Hey everybody ... or nobody ... whatever. I haven't written a Warrior's fic since the beginning of time, it's been awhile. Mostly because I kinda lost interest in the series. However, I got this idea and I was all, "well why not?" So then I sat down and wrote the prologue, which really didn't take me long at all. I have no idea if anybody will even be interested, but I suppose it's worth a shot. Oh, and if you spot a spelling and or grammar error, please tell me! They make me want to bang my head against the table. Constructive criticism is appreciated and one more thing, this takes place in the clans lake territory in the very far future, m'kay? Get it, got it? Good.

- Rated "T" for violence, blood, etc.

- Disclaimer: I own Warriors because the Erin's stole it from me ... what, you don't believe me? Fine, okay, I don't own warriors, just my OC's. :l

P R O L O G U E

"Brothers"

"No ... Redfeather, oh StarClan, please no! Not her ... "

Like a heavy, forbidding cloud he felt horror settle in, an invisible coil like that of a snakes long, muscular body wrapping itself around his chest, squeezing him mercilessly, forbidding him to breath the bitter cold air. And just like that time came to a halt, the world around him fading into momentary silence as he beheld the terrible sight before him.

Strewn at his paws, body mangled and twisted, lay a single she-cat, her bright ginger fur clotted in blood, her unmoving broken figure still as stone. Wide as full moons, clouded olive green eyes gazed up at the vibrant, dying sunset, her once beautiful face forever frozen into an expression of utter terror. Flowing freely, blood seeped from a monstrous gash in her delicate throat, pooling around her belly and paws, seeping into the snow laden earth.

Heart beating faster, Sootfall swallowed hard. He couldn't believe it ... he didn't want to. Ears pinned back, he hesitantly reached forward to nose at her cheek only to watch her limp head flop back down lifelessly, never to move again. Gaze watering, the dark tom pressed his forehead into her stiffening side, breathing in the familiar scent, burying his face into the soft, downy pelt.

"Redfeather ... I'm so sorry." He whispered, voice shaky. His throat felt dry, his paws each weighted down with nonexistent lead, too heavy to move.

After a few dragging minutes, Sootfall forced himself to stand, his muzzle parted slightly to take in a deep, rattling breath. Silently he reached a paw forward and as gently as he could, slowly closed both of the she-cats eye lids trying his best to make her appear more at peace. It was just as he'd finished that he heard it, the sound of light paw steps in the snow approaching the scene. Instantly recognizing the scent, Sootfall felt a sense of relief wash over him and with tears flowing freely, glanced upward.

"Whitepath, thank goodness, I-" He started to say, however cut himself short almost immediately; something wasn't right.

Gradually he took in the image of the cat before him. It was a small tom-cat, short, thinned pelt white as the snow and glowing a faint orange in the light of the setting sun. Awkwardly bones void of muscle poked at his skin giving him the strong appearance of a starving creature, his long snaky tail lying still behind him. But it was the fresh crimson smears on his forepaws that caused Sootfall's breath to catch sharply.

Eyes broadening, Sootfall took a few shocked steps backward, "Whitepath, w-what's going on?"

Like ice he felt the newcomers gaze cut into him, sightless, murky eyes pinning him in place, his expression completely unreadable, a well placed stoic mask. For a few tense moments he remained silent, the tip of his tail flickering slowly until at last he decided to speak.

"Sootfall, understand, I had no choice." He answered smoothly.

Blinking, Sootfall shook his head violently. No! No, this couldn't be right? He didn't understand what was going on. It had to be a dream, it just had to be! It didn't make sense, why would Whitepath kill Redfeather? His brother wasn't a murderer! Blood pounding, Sootfall bit his lip. Hesitantly he lifted a paw, expression pleading, "Whitepath ... " He murmured quietly, unable to find the words to say.

"I had to kill her, she knew Sootfall, she would have told everyone. I couldn't have them know, not yet anyway."

Sootfall's stomach lurched and suddenly he felt as though he would be sick, "What are you talking about?" The tom meowed.

Whitepath snorted, "Oh please, don't tell me that you haven't figured it out yet? You know more then you'd like to think."

Immediately the gray warrior felt himself grow cold, almost as if he'd fallen right through the icy lake. Everything pointed to this very moment, it all added up however much he wanted to think otherwise. It was inevitable, all of the murders, the disappearing cats, Whitepath's strange behavior. Whitepath was right, he'd known all along, he just didn't want to admit. And yet it was still so hard to accept, to understand that RiverClan's own medicine cat, his brother since birth, his friend had been causing so much trouble, so much pain within the four clans. The situation rendered Sootfall absolutely speechless. This was a nightmare.

"... why?"

