AN: Alright, so this is the start of another new story! I should thank the reviewers in the last chapter of Blazing Heart, but I'm a tad lazy when it comes to that. Anyways, here is the full summary of Across the Lake:

The Clans have formed together an alliance that is seemingly unbreakable. One cat however is about to change that as they search for their new home. Ambitions lay in even the brightest of warriors, and soon they must question their loyalties to one another

So, what do you think?

Prologue

A groan of pain suddenly erupted from the den that Willow slept in. Her yellow eyes snapped open when she realized that her guest had woken up. She sprang to her paws in an instant and was at his side. The ginger tom's eyes opened slightly. He winced as another spasm of pain flashed through his body.

"W-where am I?" he demanded through shaky gasps.

"You're home," Willow replied in a quiet, yet stern voice. I have to stay strong, she told herself. For the good of our gang, this has to be done. "You blacked out when we were hunting together," she added after the tom relaxed a little.

"Hunting? I don't remember any of that," he whimpered.

"You hit your head pretty hard," Willow murmured. "You're lucky to be alive."

"What's my name?" The ginger tom lifted his head weakly, as if he didn't have the strength to look at her.

"You're name is…Mitch." Willow couldn't think of a better name, and the name of her father had crossed her mind. Mitch had left her when she was too young to remember his pelt color, but her mother had spoken of him often. He'd left them because the rogues would no longer keep him safe—with his own safety on the line, he left before anyone could figure out where he was. "Your mother was very worried about you," she added after thinking of having some fun with Stain. The dark tortoiseshell would be furious, but she couldn't argue against a cat that was hosting the gang's new hostage.

The ginger tom stared at her for a few heartbeats. Willow held her breath—she knew that he would have to be convinced that he was part of their gang. In order for their leader's powers to work, it would have to be him that Mitch met first. She rose to her paws before he could make a sound of complaint. It was up to her that he met their leader first. If all went according to plan, he would work for the gang and bring them something that they longed for—revenge.

I'm not even sure what the revenge they seek is for, she thought as she led Mitch through the dark alleys. His eyes were gleaming in confusion as he staggered after her. She knew he would want to know where his mother was, but that didn't matter to her. The leader only mentioned what had happened once, and that was when I was a kit, she added guiltily.

It made her angry that she had only been a kit at the time. By the time she was able to comprehend words and used them for herself, her mother had abandoned her kits. Willow and her littermates had been forced to hunt for themselves, until they stumbled upon the gang's leader. The leader had smiled down upon them, whispering words of comfort that their mother would never have said. In ways Willow had been glad that he found them. In other ways, she almost wished she could live a normal life.

Once they reached the largest alley, the one where the leader lived, Willow came to a halt. Mitch's nose pressed against her back when he came to a stop as well. She turned to face him, ready to whisper a warning when she heard a hiss coming from the shadows. Her yellow eyes widened a bit before she mewed a greeting.

"So, you have brought our youngest member," came a cold, eerie voice.

Willow's fur stood had begun to stand on end as she led Mitch towards the shadow. In her mind she knew that this was wrong. Mitch was a Clan cat, and always would be at heart. Just because the leader had power of him didn't mean he wasn't a Clanborn cat. She wanted to think that Mitch would never discover the truth. But the leader would send him after the Clans. The shock they would feel would make them turn their backs on their ancestors. That was when their leader could make his final strike.

"What is his name?" A large dark gray tom with black feet emerged from the shadows, revealing a scar on his face that stretched over his left eye. Parts of his ears had been torn away from seasons of fighting, and even now after moons of time with him, Willow flinched. A grin spread across his face, cruel and menacing when he noticed her posture. "You have a right to fear me, Willow," he added tauntingly. "But you will gain the powers I possess in time."

"His name is Mitch," Willow replied after collecting herself. She rarely showed any signs of fear, but this was different. "Is he…will he gain the powers we have?" she asked in a softer voice.

"You will find that out in time," the tom answered. "Only I have the ability to pass down and take away the powers you and anyone else in this gang possess. If I were to grow angry or tired of any cat inside this gang, I would drain away their power and any memory they have of it." His explanation sent chills down Willow's spine. "Now, what shall we do with young Mitch?" His amber eyes flashed in the darkness of his den as he eyed Mitch casually. "I suppose I can put him under the influence of Stain…she has never liked younger cats."

Willow had to force the amusement that began to creep along her mind. Stain would be furious to find out that she was stuck with a Clan cat.

"Shall I take her to you?" Willow asked.

When the dark gray tom nodded, she bounded away before Mitch could say a word. He was left alone with the leader of the gang, and a shiver of fear went down his spine.

AN: Well, there you have it. That's the last time you'll read Willow's point of view, even though she'd already my favorite character. Mitch was named after a little Meerkat from Meerkat Manor (If you haven't seen that show, than you've missed out). You'll find out more about where the rogues are going later on hopefully. Anyways, please remember to leave a review, they always make me smile!