Warriors: Everlasting Shadows ~Book 3 Series 3~

Prologue

An owl hooted nearby, startling the black she cat. She lifted her head, searching for the nocturnal bird, but saw nothing.

The forest was dark. Not even the moon's light could pierce through the dense leaves.

Spectrum kept herself low to the ground as she slunk through the undergrowth, her light green eyes on the constant look out for danger. The forest was unfamiliar to her, far away from the clans. So far she had found little life, only the soft scuttling of prey scrambling away as she approached. No scents of potential enemies had reached her heightened senses.

Straightening herself into a relaxed stance, Spectrum peered briefly over a small bush. What lay on the other side was simply a few paw prints moulded into the soft, damp ground. A cat was nearby.

"Where are you fox-breath?" The she cat muttered with a lash of her tail, slinking onto the pathway to see if she could follow the tracks.

"I'm right here," came a soft reply behind Spectrum. She whirled around and was immediately confronted by Spark's glowing blue orbs.

Spectrum snarled at the ginger she cat. "How did you-"

"I suppose your fancy Promethean senses aren't so great after all." Spark smirked widely at the black she cat, her teeth shining in the eerie glow her eyes created.

Spectrum drew in a deep breath, unsheathing her claws. "I'll have you know that my powers are far more superior than your moon mist." Even the name of their mist is stupid. These cats think they hold power. Well they are wrong.

Spark's smirk faded to a soft smile, glad to have so easily ruffled the immortal being's fur. "I bet I can still beat you in a fair fight."

Spectrum snorted. "Why don't you give it a try, I'll go easy on you." The black she cat dropped into a fighting stance, her claws itching to sink into the smug she cat's face.

"I might take that offer. Another time." Spark responded smoothly, sitting down on the damp floor of the pathway. "But right now, we need to talk."

"If you're here to stop me, you'll never succeed." Spectrum growled, rising from her battle stance. She stayed standing, glaring at the calm ginger she cat.

"We'll see about that." Spark's whiskers twitched in amusement.

"Yeah, we'll see how long it takes for me to cut you up into millions of little pieces." Spectrum muttered, finally seating herself before the other she cat.

"Relax," Spark purred, "I'm not here to fight."

"Doesn't mean I don't want to." Spectrum huffed back with a lash of her thin black tail.

"I'm only here to see what your intentions are." The light ginger she cat peered closer at Spectrum, her orbs glowing brighter. "Why are you speaking with Blossomfur?"

"None of your business." She turned her face away from Spark, snorting.

Spark repositioned herself so that she was in front of Spectrum again. "I'll ask you again. Why are you speaking with Blossomfur?"

"I was bored, saw the opportunity, and took it." Spectrum responded, baring her teeth at the ginger she cat. "What's your problem?"

"My problem is that you're turning Blossomfur against Shadeheart. You're manipulating her to take action in stealing the shadows from him and his mother." Spark let out a soft hiss as Spectrum moved to attack.

"That's all her doing! I'm only giving her the push she needs!" Spectrum growled, once again standing up. She advanced on Spark with her green eyes beginning to glow. The two she cats' gleaming eyes cast a beautiful turquoise shine on the surrounding leaves and bushes, the tips of their own pelts also catching the light.

Spark hissed, taking a few steps back as Spectrum drew within attacking range.

Spectrum snarled and lunged for the ginger she cat, her claws swiping for her face. Spark leapt backwards, throwing up a sparkling wall of shining mist. Spectrum laughed and crashed through the mist with ease, feeling only a warm tickle as it sank onto her fur. "Your mist is powerless!"

Spark bared her teeth and unsheathed her claws. "My claws aren't!"

Spectrum growled and leapt for her again, swiping with both forepaws. Spark dodged the blows and clawed back, catching the black she cat's muzzle. Spectrum spat angrily at the ginger cat, lunging again. She swiped, missing again. Spark landed a blow to her shoulder.

The moment Spark's paw landed on her shoulder, Spectrum tunnelled deep inside her power and travelled back in time by only a few heartbeats. That simple jump took a lot out of her, but it was her winning strategy.

Once again, Spectrum lunged for Spark. She swiped in exactly the same place as before, missing. When Spark moved to attack her shoulder, Spectrum dodged and threw Spark to the ground.

Pinned under Spectrum, the ginger she cat went limp and hissed. "Don't you understand you're going to get someone killed with your stupid manipulating?"

"Well I hope it's that pile of scum NoName who dies." The black she cat sank her claws into her fur, still keeping her full weight on Spark. "A cat like her should never be given power."

"Glitch was foolish to give her the shadows." Spark agreed quietly, not struggling against the black she cat. "She was weak."

"She's still weak." Spectrum stepped off Spark and tore at the ground angrily. "I can't believe nobody's taking action in killing her! She's such an easy target!"

"She has allies." Spark countered, rising to her paws again.

"And with a swipe of a Promethean's paws they'd all be dead."

Spark paused. "Have you forgotten about Zephyr?"

"He'd jump ship the moment he saw things going down. That tom has no loyalty, he's only there for the show. Once it's over, he'll move onto the next." Spectrum growled.

"Then you go." Spark smiled slightly. "You attack NoName. You've just proven that a cat like you would be able to complete the job solo."

"No." Spectrum shook her head, sighing. "I can't. I'm not powerful enough." She already felt the exhaustion pulling at her limbs from the jump in time. There was no way she'd be able to launch an attack on the Dark Forest all on her own.

"Find a cat who is."

"I can only think of Zeye and he.." She frowned.

"He's the perfect choice." Spark replied. "Go find him and make him get off his rear and help the clans."

Spectrum laughed. "He'd kill me the moment he catches my scent."

"No-"

"Yes, that's how it works." Spectrum hissed, turning away from Spark. "Now leave me alone. I have things to do."

Spark followed. "You're still going to follow Blossomfur?"

"Of course." The black she cat growled. "You think you could change my mind just 'cause we have a common enemy?"

Spark nodded slightly.

"Well you're mistaken. Now leave before I deem you worthy of prey." Without waiting to see if Spark left, Spectrum blinked up into a tree to find a good place to rest.

__________________________________