The fading silver light of the moon crested over the horizon as the sun climbed to its perch in the sky. The morning light was just barely paling from pink to orange, light spreading across a patch of land that ran alongside a long river. Claws glinted in the morning sun as two groups of cats, former enemies turned allies, advanced on one separate group. From the south, the lone group, a black tom with brown stripes on his head stood as the leader of the defending cats. His muzzle rose to the sky, profile illuminated by the fading lights. He whispered something under his breath before turning to his companions.

"Today we defend our territory!" The black tom yelled. "Neither LeopardHerd nor PantherHerd will advance any further!" Returning cries of approval rang from the cats. They were still too far from the other group for those cats to hear them but they kept their voices low regardless. One brown tabby cat, a very young tom with naivety in his eyes, standing close to a large gray and white tom, was bristling with fear. The black tom with brown stripes on his head padded over to him and rested his tail gently on the cat's shoulders.

"Do not fear Owlpaw." The black tom said. "Today will be our victory." He motioned with his head to the gray and white tom, "Stay close to Skullhawk even so." The brown tabby tom nodded his head quickly, edging closer to the gray and white tom's side.

The black tom returned to his position at the head of the patrol. A small, pretty silver tabby shecat padded up to the black tom's side. She pressed her pelt reassuringly against his and murmured,

"With LionHerd fighting both PantherHerd and LeopardHerd alone… are you sure we will be okay, Rufflefur?" She twined her tail with his. Rufflefur took a deep breath. It had been his leader's orders for Rufflefur to helm the patrol as they defended their lands from the invading enemy Herds. Rufflefur could still feel the tension in his limbs when Flamesun had told him. His mind wandered back to the conversation he had with his oldest friend and he remembered the look of faith in Flamesun's eyes. "I can only ask you."

In response to her worry, Rufflefur rasped his tongue over the she-cat's ear gently.

"Flamesun wouldn't have sent us out here if he didn't believe we could win, Raintail." The silver tabby sighed, gazing up at him through quiet eyes before she rested her head on Rufflefur's shoulders.

"I believe that Flamesun believes that you will win. If I believe in that bond between you and my leader... I think we will win." She nuzzled his neck before turning and padding over to Owlpaw's side. She rubbed her cheek against his in comfort and the brown apprentice leaned into her side for support. Rufflefur pulled his gaze away to focus on the advancing patrols. His eyes scoured their ranks, seeking out the leader of PantherHerd first.

"Windsun!" Rufflefur called when he spotted the wiry brown tom. The brown tom, sitting in the center of a throng of his own warriors, glanced up at the sound of his name before his eyes locked with Rufflefur. He held his gaze with hallowed eyes before he got to his paws, signaling to two of his warriors; a pale white tom with light brown streaks across his tail and a muscular black tom with a white dash across his chest. Rufflefur immediately motioned for Skullhawk and a tortoiseshell tom with a lazy amber gaze. They all broke away from the comfort of their Herds and padded into the empty clearing.

"Where is Flamesun?" Windsun asked simply when the cats were standing opposite one another. The PantherHerd leader sneered, flashing his fangs and narrowing his clouded eyes. "Is he a coward? Does he not want to face us in battle? Is that why he sent us his tactless deputy?"

Rufflefur ignored the jibe about himself and growled, baring his own teeth.

"Flamesun is no coward." He said, measuring each word. He motioned for Skullhawk, who's fur had begun to bristle, to calm himself. He looked into Windsun's eyes as he continued, "He has sent us to give you a warning. SunHerd gave the forest to four Herds and it should stay that way."

A chortle rose from Windsun's throat and then the wiry tom was hunched over, a raucous laughter flying from his belly. His two senior warriors stood back from the tom and Rufflefur exchanged a glance with Skullhawk.

"Well! You don't see that every day." The tortoiseshell with Rufflefur commented with an intrigued smile. Rufflefur glared his way.

"Thistlerain, this is no time for jokes."

"I wasn't joking."

Windsun choked on his laughter, coughing for a few seconds before he lifted his muzzle and fixed Rufflefur with a cold gaze. "Flamesun is a fool if he thinks he can defy us." He looked over his shoulder towards the LeopardHerd cats. "Whispersun!"

A cream-colored she-cat, regal head tilted coolly, rose to her paws. A silver tabby beside her rushed to her paws as well but the cream-colored she-cat shook her head at her, seemingly ignoring her worried pleas and headed towards the huddled group of warriors. She finally reached them, taking her place beside Windsun's frail form. Side by side, Rufflefur could see hardly a resemblance between the two warriors. While Whispersun was strong, shoulders lean but square, chin high and eyes piercing, regal muzzle drawn forwards without flinching, Windsun, on the other hand, was a thinner tom with barely any muscle. He was only skin and bones, eyes haunting and lifeless, not fierce but instead void of any generosity.

