Dark Sky

Chapter one

Embertail was bored. Two moons had passed since she'd moved to the nursery. No other she-cats were awaiting or nursing kits, and the silence was driving her mad. She needed fresh air.

The queen was walking toward the fresh-kill pile when she heard the fern tunnel rustle. The border patrol was coming back. Something's wrong.

Vinefoot, Grayfeather and Yewpaw wereand panting like they had run all the way around the lake and back non-stop. The whole clan froze, looking at the entrance of Briarstar's den, where Vinefoot immediatly headed without a word to any cat.

Yewpaw and Grayfeather were assaulted by the countless questions of Streampaw, Rockpaw, Bloompaw and Moonpaw.

Then, the cream furred leader of Skyclan climbed to the high root and called a clan meeting.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the High Root for a clan meeting"

Everyone was already in the clearing, wondering what had happened during the border patrol. Briarstar continued to talk, answering the question all cats were mentally asking.

"Shadowclan's scent were found in our side of the border. Redleaf followed their track from the trees, and they're coming towards us. Quickly" he added.

Horrified and shocked mews came from the clearing. Briarstar, clearly annoyed, had to yell to be heard
across the outraged voices.

"Quiet! Calm down. All our warriors are here, we are on our territory, we have the advantage. To protect the elders den, I want Yewpaw, Grayfeather, Whitefoot, Breezewing and Heatherbreeze. To protect the nursery, Fernflower, Streampaw and Shadefeather. Berrytail, Hazelbush, Swiftclaw, Bloompaw, Watersplash and Wolfleap, climb the trees over there, join Redleaf and drop on the ennemies when necessary. Foxeyes, Snowstrom, Doedapple, Birdclaw, Featherfoot, Vinefoot, Badgerstripe, Blazefang, Icefall, Brookpaw, Blossomtail, you'll keep the entrance safe and fight were we need you the most. Rockpaw and Moonpaw, you will help the medicine-cats, bring them the injuried cats. Don't get into fights," he cut them off before they could protest. Owlwing, Ravenleaf, Beepaw, be ready, you'll have a lot of work after the battle. Together, we are strong. We can do this!" he yowled.

"Skyclan! Skyclan! Skyclan!" the crowd of cats chanted before taking their positions.

Just at that moment, a wave of pelts, teeth and claws crashed through the brambles protecting the camp. Embertail caught a glimpse of a tortoiseshell pelt before she was hushed back in the nursery.

Stoneheart! The most dangerous warrior of the whole forest, ready to kill for power, careless of the warrior code, but incredibly clever, so none ever caught him breaking it, or survived to tell anyone. His bloody reputation followed him like a shadow.

If Shadowclan sent him, it was because it put all its strenght in the battle, but why?

Embertail couldn't stand it, her clan fighting without her while she could only wait. She casted a glance outside the nursery. No one was defending it!

Fernflower was overhelmed by two Shadowclan cats while Shadefeather was balancing on her hind legs, drowning a scrawny brown tabby in a storm of blows until he ducked and ran away, but for each cat fleeing, two seemed to take their place.

At the other end of the camp, Streampaw had joined Yewpaw and the two littermates were the only ones defending the elders den. Embertail gasped in horror when she saw Grayfeather's tattered body lying behind them. Breezewing and Heatherbreeze were fighting side by side on the other side of the clearing. Doedapple, Birdclaw and Icefall were fighting beside them, repelling five cats towards the entrance.

She saw the tree patrol dropping on the ennemies, landing squarly on their shoulders, but the Skyclan warriors were quickly attacked by more opponents. Watersplash and Blazeheart were chasing two ragged toms toward the entrance, and Badgerfang hauled a she-cat off Blossomtail, then helped her up. Foxeyes and Snowstorm were both stuck in a blurr of teeths and claws, while Moonpaw and Rockpaw were dragging an unconcious Whitefoot to the medicine den, and Featherfoot covered their retreat.

Brookpaw tried to help Bloompaw to her feet, but one of the apprentice leg's seemed broken and she couldn't stand up. Briarstar was protecting Beepaw, caught in the middle of the mêlée. He was as talented as Stoneheart, and held his ground easily. Vinefoot yowled triumphally as he chased two she-cats off.

Ravenleaf was crouched in front of Owlwing motionless body, clawing whoever dared to come too close. "Don't you dare touch her!", Ravenleaf snarled. Even the medicine-cats had to fight to protect their den and supplies.

Suddenly, in a red, black and white storm, Embertail was knocked back in the nursery, while claws pinned her to the soft moss ground. Stoneheart! I'm gonna die!, she panicked, but determination filled her. No one will harm my kits, unborn or not. She tried to shake him of, but the tom was twice her size.

When she opened her jaws to call for help, he clawed at her face and she ducked just in time, avoiding a blow that would have blinded her, his claws raking her ears, and he said.

"Well well, if it isn't Foxeyes sister... You see, he almost killed me once"

"He should have" muttered Embertail through her clenched jaws.

Stoneheart hit her muzzle once more and, an indifferend expression on his face, continued to talk.

"I seek revenge for that since then. He will suffer for what he did to me, and death is not a big enough punishement. I'll kill you and then I'll kill him, but later so he can live the rest of his life feeling guilty about how he should have saved you" he claimed angrily.

All the lies made Embertail numb with anger, as she replied.

"The only mouse heart here is you! You don't respect the warrior code and you attack a queen! Without the code, you're no more than a stray!" she yelled.

"Shut up! I'll show you who's the warrior here! Prepare to die, fox-heart!" he hissed.

Embertail braced herself and closed her eyes, waiting for pain that didn't came. She opened her eyes to see Foxeyes on top of Stoneheart, pinning him to the ground and churning his belly with his hind claws.

"No one hurts my sister! he snarled, punctuing each word with another blow at the Shadowclan deputy's belly.

Suddently, Stoneheart fell limp under Foxeyes grip and, when he loosened it, he jumped up, his fangs sinking into his throat. The warrior's eyes widened in surprise, and he collapsed on the ground. Stoneheart slowly walked towards the nursery's exit, a crooked, satisfied grin on his face.

Embertail didn't care. The fox heart could go anywhere, all of her mind was on her injuried brother. He breathed heavily, coughing up blood. Then, in a barely audible whisper, he said:

"H-hey, sis, don't cry. It was my destiny, I-I knew it since the f-first time I saw you. You will be important f-for the clan. I'm s-sorry to leave you", he coughed up blood.

"Dont say that, you'll survive, you have to, Featherfoot needs you alive, I need you alive!", she said, tears running down her cheeks.

Embertail didn't know it was possible to suffer like that, she felt like her heart was being ripped apart from her throat, she couldn't keep so much pain inside her.

Her brother tried his best to confort her but nothing could erase the pain in her heart.

"Don't forget that it's not your fault, promise me you won't blame yourself!" he said desesperatly.

"I swear on my life", Embertail answered.

"G-good", he said, forcing a purr. "I can die in peace. T-tell my s-story, take care of Fernflower when I'm gone, t-tell Featherfoot what happened, tell her that I love her"

"No, no! Don't leave us, don't leave me!" she cried, but Foxeyes gaze looked more and more distant.

He took a last, weak, shivering breath before his eyes closed.

"NO" Embertail shrieked and collapsed, burying her muzzle in Foxeyes orange fur, but the conforting scent of her brother quickly mingled with death.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps and lifted her head to meet the newcomer.