The Warrior's Creed Ch 1

I'm not like other cats. I have seen things that not even these great warriors have seen. Sure they're ancestors directly aid them but there is one thing that I have learned in my years of life they will never understand. I myself still don't understand it. It comes from a cat from ancient times, before StarClan, before the ancient cats of the lakes. His name I do not remember but he always said to my master, and his master, and his master before; these words when we trained.

"Nothing is true and everything is permitted,"

My name is Iceclaw. I am a warrior. I am also an Assassin.

What you've always know as warriors is this. We are feral cats that live in the forest of the world, we hunt, we fight, we gather, and we survive against all odds. Well...since the cats moved to the lake it has been a challenge to keep up with them. I have been tracking them since the mountains but I got lost on the way to the lake and had to fight my way through Twolegs Thunderpaths badgers foxes and rouges. My search started many moons ago, I was born to a mother that abandon me when I was young. I never knew my father either. I taught myself how to hunt and I survived for a good long while on my own. During one winter however, my life took a drastic change. I met a cat named Darkstripe, he told me of how his best friend had tried to seize power by murder and lies. I pursued this cat, he'd been my target. This cat could not be allowed to live if that was his ultimate goal. In the end though, my target slipped through my claws. He was killed by a rouge named Scourge who later was killed by an ex-kittypet. That was Firestar, and ever since that day I've been wandering longing for a purpose. I met a cat in a gorge in the mountains, he seemed like a lunatic at first always going on about how nothing is true and everything is permitted. I couldn't discern what he meant for the longest time, and, at first, dismissed it as pure gibberish. Two day later I found myself returning to this cat, I listened to him lecture form start to finish.

"So what have you learned?" he asked me after he noticed me

"That truth is covered by a veil," I replied.

"And what does this mean?"

"We can see it and accept it, as most do, or we can cut through it and see what lies beneath,"

He nodded, "Meaning what?"

"That nothing is true, what we find beneath is open to interpretation,"

"Yes, and our enemies would show the truth to others as they interpret it. Brainwashing, Iceclaw, is the dark forest's most powerful weapon. Now is this an allowable thing?"

"In terms of our order, no, but in terms of your words, master, yes it is. Because nothing is true, everything is permitted. You can do whatever it takes to uncover the truth."

"But our enemies would use this knowledge to claim power in their greed, whereas we use it to bring peace into this world."

I nodded. His words meant more truth then they at first let on. I cared not of my past like most would think. What I care for is peace in all things.

This is why I roam searching for Firestar and the other three clans. I've only visited their territory once and I was forced out by a RiverClan patrol. Even a skilled Assassin like myself would fare no match against four opponents at once. So I resorted to what my master had taught me. I am but a claw in the clan. When I strike, no cat notices until I have made my escape. Firestar has a great influence in the lake area. More so then my master would like. I asked to go after him but he denied it. Instead, I'm to go after his subordinates. I'm to weaken him before taking on the flame pelted tom himself. I was in the undergrowth, in ThunderClan's territory, I had to once again roll in mud to disguise my scent so they wouldn't instantly be on top of me and try to drive me out. This was my fifth time in ThunderClan territory today. I'd hunted in their territory and left no remains for them to track, and was now no less then a few tail lengths from the camps entrance. I'd need to get passed the guard, it was the white and ginger she-cat that was missing one eye, damn...what's her name again? The thought eluded me for a moment then a Clan name popped up in my head.

Brightheart. Cloudtail's mate. And Cloudtail was Firestar's nephew. Lucky for him he wasn't my target. My target was a weak link in ThunderClan. Cinderheart. She was apparently a reincarnation of Cinderpelt the medicine cat that taught Firestar's daughter and therefore had an influence in the clan even though the real Cinderpelt was long dead. She was mate to Lionblaze, the so-called untouchable cat of ThunderClan. I'll believe that when he falls under my claws.