The brown old tom flashed the LeopardHerd leader a grin before staring triumphantly at Rufflefur. "If LeopardHerd and PantherHerd combine, we can control the entire forest!"

Hotness swirled in Rufflefur's head, a dull ache that began to spread throughout his body, churning. Shaking his head in an effort to push back the rising distress, Rufflefur turned to the LeopardHerd leader. "Whispersun, please, do you really want to go against the will of SunHerd?"

Whispersun scoffed, casting a cold glare towards Rufflefur, lifting her chin even further into the air, "Don't misunderstand. I wouldn't trust this tom as far as I could throw him. However," she bared her teeth in a manner of aggression, "LionHerd is no better. If I had to choose between being swallowed or living for the betterment of my Herd, I would choose the latter. That is what being a leader is about, after all."

Skullhawk narrowed his eyes. "Is that why you jumped on the bandwagon?"

Whispersun ignored him, keeping her gaze locked with Ruffflefur's. "LeopardHerd will survive."

"As committed to your Herd as ever, eh Whispersun?" Thistlerain mused from behind the LionHerd deputy. The tortoiseshell tom regarded the LeopardHerd leader with an intense gaze. His amber eyes looked her up and down as though he were checking her out but the lazy glint to his eyes revealed his true intentions, how truly uninterested he really was. Whispersun caught on quickly, her neck fur beginning to bristle.

"Waste of space." She muttered, baring her teeth. "I know you well, Thistlerain. Barely a bone in that body that would jump to the aide of his Herd. You would do nothing but sleep if you could." The tortoiseshell shrugged nonchalantly, not agreeing or disagreeing with the she-cat.

Windsun rolled his eyes, breaking apart the connection between the two staring cats. "Enough talk! I have a territory I need won. Whispersun! Go get your cats ready." The cream-colored she-cat flicked her tail irritably but complied, whipping on her heels and walking determinedly back to her patrol. Windsun stood squarely in front of Rufflefur again, his two warriors standing not too far behind him. "Last chance. Leave or die."

There Rufflefur was no leader and yet he was meant to choose the fate of his Herd. There was no question what his leader would have done. Rufflefur drew strength from Flamesun's conviction and image. He lifted his chin, staring directly into the smaller tom's eyes. "We will not move."

The pleased expression in Windsun's gaze almost startled him as the brown warrior turned back to his Herd without a moment more. Then he and his warriors were gone and Rufflefur was left alone with Thistlerain and Skullhawk.

"He's senile." Skullhawk growled darkly, eyes still trained on the PantherHerd leader. "He will kill himself and his Herd someday if not today."

"Maybe." Rufflefur murmured. His eyes scanned the horizon, looking and hoping for the visage of his leader. Thistlerain and Skullhawk noticed the look.

"What are you searching for?" The gray warrior asked, the usual gruff response lightened somewhat.

Rufflefur did not tear his eyes from the slope when he answered. "For Flamesun's miracle."

The fighting ensued moments later. The LeopardHerd and PantherHerd mass was like a sea, a giant wave that smothered the LionHerd warriors. Rufflefur struggled to gain a foothold as cat after cat pushed him down and jostled him. Claws stung his ears and shoulders, sides and his own flailed in an effort to deal his own attacks. He became unsure whether he was fighting his enemies or if he were hitting his allies. There were so many cats surrounding him a sense of suffocation drew in upon the tom and he felt like he was drowning, similar to Whispersun's own words to him before. In an effort to escape, the black tom broke free of his attackers, catch glimpses of his own warriors fighting tooth and nail. He didn't have long to breathe for the massive form of the PantherHerd deputy lunged towards him.

The pale colored tom hissed at Rufflefur, his muzzle dripped with blood. His nose had been split open and his muzzle was stained by his own blood and spittle. "Lonewhisker!" Rufflefur braced himself as the pale tom swiped for his head. He ducked easily away for the tom was blinded by pain and rage. "Tell Windsun to stop the battle; we don't need to kill to survive!" The other deputy seemed not to hear as he swiped for Rufflefur again and the black warrior was forced to dodge again. Rufflefur stayed on the defensive as the pale tom swiped and slashed for his ears and eyes. His attacks were heavy and aimed well but easily dodgeable, however, Rufflefur could not move into the offensive for Lonewhisker was too quick with each successive attack.

