyfern soothed. "That sounds more like a night terror to me, rather than a prophecy."
"A stray cloud will provide protection to the fleeting shadows." The she-cat deadpanned as if she were reciting praticed lines.
"Stray cloud?" Poppyfern echoed. "Hmmm..." The tom closed his eyes and went into deep thought, mulling around the omen mentioned.
"As medicine cat, what do you think of it?" The she-cat nrevously pawed at her soft mossy bedding. "Do you think I should make Frostfall deputy?"
"Do not be rash, Mousestar," Poppyfern chided. "That she-cat woulld lead us to challenge StarClan."
Mousestar purred and faintly smiled. "I suppose that's true..."
"Get some rest and recollect yourself." Poppyfern commanded. "You missed tonights gathering and you're still recovering from Greencough, allow me to worry about the dream." The tom offered a comforting smile to his leader.
"I do hope Wilyfang is well." Mousestar sighed, streaching in her bed. "I fear Amberstar will test his patience."
"That tom will handle himself well, I've no doubt." Poppyfern placed his tail on Mousestar's shoulder as she nodded. Poppyfern padded out of the den and looked up to the stars wearing a confident smirk. "One problem down..."
In another part of the forest, far from the ShadowClan camp, several groups of cats sat looking up to four others that sat upon tall boulders. Some cats leered to others while few intermingled, exchaning smiles and grooming one another.
Of the four cats sitting atop the perches, a wiry tuxedo tom turned, casting a curious glance to the lithe calico cat next to him. "Wilyfang, I see Mousestar is ill if you are here in her place, I send with you my condolences." He dipped his head, a section of one of his ears was missing.
"Thank you, Nightstar." The tom replied with a wry smile. "Mousestar will be thrilled the leader of Windclan is concerned for her."
"Figures a fox-hearted ShadowClan leader would forsake one of the clan's oldest traditions!" A brown she-cat hissed; venomous hatred dripped from her voice.
"Really?" A tiger patterned she-cat cocked her head. "I do believe we have more important business to tend to than watch you two quarrel."
"Unlike Mousestar and the three of you, I don't share dreams too often with Starclan." Wilyfang shrugged.
"Deception is your clan's speciality." The ThunderClan leader hissed.
The calico tom did not turn to the she-cat. He kept his gaze forward to his clan. "I can see you still have not forgiven me." He evenly mewed.
"Because of you and your fox-hearted clan I lost my deputy! They were on border patrol, by Warrior Code you had NO right to kill him!" The cats of the brown she-cats clan hissed at the ShadowClan cats, save for a few that questioningly looked about.
"What happened, happened." Wilyfang said, curring his eyes to meet the furious she-cats gaze."Maybe if you had better control over your warriors they wouldn't have died prey stealing."
The brown she-cat drew her claws and flattened her ears as she prepared to attack, most of her clan following in suite as they prepared to assault ShadowClan."I'll claw out your tong-"
"That is quite enough, Amberstar." The tiger patterned she-cat interrupted with a calm gaze. "We are here to offer how our clans fare, leaf-bare is here and I do not wish to feel Starclan's wrath. Nor do I care what grudge you bear."
Amberstar left her murderous gaze on Wilyfang for a few more heart beats then turned away with a huff. "There will be retribution; tell your leader that!" She spat.
The calico tom nodded all while keeping his calm gaze forward to the clan he temporarily represented. The cats cast questioning gazes back at him, but for those that knew him offered nods of approval.
"Are we going to begin?" Nightstar groaned.
"Why did you cower from that over grown kittypet?!" A lean powdery white she-cat hissed as the clearing dissapeared behind them. "You let that house pet insult us without a word of protest!" The other cats of ShadowClan mewed murmurs of agreement.
"You said nothing either, Frostfall." Wilyfang mewed. "If you're itching for a fight SO badly then go!"
"Do you have bees in your brain?!" The she-cat reeled. "There's too many of them for just me!" The previously questioning meows faded to light laughter at the she-cats reaction.
"I-I think you handled yourself pretty well, Wilyfang." A small brown and black tom sheepishly stammered as he normally did. "I-If you were to become leader, I-I'd have no doubt we would be in good paws." He smiled.
"Well, lets hope it doesn't come to that." The calico tom half smiled.
As the clan got closer to home, the air felt less tense, allowing Wilyfang to breathe easily now as his paws treaded on the familiar soft earth and pine needles.
