PROLOGUE
The forest, warm with sunlight, was met with the cold grief of a tabby queen's wail.
In a rocky clearing, the four Clans gathered. They could only stare in stunned disbelief as two small shapes were laid out on the rocks. A tabby queen crouched over the form of one of the dead cats, and she let out another desperate wail.
"This is a tragedy," murmured a tall, golden spotted tabby. She strode forward from the clustered cats. "RiverClan mourns with ThunderClan and WindClan."
A large white tom strode forward, his jet black paws churning the earth where he stood. "This is more than tragedy!" he growled. "It is a sign." He let his words linger around the clearing. "The Clans are not meant to be here around the lake!"
"Blackstar, now is not the time." A flame-colored tom silenced the white tom with a glare. "Your superstition can wait until the next Gathering."
Blackstar's eyes burned with rage. "Very well," he hissed. "ShadowClan! We're leaving." He turned tail and stalked away, through his cats, leading them into the dark trees at the edge of the clearing.
The golden tabby stepped forward as ShadowClan left the clearing. "RiverClan will take our leave as well," she murmured. "While Blackstar's words were tactless, his message is important. We should readdress our territory at the next Gathering." Without waiting for a reply, she raised her tail for her warriors to follow. "RiverClan, let's go home."
The RiverClan cats followed their leader as she slipped through the trees in a route toward the lake.
"Whether we stay by the lake or not, Harepaw's death will not be so easily forgotten," Onestar snarled, casting a glance over at the wailing queen. His warriors rumbled in agreement.
Firestar's ears pinned back. "Do not forget that WindClan is not the only Clan facing a loss today," he growled evenly. ThunderClan cats nodded at their leader's words.
Onestar stalked forward with a lashing tail. "And don't you forget that this whole Daylight Gathering was a ThunderClan idea!" he hissed.
Firestar remained still as Onestar marched right up to his nose. Firestar's voice was quiet as he asked, "Do you mean war, Onestar?"
Onestar broke off in a growl, storming away He flicked his tail, and his warriors rose to follow him. The WindClan queen's wails grew louder as Harepaw's body was lifted to be carried home. The WindClan cats stopped at the edge of the trees as Onestar turned around to face the ThunderClan leader once more. His eyes glittered with fury. "Not yet."
ALLEGIANCES
Allegiances are the same as the book Power of Three: Dark River, save for a few exceptions:
Cinderpaw's name is Poolpaw. Breezepaw doesn't exist. Harepaw is dead.
Aaaand there are two additions:
Sunpaw - handsome ginger tom with amber eyes; mentor is Stormfur
Featherpaw - tortoiseshell tom with green eyes; mentor is Sorreltail
NOTES
Welcome back to my Power of Three AU! Kind of a bleak opening, I know.
Questions? Comments? Let me hear 'em!
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