Warrior Cats: Shadow Propechy (ENG VER.)

CHAPTER 24

Approximately two sunrises had passed since the decisive battle. The Field cats continued to patrol and hunt, trying to ignore their growing fear after hearing what Mountainstar had said.

Sunnypaw was still trying to recover. Morningcloud didn't stop a heartbeat. According to her, her throat had been terribly damaged.

Amberleaf emerged from the medicine cat's den, tail low. Sunnypaw's own mother did not have time to spend time with her daughter, as Treestripe had refused to leave his apprentice's side.

The Siamese warrior looked terrible. He didn't sleep or eat, he stayed day and night staring at Sunnypaw's weak body. The rumor that Salmonnose was a traitor began to spread around the camp, and this only made Treestripe's situation worse.

Wolfstar tried to calm his warriors, asking them to follow Mountainstar's 'rules' for now.

"We will all die if we have to hunt for another Clan!" Batwing meowed.

"We will die if we break the rules!" Wolfstar countered. The cats were quiet, their tails wagging in anticipation. Wolfstar nodded at Sharpear. "We decided that the best thing now is to do what they tell us, then we will create a plan."

Before any protest, Yellowdog entered the camp, scaring the felines in the camp. The golden tom held his head high and proud as it invaded the camp. Behind him was Hawkfeather, Lakefoot, and Dragonflynose.

"What is this?!" Wolfstar growled, placing himself in front of his warriors.

Yellowdog ignored the field leader. "Listen everyone!" He meowed, silencing the FieldClan cats. "Now, Mountainstar is your new leader. The FieldClan no longer exists, now, we are all warriors of the MountainClan."

Growls echoed through the camp in disbelief.

Tinypaw took a step forward. "We will never follow Mountainstar!"

Dragonflynose shook her head. "You have no choice. You are now outnumbered."

Hawkfeather agreed. "You can attack whenever you want. There are warriors who are more than willing to kill all of you.

Wolfstar faced the invaders who now called themselves his companions. How did StarClan let this happen?

"Now listen to me!" Yellowdog took a step forward, making the Field cats take a step back. "The hierarchy will work differently now. All serve Mountainstar, who will be your only leader. Beaverstar is right below him, followed by me, and then Birchstripe.

Wolfstar saw Sharpear snort derisively beside him.

"Below Birchstripe are the warriors of the ancient HillClan, and then the ancient MarshClan. The more loyal, the more chances you will have of eating and having a warm bed of moss to sleep on," Yellowdog crossed the camp, looking at all the cats, without fear of being attacked. "You field cats are at the bottom of the hierarchy."

"That's not fair!" Wolfstar spat, approaching Yellowdog.

"Every four dawns, a patrol will return here to collect the prey they hunted," Yellowdog continued, ignoring Wolfstar's words. "Not just yours, but we'll be collecting from the grove and the shore cats too."

"You can't do that..." Wolfstar growled, not believing what he was hearing.

Yellowdog headed toward the camp entrance, tail raised. Morningcloud came out of her den with quick steps, shouting towards the golden tom before he disappeared. "You cannot steal the prey from our territory! That makes you equal to the GroveClan!" She hissed, completely shocked.

Yellowdog turned, piercing the cat with his gaze. "There are no other territories. Just one. And it belongs to us," He exhaled through his mouth, amused. "You just live in it."

The cats from the invading patrol left through the tunnel. Before following them, Yellowdog meowed one last time. "If you cooperate, you will not be punished."

Sharpear finally broke, taking a step forward. "Why are we being punished?!"

"For existing."

And so, they were left alone. Wolfstar stared at the entrance to the camp for what seemed like an eternity.

What could they do now, with two, probably three, allied Clans? The FieldClan was completely alone, destined to be taken over by the darkness of the mountain.

With an apprentice trapped between life and death, a mentally weakened warrior, a Clan in despair and a treacherous leaf-bare, Wolfstar found himself completely hopeless.