And now I write a Warriors fic. Oh well. I haven't seen any good ones, because most people who read this series are young... which I am not. I like the books a lot... so I'm going to write a decent fanfiction on it. I love any reviews I get, unless it's pointless flaming. Constructive criticism is encouraged.
Okay. So parts of this will be AU. For the storyline to move how I want it, to, certain characters will have had certain things happen at different times than in the books. The only noticeable one right now is Graystripe's return. This story takes place when the main characters of the third series (Jaykit, Hollykit, and Lionkit) are one moon of age. Though Graystripe was not there at the time in the third series, he is for this story. Other things may pop up that I didn't notice. I'm getting the names and such of Warriors from the second book of the third series, even though some may not have been that rank where this takes place, in between the second and third series. I'll try my best to match them properly, though. There will be a few OC characters, but I try to keep few in the main storline.
This story is rated T for violence.
For those who truly like the story, this will be a sad one.
I hope you enjoy it.
When the Great Are Gone
Prologue
Hissing erupted through the trees for mere moments before a swift screech and louder hiss quieted the other noises. Several shapes moved around unorganized for a moment before three moved off, the figure in between two of them limp and dragging behind. With a heave, the creature was deposited in the bushes with a thump, and the other two moved back into the group.
One whispered furiously, "Pine was too hesitant anyway; he deserved his death."
The other cuffed her over the head with a paw. "One lost can be a major flaw, Orchid!"
The two cats twisted around the crowd toward the front, where the trees opened up. Four cats stood apart from the group, backs turned. Each stood majestically, and did not look like cats to be messed with, even if one was little bigger than a kit. Orchid approached and made a small meow to announce her presence.
The largest – and by far the most beautiful, with a long, sleek, multi-coloured pelt – turned to look at her, then looked at the tom behind her. He stepped forward, shadowing Orchid from the dying light in the sky in his larger size. "Speak, Sand," he meowed, eying him with deep green eyes.
Sand bowed his head and spoke. "Forgive the interruption, Grave, but Pine acted up once again. I had no choice but to do him in."
Grave sighed and turned around. "He would have been useless to us anyway. I understand."
Sand nodded and disappeared into the throng of cats again, making a multitude of noises, Orchid following shortly.
Grave narrowed his eyes at the sky, turned red and violet from the sun, only just visible over the hills in the distance.
"This had better be worth it, Striker, or I will kill you myself," hissed the smallest of the cats. Her fire-orange pelt blazed, save for the white paws, tail and muzzle, giving her the appearance of a fox.
The cat named Striker gave a deep meow of laughter, turning amber eyes on the she-cat. "Fox, I assure you, this will have been it." He indicated to the land below them with his tortoiseshell tail. "We must set out when the sun is behind the hills. Then we will have a home, and control."
The last cat gave a half hiss, half yowl of maniacal joy, giving his white pelt several strokes with his tongue. "Control. I haven't had it for so many moons… and now I can have it! I can be above so many other cats. Only you will be equal to me." He gave another odd cackle, then turned and disappeared into the crowd, yowling, "Move out, move out! Tonight, we sleep with a home!"
Fox sighed, glaring after the tom. "Screech has to gain control over his personality. The River will take him down if he doesn't." She shrugged, and looked out over the valley again. "It wouldn't matter. Sand is perfectly willing to take over for him. Tonight, we will find out." Cats had begun streaming past her, Striker and Grave, with Screech at the lead, yowling with delight. Below, where they were headed, a lake lay nestled in the valley, turning from blazing red to dark blue before their eyes as the sun's last rays disappeared over the hill. "He is right, though," meowed Fox. "Tonight, the lake is ours."