Last chapter! Because then you basically know what happens from The Darkest Hour. (This is like that book's prologue, but from Scourge's point of view).

Rain fell steadily, drumming on the roofs of the abandoned Twoleg nests. Scourge sat in a shadowy doorway, watching the cats in BloodClan as they padded through the clearing. He had been the leader of BloodClan for many seasons now, and he enjoyed the power it gave him. Soon he would get a sign that the time was right to invade the forest, and he would become the most powerful of cats.

A noise made Scourge's ears twitch. He looked up, at the entrance to the clearing. Two cats, slick with the rain, were padding into the BloodClan camp. Bone glanced at Scourge before confronting them.

"Who goes there?" the black and white warrior asked. "Identify yourselves. We don't like strangers here."

"Greetings, Bone," meowed one of the cats, a silvery-gray tom. "Remember me?"

Scourge unsheathed his claws onto the ground. How dare this cat return!

Bone's eyes narrowed. "So you've come back, have you, Boulder? You told us you were going to find a better life in the forest. What are you doing here?" He stepped forwards, snarling, but Boulder didn't move. Scourge watched the gray cat with interest.

Boulder unsheathed his claws. "We want to see Scourge."

Bone let out a snort, half laughter and half contempt. "I can't imagine that Scourge will want to see you. And who's this with you? I don't recognize him."

The other cat, a huge dark brown tom, stepped forwards. "My name is Tigerstar. I've come from the forest to speak with your leader."

Scourge's ears pricked up. The forest?

Bone looked from Tigerstar to Boulder and back again. "What do you want with him?" he demanded.

The brown tom, Tigerstar, snarled. "I'll discuss that with your leader, not his border patrol."

Bone unsheathed his claws, but Boulder pushed in front of him. "Scourge needs to hear this. It could be to every cat's advantage."

Scourge flicked his dark tail back and forth with interest. What did this Tigerstar cat have to say to him, especially if Boulder would risk coming back to BloodClan?

Bone hesitated for a few heartbeats, but stepped back to let the cats pass. He glared at them as they padded by.

Tigerstar pushed in front of Boulder. Scourge watched the two cats approach. The big brown tom looked around the BloodClan camp, in confusion. No doubt he was looking for a warrior even bigger than Bone. Scourge's whiskers twitched in dry amusement.

Boulder nudged Tigerstar and jerked his head in Scourge's direction. "There's Scourge."

"That's Scourge?" The exclamation rang above the falling rain. BloodClan cats turned to looked at Tigerstar. "He's no bigger than an apprentice!" Scourge narrowed his eyes.

"Shh!" hissed Boulder. "This may not be a Clan as we know it, but these cats would kill if their leader ordered them to."

Scourge stood slowly. The BloodClan cats watched him, waiting for an order to tear the intruders apart. The small black tom raised his white paw for a moment, enjoying the power he had over the others. "It seems I have visitors," he meowed coolly. "I wasn't expecting to see you again, Boulder. I heard you'd gone to live in the forest."

"Yes, Scourge, I have."

"So what are you doing here?" asked Scourge. "Have you changed your mind and come crawling back? Do you expect me to welcome you?" He stretched his claws out lazily, but still with a hint of threat. Lamplight glittered off of them unnaturally - they were reinforced with dog's teeth.

Boulder met Scourge's ice-blue gaze. "No, Scourge. It's a good life in the forest. There is plenty of fresh-kill, no Twolegs-."

Scourge interrupted him with a flick of his tail. "You haven't come to extol the virtues of forest life. Squirrels live in trees, not cats." The warrior narrowed his eyes. "So what do you want?"

The brown tabby, Tigerstar, stepped forward, shouldering Boulder aside. "I am Tigerstar, leader of ShadowClan," he growled. "And I have a proposition for you."

Finish!!! Review it, reivew it please!