I sound cocky I know, but the truth is, next to my master I am the best Assassin in his order. Bristlefang doesn't even come close to me and he's second best next to me. I shook that thought off, Bristlefang was supposed to be doing some work in WindClan, his ultimate target was Onestar. Then there were two others working with us in RiverClan and ShadowClan. Two cats I don't know, though I could pick them out if they were in the clan and so was I. I slid right passed her in her blind side, she watched it well during combat I'd seen but outside of it not so much. I slipped into the camp unnoticed. I was able to mingle with the clan a bit, I'd nod when they would say hi or whatever but otherwise I stayed hidden. My target was currently in the clearing, next to her mate Lionblaze, they were sharing fresh-kill. This wasn't a good time, I'd circle the area within five fox-lengths of the camp then come back, if she wasn't in a good position then I'd do it again. Any other cat in the order would attempt to strike after having done this more then seven or eight times. Those cats are the ones that failed this assignments and died or were driven out. That's why they sent me, according to the last cat that attempted this assassination, she always call for aid and the first one to arrive would be Lionblaze, so the ultimate objective would be to take her out when she's on a hunting patrol and kill her like prey. Most cats consider it dishonorable, but it's quick painless and quiet, and that's just the way an Assassin should operate. I'd circled the camp and noticed she was going out with a patrol. Brambleclaw, ThunderClan's deputy, was leading it. Behind him his mate Squirrelflight, and the former deputy Graystripe, Cinderheart went to join them leaving Lionblaze to himself. Perfect, all I'd need to do now was track the patrol move in kill her move out of the territory and get back to the Assassin's camp before nightfall. If I didn't make it back before nightfall I'd surely be caught. I needed to end this quickly. I stealthily made my way out, taking my usual route passed the medicine cat's den. But I didn't expect this to happen, a gray tom exited the den, it was Jayfeather, Leafpool's apprentice. I nearly bumped into him and suddenly he became aware of me. I didn't get it, he was supposed to be blind.

"There's an intruder!" He yowled.

That caught the eyes of the deputy and his patrol. Their fur bristled and they rushed towards me, claws unsheathed. I took a step back, trying to stay calm.

"You aren't of ThunderClan, who are you?" Brambleclaw demanded.

I hesitated, I didn't know what to say. If I told them who I really was they'd kill me, but if I told them nothing then I could run into problems escaping.

"Speak!" he shouted, "Or am I speaking a language you don't understand?"

"I understand you," I replied, "I came in here at moonhigh last night, I didn't know this place was occupied, if you sheathe your claws and let me pass I'll be on my way,"

Total lie, but it worked almost every time. I'd been into multiple camps and each time I'm caught that's what I tell them, they let it slide once. I never get to say it a second time because after that, my target dies and I head back to the Assassin's camp.

"Really?" Graystripe said, "Where are you from?"

"A camp very far from here, I'm supposed to be scouting new territory for my kin to relocate,"

"And you've come here why?"

"I found a few mouse holes and figured this place had good hunting,"

"Well this territory is occupied by ThunderClan, leave now, and do not return,"

"Yes," I dipped my head, "I shall go at once."

I sprinted for the tunnel and ran for a good long while. Once I'd left the tree they lived under out of sight I slid back into the undergrowth to wait for my target. It took about an hour or so but she came into sight soon after. I crawled as if I were stalking prey but the wind changed and Cinderheart turned looking right at me. I sprang, it was now or never. The resulting tussle ended with me pinning her down, one paw over her muzzle so she couldn't yell for help and her clawing feebly at my belly.

"Cinderheart, you are a target of the Assassins, I'm sorry this had to happen but requescat en pace." I unsheathed my claws for the final blow when suddenly I felt teeth sink into my scruff and haul me off. I was tossed like prey a tail-length into a tree and I blacked out.

When I awoke, I was in a den. In a nest with a cat looking down at me with big blue eyes. I was startled by his sudden appearance and nearly clawed his eyes right out of their sockets. Of course I missed. My fur had been cleaned, so the white fur and red stripes that were normally there were shining as if they'd just been washed.

"Ah, you're awake," the tom said after he'd dodged out of the way.

I recognized him, that was Jayfeather, the blind cat I'd nearly been caught because of earlier, "Why?"

"Why what?"

I rolled my bronze eyes, "Why save me? Care for me when you already know what was said and what almost came to pass?"

"I'm a medicine cat, it's my job,"

I cocked my head to the side.

