The snow fell from the sky, littering the ground with it's cold clutch. A sandy colored tom sniffed the ground, sneezing after inhaling a snowflake.
"Very graceful, Haven." a voice mewed. The pale ginger tom turned around to see a blueish-black tom approaching him, his pelt sticking out more than ever.
"Your input is not needed, Dennis." Haven growled.
"Preacher! The name is Preacher! We went over this." the black tom growled, his green eyes sparking with annoyance.
Haven snorted, "Don't be so touchy over a name." he mewed, wiping a white paw over his muzzle.
Haven winched as claws striked his shoulder, making three deep scars. Haven faced Preacher with a hiss, curling his lip, "The fuck was that for!?"
"You need to learn to watch your mouth." Preacher growled, looking at the glistening blood on his claws. Preacher looked at the spray of blood that were now on the starch white snow, "Unless you want a large pool of blood to sink into the snow."
Haven growled, "Fuck you."
Preacher walked past Haven and flicked his tail, "That's your way of saying thank you."
Haven ignored the jab, "Where are you going?"
"Home." Preacher mewed.
Haven raised a brow, "Home is the other way. You can't stay with your humans forever."
Preacher stopped and turned his head, his whiskers twitching, "I wasn't going that way! This star forsaken snow just made me confused."
"Yeah yeah, and I have a snake tail." Haven sneered.
Preacher looked at him, "Are you gonna teleport me to camp or what?"
"Yeah. Come on." Haven mewed, standing up.
Haven walked over to Preacher and bit his tail. Preacher bristled, "Is that necessary?"
"Unless you want your face to be somewhere else that's not on your pretty lil' head, then yes." Haven growled through Preacher's tail.
Preacher blinked with disgust and turned his head. Haven rolled his eyes and focused his energy on camp, envision it. The wooden walls of the old human den, covered with ivy and moss from age. The creaking noise whenever someone stepped on the third step up the stairs. The broken glass windows. The hole in the roof, patched with oddly placed boards. The old rag that hangs over the old lamp. A turquoise aura surrounded Haven and Preacher. Haven opened his eyes, his dark blue eyes shining white.
A flash of turquoise formed in the middle of the camp as the two toms disappeared from the middle of the moor. Haven let go of Preacher's tail and the black tom stumbled and leaned on a wall.
Haven shook snowflakes from his pelt and looked at Preacher, "You alright?"
"I think i'm gonna hurl." Preacher groaned.
"Oh, you'll get used to it, Dennis." Haven mewed, walking past the black tom.
"It's Prea- oh stars I don't feel good." Preacher moaned, flopping down.
Haven rolled his eyes and headed up the stairs, skipping the third step. Haven looked down the upstairs hallway and walked through it, heading into the second room on the right.
A brown tabby was hissing at a young grey tom. Besides the tom stood other cats around his age. A golden-brown tabby she-cat, a brown tortoiseshell she-cat, a silver tabby tom, a black-and-white tom, and a small black tom.
Haven cleared his throat.
The brown tom faced Haven and straightened his shoulder, "Haven, sir."
Haven dipped his head, "Greetings Killer."
Killer nodded and faced the young cats, "Stand straight! Haven is here. Hatchet! Keep your tail up! George! Stop whimpering!" Killer growled, instructing the brown tortie and grey tom he had been yelling at earlier.
"How's training going?" Haven asked, walking in front of the young cats.
Killer huffed, "They've been doing well enough, sir. But George is lacking. Any advice sir?"
Haven looked at the cat named George. A plump tom with a plumy tail and a flat face. Haven walked over to the tom, the young cat flinching. Haven sniffed the tom, picking up the scent of humans. He lifted his head and looked at Killer, "Who's your best student?"
"Oak, sir." Killer responded.
Haven was familiar with the name. He looked at a black-and-white tom, "Oak."
"Yes, sir?" Oak mewed.
"Keep George on his toes. Make him run a few laps, I'd say five, around camp after you're done training. Make sure he doesn't eat anything today and one thing tomorrow. If he's going to help in the war then he needs to know hardships. He is much to plump." Haven instructed.
"It would be my honor and duty to do so, sir." Oak mewed.
Haven nodded and walked out the den. He walked to the end of the hall and entered the room on the right.
