The two kits grinned as they ran up to the elders den. Maybe Briarwood would have a good story today! Midnightkit tried to contain her excitement, her mother barely ever let her go into the elders den. Sunflowerkit was more slow about it as she bounded to the den, eyes bright with excitement. Midnightkit was the first to enter and she stumbled over to one of the elders. The elder, a gray tom, let out a small grunt, but smiled at the young kit.

"Briarwood, do you have a story you can tell us?" She squeaked as Sunflowerkit entered the den. The two sat down as the elder nodded.

Briarwood was one of the older elders and definitely had the best stories! At least, that's what the kits thought. Briarwood smiled and then gestured for the kits to sit down, "Come, and I will tell you a mighty tale."

Midnightkit and Sunflowerkit stared up at the elder, eyes wide with awe as the story began...

"Many, many years ago, moons before my grandfather was born, the clan argued over who should ascend to leadership. Some thought that the current deputy at the time, the Great Purifier, should be leader, and others thought the Great Purifier was evil, and that he would be a terrible leader. So, a few rebels found another cat they thought would be a good leader. Eventually, those rebels were... overcome and the Purifier rose to victory. Moons later, he put a rule in place that stated any cat caught disobeying his order would be publicly executed to ensure everyone knew he was the leader, and only him."

Well, he doesn't sound like a good leader if he did something like that! Midnightkit growled as the thought flitted through her brain.

"After that, he started the pairing, a ceremony that bound two cats for life, so the clan would stay strong. The stronger cats were put together in the pairing, something you will go through soon enough."

Midnightkit gaped, How could he do something like that?The Great Purifier sounds horrible!I don't want to be paired!

"The Great Purifier only let the strongest rise to power. For example, Adderstar."

Sunflowerkit tilted her head, it sounded awful to both kits. She flicked her golden coloured ears and looked the elder in the eyes, "What do you mean publicly executed?"

"Um, well, they were killed infront of the clan-"

"Eww, gross!" Midnightkit protested, eyes filled with horror and she hid her head under her paws.

"I guess." The Briarwood shrugged again, ruffling her brown pelt specked with white fur.

Another elder, one the two kits did not know the name of, leaned forward, directing his speech towards Midnightkit, "I agree, it's not right for cats to kill one another or be paired."

One of the apprentices on duty looked up, eyes round with horror and they bounded out of the den to who knows where.

The next day, the speckled elder was dead.

Hello! FizzNBoo here, and I'd like to welcome you to the collaboration with Potato (Theoneandonlylonelypotato)Y'all can refer to me as Fizz.

Hope you enjoy!

Hi! Also Theoneandonlylonelypotato also here to formally welcome you to the collaboration between me and Fizz! I'd like to thank Fizz for the whole concept, and for writing the prologue!