"I swore to serve beyond the clan rivalries, even ones this severe,"

"But I live outside the four clans that live around this lake. Aren't you supposed to be dark forest cats?"

Jayfeather's neck fur I noticed stood up, was my master mistaken?

"No, we follow StarClan here in ThunderClan." Jayfeather responded, "And so do the other clan cats, even if sometimes ShadowClan decide to be complete mouse-brains and challenge us and them."

Now I was lost. Was what my master said about Firestar wrong? If he was then what else had he been wrong about? I'd wondered for a long time if I were just blindly following him and doing his dirty work. But that wouldn't make sense at all. Had his master been the corrupt one? I had many questions for my master when I returned.

"Might I ask who you really are?"

"Why would you care," I spat back.

"It's just that once we got all of that mud off of you, your scent was extremely foreign. Not even Brook's scent around here is that different."

"Like I said, I'm just passing through,"

"What's your name?"

I hesitated, he wasn't buying it. Would my name be remembered in ThunderClan? After a second I finally replied, "Iceclaw,"

"That's a warrior's name, you're a full warrior?"

I nodded, "If I tell you who I really am...you have to swear on your life that will not breathe a word of it to any cat. Not even to your mentor Leafpool,"

"How did you know she was my mentor? Actually how do you know her?"

I sighed, "Swear it,"

Jayfeather hesitated but looked over his shoulder as if to be sure there was no one in the den with us which was strange for a blind cat, there wasn't any cat behind him. I'd already used my gift, what my master had dubbed Eagle's vision, to see where every other cat in the clan was. Firestar was in his den, eating. There were three warriors and two apprentices sharing tongues in the clearing. The queens and kits were in the nursery across the way. The elder's den, an apprentice was cleaning out so the elders were sunning themselves, and Leafpool and a couple of other warriors were near the tunnel entrance socializing, we were fine for the time being.

"If you're checking to make sure no one else is coming or are already in this den don't worry, every cat is outside of the den either asleep socializing or sharing tongues," I told him.

"How do you know that?"

"I can only tell you if you swear you won't breathe a word of this to any cat...especially to Firestar and his closest warriors,"

"I swear to StarClan, my mouth is sealed,"

I sighed, but could I really trust him was the question, "A long time ago, during the time before StarClan, there existed two super clans. One was the dark forest, the other was the order I am apart of. What they really were called I don't know but neither clan was a solid clan like you think of one. As cats mingled in this kind of mesh of a clan, there were those who sought power through brute force lies and trickery. The dark forest original leader seized power the first chance he got, murdering any cat who stood in his way. My master's master's master, the founder of my order couldn't stand for this, his parents had been both murdered by this evil cat. While most cats tried direct confrontations that failed miserably, he tried a different approach, the way of the Assassin. It was like hunting, stalking your prey and waiting for the perfect moment to strike, he waited five full moons before he knew what his target was going to do on any given day. It was during a meeting of his darkness' most evil cats and their trusted advisers that he struck. In one so-called fight he'd slain the head and six other officials before making his escape."

"Sounds like a kit's tale," Jayfeather commented.

"My master's master found him, and asked to be trained to be like that, pretty soon this cat, a cat called Alan, found himself as head of an order of many cats united against the dark forest, an order that came to be known simply as the Assassins."

Jayfeather's eyes, though sightless, widened with wonder and curiosity.

"And what is your goal?"

"We strive for peace in all things, we spread the real truth, whereas others would spread lies for their own gain."

"Like Tigerstar,"

"Exactly like Tigerstar, he was my first target when I was but an apprentice, but the rouge Scourge killed him before I could."

"Interesting,"

I nodded.

"So what is the real truth Iceclaw?" another voice said.

I looked passed Jayfeather to see my target and her mate standing behind Jayfeather.

"To young warriors like you it would make no sense, you'd interpret incorrectly and that will lead you down a road to your own destruction," I said

"I'm wiser then I look," Lionblaze defended.

My eyes half shut, do I really try to explain it? Or should I say just the words that really matter. I decided on the latter.

"The real truth is what you want?" I asked.

He Jayfeather and Cinderheart all nodded.

"Nothing is true and everything is permitted," I said, "That is truth,"

A/N: First writer for an AC and Warriors X-over, whatcha think?