A yowl split through the chilly dawn air.
A queen was giving birth.
In a small clearing a black she-cat paced, her fur fluffed up against the wind. Occasionally she cast worried glances at the nursery.
"Calm down Darkstar!" grunted Spiketail, as the blue-eyes leader bumped into him. He stood up, shaking out his gray pelt. "What has you so worried? You've been pacing in this clearing ever since Reedshine began to give birth."
Darkstar flicked her tail in annoyance. "And you have been sitting here staring at the nursery as if you life depends on it," she growled.
Spiketail shrugged, "I'm just worried about her, that's all." He licked his fur quickly then turned to face his leader.
Darkstar realized for a moment that the gray tom liked Reedshine. She felt a purr riding in her throat, but kept it down. Best to not let her deputy realize that she knew of his secret.
"And I am worried too. If Mapleshade gets to her..." Darkstar couldn't stand the thought. She had banished Mapleshade several moons ago, who knew what would happen if her spirit attacked Mapleshade?
Spiketail sighed, "I know what you mean, ever since Mapleshade injured Rainfall..."
"Maybe we should go check on her?" asked Darkstar tensely, casting a quick glance at the nursery.
Spiketail hooded, and began to head off into the nursery. Darkstar followed, her blue eyes glittering against the darkness.
As soon as she looked at the ginger she-cat, she wished she hadn't. Blood pooled around the queen, soaking into her fur. Her pelt rippled every now and then, causing the queen to yowl from pain.
Echosnout was beside her, her black and white pelt bushed up from worry, "I've tried giving her herbs but all she does is cough them up." The medicine cat sighed as Reedshine cried out in pain yet again. "I wish I could help her, but she is in the paws of StarClan now."
"StarClan? No, no, no, no. But the Dark Forest? Yes," a voice purred from a dark corner of the den, and a tortoise ell and white she-cat emerged, her amber eyes glowing in the darkness.
"Mapleshade," growled Darkstar, unseating her claws as she stared at Mapleshade. "What are you doing here?"
Mapleshade rolled her eyes dramatically, "I honestly expected you to be smarter than that Darkstar. Isn't it obvious? Reedshine is here giving birth to Appledusk's kits. And now I have the chance to get my revenge!"
The dark-hearted she-cat pounced on Darkstar, sending the leader spiraling to the ground. In a heartbeat she was back up, but then she fell back yet again with a blow from Mapleshade's paw.
Before Mapleshade could attack the leader again, Spiketail pounced on her back, trying to get a grip on Mapleshade's neck.
"I will avenge my kits!" she yowled, standing up. Spiketail flew through the air, and landed on the ground with a crack. Mapleshade turned around to see blood pooling around Spiketail's head. Mapleshade's eyes flashed with triumph as the gray tom's flank stopped rising and falling. She quickly jerked her head in time to meet with a charging Darkstar.
The two she-cats locked together in battle. The swiped and ducked, until Mapleshade fell limp in Darkstar's jaws.
Darkstar's eyes flashed with triumph as her opponent fell onto I the ground. "I think we are safe now," she announced.
Her triumph was short lived however, as Mapleshade stood up quickly, surprising her attacker. "My vengeance will never be complete," she growled, and lunged at Darkstar.
I, personally, am not very proud of this prolougue. I promise you the next chapter will be better!