The Six Clans : A New Beginning

♧Prologue♧

"Hazel! We've been walking for sunrises! We must rest for the night."

The light brown tabby with white paws and amber eyes looked at her friend, Willow, a dark gray she-cat with black stripes and large belly.

Hazel remembered that her mate, Gold, had died during The Sickness.

Or The Ill Times as Tangle calls it.

She's going to kit any moon now...

Holding back a shudder at the thought of returning to that horror that was The Sickness,she flicked her tail and turned to her group.

" We will rest among the trees here until dawn. The strongest will watch over us as we sleep. "

Later on that night, as her Group rested beneath the stars, Hazel sat, looking up at the sky.

An ink black, white striped, green eyed tom padded over to her and sat silently next to her.

" You're going to wear yourself out if you keep this up." Night hissed gently.

Hazel looked at her Second with sad, old eyes.

"I can't let a hair slip past our scent markers, Night. For the good of the Group, we can't be careless. How is Willow? "

He sniffed, "She is young and strong, Hazel. She will survive this."

For a heartbeat, Hazel noticed Night sounded older than even she did as if he were hearing voices only he could understand...

She dipped her head.

"I trust you, Night."

He rose to his paws.

"And I you,old friend. Rest well." He touched his white muzzle to her ear and padded over to the hollowed out log where he and Hazel had decided as their den while Hazel continued to gaze at the sky.

Are you up there, Mother? Like Tangle says? Show me how to do this. I need your help.

Hazel remembered with a dull ache in her heart how her mother, India, had been among the first wave of The Sickness...

Her only family, dying in front of her in the dead of leaf-bare, without a single herb to ease her pain...

India had told her to run , flee before she succumbed to the madness that The Sickness brings...

And she had...With a heavy heart.

A sob rocked through her, nearly a yowl of agony as she was transported back to those dark times...

She shook herself.

NO! I mustn't give in to the pain. I have to stay strong.

For her...
For myself...
For my Group...

Even if I have to kill to do it.