Chapter One; A rude awakening.
White stars littered the sky above threatening black clouds. Although they couldn't be seen, they twinkled with a bright, glowing light that made the clouds look lighter.
The forest below was struggling, trees whipping in the ferocious breeze, and prey scuttled in their dens, disturbed by the sudden change of weather. The leaf-fall golden leaves swirled, rising back towards the branches of the trees they came from, and floating angrily back down.
Light rain started falling, splashing with a soft pattering sound. Birdcalls silenced, and the beating of wings indicated that the feathered creatures were leaving for their nests. They, too, sensed something wrong in the air.
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Silent as a shadow, a pale-grey creature slunk through the darkness. Two glowing amber eyes peered through the rain, as the cat stopped to shelter in the brambles. Her fur seemed almost blue; clouding with the semi-dark white that was called grey. The cat's pupils widened, grasping the last strands of light, turning a light green-yellow, and her night vision became sharper.
"Coppertwilight, Flashflame, Mysticpaw!" she called, turning her small head to call into the darkness behind her. "I think I've scented something!"
A soft, unsuspecting rustle made the cat prick her ears. They weren't bothering to be quiet.
The golden-eyed apprentice jumped out of the bushes, her fur standing on end from the cold.
"Mysticpaw! Wait up, for StarClan's sake!" Flashflame called, his light brown body leaping into view. He skidded to a stop, and the patches of gold on his back became visible. Lifting his nose, the old warrior opened his mouth, taking in the forest scents.
A dark brown tabby slowly followed him, his pelt shimmering with gold. "What is it?" he demanded, gazing at the grey she-cat. "Speak, Mirrormask!"
The she-cat hissed at the medicine cats command, but made no comment. "Blood," she whispered, lifting her head to gaze up at the canopy of trees. "I scented blood. Not any old blood…ThunderClan blood."
Coppertwilight's eyes widened, but he opened his mouth, shutting it when he caught the scent. "Mysticpaw, this will be a good time to test your warrior skills," he mewed to the apprentice, nodding towards her.
Her golden eyes brightened, and she nodded in return. "Sure!" she purred, grabbing the scent in her nose and dashing after it.
"Wait, Mysticpaw!" Flashflame snarled, flicking his tail at the other two, and pelting after his apprentice.
Mirrormask exchanged an amused look with Coppertwilight, and the two cats followed through the brambles. The senior warrior had stopped, and Mysticpaw was looking at him with a confused expression. They padded up to Flashflame, whose eyes were glazed with horror, looking past his apprentice who didn't seem to notice the shape.
"What?" Mirrormask muttered, looking into his horrified eyes. "What's happened?"
The tom shakily lifted his muzzle and pointed with his nose. "Articstar…she's- she's dead!"