It's been a while! What's up my fellow Warriors fans?

Again, huge thanks to everyone for reading Dreams. All the positive reviews and favorites kept me going through that.

Here's my new story. Let me make it clear that this has nothing to do with Dreams. In fact, this takes place after Twilight, the fifth book of the New Prophecy series.

Meles Meles

Prologue

A group of cats stood in a large clearing. Stars shone through their pelts. An air of angst and desperation seemed to hold the group down. The cats all muttered to one another, their tails drooped low and bodies crouched. Anxious whispers were heard by terrified ears. One might even go as far to say the group had just lost their home.

"ThunderClan has held off the badgers!" a cat announced.

"A shallow victory though," another responded.

A blue gray furred cat stepped forward. "It is a victory nonetheless," she meowed.

"The enemy still has set up camp at the lake," A brown cat has called. "They will call in more reinforcements. They will overwhelm the clans! We will lose our new home!"

The blue gray cat looked at the brown cat. "ThunderClan will fight or die!"

"As will ShadowClan," a black tom stepped forward.

"WindClan too!" a tall, skinny cat called out.

"Thank you, Tallstar, Nightstar," the blue cat meowed. She turned to another group of cats. "I know you are going through a lot, Crookedstar. But will your clan stand with us?"

The old leader sighed. "We have lost three warriors, an apprentice, and all our elders in the raid. We have nowhere to go. We will fight, Bluestar."

"Very well," Bluestar meowed. "Now that we have that out of the way, we need to discuss how we are going to win this war."

"Bluestar, the only way to win is to outsmart our opponent," a cat called. Every cat turned their attention to him. "These are badgers! We cannot win with blunt force. It takes two, sometimes three cats to take down one. We need to strategize. We need all the clan leaders to strategize."

"I agree with Stonefur," Tallstar announced. "The only way we can win is if all clans stick together."

"Even if we do that, we still might lose the lake," a cat called out grimly. Murmurs of agreement arose from the cats.

"I have an idea!" an old, ancient cat yowled across the clearing. Everyone looked at the newcomer, who had two more cats at his side. The orange tom stepped forward with his massive white paws.

Immediately, every cat in the clearing dipped their heads in respect of the legends. "Thunderstar, Riverstar, and Windstar, to what do we owe the pleasure?" Bluestar asked the elder leaders.

"Cats of StarClan!" the old cat called. "The only way to secure victory is to use Bein!"

Surprised murmurs broke out across the cats. "We can't use him! He is a monster!" A cat meowed urgently.

"We have already discussed this and agreed to it. Shadowstar has gone to the dark forest to fetch a cat who knows the whereabouts of Bein," the cat known as Riverstar explained.

"Think about it. The badgers have us out powered," Windstar tried to explain his side even further. "Even strategy might not be enough to win. We use Bein and we have a powerful weapon."

The cats were met with silence, a silence of shock that eventually faded away into a grim understanding of the situation. No cat wanted to do it, but realized it was this or fade away like many other cats before them.

"I don't like this as much as any other cat. But I have come to the conclusion that it will secure us victory over the badgers," Thunderstar told his thoughts.

"What cat among the clans will you ask to hold the burden?" Tallstar asked.

The orange cat opened his mouth to answer but was interrupted by footsteps coming from behind him. "Ah Shadowstar, did you bring the cat I asked for?" he turned to the black cat approaching him.

"I did," the she cat replied irritably. "I hope I never see this piece of disgrace to my clan again."

"I have a proposition for you," Thunderstar told the cat.

"Go ahead, I'm listening, old one," the cat replied.

"You speak to him with respect!" Shadowstar commanded. "I should cut you down right now!"

"I'd like to see you try," the dark cat responded as he unsheathed his claws.

"Enough both of you!" Thunderstar roared. "Shadowstar, remember he was raised in my clan too." After a moment of silence, the old ThunderClan leader continued. "We want your help to navigate through the dark forest to find Bein."

"Bein? What do you need him for?"

"Tigerstar, I have no time to explain," Thunderstar answered impatiently. "Will you help us or not?"

Tigerstar looked at the old orange cat. "What is in it for me?"

XxxxxxxX

"Bein is just over here," Tigerstar instructed.

"You are sure?" Thunderstar asked.

Tigerstar nodded. "This is his territory. We know better than to mess with him."

It just seemed like any other part of the dark forest. The eternal moonless night bled through the trees. A creepy mist crept through the forest. Thunderstar took one step across the border and was immediately overwhelmed by a familiar scent. It was a smell he had not smelled in many, many moons. "I can smell the malice," Riverstar muttered.

The group of five cats ventured further into the territory. A mouse scampered in front of the cats and into the underbrush. Tigerstar looked at Thunderstar. "Do you think we can have a hunt?"

"This is Bein's territory," Thunderstar growled. "You ask him that."