"Besides, you heard Amberstar," Wilyfang smirked. "They will attack us; when they do, we will be ready! ShadowClan is not to be taken lightly!"
"I do have one completely unrelated question though..." Frostfalls two toned eyes, one blue and one amber, glistened with curiosity as she looked over her temporary calico leader. "Was I the only one that noticed Nightstar's ear?"
"Knowing that old tom, it's probably due to his mate." Wilyfang chuckled.
"Point taken. That she-cat is ruthless in battle." Frostfall chuckled. "It's none of my business anyway, just curiosity."
"Amazing, two seasons ago you hated my guts, why so social now?" The calico tom asked as he looked over his shoulder. "If you pity me then don't, I'm past sulking."
"I don't see it as pity." Frostfall flatly replied. "I wouldn't wish what you went through with Raventhorn on any cat." With that being said, the she-cat sped up her pace as they neared the brambled enterance to camp.
On return, the camp was alive in the moonlight. Wilyfang's group disbursed some headed stright for the pile of freshkill, newly stocked. Good to be home. Wilyfang purred.
Suddenly something squeaked and tumbled into him. Wilyfang looked down to a terrified rustic red kit.
"Cedarkit." Wilyfang playfully chided. "Does your mother know you're out and about? Where are your sisters?"
The kit's pelt bristled, defiance burning in his emerald eyes. "I plenty old enough to go out on my own! Even manticores aren't scary!"
"Well aren't we a fearsome warrior?" Wilyfang purred.
Cedarkit meowed. "Can you take me to see the territory? PLEEEEAASE?"
"Sorry, you've got two more long moons before you get a mentor." Wilyfang teased.
"Fine!" Cedarkit huffed.
"Keep that fire." Wilyfang winked. "I've no doubt you'll make quite the warrior. Just, steer clear of the warrior's den until that day, some cats aren't as nice as me."
"I'm not afraid!" Cedarkit mewled, raking his paw at an invisible enemy.
"Wilyfang!" Purred another voice. An aged cream tabby approached, her vibrant yellow eyes still glowing with youth.
"Hi mom!" Wilyfang smiled, cuddling up to the she-cat. "Hey..." He sniffed her face then sighed, shaking his head. "You were out hunting weren't you?"
"Just because I stay in the elders den doesn't mean I'm ready to be a burden just yet!" Rosewhisker playfully pouted. "Besides, I'm alright."
Cedarkit's eyes widened. "She's your mother..?"
"Not by blood, but I've known this little tom since he used to fling burrs into the elder's nests." Rosewhisker purred.
"I swear..." Wilyfang griped, hanging his head. "Between you and Mousestar I just might worry myself to death. Speaking of which, how is she?"
Rosewhisker's face grew dark as if her age suddenly caught up with her. She looked to Cedaerkit, the tom looked back curiously. "Why don't you run back to the nursery?" The she-cat asked, more of a command than a suggestion.
"Okay..." Cedarkit slowly nodded, leaving the two.
"What happened to Mousestar..?" Wilyfang asked with increasing worry.
"Mousest--"
"I'm fine, Rosewhisker." Rang another voice. Mousestar approached, Rosewhisker dipped her head. Wilyfang's eyes combed over her petite being, she appeared fine.
"You shouldn't be up Mousestar, you've just lost a life to the greencough, I'm sure." Wilyfang narrowed his eyes accusingly.
"I'm fine I assure you, Wilyfang." Mousestar said with a faint smile. "Of my nine I still have seven to spare." She streached her neck and nuzzled her deputy, smiling warmly. "How did the gathering go?"
"Well, Amberstar still hates us." Wilyfang shrugged.
"As if that's a surprise." Rosewhisker commented.
"Well, how's this: She plans to attack us eventually, too."
"I knew she was sore with you, but this is rash even by her standards." Mousestar lamented.
"She has wanted to go to war with us ever since Reedfur died." Rosewhisker shook her head.
"I should call a meeting." Mousestar sighed.
"No, rest first, Mousestar." Wilyfang said. "I"ll have a few extra patrols keep an eye out and make it clear no cat is to leave camp without a warrior escort."
"Thank you Wilyfang." Mousestar purred. "Would you like to join me over freshkill?"
Wilyfang shook his head. "I've got other things to tend to, I apologize."
"Alright." Mousestar nodded.
"I'll keep you company." Rosewhisker spoke up. "We will talk later, no excuses." She whispered as she walked past Wilyfang.
"Alright mom..." Wilyfang smirked.
