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

Return to Mossflower

It was night when they got to the Starpool, so the silvery water's surface was littered with countless white jewels.

On this day, tribes and clans bound to the republic would come together to discuss things.

Tonight, it held her kingdom's fate as well as Valorheart's.

Heatherstar shivered without her knowing it.

"The Cliff recognizes the senator from the sovereign clan of Mossflower." Valorheart's mew was magnified three times his original voice.

Heatherstar and Pebblepatch stood up from the boulder where they were sitting and faced the figures of many, many cats.

"Supreme Chancellor, delegates of the senate," Pebblepatch began as the crowd went silent.

"A tragedy has occurred..."

"Which started right here with the taxation of trade routes... and now has engulfed our entire clan in the oppression of the Trade Federation."

"This is outrageous!" Heatherstar heard Direstar yowl protest not far away.

"I object to the senator's statements!"

Valorheart narrowed his eyes at Direstar's outburst; he clearly hadn't permitted him to speak, yet.

"The chair does not recognize the senator from the Trade Federation at this time." the silver tom mewed smoothly, yet there was a warning growl in his tone.

Direstar flattened his ears and took a step back, while his cowardly companions looked away from the silver cat's piercing stare.

"To state our allegations, I present Queen Heatherstar, recently elected ruler of clan Mossflower, who speaks on our behalf." Pebblepatch meowed.

Heatherstar stepped forward, forcing herself to relax to show no emotion.

Glittering eyes stared at her here and there, nearly winning over the brightness of the stars reflected in the vast pond of water.

"Honorable representatives of the Republic," she began.

"I come to you under the gravest of circumstances."

"Clan Mossflower has been invaded by the Mutt armies of the Trade-"

"I object!" came Direstar's hateful meow again.

"There is no proof!"

Direstar's glittering black eyes stared into her own, yet she could see fear veiled inside them; if Valorheart found out he broke the most sacred law to all the groups bound to the Republic, the Trade Federation would be banished from Republic territory, or be punished.

Here, the Republic holds greater power than any leader attending the meeting.

"We recommend a commission to be sent to clan Mossflower to ascertain the truth." one of Direstar's cronies hissed at Valorheart, who had a cold look in his eyes; he wasn't pleased that Direstar had cut off the other speaker's words again.

"The Tribe of Malastare concurs with the honorable delegate from the Trade Federation." Russetstar, whose group was beside Direstar's own stepped up and mewed.

Heatherstar forced herself not to snarl when Direstar shot her a smug look.

"A commission must be appointed-"

Russetstar's words quickly became lost in Heatherstar's mind.

"Enter the bureaucrat, the true rulers of the Republic." came Pebblepatch's disapproving mew.

"And on the payroll of the Trade Federation, I might add."

"See here, Heatherstar, this is where Valorheart's strength will disappear."