"You want to know why? I'll tell you why." He said, sitting down and curling his tail around his bloody paws. "All my life everyone's looked down on me, viewed me as weak. I was a burden to the clan because I couldn't see, because I couldn't fight or hunt properly. Sure, I could become a medicine cat, but it wasn't enough ... " Here Whitepath paused, his eyes narrowing deviously, "And so I decided I would be more, I would show everyone what I could do. I would unite the clans into one. We would be stronger then ever before, everyone would be equal."

At this point Sootfall could feel a little more sense pouring back into his numbing body, and with it came pain and a growing anger he never thought he'd direct at his only sibling. He wanted to ignore it, pretend that Whitepath hadn't just said what he thought he'd just said, but he couldn't, and he definitely couldn't ignore Redfeather's drying blood on his paws. Instinctively his claws unsheathed and Sootfall jumped to his feet, "Whitepath ... you're ... you're crazy!" He replied, tail lashing.

The white cat's ear twitched calmly, "I see why you're upset, but try to realize how great we could be. You could join me Sootfall, and together we could bring the clans to a new era. We would be respected and feared by all, cat's would come from everywhere just to be a part of my creation."

The fur on the back of Sootfall's neck bristled. It felt as if he were speaking to an entirely different cat, like someone had replaced his brother with a stranger, a cruel, insane stranger. Sootfall's lip curled, "Never! You're a monster, how could you?" He snarled, a few fresh tears dripping down his maw to settle on Redfeather's fast cooling form.

Whitepath let out a long, exasperated sigh, looking slightly irritated, "That's to bad, I thought perhaps ... but no, no I guess he was right." The medicine cat murmured to himself.

Sootfall couldn't help vaguely wondering who "he" was, but at that very moment he couldn't have cared less. All that mattered was what Whitepath had done. Sootfall had loved Redfeather, he'd loved her so much. Now she was dead, he'd never get to see her again and it was all his brothers fault. Chest heaving, he let his claws sink into the snow. Part of him wanted to run away, but the other part wanted to lunge at Whitepath, to kill him and make sure for certain he would never hurt anybody again. He wanted to avenge Redfeather's death. What would the clan think?

Teeth clenched, he inched forward, gaze baring down on Whitepath venomously, "I'll ... I'll kill you Whitepath, I'll kill you!" The words sounded so foreign, so wrong, but he had to. He needed to stop this nonsense no matter how much it hurt him. Besides, if Sootfall didn't end it, then somebody else would. His vision was insane, the clans would never allow for such a thing to happen.

For a brief second Whitepath appeared to be genuinely hurt, however as fast it'd come the emotion was gone replaced by a look of indifference. "Sootfall, you're being rash." He retorted in a rather annoyed tone.

From his throat Sootfall replied with a low growl, his head lowering dangerously, "No, you're the one who's not thinking straight!" He snapped back. Never in his life had he ever felt the want to hurt Whitepath so strongly, it almost scared him. "I'm sorry Whitepath." Sootfall added regretfully. Crouching, he was just preparing to jump when suddenly Whitepath made a most peculiar sound, his tail giving one swift lash before lying still. Pausing, Sootfall was about to ask what he was doing when a mere heartbeat later his question was answered.

Like shadows they came, slinking out of the leafless undergrowth from behind Whitepath, their strong scent surrounding him as they encircled the two tom's. Sootfall felt his stomach drop. There were three of them, two tom's and a she-cat, each of their sharp gazes trained directly on him like predatory birds. It was obvious they would do exactly what Whitepath told them, but where they came from he didn't know. Mentally he figured they must have snuck closer when he was talking to Whitepath, he'd been to occupied to notice.

"Now, what were you saying? Something about killing me, correct?" Whitepath meowed, a small smirk turning up the corners of his mouth, pearly eyes glinting mischievously. Sootfall tensed but said nothing.

Huffing, Whitepath bent his head forward to give his chest a few quick licks, "I gave you a chance Sootfall, now I'll ask you one more time," Looking up, he flexed his claws, "Will you join me brother?"

Now aware that he was completely trapped, Sootfall glared at the pale feline. These cat's would tear him apart. He'd never get to tell the clan about Whitepath and he would go on deceiving them until he was ready to make his move. They already knew something terrible was going on around the clans territory, but never would they suspect their own medicine cat.

And yet, however terrible it was, however much he didn't think he was ready to join StarClan, Sootfall knew he could never lower himself to the level Whitepath had fallen. Despite it all, somehow, Sootfall felt pity for Whitepath, or whatever it was he had become, but he wasn't going to help him commit tyranny.

"You are no brother of mine, I refuse."

Whitepath didn't seem surprised in the least bit, "Really, this is unfortunate," He muttered, a hint of sadness to his words. Sitting up straighter, he cleared his throat.

"Very well then ... BloodClan, kill him."

OH NOES!

Well that was a cheerful beginning. :D

...

If you're confused, that's totally okay because the story is written to lead up to this very spot eventually. -dramatic voice- Then all your questions shall be answered! You know, if I keep writing. And by the way, reviews make the world go round. -shot-