"Right. It's just that…we only have adders where we are and-"

"Then you should have been good in life!" Shadowstar interrupted him.

"He wasn't good! He killed more cats than I did! How does that bastard get mice in his territory?" Tigerstar exploded at her.

Thunderstar was silent for a moment. "I begged the Gods," he answered, his voice low. Tigerstar looked at the old leader in surprise. "I don't blame him for his insanity. It is something out of his reach, our reach, even their reach."

"You actually spoke to the creators?" Tigerstar whispered, clearly still in a state of shock. "You saw them?"

"Once. Just once," Thunderstar answered a thoughtful look on his face. He closed his eyes as if he were reliving the moment. After a few seconds, he opened them. "They are very kind." Thunderstar walked away, issuing an end to the conversation.

"But what about me?" Tigerstar asked. "Look at how I was trained! My mentor was as brutal as I was!"

"You are harder on your apprentices than Thistleclaw will ever be!" Windstar yelled. "Not only that but two of your so called apprentices to your way of teaching broke away! Ravenpaw and Longtail were both subjected the ways you taught and they still turned out fine! They can distinguish between right and wrong, something you can never do!"

"Is that screaming in my territory?" a voice called from the trees. The cats huddled together and looked around. It sounded as if it were coming from all around them. "Are there cats in my territory?" the hoarse voice called again.

"Bein! It is Thunderstar!" the orange cat called as he stepped forward.

At last, a figure stepped forward through the trees. "Thunderstar?" A cream colored cat called as he started walking towards the cats. The cats' tensions were high. Even Shadowstar started trembling. "It is Thunderstar! And it looks like you brought the other leaders as well. What a joyous reunion!" He approached the cats. Then he saw Tigerstar. "Who is this?" he sniffed the youngest cat of the group. "I like him. He reeks of want and vengeance. Can I kill him? Look into my eyes, young one."

Thunderstar reached up and gave Tigerstar a little nudge, waking up the trembling tom. "This is Tigerstar. No you may not kill him. You are correct, he is a cat of the dark forest, and stop trying to get cats to look into your eyes. You know that scares them."

Tigerstar stood, mouth agape, trembling in fear. At last words found him. "Red! His eyes are red!" he cried out. "He really is a…"

Bein walked right up to Tigerstar. "A what, young one? A monster? A demon? There are many names for me. But I am simply a cat who is very good at fighting."

"Right, sorry, Bein," Tigerstar meowed slowly. "The deal is still on, right Thunderstar?"

"Yes it is, Tigerstar," Thunderstar sighed. Thunderstar looked at Bein. The cream colored cat did indeed have blood red eyes and scars covered his body. The most distinguishing scar was the one on his face. He had three parallel marks running down the left side of his face. Once they reached the bottom of his jaw, the marks circled around and went straight across his face and towards his right ear. 'If they knew him as well as I do, they might understand his insanity,' the old leader thought.

"Hmm, I don't remember that scar, Bein," Thunderstar motioned at his chest.

"Ah, yes. A group of cats came to my area a while back. They said they were taking it and my prey. Those dumb mouse-brains thought they could take me on. I let one of them hit me in there to make them feel like they were winning," Bein went on casually. He smiled at the cats. "I slaughtered them. Thought they would put up a better fight with them outnumbering me six to one. I can't complain though, it was the only fight I've had since you killed me, Thunderstar."

"Yes, I heard Mouseclaw and his gang were gathering people to take this place," Tigerstar commented. "I almost went with them, but Mouseclaw wanted to be in charge of everything and that is something I cannot go with. Glad I didn't go with them."

"You seem like a stronger fighter than them. Maybe we should spar, Tigerstar," Bein meowed.

"Enough!" Windstar yowled. "Enough dawdling, Thunderstar. I don't like being here! Let's get down to business and tell Bein why we are here!"

After a few moments of silence, Thunderstar went on. "My apologies, Windstar. Bein, we have a proposition for you."

"Go ahead, Thunderstar," the scarred cat meowed, his full attention on his killer.

"The clans have got themselves in a war with the badgers. We need your help. Without you, they might die out," Thunderstar meowed. He looked at the cream colored tom. Bein's eyes gave away nothing. However, Thunderstar could see his tail lashing. Whether it was out of excitement or anger, they were sure to find out soon.

"And you want me to go out there and fight these badgers?" Bein asked.

"Kill them, wound them, whatever it takes to drive them away from the lake," Shadowstar stepped in, her voice trembling slightly.

"If I do this, I get to fight, maybe even kill, these badgers?" Bein's voice showing excitement.

"Yes, on the condition that your spirit is sealed away in the body of a living cat for the rest of this cat's life. The chances are, if you agree to this cat, he won't use your power unless he really has to," Thunderstar explained.

"That sounds like a deal, I just need to see what cat I will be spending a lot of time with. What is his name?" the cat meowed.

