The Amazon Rogues - The Betrayl

Ember's POV

The wind howled noisily, tugging at the tough, tree branches that made up the clearing. A small but compact, calico she-cat padded out of a hollow tree, its smooth roots and thick branches slightly covering the entrance. Her pale, green eyes dilated as she looked up to the bright sky. 'Rain on the way' she observed, shivering as the wind whipped her fur the wrong way and dark clouds loomed on the horizon.
She stretched before grooming her pelt thoroughly, not stopping until it gleamed in the dim sunlight piercing the canopy above. She stood up and stalked into the middle of the still cold clearing, looking around at the gradual, morning activity. Blood, the co-leader, was organising a dawn patrol; Eclipse leading it, with Ripple, Ice, Thunder and Shadow.
She padded over to the tom's side, meowing a greeting to all of the cats that were gathered.
"Would you like me to organise an early hunting patrol too Ember?" Blood asked her bluntly. Ember's whiskers twitched, annoyance making her fur begin to prickle. She was his leader, and she expected more respect. But Ember wasn't about to show he had ruffled her pelt. "You may as well. We need as much fresh kill as possible." she replied coolly, not looking at him.
Blood grunted and ordered Scorch to lead, with Marsh, Pine and Nettle. Ember nodded approvingly and strolled to the tall roots that sheltered her den. She bounded up onto one in a single leap, her powerful back leg muscles rippling. She dug in her needlelike claws to steady herself and then sat down, surveying the group.
She saw Orchid and Aspen, two queens, sunning themselves outside the nursery whilst their kits clowned around. She noticed how Jay, the much younger kit, was struggling to keep up with the other two older siblings. She could hear the elders mumbling in voices to low for her to hear, but from the tone they were at peace.
She smiled, this was her group, she was their leader, and they were all thriving. Things couldn't be better.

The sun was setting in the indigo sky, pale stars starting to creep in leisurely.
Ember sat in her den, her broad face creased in deep thought. The way Blood had addressed to her was still on her mind. 'Maybe I made a terrible decision making him co-leader.' She pondered, her tail flicking from side to side. She was brought back to reality when she heard her name.
"Ember?" A deep, low voice sounded outside her den.
Ember rose, grooming her ruffled fur and shaking her head to clear her thoughts. "Come in Howl." She meowed casually.
A sizeable, thick-furred, dark grey tom with a white splash on his chest trod into her den, his fur smelling of the fresh, night air.
Embers fur tingled as she glanced at the father to her kit, and her once forbidden love.
Howl dipped his head respectively, remaining a few steps away from her. "Is everything okay? I just wanted to check up on you." He asked uncomfortably, his voice as soothing as honey.
Ember was about to lie, tell him everything was fine and under control, but she found herself pouring all of her worries and thoughts out to the medic. "So I'm thinking about naming a new co-leader, one who I think will listen to their cats instead of only believe they are correct." She finished explaining, staring at Howl as she waited for his view on things. She already had an answer, but she felt like hearing his answer would make her more certain.
Howl hesitated. "Do what you believe is right, in here." He whispered softly, laying his tail-tip on her chest where her now pounding heart lay. Ember looked into his eyes for a long time before pulling away, her heart seeming to tear in two as if he were one side of it.
"Thank you Howl, then I know what I must do." She spoke gently, before turning back to the medic. "Now go." She ordered more briskly, her voice cracking. Leaving was the last thing she wanted him to do but she couldn't bare to be so close to him any longer. Howl nodded, his green eyes filled with a sad understanding before turning around and exiting her den. Ember wrenched her gaze away from where he had stood just moments before, and lay in her nest which now felt uncomfortable. 'I guess I won't be getting much sleep tonight.' She thought lamentably, looking out at the darkening sheet hanging over the forest.