Warriors- A New Era: The Lost Clans

Prologue

Hey everyone! Hope you like the prologue!!! I must warn you I'm not very good at writing prologues though. :C ... Hope you like!!! Comment and review! XD

The moon shone brightly in the starless night, bathing the shadowy forest in silver. The rays of moonlight illuminated a icy pool of water that sloshed about in the middle of the silent clearing. A mouse scurried past the tiny pool and raced into its small, dark hole at the edge of the clearing. A moment later, a tawny owl swooped above the clearing, hooting while scanning the ground for any prey to come unwarily out of hiding.

With deadly silence, five cats crept out of the lush foliage and sat around the pool, which was reflected the stars.

"Alright," growled a big mottled tabby tom. "It has been a quarter moon since Bluestar decided what we must do. We have to have chosen by now."

A bluish grey she-cat blinked slowly. "It's not as easy as it is for you then for others, Mudclaw. This decision will affect the way the clans will live for generations."

Mudclaw narrowed his eyes to tiny slits, and his sleek tail thrashed agitatedly. "Of course, you would say that Bluestar."

Bluestar tilted her head sideways, as if she wasn't taking Mudclaw seriously. Though her tone was nonchalant and non-provocative, her flattened ears betrayed her irritation. "I was saying the truth Mudclaw - don't deny it. I speak for all of us."

Mudclaw mumbled to himself grouchily before straightening up to look the other cats in their eyes.  "I have chosen the cats from WindClan that will go on the quest." He looked into the pool's depths that were reflecting the starlight perfectly. The surface of the pool shimmered for a second before sending little ripples toward the edge of the water. The outline of two sleeping cats surrounded by gorse and heather shone in the pool for a moment before disappearing into the water.

The cats looked at each other, mumbling indistinguishable comments to themselves before turning to Mudclaw. The WindClan tom's lip was curled in a ferocious snarl, and his eyes were yellow chips of flint. He seemed to be daring the others to criticize his selection.

The most faded of the starry cats spoke up first. The trees were visible through his translucent hide and star shine clustered along his paws. All the gathered cats, even rash Mudclaw, dipped their heads respectfully to the ancient tom. "We like your choice of cats, Mudclaw. WindClan has a good future." The others nodded their approval and then stepped back
to let the next cat choose.

Skystar, the faded tom who was representing SkyClan was approved along with Stonefur, representing RiverClan, and Flametail, representing ShadowClan.

But when Bluestar's chosen two glimmered in the pool, astonished caterwauls rose up, harsh in their criticism.

"Don't risk the future of ThunderClan on a kit ready to become an apprentice and a newly made warrior!" growled Mudclaw furiously when the apparitions disappeared into the watery, inky blackness of the pool once again.

"I agree with Mudclaw," growled Skystar. "We can not ignore the truth any longer. Danger is rising. If the Clans do not act soon, they will become demolished. It is mandatory that we choose capable cats to go on the quest. These cats have to be strong and quick witted and if you are trusting the future of ThunderClan to young and foolish cats..." He shook his head wearily. "I honestly thought that you were better than this, Bluestar..."

There was a shower of rocks and grit as three cats leaped down the slope. Bluestar dipped her head to the newcomers ignoring the shale that bounced off her ears. "Firestar, Bramblestar, Acorn Fur," she welcomed.

Firestar's eyes were sharp when he spoke and there was a trace of venom in his gaze when he looked at Stonefur, Skystar, Mudclaw, and Flametail. "The kit is my kin," he growled, his head lowered. "Bramblestar's too. I don't want to hear anyone complaining about her! And the warrior has a great destiny ahead of him. Perhaps he will even become leader one day."

Mudclaw shot a curious glance at Acorn Fur, who was just as pale and faint as Skystar. "You are not kin of Firestar or Bramblestar. In fact, you have nothing to do with them or Bluestar's chosen two. So, why are you here?"

Acorn Fur returned Mudclaw's glare evenly. "That kit. Something about her calls to me. She is like a part of me."

Mudclaw recoiled as if struck. "What?" he scoffed. "Is she a part of you like Cinderheart and Cinderpelt?"

Acorn Fur bristled angrily. "The kit has pure ThunderClan blood in her veins, and I will always be SkyClan, through and through. If she was a figment of me, she would be SkyClan. How dare you accuse me of betraying my Clan!"

A roar tore itself from Acorn Fur's throat as she hurled herself, enraged, at Mudclaw. She landed squarely on his broad shoulders, her hooked claws sinking into his flesh. Mudclaw, momentarily surprised by his comrade's attack, was squashed under the former SkyClan medicine cat. He writhed under the chestnut she-cat paws, hissing angrily.

With a massive heave, Mudclaw tore himself from Acorn Fur's grasp, and sank his teeth into her scruff. Blood spattered the muddied earth, churned up by Acorn Fur's trembling paws. The she-cat ripped herself away from Mudclaw's jaws, leaving a clump of fur, heavy with a mangled chunk of flesh, in Mudclaw's teeth.

"Enough!" Bluestar yowled, throwing herself between the aggressive pair of cats. Acorn Fur flushed a red underneath her pelt and Mudclaw balked at the queen's ferocity. "How dare you battle on such sacred StarClan turf! You should be ashamed of yourselves. You are a disgrace to the Clans."

"Sorry," Mudclaw grumbled.

"Sorry fills no bellies," Bluestar mewed scathingly. "Mudclaw, you escalated the fight by insulting Acorn Fur. And Acorn Fur, you foolishly attacked Mudclaw instead of ignoring his taunts. Apologise. Both of you."

"Sorry," they mumbled in unison, looking abashed.

"So you should be," Flametail meowed sternly. "There can be no fighting between StarClan warriors."

"Yes," Bramblestar added agreeably. "What example will we be setting for the living cats then?" He flicked his tail scornfully at Acorn Fur and Mudclaw.

"I would have thought more of you too, Acorn Fur," Skystar ventured sadly. "You're a medicine cat, not a warrior. Keep a check on your temper."

Acorn Fur seemed to cringe at the disappointed note in her former leader's voice. "We really are sorry," she responded in a small voice. Blood still trickled from the holes in her scruff. It stained the fur around her neck a rich scarlet.

Mudclaw also seemed embarrassed, even though most of the attention was on Acorn Fur. When he shook his muzzle, wincing at the gashes on his nose-bridge, crimson droplets flew through the air.

Bluestar exchanged glances with her son, Stonefur. "We can make exceptions this time, I'm sure," Stonefur started curtly.

The two bloodied warriors looked up, their eyes' round beacons of hope.

"Thank you, Bluestar and Stonefur!" Acorn Fur mewed fervently.

Suddenly, the cut-off screech of a tawny owl split the air. Firestar sprung to his paws, his fur on end. Mudclaw whirled around, hissing at invisible foes.

"The taint is spreading," Bluestar murmured. "The time for the questing cats comes nearer," she meowed, louder so every cat could hear. "The malice of a forgotten adversary edges further into our territory everyday. Come, StarClan. We must flee."

And as quickly as they had come, the cats were gone.

***
Far away, blood-soaked tawny feather hit the ground. A hoarse, manic laugh rose above the tree line. Amber eyes shone in the shadows.

And a long-clawed, dark tabby paw closed over the feather.