Pain lanced up Rufflefur's shoulder as a cat sliced him from behind. He reflexively turned to attack this new enemy and Lonewhisker took the opportunity to barrel into the black tom and pin him to the forest floor. Rufflefur coughed, staring up into Lonewhisker's hate-filled blue eyes, catching the yellow gaze of his mate.

"Morningbreeze!" He hissed at the queen and the gray she-cat returned the hiss with one of her own. "So PantherHerd is sending queens into battle as well as kits!" He motioned with his eyes to a small orange shecat battling with a dark brown LionHerd warrior. Eaglehawk was twice her size and Rufflefur could see he was going easy on the orange cat but even so, Eaglehawk easily pinned her down. "You kitted barely six moons ago. That one's yours, isn't it?"

Her breath caught and she raced to her daughter's rescue. Lonewhisker growled low at Rufflefur, leaning closely so the black tom could see the whites of his eyes. "This is the end for you and all of LionHerd." Lonewhisker raised his paw, claws unsheathed and glistening with the morning sun.

"Father!" He paused as the black warrior with a white dash on his chest, the tom cat with Windsun earlier, Ravenwind was his name, approached. His breath was heavy and he was wounded on his right shoulder. His eyes were wild with fear. "Windsun is badly injured! Skullhawk has him cornered! He needs you!"

"Mouse-brained son, why didn't you help him!?" Ravenwind shrank back and Lonewhisker growled, getting off of Rufflefur. "No matter. We will go." He sent Rufflefur one last hate-filled look before he ran off with his son at his heels. Rufflefur rose to his paws, panting. He ran to help them. If Skullhawk was by himself, he would need Rufflefur's help. The LionHerd deputy had moved all but two feet when a gray tom shouldered into him.

"Hey!" The tom growled, pinning down Rufflefur. His scent was LeopardHerd but he was covered in so much blood it was hard to identify him as thus; it dripped down his ears and across his teeth. Was it his blood or it could be the blood of one of Rufflefur's den-mates? Rufflefur slashed his claws down his opponent's nose and slithered out from underneath him when the tom cat reared upward. The tom yowled with pain, hissing and spitting and Rufflefur took the opportunity to slash his claws down his face. He dodged the cat's flailing claws just in the knick of time as they rounded for a rebuttal. Rufflefur's teeth met his scruff and he flipped him down, snagging his claws in the tom's neck fur. He leaned down and spat in the gray tom's ears,

"This is a warning. Leave now." The gray warrior snarled up at Rufflefur, trying to break free of the black tom's grip.

The high-pitched wail of a she-cat reached their ears and they both paused, turning with startled eyes to Morningbreeze. For a heartbeat Rufflefur thought her daughter might be dead and a crushing weight slammed on his chest. However, the gray she-cat wailed another name instead. "LONEWHISKER!"

Both cats pulled apart, breaths hitching with horror as they noticed the pale fur of the PantherHerd deputy, lying still at Morningbreeze's feet. The battle ceased for a few moments as Morningbreeze's shrill wails bounced off rocks and trees. Windsun pushed through the crowd of cats, his left ear was in tatters and he was limping. He approached his dead deputy with cold eyes.

"Who did this...? I don't even need to ask." His eyes rose until they trained on Rufflefur and his mouth opened as his face contorted in rage. "LionHerd!" Ravenwind slunk over to his mother's huddled form followed by his younger sister, the orange apprentice from earlier. His eyes were wide with shock and his lips trembled. The young apprentice let out a short whimper before burying her nose in her father's neck fur.

"Flamesun you coward!" Windsun roared to the sky. "Show your face so I might rip it to shreds! Your Herd has ended my deputy's life! You would hide behind your warriors and not face accusation!"

"It seems we were too late. I feared this would happen."

Rufflefur blanched as all eyes turned towards a figure on the high slope. The reddish golden fur of a tom stood silhouetted by the morning sun. A she-cat padded up beside him, her golden fur matched his own. They both stood tall and then the appearance of cats behind them alerted to the arrival of another group of cats.

"TigerHerd..." The gray tom beside Rufflefur whispered and Rufflefur recognized his voice as Grassclaw's at last.

"Flamesssunnnn!" Windsun hollered and his eyes were flashing with that hatred that Rufflefur had seen in Lonewhisker's now cold and dead gaze. "You will face perdition!"

The flame colored tom, standing on the slope alongside the TigerHerd leader and her warriors, looked down on Windsun with a heavy gaze, one that held not pity or anger, no regret, but sympathy. "Windsun, it was death that took Lonewhisker's life, battle that starved him of his breath, not I. You must understand-"

"You killed Lonewhisker!" He snarled, his mouth so wide all his teeth were visible. "Risesun! You would ally with a murderer!?"

