Ethereal Judgement Chapter 1: Musing, a warriors fanfic

Woot!

This is my first ever story…And stuffs. This is based off a roleplay I had with my sister, Kel. I thought it would make a great story so…Here it is. Yes. Um…Please read and review! I'll need help!

Anya

Disclaimer: I do not own Warriors. If I did, there would be singing…lostsa singing. Oh! And ninjas! See? That's why I don't.

---Prologue—

shsk. shsk. shsk.

The rustling foliage parted, and a wiry yet muscular ebonite pelt emerged; acrid optics scouting the surrounding area intently before settling in head of him. The terrain before him stretched out for a good hundred yards, lush emerald blades carpeted the ground, a tight-fitting blanket that would soon die away to nothing but broken brown stems. The five willows lay before him; thin and durable bases coated in a soft auburn, smooth and ringed in a deeper cocoa. Pronged branches diverted from the trunks and grew skyward, towards the sun; lithe, bone-like fingers aiming to catch the golden orb of light just beyond their reach. Spades of jade, withering to dull saffrons and some; even brown. Leaf-fall was just beginning, and leaf-bare would not be far behind. Onyx auds swiveled slightly, catching the quiet sounds carried on a delicate breeze; birdsong and the gentle rhythmic flowing of the river, just west of here. With a soft, outward sigh; the rogue continued forward.

His padfalls were silenced by the grasses beneath his paws; inching closer and closer to the willows with each fluid movement. Sleek, whip-chord tail whisking back and forth idly. Once reaching the base of the first willow, the dark-coated tom unsheathed his claws; glossy and as black as night, like the feathers of a raven. Hooking his claws in the bark, he bunched his muscles, thrusting his hindpaws against the ground, the sable-pelted cat seemed nothing more than a living shadow; snaking his way up the willow at a remarkable pace. Reaching the higher limbs, the rogue allowed himself to slow his pace and padded forward, settling himself in an alcove between the the trunk and the limb branching off from the tree; casting his dark form in shadows. Twin pools of molten gold fluttered closed and the rogue leader released a soft sigh of relief.

For once, it seems... peaceful.

The time comes for every cat to simply forget, and to simply move on. Life really meant nothing and Fallenstar laughed her head off everytime a cat fidgeted at the mention of death. Why fear it? Death was a miraculous adventure for those brave enough to face it. And she in fact, was that cat brave enough. She chuckled lightly to herself. The gorgeous she-cat made her way toward the willows hoping to see Anubis again. The two needed to talk about their plans. Her scent was covered thoroughly with rosemary, making her scent impossible to track. Plus, she had smoothed down her fur, making her look just a bit different up close and extremely different from afar.

Seeing the largest tree, she swiftly sprang up and moved onto a branch, resting her bodice gently on it, the soft breath ruffling her silvery hued peltage. Looking around, she finally spotted another cat...well, well, what joy, it was Anubis himself. Joy she thought. The cat needed to relax and chill. "Evening" she purred, not exactly looking at him. The moonlight struck her pelt, making it seem almost metallic, and making her features seem...angelic. Ah, that was everyone's mistake, judging her and everyone else by looks, nothing else. Ah well, sucks for them.

'Evening.'

The soft voice of the fea shattered the moment of something as close to peaceful as the tom could get. He abandoned the harsh laws of reality and all the fickle cats beneath him, and savored such a life; only a simple taste, before it was once again snatched away. The dark rogue tom lost himself in wondering why life worked the way it did, why did something you long for, peace of mind, to be at ease; have to be so difficult to obtain? Why must there always be a struggle? Anubis grinned.

Because that was half the fun.

Although, he often wondered why, the simple pleasures in life; ones some are so addicted to achieving, would waste their lives trying to chase after such things. Dreams, foolish things indeed. Why must one be granted just a taste of what they could have in life, before it is snatched away? Before life ends, that is really all one hopes to achieve; a simple dream, a legacy. This tom wasn't one for dreaming, though he hoped to succeed in one thing and one thing alone before he passed from this world to the next. Murder. Bloodshed. Killing. These things were all second nature to the rogue, a sort of hobby; something fun. They say that once you kill, it doesn't matter how many more come after, it is all the same. The broken bodies and withering spirits, the pitiful cries of anguish and despair that brought this cat a sense of excitement.

And still do.

Sadistic. If there were one word to describe the cat as black as night with livid orbs as cold as the metallic substance of which they looked as though they were carved from, that would be it. Sadistic, a word rooting from Sadism; or a love of torture. A ghost of a smile plastered itself onto the regal cat's maw; the sheer thought of killing made his adrenaline flow, and mind to fixate on the sole task at hand. Torture is a skill, manipulation and torture go hand in hand; a natural bond that would be nothing without the other half. Anubis was a cat whom showed a knack for such; pinpointing a victim's weakness and using it against them to break them; as said, manipulation and torture go hand in hand. Or in this case: paw in paw.

