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

The Gamble

"Born of no father, Force-sensitive..." Hazelpaw meowed in astonishment when Sagepelt told him about their conversation.

The auburn apprentice shook his head.

"Seriously, Master, I don't know what surprises me more."

"You were actually a slave owned by Toadflap?"

"Yes, yes," Sagepelt waved a paw dismissively, a disdainful look in his eyes.

"You don't have to yowl it out loud enough for every cat to hear."

The first streaks of dawnlight shone inside the shabby den, making the place glow with faint warmth.

Hazelpaw didn't look satisfied as Skykit, wide awake and curious, settled next to him and listened to the Dawnclan knight.

"How in the name of Starclan did you escape?" Skykit mewed curiously.

"I didn't." Sagepelt flicked his tail this way and that.

"I was abandoned by the slave dealers in the wastelands because they saw me as runty and useless."

Skykit looked up and down at the elder cat's huge form.

"Runty?"

Sagepelt heaved a sigh; he hated saying this part of his past.

"I was found by the knights of Dawnclan, and, seeing me that I was Force-Sensitive, they trained me as one of their own."

Heatherstar pushed away her piece of dried meat, unable to hide the sympathetic look in her gaze.

"I'm so sorry," she said softly.

"I don't think you and your travelers came without reason." Mistymoor mewed suddenly.

"Is it okay if I ask why?"

Hazelpaw glanced at Heatherstar to see if she didn't mind. When the queen didn't object, he told them the whole story of how Clan Mossflower had been overrun by the Mutt army and they were sheltering here for now.

"I see." Mistymoor looked thoughtful.

"But how are you so certain that this Valorheart will support your argument at the monthly meeting in five sunrises?"

"The Trade Federation's attack was unjust." Heatherstar skewered a piece of meat in her frustration and anger.

"If my memory is correct, clans and tribes that are bound to the Republic aren't supposed to attack each other."

"Well then, I hope justice will come your way, young queen." Mistymoor dipped her head respectfully.

"Are you sure he's the chosen one, Master?" Hazelpaw asked Sagepelt. They were resting in the dens while Skykit hung out with Heatherstar and Hareflop. Toadflap didn't call the young kitten to work today, but instead, he had asked for Mistymoor.

Judging at the Toydarian's face when he called for his slaves, he probably wasn't keen to have a kit with red-hot claws in his shop for a while.

"Skykit fits in the description of the prophecy." Sagepelt retorted.

"By all means, we have to get him out of here and bring him back to Dawnclan."

"Sooner or later, Toadflap will find that Skykit is Force-Senstive, and he'll be in grave danger."

"With Mistymoor?" Hazelpaw asked.

"We'll see."

A squeak sounded near the entrance, and Skykit tumbled across the floor, laughing, with Hareflop leaping after him with a playful mew.