The golden leader said nothing, merely stared down at the brown tom whose anger continued to rise with each building second. Windsun's small body shook with barely contained rage. Whispersun approached Windsun. Her eyes were guarded, not sad, but merely strained, tired.

"It's over, Windsun. Without a deputy you-"

"Do not think you can judge me, Whispersun!" He snapped, whirled around to face the cream-colored she-cat. "You are the same as them!" Whispersun seemed taken aback, her hackles began to raise but a swift shake of the head from her own deputy made her turn away without another word.

"LeopardHerd," She flicked her tail. "We will be leaving."

"Run! Run like the coward you are, Whispersun! Like you always were!" Windsun yowled after her as the cream-colored she-cat led her Herd away from the bloody clearing. When they were small shadows, Windsun stopped his yelling but instead trained his half-lidded gaze on Flamesun and Risesun, still standing on top of the slope. "Come down so I can kill the both of you!"

"I'd rather stay here, thank you." Risesun murmured, glancing Flamesun's way. Flamesun sighed, closing his eyes. "It is exactly as I feared." He murmured quietly.

"Windsun," Ravenwind, his eyes hard, padded up to his leader. "Please. Let us go. I wish to bury my father."

"Not until I have their heads!" Windsun snarled.

"Windsun!" He snapped and the brown tom looked his warrior's way with an interested gaze. "I want revenge as much as you do, but my father deserves his proper burial. Besides, Whispersun was right, without a deputy SunHerd is unable to grant passage to any of us if you were to die."

Windsun didn't seem angered by the tom's tone, or the words he spoke, instead he stared at him, eyes glazed, almost without seeing. Then, he spoke in a soft voice, barely audible and without any of the former anger behind it. "Yes...yes you are right." He flicked his tail. "PantherHerd will leave." No more words were spoken as two PantherHerd warriors picked up Lonewhisker's cold body and followed their leader out. The others watched the Herd leave quietly, with sad eyes. When they were gone, the atmosphere around them, so charged with energy, broke with a relieved sigh.

On top of the slope, Risesun spoke. "I did not come for a fight. We came to stop the battle and we have." She looked directly at Flamesun, eyes slightly narrowed. "I have repaid my debt to you and your Herd. You have no sway over me any longer."

"I never did, Risesun." Flamesun dipped his head to the golden she-cat and she nodded, using her tail to lead her cats away once more. Flamesun made his way down the slope to accompany his warriors. They sat, wounds aching, in the clearing, licking their fur. Rufflefur approached with leader with relief.

"Flamesun, thank SunHerd you are alright."

Flamesun looked perplexed, and amused. "Why wouldn't I be? I went to talk to Risesun. She was quite cooperative. I was more worried about you and the others, going into battle against two Herds." His gaze became searching as he looked his deputy over. "Are you alright?"

Rufflefur couldn't get the relief out of his voice. "Yes. I'm fine."

"And the others?"

"Hurt but all accounted for." A voice behind them answered for him. Raintail, silver fur matted with dry blood, padded forwards, a soft smile on her face. She brushed against Rufflefur, resting her head on his shoulder. "I was right to trust you both. You preformed a miracle. We all survived."

"Except Lonewhisker." Flamesun's eyes darkened.

Rufflefur looked up at his leader, his whiskers twitched. "You said you knew this was going to happen. That you were too late. What did you mean?" Flamesun closed his eyes, breathing slowly as though he were drifting into slumber but the slight movement of his ears told them he was not sleeping. He stood before them for a few moments, just quiet, before he opened his eyes and his gaze was unclear.

"SunHerd... sent me a dream."

PAGE BREAK

His breath billowed in clouds of white yet he was not cold. His movements were light, airy, almost feather-like, yet he could not fly. The air was crisp and smelled of forest, of bracken and leaves, of mice and prey. The flame-colored tom looked around the forest in the beginnings of wonder. He didn't know where he was; this forest seemed unfamiliar to him...and yet... so similar to the forest he grew up in.

"Hello?" He called. There was no answer. Warily, he walked farther into the forest. His steps were slow and measured, each one taken with great care. Finally, he approached a dark clearing surrounded by large trees. The fern bushes that surrounded the tall threes shuddered as though brushed by a wind. Flamesun tensed, lifting his nose to the air and breathing in the scent of berries and... cat. Instinctively he froze and braced himself for an attack, but the cats that emerged were ones he recognized instantly. One was a brown she-cat with golden flecks and blue eyes, her slim figure was glossy and dappled with sunlight. The others were a flame-colored tom with blue eyes and the last cat, another she-cat, identical to the first one; the only difference was the color of their eyes. This she-cat's eyes were green rather than blue.

