Disclaimer. I don't own Warriors concept, characters, plot, trademarks etc. Now let's get to the chapter already...
Feathershine glanced around warily at the surroundings of the wolves' camp. They had made it in an area upstream of the lake's tributary. It was rather like the RiverClan camp she was raised in. The wolf who had carrying her snarled a warning without words, but Feathershine understood well enough. She moaned as she realized that she'd been knocked out.
There were already many cats within the camp. She recognized none of them, but she heard Dewstar moan in shock. "It's the Tribe of Rushing Water!" she whispered to Feathershine, who happened to be nearby. "What? The Tribe? But how?" she whispered back, although she guessed exactly how. "The wolves must've passed the mountains and found them. They're not the greatest at fighting," Dewstar replied. "Shut it, you two!" a wolf barked. Eyes glowing reproachfully but not willing to risk further anger of the wolves, Dewstar and Feathershine ceased their talking.
Nieforan walked into the camp last, his head and tail held high. "So, who is your leader?" he asked, eyes sweeping the camp. "I am," Dewstar replied, stepping forward with her tail held high as well. "I will speak to you, then. Alone," he added fiercely as Fanerog stepped forward.
The two leaders walked into a sort of half-cave provided by the river's bank and an overhead tree's roots. "What is your name?" Nieforan asked quietly after a pause. "Dewstar." The leader said nothing else, surveying the situation. "Dewstar. An odd name for an odd creature," Nieforan commented in a sort of offhand way, but all the while sizing up the she-cat. Dewstar said nothing, knowing immediately that this was a test to try to rile her. "My name is Nieforan. Now, is it possible for you to tell me anything-anything at all-about the other three groups Fanerog told me about?" Dewstar's eyes narrowed and she glared up at the wolves' leader. "You know enough. I will tell you nothing."
With that said, the huge wolf leaped at her. Expecting the angry attack, Dewstar tried to step out of the way but was caught off guard by the wolf's size. "Now, will you tell me anything?" Nieforan hissed, placing an unsheathed paw near the RiverClan leader's neck. "You know enough. And this Fangrot wolf of yours is right," Dewstar snarled equally ferociously. "You disgust me, cat. But I will let you live. You will be useful." Nieforan's eyes narrowed to slits the very width of his sharpened claws and took the paw away from Dewstar's neck. She said nothing about the strange gesture.
"What do you call these groups? I know they have a name," Nieforan said after a while that had been filled with hatred that radiated from Dewstar. "Clans." Nieforan laughed softly at the simple reply. "Suspicious, are you. Well, you have good reason to be. And let me guess-you are the leader of . . . RiverClan." The she-cat growled at the name of her Clan. "How do you know this?" Dewstar hissed, her tail lashing. "You need not know that. And are the names of the other three ThunderClan, WindClan and ShadowClan?" Nieforan continued to ask. "Yes."
"I have heard of two more, actually. Confirm my rumors, cat-are there others called StarClan and SkyClan?" Dewstar scoffed. "Yes, but if you've come to get SkyClan you'd better pack up and head home," she replied angrily. "What about this StarClan?" Nieforan questioned, ignoring her outburst. "They're our ancestors up in the stars," Dewstar replied stiffly. "Stars? You believe your ancestors turn into stars?"
To Dewstar's surprise and annoyance, Nieforan started to laugh. "You cats are certainly odd creatures, Dewstar. Let me tell you this, in return for your information; my pack is the Nightfang pack of the Fang group. Leadership is passed through family blood and not through the order of second-in-command. All wolves have two names-one the name of their most ancient ancestor and the other the one they use. My second name, in fact, is Nightfang herself. Yes, Nightfang was a she-wolf," Nieforan said as Dewstar gave a start. "Fanerog is the descendant of Gorfaanes, the second-in-command of Nightfang. Gorfaanes always envied the leader, it is said. And we care nothing for our ancestors unless they have contributed greatly to the pack." Dewstar snorted quietly at this. "There are three groups-Fang, Claw, and Element. There are two packs in each-Nightfang and Fiercefang of the Fang group, Deathclaw and Sharpestclaw of the Claw group, and Darkwind and Shadowfire of the Element group. I have an enemy in the Fiercefang pack. Her name is Binaera and she refuses to admit that my pack is the better of the Fang group. And now-now, I will use other creatures, something her half-wit brain has not thought of!" Dewstar glanced nervously at the huge, panting wolf and wondering if he also suffered from half-wit brain. If he does, all the better, she thought bitterly. Then, somehow I can find a way out for all of these poor cats. Nieforan glared at her. "Well? Will you swear loyalty to me, Nieforan Nightfang, or will you toil along as our slaves?" Dewstar growled and hesitated. If I swear loyalty-which I will break, of course-then he'll probably trust us more and then I can find their weakness. But . . . I can't stand swearing loyalty to that foxheart, I can't! She took a deep breath and glared back at the wolf. "Never. I'll never be loyal to you as far as RiverClan is concerned!" she yowled. Nieforan smiled, all his white fangs showing. "Too bad."
Dewstar plunged into darkness.
Feathershine was shot through with shock and hate when Nieforan padded back into the camp holding the limp form of Dewstar. He dropped her roughly to the ground and twitched a single ear. At once, Fanerog shot forward and sat down near the RiverClan leader. Many RiverClan warriors noticed this movement and yowled their defiance and anger. "Quiet!" Nieforan snarled. The shrieks died down at once, but the cats still muttered to themselves about the hated wolf. "What right does he have to knock out our leader?" Wavepelt growled, bristling. A wolf nearby kicked him onto his side. Wavepelt scrambled back onto his paws and attempted to attack the wolf, but it cut off his attack by putting its bushy tail in front of the face (which Wavepelt had been aiming at). "Tough luck, feline," Nieforan snarled, padding up to the warrior and pinning him down. "Good block there, Hauterra," Nieforan grunted. Hauterra grinned. "Cats are slow. Any'wolf, even just a young one, can block their clumsy attacks." Nieforan nodded and walked away. Feathershine hissed at the unfairness they were facing. The wolves were at least three times bigger with a larger set of fangs and claws and (grudgingly she admitted this) probably brains too.
And now all the Clans and other unfortunate cats in the area were threatened by them.