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

The Alliance

Is the Clan secure?" a chilling voice asked quietly at the main entrance of Heatherstar's den.

"We have taken over the last pockets of primitive life forms," Direstar replied.

"We are in complete control now."

"Good. I will see to it that in the senate things stay as they are." Lightningstrike purred silkily.

"I am sending my apprentice, Bloodburn, to join you."

Direstar flinched at the mention of the dark warrior's name but mewed that he'd understood.

Lightningstrike's smoky figure disappeared, and he was alone in the gloomy den.

'A Darkhavener, here?'

He paused to stare out of the den's cold entrance; warriors formally Heatherstar's own, hauled prey to his own Nemodians.

They were so underfed and harshly treated that they looked like walking skeletons instead of cats.

On the other side of the prey pile, withered corpses were tossed into a crudely made ditch, and a guard set them alight.

The captives didn't even cringe or wail in distraught at their comrades' dead bodies burned up unceremoniously; they were on the verge of losing hope.

'Soon, it will be too late, even if Heatherstar arrives to fight for her clan again.' Direstar thought with satisfaction.

'We are tired of living in harsh climates back at the Trade Federation's territory.'

Here in the lush forests of Clan Mossflower, the Nemodians will thrive, and he was going to keep it that way.

"As soon as we land, the Federation will arrest you and force you to sign the treaty." Hazelpaw paced on Blueflash's broad back.

"I don't think Blueflash could land on trees. He's so huge."

"Weesa can land nearby Tribe Marshpool."

"As meesa said beforen, it's very well hidden," Hareflop suggested.

"Last time we escaped, Mutts were swarming nearby." Hazelpaw mewed.

"How are you so sure that it would be safe?"

"It's the only place we can stay hidden and ask for help." Sagepelt yawned hugely.

"True enough." Hazelpaw retorted.

"Look, Hazel, Heatherstar, I haven't slept last night."

"Wake me if there's trouble." Sagepelt curled up with his tail on his face.

Yet within minutes, a chorus of shrieking and yowling made them all jump.

The noise came not far away from where Tribe Marshpool was.

Hareflop began to shriek with alarm, which didn't help things at all, while Hazelpaw and Heatherstar franticly tried to calm a startled Blueflash.

"Seriously?" Sagepelt yowled; Blueflash's rampaging had nearly thrown him off his back, and now he was hanging on to the bird's talons with great difficulty.

"Blueflash! Swerve right!" Heatherstar shrieked.

The bird was too crazed with alarm to obey; instead of landing in the open spot with not a Mutt in sight, Blueflash dove straight toward a clump of pine trees.

Hazelpaw didn't know which was worse- everybody screaming their heads off or attacked by rogue pine needles and sharp branches.

Finally, Blueflash came to a halt by landing right into a pond with the sharp scent of weeds and mud.