The walls had old human paintings on them, shredded and falling apart. A stand was near a window, the small mirror on it cracked. Haven noticed a cat sleeping in one of the drawers and he saw two toms resting on the old bed. Haven sniffed the air and frowned. He walked up to the she in the drawer and poked her cheek. She slowly blinked open her eyes, "Jester?"
"Nope. Haven. Nice to see you haven't lost your spirit, Keychain."
The light grey tabby rolled over and walked out the drawer, stretching her legs, "Why would I need to?"
"You don't. Though I do wish you would stop for a bit. Not lead on every tom in our group." Haven mewed, looking over to the two toms sleeping on the bed.
Keychain snorted. "What? Afraid i'll break your heart?"
Haven snorted, "No. I'm afraid you'll break yourself when some tom sweeps you off your paws and then leaves you like old prey."
Keychain rolled her eyes. She jumped on the bed, waking the two grey tabby toms on the bed. She hissed at them and the two rushed out the room.
Haven frowned, "Two? You must like lowering yourself to all time lows."
"Mouse gave me a shot and then his brother walked in afterwards. Wanted to take me for a spin." Keychain mewed.
Haven teleported in front of Keychain, "Please refrain from speaking such language."
Keychain rolled her eyes, "Whatever. I'm gettin' a mouse. Fuck you later." she mewed flirtatiously.
"No. No you won't. Never. I mean it." haven growled, but he assumed Keychain was ignoring him. Haven frowned and jumped off the bed, "This was my favorite room too. Pity." he mewed.
"Haven! Get your ass down here!"
Haven jumped as he heard Preacher yowling for him. Haven focused his energy on Preacher and teleported in front of him with a turquoise flash.
Preacher jumped as Haven appeared, "Fuck! Don't do that! Why can't you walk like a normal cat?"
"When have I ever been normal?" haven queried.
Preacher snorted. He shook his head, "Hawk came back. Or rather Hawkpaw now."
"Wait. Holy shit, MistClan let her in?" haven mewed with shock.
"Yep. She told the Clan she was gonna take a walk. She told me that MistClan's deputy just died of old age. New deputy is a fool. Heronpelt is his name." Preacher mewed.
"And?" Haven mewed impatiently.
"If Hawk can gain his trust then she can play the whole Clan right into our claws." Preacher mewed, flexing his claws.
Haven let out a mew of agreement. He stood up and walked over to Hawk, who was talking to an older cat.
"A moment Hawk?" Haven mewed.
"Can't really say no to my boss." Hawk mewed with an eye roll. The cat she was talking to stalked away.
Haven laughed, "Suppose not. So, you found a way to lead the Clan into our rule?"
Hawk nodded, "Yep! Soon I'll have Heronpelt eating from my paw!"
"I hope you will." Haven mewed, flicking his white-tipped tail, "When do you think you can get it done?"
Hawk frowned, "It'll take awhile. But i'm a quick learner. I'd say at least a season or two."
"Two seasons?" Haven growled.
"Good things come to those who wait." Hawk mewed.
Haven snorted, "If that's how you think then you can wait to return until you have Heronpelt under your control."
Hawk gasped, unsheathing her claws, "You're kicking me out!?"
"No." Haven mewed, "I'm simply giving you motivation to get the job done quicker, dear Hawk. Now, I'm afraid you must leave."
"Bu-" Hawk was cut off by Haven.
"Mouse! Comfrey! Zig! Come here and escort Hawk out of camp." Haven ordered.
A grey tabby, a black-and-brown tom, and a white she-cat with black stripes appeared and made a half circle around Hawk, Zig and Comfrey walking beside Hawk while Mouse took the rear, pushing her out of camp. Haven could hear Hawk's spits and yowls of defiance. He raised his voice for Hawk to hear, "When you return, we'll attack MistClan two days after at sunset!"
Haven noticed as Preacher walked up besides Haven, watching Hawk getting escorted from camp, "Was that necessary?"
"I believe so. We have to be ready for our coup, otherwise we'll waste time for nothing." Haven mewed plainly.
"Aren't you worried about MossClan and FlurryClan?"
Haven laughed, "Of course not! MossClan's leader hates MistClan and FlurryClan is too scared to take us. You saw their interactions at the gathering."
Preacher pursed his lips, "I suppose so."
Haven smirked and nudged Preacher, "Come on, Dennis. We've got a war to plan."
"It's Preacher, God dammit!"