A/N: Yay, I finally found time to start a Warriors fan fic! =) I'm not sure exactly where the story is going to go, but hopefully it'll be at least half decent!
Just to let you know, this story takes place right after the book Sign of the Moon. I have not yet read The Forgotten Warrior, so I'm sorry if it's a bit different than that book! But here you have it!
Also, I'm portraying Hawkfrost as wiser than in the books. That was kind of accidental; I just needed some cat to say "no" to the Dark Forest's great plan, and I kind of liked him that way in the end. Please review with any suggestions or criticism!
Prologue
The night was still in the forest, a foreboding mass of spiny trees whose branches spread wide into the starless night sky like vicious claws. There was no moon to cast its silvery beauty into the silent night, but instead cryptic light was given off by a pearly white, phosphorescent mist hovering over this forest of eternal night like a thin, wispy blanket.
Somewhere near the center of the forest, a large and muscular tabby cowered close to the ground, his uneasy, icy blue eyes fixed on a nearby leaf.
"Are you absolutely sure about this, Hawkfrost?" An angry voice murmured a single soul in the world of lifelessness. Hawkfrost grimaced, and another dark furred cat stepped in front of him. "Where did you hear this from?"
"B-Birchfall overheard the three of them talking, father," the ice eyed one gasped hastily, as if there was no time to get the words out. He raised his head, revealing an open wound on his chest. "Jayfeather, Lionblaze, Dovepaw. Some prophecy."
"I see," Tigerstar growled, turning away from his son. "So, they are StarClan's final hope, then?"
"Yes, father," Hawkfrost replied, regaining some of his usual confidence. "And it appears that there's nothing we can do about-"
It happened in only a few seconds. Tigerstar lunged at his son in fury, throwing the smaller cat off balance. Soon, Hawkfrost was staring at his father in horror, too afraid to even gulp because of the sharp claws digging into the soft flesh of his throat.
"Of course there's a resolution," he whispered, a manic gleam appearing in those amber orbs. "We have our own trump card, too."
Hawkfrost blinked, trying to tilt his head in curiosity.
"The power of darkness should not be underestimated," a raspy voice announced the presence of a tom with long brown fur and a crooked tail.
"But, Brokentail, even in the darkest of nights, the stars still shine," Hawkfrost finally dared to speak. "It is in li-"
"Silence!" Tigerstar snarled, raking his claws across his victim's ear, who yelped and shrank closer to the ground.
"Young Hawkfrost has a point," Brokentail said with a cold, uncontrollable laugh. "Though as weak as a newborn kit, he is a source of wise council. But you see, a power that could overthrow darkness with a single blow A light so bright… and Tigerstar, we need Hawkfrost in one piece."
"A light so bright not even the stars may shine," Tigerstar murmured. This seemed to be the only line that the tabby picked up, as his claws were still digging into a sputtering Hawkfrost's throat. "How may we achieve this spectacular power?"
"My own information and some of it is still obscured," Brokentail replied with a smirk. "But, it'll be dangerous. Very, very dangerous."
"I don't care," Tigerstar replied, his eyes hungry as he stepped off of Hawkfrost, who rolled to his feet and coughed. "What can you tell me about this, Brokentail?"
"A prophecy," Brokentail murmured, his eyes clouding over. "One that predicts StarClan's downfall by the birth of a curse, inserted into an unborn kit."
"But a light so bright it could drown out the stars… Brokentail, you aren't actually planning to use it, right? Right?" Hawkfrost said slowly, his voice shaking slightly. "You do know what darkness is, right?"
Tigerstar glared at his son menacingly, before turning back to Brokentail. "Have there been any preparations done for this yet?"
"Indeed, Tigerstar," Brokentail whispered, flicking a small puddle of greenish water with his paw. It shimmered for a moment like a mirage, before a scene of a small she-cat with sandy ginger fur appeared. "This rouge has been wandering in WindClan territory or so Breezepelt shares. What's more, she's expecting kits."
"So, that's where the kit you're planning to use is coming from?" Tigerstar asked dubiously, watching the image intently. "She seems weak."
"Well," Brokentail replied with a grimace, "We can only hope that the curse will give them strength. We could find a kittypet, though, if you'd li-"
"Never," Tigerstar snarled, "Use a clan cat!"
"That's completely imbecilic," Hawkfrost hissed, closing his eyes. "I still think that the whole "curse" idea is one of your worst, simply because it would be much more powerful than us. And if we were to actually use a clan cat, it would almost guarantee a powerful warrior on StarClan's side. Perhaps it'd be more effective to continue, ah, recruiting and training normal cats."
Brokentail stared out at the distance, the endless void of decrepit trees and darkness. "Hawkfrost is right."
"Oh," Hawkfrost murmured in relief. "Then-"
"About using a clan cat," Brokentail continued, raising his voice over the other cat. "I'll see that the curse in implanted tonight."
Tigerstar rested his paw gently over the image, whispering, "Tonight. Yes. Tonight."
"Come with me, Tigerstar," Brokentail growled suddenly, swiping the image with his own paw. The she cat was gone. Disappointed, Tigerstar followed Brokentail into the thick mist, disappearing into the night.
"Oh, you little fools," Hawkfrost whispered, shaking his head. "Fools, fools, fools. What am even I doing here, anyway?"