Warriorcats #1: Vengeance

Prologue

Thunder rolled in the distance as lightning streaked across the sky. The dim moonlight was barely enough to keep the small family together. "Where are we?" RainDapple asked, flexing her claws into the hard ground anxiously. "This place is so much more different than Shadowclan's territory..." Her mate, BoldOak, shook his head. His sleek white fur was glossy and smooth, not matching his dull green gaze. He was a handsome tom, but worry had easily hidden his values. Moons of seeing, wanting, and wishing had cast a dull edge upon the once bustling warrior.

"Honestly, I don't want my kits to live here." She meowed, her voice taut as another roll of thunder shook the earth. BoldOak sighed. "Neither do I, RainDapple." He confessed, suppressing a long sigh. "But we have to. You know what Gorsestar said, 'The prophecy will decide their fates, but only if their beginnings are proper." RainDapple looked away, a single tear rolling down her cheek. "Y-yea, I know... It's for the bet-" She was cut off as a hiss erupted nearby. Lightning split through the sky as a small brown tom appeared. His gaze was full of excitement, but his snarl said otherwise. "What are you doing on Stormclan territory?!" He growled, his neck fur bristling. The dark stripes on his back gave him a somewhat scary outlook.

RainDapple's eyes shone with amusement, but BoldOak was far from pleased. "What right do you have to chase us off?" His dark ebony gaze fluttered upon the tom with a cold demeanor. "A mere apprentice is nothing to two senior warriors who know where their snouts should be." The small cat pinned his ears back with surprise, his gaze expressing discomfort. Why were these cats not afraid? So many cats had been unnerved by the changes, he wasn't used to this stability. Every cat he'd met after the clans transformed were either cowards or submissive felines. Suddenly, a tiny of ball of fur moved near RainDapple's paw. "You've brought kits?" His voice was peaked with curiosity. "Why didn't you just stay where you came from?" BoldOak grunted as if he didn't blame the kit for asking. "Good question, unfortunately it doesn't concern you." Something told the youth that this tom didn't know the answer anyways. His pelt spiked along his neck, the apprentice backed off of the family of cats. "It won't be me that wants to know." He growled.

As if on cue, a spriteful grey tom hurdled over the apprentice, skidding to a halt in front of BoldOak. His back was arched agressively, his dark mahagony specks glowing with suspicion. This was the dawn of the new three clans, and many cats had become very hostile. Sniffing the air, the grey tom let out an disapproving snort. "Shadowclanners." He muttered, turning towards his apprentice with disgust. "Birchpaw... What are you doing with these crow-food eaters?" He rested a glare upon the small tom angrily, but most of the heat was not directed towards him.

"He's done nothing except his job." BoldOak stood protectively over his kits, who were mewling unhappily at their mother's belly. RainDapple herself looked uncomfortable, her gaze shifting from her mate to the visitors. Birchpaw glanced up from his sulking position in the corner of the clearing, slightly shocked. His mentor, though, was not appalled. "You don't need to tell me what my apprentice's job is." He snapped, his tail lashing out behind him. "Keep in mind that you're trespassing on Ashclan territory. Any cats from the four clans are strictly prohibited!" RainDapple jerked to her paws as her mate unsheathed his claws, pressing against him gently. "The four clans are currently still dividing up." RainDapple meowed, her voice calm and controlled. "We decided that Ashclan needs more members. After all, not many cats have joined yet." Her gaze fluttered from her new-born kits to the warrior hopefully. Birchpaw padded up beside his mentor quietly. "You've come to join us?" He squeaked, cocking his ears with interest. "Duskgaze... You've gotta let them join."

"It's not my decision." The grey tom's tone became much softer. "Cloudstar will need to decide first." He glanced at the family of cats questioningly before trailing out of the clearing. Hesitantly, the group of cats followed. Birchpaw stuck beside BoldOak the whole way, curiously examining how different he was compared to his kits. "So, will you ever want to become deputy of Ashclan someday?" He asked, his small tail brushing against twigs as they walked. The brown tom snorted. "Not at all." He meowed, quickening his pace to outmatch the tom's. Birchpaw frowned, struggling to keep up with him. "Why not?" He pressed. BoldOak let out an irritated growl, cuffing the apprentice's ear. RainDapple stepped between the toms, glaring at her mate. "I know how you feel, but that doesn't mean you should take those emotions out on the future warriors of your kits' clan!" She hissed in his ear. BoldOak didn't meet her gaze, instead storming ahead. Raindapple let out a sigh of annoyance, tapping her tail on Birchpaw's shoulder gingerly. "Sorry about BoldOak." She meowed, smiling as the tom shook his head. "It's ok, I know what it's like to join a new clan." With that, the she-cat let out a mrrow of laughter.

"We aren't staying long, Birchpaw." She pointed out. "My mate and I have another quest to lead. Our kits need to take their own paths." Birchpaw tilted is head in confusion. "Why wouldn't you let them stay with you?" He asked, his gaze penetrating the she-cat imploringly. RainDapple struggled not to show her emotion, but inside she was secretly hoping the tom would stop questioning her. It made her think of everything she could do other than this. "My kits are part of a prophecy that will lead them far into the future. But first, they'll need the guidance of a clan

well off."

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