Warriors #1 - The Phantom Menace (currently editing!)

The Invasion

Mist hung around the trees, thick as smoke from flames. It was early dawn in The Trade Federation's territory, a small place covered with jagged stones and precipices.

The eyes of the Nemodian cats glittered as two unknown figures clad in hooded capes slipped stealthily into the mist and rocks.

"Ambassadors?" one of them hissed softly. The cat next to him nodded silently.

"Should we attack, sir?"

"Let them pass."

The Nemodian flicked his tail once, and a small silver rat, its eyes glowing unnaturally red, crawled down the stones to meet the visitors.

"This way, please." the creature stopped before the hooded cats and chittered.

Without a word, the strangers followed the rat into one of the main tunnels of a cave.

It was dark and damp, the floor barely visible though lit by flaming torches on the walls. The faint smell of moss and mud hung thinly in the air as they went deeper and deeper into the gloomy place.

"We are greatly honored by your visit, ambassadors." the rat chittered again, possibly trying to make a friendly remark to lighten the air.

Again, the visitors said nothing as the rat led them into a small room with the floor lined with moss and feathers.

"Please make yourselves comfortable."

"My master will be with you shortly." it squeaked and left the place.

As soon as the silver rat was gone, the smaller of the two shook off the hood and looked around the place.

"I've got a bad feeling about this." he mewed.

"I don't sense anything." the other cat retorted, giving his companion a questioning look after looking around the clearing.

"It's not about the mission, Master." the smaller cat mewed back, prodding at a feather as his grey-blue eyes narrowed.

"It's something... elsewhere, elusive."

"Don't center on your anxieties, Hazelpaw." the other cat meowed, his whiskers twitching as he tried to detect any hidden threat.

"Keep your concentration here and now, where it belongs."

"But Master Horizonstar said I should be mindful of the future," Hazelpaw said as he watched the greyish-brown cat pace around the clearing.

"But not at the expense of the moment." his Master acknowledged his words with a flick of his glossy tail.

"Be mindful of the living force, young Padawan."

"Yes, Master Sagepelt." Hazelpaw dipped his head.

"Come on."

Sagepelt beckoned his apprentice to follow him out of the den, his paw steps silent as he padded out.

"How do you think this trade viceroy will deal with the chancellor's demands?" Hazelpaw asked, constantly keeping a wary eye on the crags above.

"These Federation types are cowards." Sagepelt meowed.

"The negotiations will be short."

In another den, Direstar was having a nasty shock as the silver rat told him about the visitors.

"What?"

"What did you say?"

"The ambassadors are Dawnclan knights, I believe." the rat chittered, unaware of its leader's alarm.