The Darkest Moons (Warrior Cats)

Prologue

Clouds skated across the sky, blotting out the thin moon as the wind carried them along the sea of darkness. A breeze ruffled the leaves of the trees that remained in the forest, carrying the pleasant scent towards the line of lights far away.

Three cats slipped through the grassy field, their whiskers twitching anxiously as they made their way to the center. In the middle, they stopped, the leading tom flicking his tail and sitting. The other two, white she-cats of varying sizes, looked nervous as they settled down by the black tom. The smallest of the she-cats turned to grooming her brown paws to quell her fear.

The biggest cat began to speak. "We shouldn't be here. These rogues-"

"Quiet, Swiftcreek. I'm listening," The tom snapped. His black fur hid him in the darkness, his amber eyes scanning over the field. "They should have been here."

The brown-pawed she-cat whimpered and crouched. This is wrong. StarClan, forgive me. If he weren't my leader, I wouldn't be here.

"Dustfoot, stop. You're whimpering like a frightened kit," the leader huffed.

"I'm sorry, Beetlestar," Dustfoot replied, watching her brother. How could he do this? To Fallenstar's Clan, even! We used to be such good friends, I thought.

"There!" Swiftcreek hissed, her fur beginning to stand on end. Dustfoot peered into the shadows with great unease as the tallest grasses quivered.

Three cats stepped into the opening, looking rugged and underfed. They were thin, but two of them were still bulky. Their whiskers drooped and their eyes glowed menacingly. The smallest of the three, a dark, silky brown tom with blue eyes sat down and curled his tail about his paws. The other two, a large brown she-cat and a big ginger and black tabby, still stood behind him, glowering at the Clancats.

"Thanks for coming," the small rogue said.

"Thank you, Vine," Beetlestar said smugly. Dustfoot raked her claws through the grass.

"Beetlestar, I don't think this is-" she began, but Beetlestar cut her off with his own words.

"I think we should begin our discussions," he purred.

The rogue cat, Vine, blinked and dipped his head. "We should. Have you considered our offer?"

Dustfoot looked between the two. Beetlestar, please.

Beetlestar nodded and flattened his ears. "You will take half of the territory when they are gone."

"What of the burned fragment? Has it recovered?" Vine questioned. Beetlestar looked to his paws.

"I believe so. Prey will have returned by now." Beetlestar stood. "Leaf-bare will be a good time. They will be weak from illness and hunger, then."

Vine looked amused, and enthusiasm seemed to flood over him. "Fine. We'll begin the attack in Leaf-bare."

"My Clan will wait until you send need for us," Beetlestar promised. He looked over his shoulder at Swiftcreek, who was glaring intensely at the black-striped tabby behind Vine. "Stop acting like a mousebrain. We're leaving."

Swiftcreek looked to Beetlestar, appalled. "Can we trust them?"

No, we can't, Dustfoot thought bitterly. And they can't trust us!

Beetlestar purred loudly once again. "Perhaps Hailstar will help us."

"There's not enough territory to split with him, too," Swiftcreek sneered. "Besides, he'd betray us, and they'd have to cross our territory to."

Vine sighed. "We'll be leaving. It'll be nice to have prey for ourselves again."

The two leaders nodded to each other, and both stood and turned away. Dustfoot followed Swiftcreek and Beetlestar back towards the forest, stomach churning. I want to warn Clearwhisker, but that would be treason! The code itself states that the leader is the code! I can't do it! Every step made her insides bunch tighter together. This is terrible. This is absolutely terrible.