A/N: Hello! For once I'm starting something totally new. This will be the first book that I'll complete with eccentric characters and a simplistic but well thought out plot. Bear with me when I say that it will be a long and tedious journey. The outcome will be worth it in the end. Now, this story will revolve around Clan life and not so much entirely in it. Several POVs from all aspects of life will be here. Some falling shorter than others but it's all for the sake of entertaining you guys, the readers.

Also, I started a pov so any questions and concerns will be answered there. My blog name is the same as my FFn username. You can find it on my profile page.

Without further ado I give you 0 chapter!

Prologue

The moon was a floating disk in the star-baring sky. Speckled starlight gave way to a sense of warmth despite the heavy blanket of night. River water cascaded down the side, flowing roughly with rugged skin of the mountain.

"So it begins," a skinny tom filled in the cave watching as the small, gray shape quivered in fear despite himself. Illuminating in the gloom was the dark tom's eyes, sauntering after the young cat that easily blended within the surrounded rock way.

"You'll never get away with this," he spat, letting what was left of his fur bristle in derision. "They'll come for me and when they do you'll be crowfood!"

The black tom's belly rippled in quiet laughter. "Try as they might those fools won't be able to sour our seasons long plan. No, dear kit, your heroes paw-picked by the spirit dwellers of the stars cannot help you this time. Nor will they ever."

The shivering bundle of fur and meat glowered at the tom, fear flashing in his eyes but not giving the rogue the satisfaction of triumph over his battered faith.

"No," blood dripped down his muzzle as he struggled to stand-defiant against the seasoned tom. "You're the only fool I see. I may not have the power to stop you or the others here but someone will. StarClan willing, the-"

Heavy rocks smoldered his courageous grandeur. Crushing the air from his chest as the weighted earth pummeled what was left of his strength. His fire snuffed out by a simple, tenacious twitch of a tail.

The black rogue inched closer to the fallen and possibly dead cat. "Hm, that was a little unexpected occurrence but.." He trailed off, lifting his head to a ragged pelt tom and two other unnamed rogues.

"It worked out for the better. Wouldn't you agree?" He grinned from ear to ear as the band of three cats descended down toward the scrawny black cat.

"Castiel, honestly, you couldn't pick a better location than the back end of the valley?" The patchy-furred tom shouldered past his groupmate. His followers close behind his hindquarters.

Castiel chuckled. "If not here than where else, R'athn? We can't all roam freely as we once did. Thorn Valley is at its life expectancy and you know that better than anyone."

R'athn passed a halfhearted glance at the underfed tom. He wonder sometimes why he even bothered to commute when all his groupmate did was torture and preach about the coming days. When no hunger, no weather, nor valley would have to sojourn in their minds as long as they lived.

"Bastet is the one you should thank for that." R'athn growled. "He initiates attack patterns and the best possible places for food. I just do the tasks that he's given me and if I don't complete them to his satisfaction then punishment is the best next thing."

Castiel rolled his eyes. "Yes, we all know that bit. Your everyday message to 'stay focused' on what's at paw is most appreciated, R'athn."

He turned his back on the tom peering at his expecting guests. "Thankfully, he left the most potent position for me. Manipulation is my best skill, don't you agree?"

R'athn was already grabbing himself a rabbit carcass from a pile of half-frozen prey. His stationed cats licked their lips expectantly but he only shot a glare at them. They looked elsewhere.

He sunk down to his belly, tearing away at the thin morsel of more bone than meat. He was ravished from a trek down the mountain scanning for accessible territory to claim.

"When Bastet stops fretting impatiently over the next attack then I'll think about replenishing our lost numbers. But until then, stop jabbing me with questions."

The black tom whiskers twitched, chortling over said words. "No need to get hostile. I understand your motives. You want the job quick, fast and in a hurry."

"Damn straight." The rogue spittle bits of his food and saliva over his paws. Castiel frowned at the unrefined manners. He didn't surmise less of him.

"I'll just be over here interrogating the weak minded kitties." He smiled pleasantly glad to step away from such grotesque sight.

His prisoners huddled closer. A sea of pelts mashed into one seamless creation of unnatural colors. Castiel counted the heads of his cats, their genders, and possible ages. He registered a special file for each and every one of them before sealing it within his mind.

"I'm sure you've witness that little unlucky accident with that little leaf-cat of yours." His tail flicked to the uneven breathing of the small gray tom, crushed under the weight of rocks but still managed to survive.

"You wouldn't want something like that to happen anymore would you?" Several small heads shook back and forth before a much older cat whispered to them to seize action.

Castiel's muzzle raised in anticipation. "You there, small and with a weird twitch in your eye."

The tabby she-cat pricked her ears. A visible swallow passing down her throat. Her tiny paws were light as a feather when she padded closer to Castiel. He had much patients for the uncertain and naive.

She was a pretty little thing whatever her name was. It didn't matter. She would help in their future tactics in the long run.

"What's your name, lady?" Her eyes fell to her white toes that jerked even by the slightest bit of movement.

He asked again, letting his tail tip slide under her chin and lift her face to his. "Miss, I asked you for your name."

"E-Echolight, sir." She addressed with little formality.

"Oh, you do have some class about you, hm?" Castiel tittered. She nodded slowly unsure of his course of action.

"Don't be afraid, Echolight." His eyes bore into her. "I just want you to tell me a few things about your group. For instance, are their others below the mountain like you, or how you go functioning with your daily lives. Simple things."

Echolight quivered. "I-I'm n-n-not suppose to tell you. Smokefrost sai-"

"He's dead." R'athn spoke up from behind. His eyes guarded and neutral despite the shock reflecting in the warrior she-cat. Castiel warned him off with one look but the tom ignored him.

"He died fighting two of our cats when we told him to stand down and he didn't. It's his own fault." R'athn could briefly hear a whimper escape the mouth of the she-cat warrior.

She crumbled where she stood, muzzle hidden under her paws as a ripple of sorrow trickle down her body. Castiel jostle R'athn who took several paces back from the vexed black tom.

"You wanted nothing to do with this." He hissed. "So I would like for you to acknowledge my request in saying that you stay out of my business." He unsheathed his claws.

Castiel's eyes narrowed. "Or I'll give you something so you will."

Ragged pelt shook with scorn as he drifted away again murmuring some nonsense. He kicked away his prey letting his followers scavenge the little to no remains.

He watched him go, eyes burning holes in the back of his pelt. Castiel shook himself padding past Echolight and to the clustered band of clancats. His eccentric smile spreading across his dark features. Golden-green eyes radiant against the gloom.

"Let's try this once more, shall we?" He stalked closer to them as they feared of what was to come.