Chapter One
He knew there was something unsettling about the forest. It was just past sunhigh, yet the entire forest was silent. No rustling leaves or even the distant crash of the river. The sky was a clear cloudless canvas, the summer sun beating down harshly on the foliage.
Maplestorm couldn't stop the feeling of dread prickling along his spine. He realized it was irrational- at least partly. Sure, the Clans had never really been on good terms. Aside from the rare idealistic truce, they were always poised and prepared for attack. The odd thing was there had been no sign of either of the three other Clans for several dawns. Even their borders were starting to lose weaken scent wise. He wondered if they thought they could lure in intruders that way to deal out just punishment.
That seemed utterly ridiculous the more he thought about it. DewClan and StoneClan knew BreezeClan wouldn't hesitate to cross borders if the oppurtunity presented itself. Maplestorm had also noticed his own clan taking great care to double down on barriers and collecting more herbs. BreezeClan never did anything without good reason.
He leapt from his position atop a fallen tree. His paws slid on top of the slippery moss on the ground yet he remained upright. Maybe a bit of hunting could take his mind off of his unease. Besides, prey wasn't going to catch itself.
He was sure there were at least a few birds up in the trees despite how silent they were. That wouldn't do his hunting any go, seeing as how poor a tree climber he was. Nor did his slight fear of heights do him any good either. He would have to make due with ground level hunting then.
There was a shrew picking its way among the undergrowth, methodically weaaving throght the denser sections. Maplestorm crouched, deftly sliding along the ground after it. He brushed against a leaf and froze, as did the shrew. He held his breath and waited. The shrew peered around wildly, but continued its venture. Just as Maplestorm prepared to spring, a series of snarls and shouts ripped through the air, sending the shrew scurrying away.
Maplestorm didn't bother giving chase- it was too laste for that. He rose from his crouch, ears straining to whatever sound have interupted his hunt. It was steadily growing louder (and closer?) rapidly. It was from the direction of the StoneClan border. Feeling a pang of concern, he took off towards it.
The forest blurred into a sheet of green. Air whistled in his ears as he raced towards the border. As he neared, the feeling of dread began to creep its way back up his spine. This time he had the feeling it was warranted. The cacophany grew to almost unbearable levels as he neared the edge of the shared border. He stopped short of it, choosing to slip behind a large rock formation. He peered around it cautiously.
Just beyond the border was mayhem. Cats were locked in combat all over the place. Maplestorm could catch the strong scents of DewClan and VioletClan among that of StoneClan. His heart began to race. Were the two clans trying to chase out the other?
A gray she-cat stumbled, falling to her side. She was quickly mobbed by a gang of younger warriors, her horrific screeches evetually drowned out by the fighting. The sharp scent of blood hit his nose as he surveyed the carnage. The ground did seem oddly colored...
A large band of cats broke away from the fighting, charging straight for the border. Maplestorm pressed himself against the stone, watching them zoom past him on to BreezeClan territory. Alarmingly he noticed a number of StoneClan cats among them. Were they not simply after StoneClan after all?
Realization hit him like a flying badger. This wasn't an aliiance against anyone clan. This was an all out war. And BreezeClan was next in line.