This is another contest for the Warriors Challenge Forum – the 'Strength To Go On – a contest' challenge.
Prologue
Addertalon glared at the leader, watching as Yarrowstar slaughtered his two sons and daughter for their heritage and nothing else. What would Sleekotter think of this? The tom knew what she would think. And he knew the risk he took as he dashed to the center of the clearing, stopping Yarrowstar before she could kill his remaining child, his daughter Sealkit. The sleek gray she-kit was shivering in fear, fur fluffed up, blue eyes wide and darker gray speckles set plainly against her pelt in the chilly leaf-bare air. But Addertalon was focused on his leader whose sickly yellow eyes were wide in fear; gray, silver-streaked pelt stained red beneath Addertalon's overly long claws.
"Leave my daughter alone. Her birthright is not her own fault. And my emotions for Sleekotter are not my fault." Addertalon narrowed his dark amber eyes, baring his fang, rusty pelt on end around his shoulders and the back of his neck. His sister, Copperhead, took a tentative step foreword. He could see it in the corner of his eyes. But she made no effort to support her remaining family.
"Why do we kill half-breeds anyways? Is there any reason? Tell me!" Addertalon shook his leader violently as the crowd of his Clanmates just watched. If this is what even the noble ThunderClan had become… Then there was nothing left for him…
"You have to stop this madness!" he cried out, glancing around at his denmates, the apprentices he had befriended, the queens so careful of the tiny kits, the elders always with a story ready on their tongues.
But they did nothing. Not even when Yarrowstar's paw shot forewords and caught Addertalon on the throat. Almost instantly the warrior went rigid, making it far too easy for Yarrowstar to shrug him off. The gray-and-silver she-cat glared at the crowd and snarled, "Let this be a lesson for those who dare defy the warrior code!" She didn't care when Sealkit crept forewords, nudging her father's dying body. Addertalon saw his daughter and a pained smile split his maw, revealing the deadly set of fangs. His claws for which he had been named for were still unsheathed, the warrior too weak even to sheath them. But he managed to whisper, "Get out of here. You'll never survive among the Clans. At least, not the Clans we have become."
"But, daddy, I'm not strong enough!" Sealkit wailed, digging her nose into his rusty fur.
"Yes you are, my little one. You will… always have the… strength to go on…" Then his gaze grew dull and he drew in his last breath, rigid body going limp. Sealkit let a faint, choking cry wrench itself out of her throat before she turned around and ran. The cats didn't pay attention. All they noticed was their leader continuing her lecture about Addertalon's small rebellion. But, what she didn't know, was that the small spark that the tom had kindled would forever burn in these cats' memories and within his daughter, forever scarred in her crusade for freedom for half-breeds. And, as long as that spark lived on, the rebellion would always have the strength to go on…
Hope you like this prologue. I think it turned out pretty well. :3