Prologue
The full moon glowed eerily in the distant midnight-blue sky, thin wisps of clouds weaving amongst the sparkling stars that scattered across Silverpelt. Nothing stirred the leaves that sprouted near the tip of the oak tree branches, lingering silently in the still atmosphere. Dark, murky shadows engulfed the dry grasses and undergrowth on the forest floor, and along with the dimness of night, enveloped the whole forest in complete, hushed darkness. Nothing of life seemed to be awake, except for the occasional hoot of an owl, or skitter of a mouse. Nothing, that is, except for the numerous pairs of malevolent cat eyes gleaming against the silhouette of trees.
Suddenly, a piercing yowl interrupted the forest's silent ritual. With its commanding tone, it echoed and rang in the air, "It's about time, as you all may know; about time for us to claim our land back." Cheers and hoots of agreement immediately arose as the cat eyes shifted around, their expressions altering from monotony to pure joy and excitement. The she-cat whom the voice had belonged to smile triumphantly, proud of herself to have claimed so many followers. Her red-amber eyes glinted with pleasure as she waited for the cats below to quiet down, flicking her long black tail this way and that. When they finally settled, she continued, "Now, what should our little 'group' be called?" Several calls erupted from the crowd, all of them filled with suggestions for a new name. But only one caught the she-cat's attention.
"GrudgeClan!" a deep tom's voice boomed. The she-cat beamed down upon him, and let out a furious yowl to silent all of the other cats who wouldn't shut up.
"GrudgeClan… I like it," she purred. "I guess it's decided then." Cries of protest broke out, but she shushed them with a fierce, cold glare, unlike any look one could've ever dreamed of. "Anyway, GrudgeClan…" she meowed, rising to her legs and circling the tall standing stone she stood upon. "We have things to do, plans to make; decisions to decide upon; before we pounce!" The cat suddenly leaped down from her podium, claws unsheathed, as she landed gracefully amid a small gap that the frightened spectators had jumped to the side to clear for her. Gasps of surprise emitted from the mouths of the astonished cats, and the she-cat smiled to herself gloriously.
The thick, graying clouds overhead began to invade the dark sky, crowding against each other to completely block out the moon and stars. A chill breeze blew over the cats, biting at their fur and forcing their eyes to squint against the rising sand and debris. Small, bitter droplets of rain drizzled on them, gradually growing stronger as each heartbeat passed. Mutters and complains progressively sounded from the throng as everyone shifted nervously, shaking their pelts in irritation. But the amber-eyed she-cat, now separated from the swarm of exasperated felines, lifted her small head to stare wide-eyed at the smokey-black clouds in wonder, letting the frozen beads of water spit upon her muzzle.