The dark, half-moon glistened in the dark sky. It turned the abandoned warehouse a ghostly silver. The eerie silence was broken only by the drip of a broken faucet and the wind blowing lightly. The shadows stirred and dark figures stealthily made their way over a tall chain-link fence. Knives glinted in the in the moonlight as the silently dropped to the ground.

On a silent signal, the battle began and the ground around the warehouse was alive with wrestling and screeching fighters. In the center of the fighting was a large man with dark hair and skin. His large hands pinned a smaller man to the ground.

"Oak!" The man growled. "How dare you try to steal our territory? The Sunning Warehouse belongs to the Thunder Gang!"

"When tonight ends, Tiger, this will be part of the River Gang Territory!" The smaller man spat.

Someone from the mist of the battle yelled a warning call. "Look! The River gang has send more reinforcements!"

Tiger looked up and saw that more sleek and agile River gang members were scaling the fence. They dropped silently to the ground and launched themselves into battle. Tiger glared down at Oak.

"You may be a daring gang, but you have no right to our territory!" Tiger's lips drew into an unhuman snarl as Oak struggled against Tiger's death grip.

A Thunder member let out a desperate scream. A River member had pinned the young woman to the ground, a silver knife pressed to her neck. Tiger hearing the scream let go Oak and went to his gang mate's defense. He easily overcame the other man, throwing him to the side and helping the woman to her feet.

"Mouse, get out of here!" Tiger ordered.

The woman nodded, her shoulder was bleeding badly from a large gash. She took one last look around at the battleground before taking off into the shadows. Tiger turned around and let out a venomous curse as a River member's knife sliced across the bridge of Tiger's nose.

Blood splattered into Tiger's eyes rendering him blind for a brief second. He wiped it away angrily before grabbing the other man and shoving his own knife into the man's side. The man yelled out in pain and attempted to break free from Tiger's hold.

"Tiger!" The yell came from a few feet away. The man was short and part of his hair was ginger while the rest was shades of browns and streaks of white. He looked panicked as he called to his gang mate.

"They out number us five to one! This fight is madness!" The man cried.

"Red! Don't be a coward! Thunder Gang will win!" Tiger snarled as he went to Red's side. "They will not take our territory!"

Blood streamed down Tiger's face, he wiped it away causing scarlet flecks to splatter the ground and smear on his face. He glared down at Red who was now looking more angered then panicked.

"Thunder Gang will be grateful for your courage and honor! We simply cannot lose anymore members, Tiger!" Red replied firmly.

Red saw Tiger's determined look of defiance and quickly added. "Blue wouldn't want us to fight against these odds. Not with so much at risk."

Tiger and Red's eyes met in mutual anger before Red tore away his gaze away and yelled. "Thunder Gang! To me! Retreat!"

Thunder Gang broke from the fighting and rushed to follow Red, they left started River Gang members in startled confusion at the easy victory. Oak let out a victorious cry and soon the rest of River Gang joined him.

Red glanced at this gang mates, he then waved his hand and they took off from the Sunning Warehouse and melted into the shadows and darkness. Tiger brought up the rear, he looked back at the bloody battle ground and glared.

His face was set in a scowl and his amber brown eyes flashed with something dangerous. Frowning, he turned and followed after his gang mates.


The main room of the building was fairly deserted. An older woman sat by a window staring out at dark, smog filled night sky. The sounds of snores and deep breathing echoed around her. A tiny young woman with long crimped tortoiseshell hair came and stood next to her.

"Is Mouse still alive?" The older woman inquired.

"Mouse's wounds are serious, Blue, but I have faith in her recovery." The young woman answered.

"The others are-?"

"They will live."

Blue let out a relived sigh. "Luck shined on us. We didn't lose any members this time. You are a skilled doctor, Spotted."

Spotted smiled slightly and Blue turned to gaze out the window again. "I have pondered tonight's defeat. It troubles me deeply. Thunder Gang has not been defeated in our own territory since I became leader." Blue said softly. "It's been difficult for our gang. Spring is late and we have fewer gang members. We need more members to survive."

"It's just the start of the year." Spotted said calmly. "Members will come once spring arrives."

The Thunder Gang leader raised an eyebrow. "Maybe so. But training young members takes time. And we need new members to protect our territory."

"Are you asking The Stars for answers?" Spotted asked, she looked out the window to the night sky.

"These hard times call for the words of our past gang members. Has The Stars spoken to you of late?" Blue inquired.

Spotted shook her head sadly. "Not for some months."

At that moment a shooting star blazed through the night sky leaving a trial in the smog infected sky. Spotted's eye twitched slightly. Blue watched her in silent curiosity. Silence passed before Spotted met Blue's gaze.

"The Stars have sent a message." Spotted murmured. She gazed out the window before whispering. "Fire alone will save our clan."

"Fire?" Blue rerepeated in disbelief. "But fire destroys all territories and is dangerous to all of the gangs! How can it possibly save our gang!?"

Spotted shrugged. "I have no idea. This is simply the message The Stars have chosen to share. This message, and this message alone."

Blue fixed her icy blue eyes on the young doctor. "You have always been right. The Stars spoke so it must be so. Fire will save our clan."