The Returning of Bird and Tree: A Warriors Alternative Universe

Prologue

Stars shown bright in the sky, even from the low moorlands. The wind swept briskly past the starry cats settled in an alcove. A small white kit, curled up tighter than a mouse being taunted by rats, mewed pitifully.

"Even the hungerless ones are suffering," A low rumble erupted from a massive tabby tom, with gray patches dappling his pelt.

"We know Smokespot. There's nothing Starclan can do against this threat. It affects all of us," A blue-furred she-cat stalked up, joining the other cats crammed into the alcove. Her pelt rippled where all of her ribs disrupted the fur. She bent her head, and licked the kit ferociously, with a queens' love.

"Riverstar, I think we all know Starclan can do something about this. But you disagree," Smokespot responded, pulling the kit away from Riverstar and into his fur.

"Forcing a cat into a prophecy when only Starclan is effected isn't a destiny we should install. I know many cats that have died needlessly, only for Starclan. The five clans around the lake are most important, and if they start losing more warriors now, in the middle of leaf-bare, the clans will be destroyed,"

"We don't know that. And if the clans knew we were suffering, don't you think they'd be angry we didn't speak to them," A lithe gray she-cat spoke up from behind Smokespot, crouched deeper into the shelter.

Running up from the misty horizon, a new cat joined the counsel. "Who knew you'd be the one to admit we need help, Mousefur. You're known for a much sharper tongue than that,"

"All too true, Silverstream. I'm quite surprised to see you. You turned your back on these skies when you decided to run with the Tribe of Endless Hunting," Bluestar, huddled beside Smokespot shuffled to face the newcomer. "You can't keep switching sides. Your daughter chose, now you must,"

"Bluestar, my loyalties can lie in different places, as your's once did between your children and your clan,"

Bluestar started to bristle, but the wind picked up, now sending eerie howling through out the den. The kit, nested beside Smokespot, jumped from the sudden noise, and crashed into Mousefur. Startled, Mousefur hissed at the kit, sending it flying back into Smokespot, and all the cats hidden in the alcove came stumbling out, whipped around by the wind.

"Sorry," The kit squeaked. It crouched so low into the ground, it looked no bigger than a mouse.

"Flowerkit, come here," Lionheart, hidden in another indent of the hollow walked toward the crowd of cats.

Flowerkit, fearing a scolding, didn't move, but only tensed more. "It's okay little one, accidents happen," Mousefur meowed, licking her chest in embarrassment from hissing at the kit.

"Flowerkit, this is no place for you, let's go," Lionheart murmured gently. The kit, happy to be out of the storm, bounced up and walked away with Lionheart, followed by Smokespot.

"This is no place for cats, dead or alive. We need the clan's help," Smokespot said before bounding away.