Warriors: The Curse: Book #2 A Shadow Lurking

Prolouge

A ginger cat prowled along a line of cats. He looked each and every one of them in the eye. Some looked battle hungry and ready to fight, while others flinched at every move he made.

He leaped up to a big rock and sat down, curling his tail over his paws. He looked up at the dark sky, barely visible through the dead trees hanging overhead. He looked back down at the cats gathered around him.

"Listen up!" He yowled. "We have to get ready for battle!"

He heard the yowls of agreement from the other cats and waited for the noise to die down before speaking again.

"Foxstar," rumbled a voice from the back of the crowd.

"What is it, Deadfang," Foxstar growled at the tom.

Deadfang dipped his head to him. "If we're planning to destroy the other clans, and make NightClan the only clan, then won't we need more warriors?"

Foxstar bared his teeth at him. "Are you questioning our strength?" He snarled. Yowls of agreement rippled throughout the cats. Foxstar flicked his tail to silence them. Deadfang shook his head. "No. I just thought that since the other clans are big that it would be harder to destroy them."

Foxstar looked thoughtful, then dipped his head to Deadfang. "I suppose you're right," he said. He lifted his head up and glared around at all the others, who were waiting anxiously for his next move.

"Hawktalon, Tigerblaze, and Missing-eye!" He called. "I want each of you to go the three other clans and visit all the warriors and apprentices in their sleep. Tell them about our plan and ask if they'll join our side."

Tigerblaze looked at the ground and shifted his paws uncertainly.

"Tigerblaze?" Growled Foxstar. "What is wrong with you? Are you to scared now?"

Tigerblaze met the leader's gaze. "No. It's just... What if none of them join because they're so loyal to the warrior code?"

"Then they will suffer the pain of watching their stupid clans fall apart, and see that only NightClan survives!"

Tigerblaze dipped his head to him. "Alright. I'll start with TreeClan tonight."

Foxstar nodded and gazed around again, his eyes filled with nothing but power and revenge.

"The Dark Forest has begun its rise!" He yowled. "We will win, and we will be strong!"

All the cats below him unsheathed their claws, their eyes shone with respect for him.

"Nothing can defeat us!" He finished, before jumping down and heading in the forest to go back to NightClan.