WarriorTale: A Split in Twilight

Prologue: A Clan Divided

A single mighty dynasty once hunted the territories that spanned throughout the forested crater.
This great clan was led by a wise she-cat who bore the name of Treestar.
It wasn't until her death that dividing loyalties drove the cats of Twilightclan apart.
Not every member believed Dreamlight was the right cat to lead the clan.
The violent storm delaying her ceremony for many sleeps only pushed that belief to the breaking point.
It was at the storm's peak that Dreamlight's very own brother took fate into his own paws, and a battle like no other broke out amongst them.

Dreamlight could hardly fathom it. Cats who once shared prey, patrol, and dens; All writhing against one another with teeth bared and claws unsheathed. In the dark storm she could hardly make out her clanmates' pelts. Whenever the lightning flashed overhead, she had no idea whether she'd see the face of a friend or an enemy she never knew she had.

She was forced to rear back against one of the camp's stone spires as Blueberry and Killerclaw rolled past her. The two toms had their claws buried in one another's fur, and their eyes gleamed with wild fury. Dreamlight felt thorns of shock and despair prick at her heart as she smelt their blood. Cats who swore undying loyalty to their clan, treating one another like invading rogues! Is this what you wanted, brother?

She had long since lost track of Nightmare, but she had no doubts that he now searched for her amongst the spiraling chaos. Dreamlight's attempt to scan the length of the camp came to an abrupt stop as heavy paws met her side. The sheer force of her opponent's blow barreled her over. The cry she made was drowned out by one of the black sky's deep rumbles. She splashed into the muddied puddles below, twisting to shove a paw against the throat of her attacker. The tom craned his head back as she hoped. The stark black marking upon the white tom's chest was unmistakable.

"Crossheart?" She breathed his name with hardly enough force to be heard. She turned her focus to his face as the weather's droplets rolled down his muzzle. " You are turning against me?" She questioned, emotion thick in her tone.

"You're not the right cat to lead Twilightclan, Dreamlight!" Crossheart decreed, claw tips curling past her golden fur. The intrusion sent sharp jolts of pain throughout her shoulders. She winced, attempting to fix the positioning of her hind legs. If she could only reach his sensitive underbelly, she would easily kick him away. Unfortunately the warrior knew this. One of his hindlegs stomped down upon her own, bringing her attempt to turn them to an end. "You're too soft to protect us! If we were threatened, you'd abandon our home rather than break the so-called peace!" Crossheart yelled over the storm. His features then softened, making him seem more like the clanmate she remembered. "I'm sorry, Dreamlight... This is for the sake of our clan's future . Know that your death will end this battle."

"Crossheart, wait!-" Her plea went ignored as the tom parted his jaw. She saw lightning gleam off the teeth posed to rip the flesh from her throat. Her heart raced as she awaited the killing blow. It was a stroke of luck that it never came.

Static rose the fur of both their pelts, and before she could question why, a loud crash sounded from the nearby forest. Crossheart froze, glancing to the side as red light began to bathe the camp. His ears twitched along with the sounds of building crackles. She didn't eye the coming blaze herself. Instead she yanked her hind legs free and slammed them hard into Crossheart's belly. She heard the breath escape him and the pain of his claws vanished. When he stepped back to gasp in air, she rolled away and stood once more.

Rain helped to wash the mud from her coat, but filth was the least of her worries. Crossheart had honed in on her once more, and now prepared to charge. She readied herself with her back arched. To her surprise another cat intercepted Crossheart's following pounce. It was Inktrail. Despite the tom's small size, he excelled in battle. With rapid swipes he drove Crossheart back, until his flank bumped into Dancestep and Lostecho. Then suddenly their fight became his as well. Inktrail looked back her way, chest heaving. The rising smoke didn't help any cat catch their breath.