Either way, the rogue in question was stirred from his reverie by a delicate whisper-toned voice. He recognized it instantly; Ares. Anubis grinned, despite himself, and his hatred for Clannies. This she-cat had had dealings with him I the past, along with once being a rogue herself. Though, he hadn't cared much for her for the fact the she joined the Clans. Though he was quite intrigued she was allying with him now. The devil in disguise herself; she wasn't so bad, for a Clan cat. Despite being WindClna's leader, the silver-pelted rogue fea seemed to have as much contempt for the Clannies as he. This and only this is what tempted him to accept her offer of affiliating her and her Clan with him. That, and the fact that albeit what he thought of the Clan cats, the Wind lanners seemed loyal to their leader through and through, and may one day prove to be a powerful asset to his Master plan.

He would rid the forest of the Clans, once and for all. No backing down and no giving in; they would be defeated within the start of next leaf-fall. Broken and homeless; all dead if he could help it. Flexing raven-hued claws in earnest, Anubis nodded to the WindClan leader in acknowledgement, a smirk plastered on his maw.

"So, our plan? Of course we are no where near ready to take the three remaining Clans by force, as much as I hate waiting. Though even a mousebrained Clan kit could see we don't have enough forces. Even with your cats and my growing army; we need more. The element of suprise is key here, the Clans will be shocked enough as it is to see that WindClan, the least expected of having any alligiences with rogues, is an enemy to them, besides the normal Clan Rivalries. But we need time, and time is of the essence. A solid force is a vital asset to this plan. And once we have enough cats, where is this going? Of course we'll attack, but where? Gathering?...perhaps..."

The short-haired rogue warrior blinked, and began to mull things over silently. He was also allowing Ares to speak if she wished it. The silence was slightly irritating.

'It's only a matter of time...'

Ares waited for him to speak, her eyes slightly closed, not exactly facing him. Her breathing was silent, almost as if she wasn't, as if she was dead or transfixed. But oh, Fallenstar was very much alive. To rogues, she was Ares, to clannies, she was Fallenstar. Anubis was surely a natural born rogue leader, cruel to some, respectful to others. Hell, Fallenstar had an advantage over him, her 9 lives. Because their skills were so evenly matched, it would take him much longer to kill her, then her kill him. Now Ares, you're not making sense she smirked to herself.

What takes him so long to answer? A simple response of evening would be enough she thought to herself annoyed. Now, now, WHY was Fallenstar doing this? Simple, for her own clan. Knowing Anubis, he could have gathered a force outnumbering all 4 clans. Better to go with him, not of cowardness, but with intelligence. Besides, Fallenstar was...and still is, a true-born rogue, from the day she was born. Her aliases, Ares, was unknown to any clannie besides her most trusted warrior. "So, our plan? Of course we are no where near ready to take the three remaining Clans by force, as much as I hate waiting. Though even a mousebrained Clan kit could see we don't have enough forces. Even with your cats and my growing army; we need more. Se rolled her eyes to herself. No really? As if Fallenstar didn't know. In a cold voice, sounding like splintering ice, full of malice, she spat, "Our plan isn't that hard, even a mousebrained fool could pick that up. Your band is only you right now, while I have enough cats so far, the fire has destructed much of the forest, giving us a better chance, but of course, you'd want a better show hmm?"

Fallenstar knew her power over Anubis, it was just a bit, but still worth a lot. 9 lives against one. Plus, the words she said before, it held no disrespect, she talked as rogues did. The element of suprise is key here, the Clans will be shocked enough as it is to see that WindClan, the least expected of having any alligiences with rogues, is an enemy to them, besides the normal Clan Rivalries. But we need time, and time is of the essence. A solid force is a vital asset to this plan. And once we have enough cats, where is this going? Of course we'll attack, but where? Gathering?...perhaps...". She turned, facing him fully, cold eyes boring into his.

"WindClan has just the amount of chance to ally with others as the others do, Gathering would be annoying, we take one clan at a time, and leave no traces on who or what attack them" she growled.

