Prologue
The forest was dark, and the only noise came from the trees, their branches swaying in the wind. A patrol crept through the leaves, careful to not make a sound. But beyond their sight, another group of cats lay in wait, preparing for the right moment to strike.
The first patrol came into view, and the cats pounced. The forest came alive with battle, and blood soon spattered the ground.
A large gray tom had pinned down a white she-cat. "This part of the territory is ours!" he spat.
"Never!" The she-cat growled. She clawed at him with her hind legs, and the tom jumped off, smiling as his threats taunted the small she-cat.
The tom bared his teeth and lunged at her, this time pushing her over the side of the gorge beside them. The she-cat clung onto the edge, terrified of falling in.
A brown tabby tom, Grassclaw, pulled away from his opponent to see the she-cat near being swept away into the dark waters.
"Whitepelt!" he yowled, launching himself at her attacker. He pinned the large gray tom down on the ground. "You know that an honorable warrior does not kill to win battles, Grayheart!" Grassclaw spat.
Grayheart easily threw the smaller cat off, and he charged to the edge of the gorge in an attempt to push Whitepelt, who was desperately hauling herself up, off the edge for good.
Grassclaw yowled and hurled himself in Grayheart's way, not hesitating when he saw Grassclaw.
As Grassclaw slipped over the edge, Whitepelt caught sight of his forest-green eyes. She could not see but a hint of fear in his forest-green eyes as he plummeted down towards the raging river below. She caught his eye, and he stared back, before death claimed him through the swirling chaos beneath them.
He was gone. Forever.