Oh, boy. My first forum collaboration story.

Yeah, I know. How hard can it be?

I don't know, either. That's why I'm here. That's why YOU'RE here. So let's find out, shall we?

The Lightning, the Breeze, the Stream. The Storm. The clans are gone. Scattered in all different directions. The only thing left is the smoke, rising to the ash-filled skies- and the stench of death.

Wind. Rain. Blood. That's what she was born into, the few moons that she was alive. Her name... well, they didn't bother to give her a name.

That was when she found the old tom.

He looks up at her, and something connects. Something dark, but hopeful all at the same time. It was not always like this, he says. Once, when the forests were lush and the prey a running stream...

To when he had a life.

But there are no happy endings in the world, are there?

Prologue

By Stormshadow3

She was watching.

Still. Silent. Watching.

She shifts her weight uncomfortably, dark blue eyes on the rising smoke. The smoke that reaches up to the heavens, almost shaped like a paw, a paw with s jagged claw: and the claw, it is pointed to the sky, almost accusingly, but it is weakening. It cannot hold itself up any longer, and then a soft breeze blows across the world and it is gone. Gone like the wind.

She knows she should move, maybe get some more prey... she shook her head. What was she thinking? She didn't have a mother anymore. She didn't have a life anymore.

Nothing mattered. The world didn't matter. She didn't matter.

Then there was soft rustling in the leaves behind her.

She turns, eyes wide. Her claws were sliding out almost by themselves. "Who- who's there? Come out and show yourselves!"

No one answered at first, but right then and there the bushes shook again and she found herself staring at a mottled, old gray tom. Shaking his head, crouched low. Eyes dim. "You may kill me now. Go on."

She knows that she should feel suspicion, but instead... Something else flashes in her mind. Connects. "Why?"

The old tom gave her a faint smile, his rotten yellow teeth gleaming in the early dawn light. "Weren't you going to anyways?"

Curiosity fills her mind. "Why would I? The last thing this world needs is more killing."

"Oh, you know... For competition. Food, fresh water, shelter. That kind of things." He loosened his shoulders, letting his rib cage show under his pale, almost fur-less pelt. "So why not?"

"The same reason you are still holding on to this world," she answers quietly. "What are you doing here?"

He smiled grimly again. "Oh, I'm doing what everyone else is doing. Hiding. Running. Hunting prey and then missing. Fighting other fellow cats. More hiding and running."

She lowers her gaze. "I know. I thought... You would have gotten used to it by now."

"What?" He gives her a funny look. "It's only been a few moons since it became like this."

Strange feelings began bubbling up inside her. "You mean, it wasn't always like this? What with all the..." She searches for the right word. "Destruction?"

He closes his eyes. "No. I remember when the clans still existed..."

She sits down beside him. "What clans are you talking about?"

"Oh, it's a long story," he whispers. "Wasting valuable time."

"What could I do instead in that valuable time, though?" She asks cleverly. "Might as well listen. Go on."

He sighs, as if all his worries are leaving him. Drifting away like smoke on the distance. "Long, long ago..."