Tigerstar stepped forward with a proud smile on his face. "His name is Hawkfrost of RiverClan. He is my son."

Thunderstar started to scan the forest around him. He found a puddle next to a tree. "Come with me, Bein. I will show you this cat." The two walked in silence until they sat next to the puddle. Thunderstar swirled his paw around the puddle until an image of a cat came up. "This is Hawkfrost." The muscular cat was covered in blood, but by the way he was moving, he did not seem wounded. He was whispering something into the cat's ear next to him. It seemed that him and the group of cats around him were in a hurry to get somewhere.

"Why are all the cats around him scared?" Bein asked.

At this, Riverstar stepped forward. "RiverClan was invaded by badgers. They lost all their elders and several other warriors. They also lost their camp. They are currently on their way to take refuge at ShadowClan camp."

"Interesting," Bein observed. "He seems strong and loyal. However, his ambition seems to overpower his loyalty." He glanced at Tigerstar. "He seems so much like you." At this, Tigerstar took a step forward. "Careful, young one. I will rip out your esophagus faster than you can say mouse." The cat then turned to Thunderstar. "I do not wish to be sealed in him."

"What? Why?" Tigerstar screeched.

"I fear that if the clans win the war, there would still be danger," Bein explained. "His ambition and my powers would be bad for the clans. I will not be sealed in him."

"Very well," Thunderstar breathed out a sigh of relief. StarClan had been trying to watch the cat closely, but they could only do so much if Hawkfrost had got the power.

"Thunderstar, we had a deal!" Tigerstar yowled.

"Hold on, Tigerstar," Thunderstar meowed calmly. He swirled his paw over the puddle of water again. The image of the RiverClan warrior disappeared and was replaced by a ThunderClan warrior. "What about him, Bein?" The warrior looked like a spitting image of Tigerstar.

"Offspring in two different clans," Bein looked at Tigerstar. "Talk about dysfunctional family."

"I have a daughter in ShadowClan as well," Tigerstar muttered.

"Very dysfunctional," Bein retorted. Bein focused his attention back to the puddle. The cat in question was dragging a cat, which Bein presumed to be dead, to the center of a broken camp. "Badgers attack here as well?"

"Is that Cinderpelt?" Tigerstar asked in surprise before Thunderstar could reply. "They killed a medicine cat?"

Thunderstar nodded. "These badgers do not discriminate. If you are a cat, they will try to kill you." Tigerstar did not respond, he could only look on to what was left of the ThunderClan camp. He now realized the dire of the situation. "Bein, this is Brambleclaw. He is hoping to become deputy in ThunderClan."

Bein observed the cat a little more. "Very strong, very loyal, very ambitious…his eyes show his experience and determination. He is a better choice than Hawkfrost. Very well, I will choose Brambleclaw."

XxxxxX

Brambleclaw carefully set his former medicine cat down next to his other dead clanmate, Sootfur. "StarClan will welcome you, Cinderpelt." The powerful tabby looked up to the stars. "Thank StarClan Leafpool is back." He watched the medicine cat run back and forth between random cats before finally coming upon him.

"Brambleclaw, I am almost out of marigold. Sorry, but I have to use what's left on Birchpaw," Leafpool apologized.

"It's alright, Leafpool," Brambleclaw meowed. "Besides, it doesn't even hurt right now! I'm going to help Stormfur rebuild a shelter for the cats to sleep in."

"Brambleclaw, wait," Leafpool called before he could leave. He stopped in his tracks and turned to her. "I have a bad feeling tonight."

"Leafpool, I hate your bad feelings, they are usually right. What's wrong?" Brambleclaw asked, concerned for his friend.

Leafpool did not respond, instead she looked up to the sky. At once, a bright red flash flew across the sky. Leafpool caught sight of a flying, red projectile that floated across the sky and disappeared behind the trees. Leafpool closed her eyes for a moment.

"Did you see that?" Brambleclaw asked. "Is that a sign from StarClan, Leafpool?"

"Red will save the forest," she whispered. "Red will save the forest."

"What does that mean?" the tabby warrior asked.

"I don't know. We will find out though," the medicine cat replied. "I think it may have something to do with you though." Brambleclaw nodded for a moment before heading off to rebuild the warrior den.

So what did you think? This is longer than I originally planned it also.

I have the first three chapters written so far…hopefully, I'll post them soon.

The following chapters will be about this long. My goal is to make them 2,500 -3,500 words each. I have 22 chapters outlined for this story. It's all a matter of typing it.

Also, just read the most recent book. It's awesome!

Can't wait for Survivors to come out! Sounds amazing!

As always, thanks for reading. Leave a review if you want. If you want to give me some constructional criticism, then please feel free. I am always looking to improve my writing style.

Songs I listened to most while typing this chapter:

We Are Broken – Paramore

Hold On – All that Remains