"Our plan isn't that hard, even a mousebrained fool could pick that up. Your band is only you right now, while I have enough cats so far, the fire has destructed much of the forest, giving us a better chance, but of course, you'd want a better show hmm?" '

The rogue leader rolled his eyes, an exasperated sigh rolling from his lips. She just had to rub it in, didn't she? The dark tom gave a slight growl of response, than decided it was best he elaborate, it seemed Ares liked to talk. "True, I am the only of the rogues so far, but give me time...we shall have plenty of cats to overtake those weaklings. Their cockiness of being the dominating power overrides the truth, should they hate to hear it; they will not always arise victorious. The Clans are blind to the growing power just beyond their borders, they no longer see us as a threat...That will be their biggest mistake..."

Anubis trailed off, golden orbs flitting shut for a moment or two before opening once more. "A better show? Indeed. There will be no need to slave over that, it will come in due time ..." Obsidian auds twitched slightly, silence overtaking the pair once more. An irritable growl erupted from the wiry tom's throat. Silence annoyed him, to say the least. Anubis's molten pools turned, to observe the serene ground beneath him for the better part of five seconds before ascending to the deep-violet streaked skies above. The foreign silver bodies of what the Clannies called "StarClan", their still forms seemed to mock the dark tom, whom did not believe in their existence. He smirked.

"Those pitiful Clannies will be begging StarClan for help, only to realize the stars above are no more than such, just stars, not "warrior ancestors" whom guide them like blind kits." he spat, a cold laugh shattering the still quiet din of the night. Stabled paws shifted on thee branch, and the rogue leader turned him, so he was once again facing his 'guest of honor.' His eyes narrowed slightly as she spoke.

'WindClan has just the amount of chance to ally with others as the others do, Gathering would be annoying, we take one clan at a time, and leave no traces on who or what attack them'

Anubis let a soft chuckle of laughter escape his murky maw. "Ares, Ares... I never said you're Clan was incapable of accomplishing anything; it just may seem a suprise to the others, that it is not ShadowClan assisting us, I believe they've helped rogues in the past..." he trailed off, flicking an onyx-toned ear in disgust at the mention of ShadowClan. He believed the ShadowClanners to be cowards, whom had to hide behind their leader for protection, or other rogues; as past cases serve. "Attacking the Clans one by one...yes. And whom shall we designate as the weakest? Perhaps we should take out the strongest one first; not that that should prove a challenge...although, we don't want our prey alive do we? I figure, if we demolish the stronger Clan, the weaker ones will flee..." The short-haired, shadow-pelted tom spoke about the Clans, as if even the strongest of them weren't very strong. A grin graced his maw.

He wanted the killing to begin.

SO Ares's comment about him being the only rogue so far that they knew of in his band struck home didn't it. She smirked to herself. His words also struck home. "Those pitiful Clannies will be begging StarClan for help, only to realize the stars above are no more than such, just stars, not "warrior ancestors" whom guide them like blind kits." Hell, StarClan WAS true. It was how she received 9 lives! Snarling, she stood, glared at him and spat, "Zip it furball, they are true, explain why on our first fight, you killed me, but I came back." Her voice was full of malice.

"Ares, Ares... I never said you're Clan was incapable of accomplishing anything; it just may seem a suprise to the others, that it is not ShadowClan assisting us, I believe they've helped rogues in the past..." She snorted. "Damn right they have, though I wouldn't call it helping, more like just 'cause they were pieces of foxdung that couldn't defend themselves on their own." Her voice full of contempt. Really, Fallenstar wasn't a huge fan of any clan. Ares, Fallenstar, both were the same. She smirked to herself.

Attacking the Clans one by one...yes. And whom shall we designate as the weakest? Perhaps we should take out the strongest one first; not that that should prove a challenge...although, we don't want our prey alive do we? I figure, if we demolish the stronger Clan, the weaker ones will flee..." She rolled her eyes. How stupid could Anubis be? Very. "Idiot, we take the middle, it will determine the other's strength. The strongest clan would just be smug, maybe worry, we don't attack for a moon or so, let the clans bring their guard down, THEN we attack again, this time at the weakest, we leave no traces, and then wait again," she replied.

"Surely THAT won't be too hard? Have some patience Anubis" she growled softly, a gleam in her eyes. Her eyes blocked any emotion, no trace of evidence on what was going in that mind of hers.

'Zip it furball, they are true, explain why on our first fight, you killed me, but I came back.'

Anubis merely turned his gaze upon the forest below him once more, snorting in reply to her comment on StarClan's existence. He didn't waste time on morals; such things as StarClan were only fables the Clans were conned into believing would guide them. His raven-hued nose wrinkled in disgust. Flicking an equally shadowed ear irritably, the rogue leader elaborated. "And here I thought you were better than those weaklings, not relying dead warriors to guide your paws, I thought you would've the brains enough to see through the myths your elder's gulled you into believing as kits..." he trailed off, pausing for emphasis and realizing a soft sigh. "I guess I thought wrong." Heaving another inward sigh, Anubis's whip-chord tail found it's way around his paws and the dark-coated tom decided to let the matter drop; she could believe whatever she wanted. Although there was no denying her "reincarnation", as it were, once she had clearly lost against him; though he decided it was best not to comment.

