WARRIORS | Orphans

| prologue |

____

Starlight poured into the gorge, bathing the sand-colored rocks in an ivory glow. On either side the walls plunged down sharply until they reached a narrow valley at their foot. In the depths, water cascaded from a black hole beneath a pile of boulders, and became a stream that wound its way through the gorge until it was lost to sight among bushes and trees. A gentle breeze carried the enticing scents of prey.

A slender she-cat, her white pelt smeared with ginger and black, sat on top of the boulders, gazing downstream. Her pelt bristled in the wind.

After a while, the stillness of the gorge was broken as a reddish black tabby she-cat slunk out of the shadows. She scrambled up the boulder until she could stand beside the calico she-cat.

"Foxdance, your kits are apprentices now," the tortoiseshell purred.

"But they're not mine, Maplestar!" Foxdance hissed, flexing her claws against the rock. Maplestar sighed.

"I know they aren't yours," Maplestar murmured, flicking her tail, "but we don't know their actual parents! Why must you hate them for that?"

"I don't hate them!" Foxdance stood up straight, her hackles raised. "But they need to know the truth! They can't go on with their lives, thinking that I'm their mother!"

Maplestar stiffened, thinking over the possible consequences. She swung her head to the side somberly before reluctantly replying, "Foxdance, can't you understand? Their hearts would shatter if they found out you aren't their mother! You know they love you deeply! Why can't you be the same way?"

Foxdance's eyes softened, her fluffed out fur relaxing. She sighed. "I love them very much, as much as I loved my old kits," Foxdance whispered, her tail quivering. "Which is why I need to tell them! Why can't you─"

She broke off as a third cat appeared at the top of the gorge and came bounding down the trail to join the other two on top of the boulders.
Maplestar rose to her paws and greeted the new cat that had come to join them, "Greetings, Birdhaze."

Birdhaze acknowledged her with a brisk nod. "I agree with Maplestar," she meowed, flicking an ear. "You shouldn't tell them."

Foxdance looked away and lashed her tail. She looked up at the two others and spat, "I love them! And that is why I'm telling them!" Foxdance twirled and leapt off the boulder and disappearing in the gorge. Maplestar sighed and looked at Birdhaze, sorrow filling her gaze.

Birdhaze wrapped her tail around her paws and acknowledged Maplestar by flicking his left ear.

"I know."