Prologue

The she-cat's heart beaded loudly, echoing off the trees and threatening to leap out of her chest. Her pursuers chased after her through the still forest. It seemed they were very intent on their 'prey' as it ran in terror through all the sharp, stabbing brambles and over the misplaced tree roots. The cats were cruel, they would get close just to terrify her and then draw back to their shadowy ranks. The chase was silent and deadly, the she-cat's hunters were sure to get her but they wanted a bit of dark fun.

Please Starclan, let me live! She wailed in her head. However their starry ancestors did not answer her silent prayer because at that moment one of her front paws gave away under her. Fiery jets of pain shot through her as she got up and continued to run. Finally she came to the gorge and the she-cat knew it was over.

"How does it feel to be a traitor?" What seemed to be the lead cat because of his confident stance spoke. He had broad shoulders and was slightly a size under a badger. His black fur with white streaks complimented his mammoth of a cat size. His large claws glinted in the moonlight as he stepped forward. Raising one paw he cuffed the she-cat across her ears several times and the other cats joined in until a huge, white cat with jet-black paws hollered at them.

"Kill her, quickly so we can get back to the battle, stop fooling around Badgerstripe!" He growled.

"I want justice! She killed my mother!" Badgerstripe let out a low growl and striked the limp she-cat extra hard before bolting out of the clearing, the others following like shadows towards the yowling in the distance.

Gingerly, the she-cat opens one glowing blue eye and struggles to lift her head. She knows it's her end but only one thought races through her broken mind.

Why Starclan? I didn't have a choice, why?

With her eye still open she struggles to take in a breath, and with a last shudder shook her fragile body it closed and she moved no more.

….

"I want you to take on the fiery one as an apprentice; don't fail me anymore than you have." A dark tabby tom with amber eyes growled at the long-legged, beautiful she-cat.

"I won't she'll be tough but we'll convince her, don't worry, Tigerstar." She said with a voice like a smooth, golden stream.

"That's right you will." Tigerstar stern, rocky voice spoke. The she-cat walked to the black, churning river and struck it with a dainty but powerful paw, causing the area to turn to crystal water.

"Starclan still has some faith in me..." she muttered and groomed her silver coat in neat, pink strokes. Tigerstar watched her intently with glowing amber eyes before he turned around.

"Well they shouldn't," he walked closer, breathing down her neck now. "Because you are going to stay on our side, right? They did banish you here for simply expressing your side and defending yourself…"

The she-cat flicked her tail irritably and looked at her with a glint in her eye.

"I'm not doing this for you," she spat. "I'm doing it because they betrayed me and now they must pay for their mistake." Her silver paw left they water as she stormed away, star dust trailing in her path.