Creekpaw looked up groggily, light flooding into her vision as she opened her eyes. Secretsong stood there, tail lashing. Creekpaw had always had a very early bird of a mentor, but was surprised to see the dawn hunting patrol cats of the day waiting outside. Taking a small breath and watching the thin cloud billow away from her muzzle, she got to her paws and stepped out side, tumbling into the snow. It was layered greatly, tall as a badger on all fours, and as she popped her head back up with a cold gasp, she noticed the Camp more silent than usual. Balancing her weight evenly, she climbed back atop the snow and shivered. The motion shook the rest of the snow from the apprentice's pelt, and she tromped forward lightly.
Secretsong leapt upon a large finch, and had ended it's life easily. As Creekpaw nabbed a vole scurrying for a den that would not save it, she smelled something behind her. Whipping her head around, she noticed Redflame. He smirked, but disgust shone in his eyes with amusement. Creekpaw was confused as the cat stepped forward, keeping this look in his face. "Evening Creekpaw. Out hunting I see?" Came the somewhat flirty yet mocking tone that felt like bile in the apprentice's ears. The apprentice bristled, frustrated with the suspicious new warrior, but Secretsong stepped in front of the cat with annoyance.
"Redflame, just because they let you into this Clan as a warrior doesn't mean you're hot stuff! Why are you out here anyway?"
"I'm exploring our territory, Horseplace-Stench."
"Hors-tsk! Oh, your asking for it. WHere have you been for the last couple of days? You haven't done so much as slept in the same den as the warriors, let alone mingled with them!" The black she's claws extended, and the blue-gray apprentice prepared herselffor a battle.
"I've been looking for someone."
"Or could it be you're spying on us?"
"Not the Clan. Wouldn't dream of it."
"Then who!?"
A red-brown paw lashed out, and with a yelp, Secretsong was barreled to the ground by Redflame, who flicked his ears with a straight face that seemed almost displeased at the she. Baring his fangs and flattening his ears, he spat upon the bewildered she "Watch your mouth, hairball. But watch that apprentice of yours even closer."
Horror and anger prickled at Creekpaw's paws. This cat had barged into the territory not even a quarter moon ago, demanding to see their leader. When the cat had returned from his conference, he had the warrior name he bore now. Ever since he had seemed disgusted and horrified at Creekpaw. The apprentice was done, and no sooner had she jumped upon the cat then she hit the rocks, and was met with a trickle of blood going down her forehead. She had hit a rock, hard. No big injury was done, thankfully, but the red-brown cat lashed his bright amber tail, chuckled, and left as though he were nothing more than a dream forgotten. The apprentice darted to her mentor's side, helped her up, and the two padded, in shock, back to camp. It was time they had their own conference with the leader.
A small array of cats murmured within the abandoned barn. One, a black she with white spots along her back and a white hind paws, spoke up. "Hush up, everyone! Jet should be here soon, then we can get some real information. Stop gossiping among yoursel-" She was interrupted by a yowl, and a red-brown tom with a bright amber tail jumped up to the hayloft where the other cats sat and lashed his tail.
"Nice to see you all came."
"We live here, you mouse-brain."
"That doesn't mean you wouldn't call a meeting, so-called leader."
"Jet, shut your trap!"
"Raven, I don't seem to have even a string on me."
"Not THAT trap!" Yowled the cat, paws prickling with fury.
"Shouldn't there be a report or something going on from you?" Came the cry of a silvery she-cat. She had white stripes and a white ear.
"Yes, Dew, there SHOULD be." Jet snarled, aiming a glare at Raven, who nodded her head spitefully.
"Jet, hop to it before I claw your teeth out."
"As you wish." Jet leapt atop a large hay bale where Raven sat, and head butted Raven off the side of it, who landed on her paws and spat at the tom. "Since I began spying on that Shadowclan runt Creekpaw as Redflame, it has become difficult for us to perform the job of giving her to her more... seen roots."
"What do you mean, Jet?" A tortoiseshell tom only about 11 moons old chirped calmly.
"Her mentor is very hard to cope with. But don't worry- I know how to make her less suspicious in a wink."
"Kill her?" The kit piped up again, his name Hallow.
"I want the Clan to accept me, you imbecile, not think I'm a killer!"
"Then what will you do?" Dew spoke for the shaken young cat.
Jet grinned. "I'll do what they've been pleading me to do."
Raven sighed boredly. "And that would be?"
"Go on a patrol. I'll catch a dove, it's cries are loud enough for all the cats in the woods to hear if aimed right. That's the signal, alright?"
Raven perked up, sitting again instead of laying boredly on her paws. "I'm interested."
"Then it's settled. Tomorrow just Creekpaw and Secretsong will be patrolling to the Riverclan territory to ease the Clan's worries on them stealing prey."
"And what do we do?" Hallow spat.
"For now, we all sleep. Tomorrow will be a big day..."
He paused for all the cats to become anxious and excited for the final cry of the night.
"To be rid of the Half-Clan!"
"Rid of the Half-Clan! Rid of the Half-Clan!" Came the cat's cries, even Raven who seemed the most excited for hatching her big plan.
The cats soon had all streamed into the areas they had chosen to sleep in, and soon were asleep. Tomorrow, little did they know, would kick off not just their plan, but the plan of fate and a prophecy.