Shadows in The Emerald

Prologue

A pure black tom ran through the trees.l, panting. The cool moonlight glinted on his claws, his face full of frustration. He saw an old abandoned barn up ahead. Good, I cant walk much further, he thought. He walked inside, seeing many pairs of eyes look over, disappointment on his face as he looked at a brown queen and her mate. "Shadow-" "I'm sorry." The tom cut her off, looking at the ground. "I couldn't fine anything." He ignored the scratch on his tail. Fox-hearted clans. He sighed and climbed up to the loft. He looked down at a cream colored she-cat. Her eyes were closed and her breathing heavy. "How is she Fox?" An orange she-cat came out of the shadows. She was holding some herb, whatever she could find around here, and dropped it. "Not good, Shadow I...I dont thing she is going to make it." She looked down at the dying cat. "The others dont seem too well either. You shouldn't be up here, what will they do if you get sick, if you die?" Shadow licked the cream she-cat. "I am going to save you Leaf, if I die trying." He said before climbing down the stairs. He leaped onto the stack of hay in the center of the barn. "All who are in good health, come listen and speak your opinion!" He yowled. Only a pawful of cats gathered. "I, Shadow, have failed you. I couldn't find any pray or herbs today, our cats are sick and our pray is scarce. The clans are herding everything to themselves this leaf-bare, and we must get enough to survive." He looked around the clearing, waiting for someone to say something. "What if we talk to them?" A small voice called from behind the queen. "Shush Gray." The queen said. "She us fine Princess, all voices are valid. Clan cats are mean and ruthless, they wont listen uf we talk." Shadow said calmly. "We need to attack!" Shouted a voice from the shadows. "Jayda, speak your plan, because we dont have enough cats to just attack, if there was a battle all of our healthy cats would die, leaving the sick and weak and vulnerable left here to starve." A beautiful gray-blue she-cat stepped from the darkness. Her fur was neatly groomed, unusual for the barn cats. Her eyes peiced into your soul. She looked up at him, a smirk on her face. "I have a plan."