Prologue
Greymask stalked through the long grass, trying hard to make no noise. The cool night air whipped at his sensitive ears, his sharp blue eyes scanned the area for any other cats. There were none. Greymask padded softly through the valley and into the trees, his dark pelt coated in rain and dew, he sniffed, a faint smell of cat came to his nostrils and he hastily turned the direction it was headed. The scent was becoming stronger and stronger as he hurried through the trees, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
He came to a halt as he saw a dark shape in one of the nearby oak trees. Moving swiftly, he made his way over to the tall tree, careful not to snap any twigs. The shape seemed to have heard him anyway, as it perked up and slivered down the oak quickly.
"Who's there?" The shape inquired, it had moved enough for Greymask to see it clearly, it was a dark grey tabby tom with jet black stripes that raked across its flank.
"Duskpelt." Greymask growled as he stepped out of the shadow of the oak tree. Duskpelt's yellow eyes narrowed.
"What is a RiverClan cat like you doing on ThunderClan's territory?" Duskpelt asked, scanning Greymask for any sign of suspicious behaviour. Greymask raised his head to look the cat directly in the eye.
"I think we both know why I'm here. Don't we?" Greymask hissed, his eyes icy. If Duskpelt was nervous he wasn't showing it, his face and body language only showed confusion, but Greymask had learned to look past that, and was ready for any tricks the cat would pull.
"I honestly don't have a clue why you're here. I suggest you tell me. Because medicine cat or not, you cannot go parading around on other Clan's territory." Duskpelt meowed, his eyes slits.
"Very well. I will inform you of what I am here for." Greymask mewed, "A long time ago, Duskpelt, you upset me greatly. You stole a cat away from me whom I loved. And tonight, I will have my revenge." Duskpelt's eyes widened.
"Who is that cat?!" He hissed, Greymask cocked his head in mock confusion.
"You don't know? Why, it is your mate of course, Honeyflower." He mewed quietly. Greymask saw Duskpelt's claws slide out.
"What?! You love Honeyflower?! You are a medicine cat, you cannot have a mate, especially not one in another Clan!" Duskpelt yowled, his ears pinned back.
"Well, you're acting like medicine cats cannot love. Oh, we try not to. But, my friend, you have no idea of what happens behind your back. Or indeed, what happens behind the Clans' backs." Greymask mused, his expression unreadable, his voice was mocking, "Now I'm afraid it's time for you to get exactly what you deserve." He hissed.
Greymask lunged at Duskpelt at a speed so great; the tabby barely had enough time to react. With a shriek Duskpelt felt his throat being bitten, it felt like he was being torn apart. Greymask ripped his neck, he felt it tear slowly. With a final gasp, Duskpelt's final breath and been breathed.
Greymask let go of the tom's dead body quickly, pausing to stare at his kill. It had been a messy one. Blood was pouring out of Duskpelt's neck wound at an alarming speed. Greymask examined the body, making sure the RiverClan scent on him had been completely covered up by the wild garlic he had rolled in before, and then making sure none of his fur had been left near the scene.
With a final sniff, Greymask turned around, his tail twitching cautiously as he padded away from the crime scene. Scanning the area for any witnesses, and making sure there were none, he let his pace turn to a run. He bounded back towards the lake. He had decided the best thing to do at this point was to simply swim across it to his camp, it would wash the blood from his pelt and get rid of that nasty garlic scent that clung to him.
As he paddled himself through the water, he let himself relax. Kill number one was over with. Now for the other three.