The flame-colored tom felt his heart stop with disbelief. "Windswept...? Razorclaw? Flowerheart? Could it be?" The small smile that graced the tender she-cat's face washed away all his doubt. "Windswept! I can't believe it's you!" The flame-colored raced to her side and pressed his muzzle to her cheek.
"What do you mean? I have always been by your side. I would never leave you, Flamesun. I love you too much." The she-cat purred, a rush of pleasure spiraling up her own breast and heart.
"We would never leave you either, Father." The second she-cat meowed. Her eyes shone with happiness upon meeting her dad again. She walked up to him and licked his cheek in respect before stepping back to her mother's side. Then approached the other flame-colored tom.
"Wherever you walk, we will follow, no matter how far…we will be by your side. Always and forever." He promised with a dip of his head. Flamesun purred and glanced at each of the cats he held dearest to him. However, his excitement was short-lived as a terrible thought entered his mind and a frown slipped across his features.

"You all haven't walked with me in my dreams before." He murmured quietly, staring at each of them separately. It was true; the last he had seen of his mate and kits was when he received his nine lives from SunHerd and that had been countless seasons ago. "Something must have happened."
"Flamesun, we may not have walked in your dreams with you before, but that does not mean we have forgotten about you. We walk alongside you every moment of the day." Windswept answered. Her blue eyes were filled with warmth for her beloved mate but there was a wariness there as well. She glanced at her son and he stepped forwards, eyes clouded with unseen visions.

"Father, there is danger nearing…"

"Danger?" Flamesun looked from Razorclaw to Flowerheart before his gaze finally rested on Windswept, as if she held all the answers.

"We aren't sure ourselves…" Windswept meowed. Her body shifted as she moved, pacing around her children who stood and watched her with guarded eyes. "We know that it is coming. Beware, my beloved."

"Could it have something to do with PantherHerd or LeopardHerd?" Flamesun looked at Windswept, thoughtful. "They have been trying to take advantage of our territory for the last few moons now. You don't have to worry. They are no threat."

Windswept's eyes were sad but she didn't say anything in response. Instead, she glanced at the sky.
"Father, we must go. We will always be with you and don't you ever forget that." Flowerheart mewed seriously. She was also looking at the sky before she returned her gaze to her father. She was beginning to fade from sight. Flamesun's eyes widened in alarm.
"What's happening to you?"

"Do not fear, love. We must return to SunHerd." Windswept breathed, pressing her flank against her mate's side once more. Razorclaw and Flowerheart smiled one last time as Flamesun met their gazes, eyes soft.
"Goodbye then. Visit me soon, and I will be careful." Flamesun meowed sadly, muzzling his kits one last time.
"Don't worry, we will." Flowerheart and Razorclaw both promised and then they faded from sight. Windswept stayed behind a moment and whispered, "How is he? Is he…? Okay?" Flamesun blinked and sighed. He knew whom she was talking about.

"He is fine. Do not worry, Windswept. He has a skilled mentor and he is growing each day." Flamesun's eyes glittered with pride and Windswept beamed. However, her happiness was short-lived as she closed her eyes and then opened them again; her eyes were glowing. "Flamesun... I must show you something."

"Yes?" He asked and he gasped, jolting with shock as Windswept touched her nose to his. Suddenly he was spiraling, a flash of images spun across his eyelids and he was seeing... cats, battling, then a tom was lying, dead, and a wailing she-cat. Flamesun jerked with surprise as Windswept drew back. Flamesun was panting, sweat dabbed his fur.

"W-what was that?"

"I showed you the future." Windswept replied simply, her eyes wary once more. "A future that will be the catalyst for everything. Please, Flamesun, you must stop this at all cost."

"Was that PantherHerd's deputy I had seen?"

"There is something else." Seemingly ignoring Flamesun's question, Windswept drew her tail, beckoning to her mate to follow her. He did without a moment's pause, keeping up with the brown she-cat with the speckled coat of gold. Then, they were standing beside a pool of water. Windswept nudged Flamesun, indicating that he look into the pool. "Do you see?"

Flamesun's eyes trailed the ripples of water until, to his shock, an image began to form. The images were blurred but Flamesun could clearly see the form of a young cat, a kit, barely old enough to open it's eyes.

"This is...?"

"The clouds shall cover up the sun. A battle unwanted shall be fought and the light shall shine down upon the one with brightness in her eyes." Flamesun glanced with surprise at Windswept. She met his confused green gaze steadily with her own blue pair. "Remember these words." She laughed lightly, like the twinkling of a bell. "Goodbye, my beloved." She breathed into his ear before she too faded from sight.