Acrid pools darted left and right, scouting the terrain ahead, as if something was attempting to conceal itself within the night's gathering shadows. Scenting nothing, the rogue turned his attention back to the silvery fea beside him; in time to catch her response;

'Damn right they have, though I wouldn't call it helping, more like just 'cause they were pieces of foxdung that couldn't defend themselves on their own.'

The black-hearted tom grinned. So she taught so too. ShadowClan his conscience scoffed what pitiful creatures... Molten optics flared slightly at the WindClan leader's next statement.

'Idiot, we take the middle, it will determine the other's strength. The strongest clan would just be smug, maybe worry, we don't attack for a moon or so, let the clans bring their guard down, THEN we attack again, this time at the weakest, we leave no traces, then wait again.'

Anubis let out a soft, annoyed growl at her questioning his plans, and for the idiot comment. He didn't take lightly to taunting, unless he was the one throwing insults. Though, he had to admit, the plan seemed plausible; nothing more than a mere tweak of his own brilliant scheme. Whisking his murky ears back and forth for a moment in contemplation, Anubis sighed, and began to speak:

"True, though it's your job to get inside the Clans, perhaps you can infiltrate from the inside and work your way out? I'll be observing from my borderlines, and of course taking a few side trips along the way. Those Clannies think their borderlines are like strongholds, thinking their simple scent-markers would keep the predators away. Though, I'm sorry to inform them; it is not as if I was but a mere mosquito, and their borderlines were a dispelling repellent. The world does not work in the way they see it too. Not everything goes according to plan, and of course, we shall be prepared. Back up plans are an essential asset as well; one can never tell when plans shall go astray... I'm afraid not even your little StarClan could tell you that..."

The stabled, rogue warrior heaved a soft, inward sigh as silence consumed the two cats sitting aloft in a willow, shrouded in shadows. The soft bubbling of the river could be heard, even over the soft, ordinary sounds of the night. A ghost of a smile graced the dark rogue's maw; soon this picture-esque night silence will be shattered and the broken, anguished cries of the Clan cats or whatever's left of them... will echo through the empty, spacious din of the darkness long after they fade from the air. Long after, the bodies of those too wounded to survive are buried deep within the darkened, disrupted soils tainted with their own lifeblood.

Soon...

She smirked at his words. "And here I thought you were better than those weaklings, not relying dead warriors to guide your paws, I thought you would've the brains enough to see through the myths your elder's gulled you into believing as kits..." Rolling her eyes yet again, extremely annoyed, she retorted, "Explain then, why when you killed me that I came back?" She snorted and added, "And I thought YOU were the smart one" she growled, shaking herself.

Hmm, I guess I can do that, the gatherings would provide the best place to strike. More likely, I guess I can get more information from that time, then any other," she mused. Shaking her head, Fallenstar looked deep into Anubis's eyes with her own, her cold gaze could send shivers up any one's spine, but Anubis was the only cat that could match her in darkness and coldness.

'Explain then, why when you killed me that I came back? And I thought you were the smart one.. .'

Anubis merely ignored her heated retort to what he thought of StarClan. It matter to him that she had clearly been... reincarnated, so to speak. Shaking his head slightly, the black-pelted tom decided it was best to let the matter drop and focus on what she had com here for. Plotting.

Resisting the urge to grin, the rogue leader flicked his ears back, content in her reply to his newest idea. 'Hmm, I guess I can do that, the gatherings would provide the best place to strike. More likely, I guess I can get more information from that time, then any other' Satisfied, the dark tom deciphered; "Yes, those others tend to have a nasty habit of slipping up, revealing their weaknesses at the gatherings. And what has been seen as just a mere mistake in the past, may be their last . . . " he drawled and glanced about the clearing once before continuing. "Killing the Clans from the inside out will be simple enough. Exploiting their weaknesses and using said liabilities against them will break them, and cause them to falter. Then we strike. Does your Clan have any current 'alligiences' with any of the others? If so, perhaps you can gain from them first . . . they wouldn't expect you to be a threat. The others are simple-minded, and once they believe they are allied with another, they seem blind to threats or attacks their so called ally could inflict upon them."

Anubis's eyes gleamed. The Clan's reign over the forest was soon to end.

What did you guys think? I just pulled that from the roleplay but, cha. Next chapter you'll meet our little hero…nie. XD

R&R PLEASE!