CHAPTER 1

Blood washed at the paws of massive scarred cast, their eyes glimmering with hate and victory, their fur soaked in scarlet, claws torn and dripping from head-to-paws with their own blood, and the blood of their enemies. They were breathing heavily, though victory poured from them. Bodies were scattered everywhere, broken and still bleeding.

Some yowled victory from the stone hollow, yowling jeers to the stars. Some exchanged bewildered glances, as if they couldn't believe the victory, the victory that would change Clan history.

"The Clans have fallen!" A massive bloodied brown tabby tom yowled. "We have defeated StarClan! The Dark Forest shall rule forever!"

Yowls of excitement and approval rang out, echoing against the stone walls of the hollow in which they stood in.

"The Dark Forest will rule forever!" Yowled a brown-and-white tabby tom who was standing beside the piled tiny bodies of lifeless kits, instantly slaughtered.

"The Dark Forest has won!" A silver-and-white tabby she-cat yowled to the stars. Cats counter-wailed their approval.

"Only the strong will survive!" The massive brown tabby tom went on, pacing on the rock. "The weak will die, the strong shall thrive! We will be DarkClan!"

"DarkClan! DarkClan! DarkClan!" The cats below shouted their approval, though some seemed uncertain.

A large tortoiseshell she-cat shouldered her way over to the base of the rock, her amber gaze raking over the cats.

"If anyone's loyalty doesn't lie with DarkClan, you shall be killed." Her voice was low and menacing. "Anyone?"

A few cats exchanged glances, but no one answered.

The she-cat padded back into the crowd, circling a few cats, and glaring into their eyes as if she could see straight through them.

"What about you, Ivypool?" The tortoiseshell stopped in front of a silver-and-white tabby.

"Never," Ivypool growled. "I am a DarkClan warrior!"

The tortoiseshell gave a tiny nod of approval, and moved on. "What about you, Breezepelt?"

The black tom's voice had no note of uncertainty as he promptly replied, "Never. My loyalty is with DarkClan."

"Redwillow, Shredtail, Silverhawk, go check on the other recruits at WindClan camp. Make sure no one survived; Go through every inch of the territory." The dark brown tabby ordered, his mew ringing out against the hollow's walls, echoing into the forest.

"Applefur, Beetlewhisker, get all of the bodies out of camp." The tortoiseshell hissed, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

Applefur and Beetlewhisker looked slightly confused about why they were preforming the pitiful duty of clearing the camp of bodies.

"Why should we? We're DarkClan warriors! You promised us glory, not cleaning up after your messes." Applefur meowed boldly, her chin held high.

The tortoiseshell thrust her way through the crowd, snarling. Before Applefur could react, the tortoiseshell flew a massive paws into the air, and slashed Applefur's throat open. For a moment, the former ShadowClan cat looked bewildered. She staggered a bit, gasping for air before collapsing.

"Mapleshade, we should leave the bodies here." A low and sinister voice grumbled. A large dark brown tabby padded up to her, glancing dismissively at the bodies.

"They're a reminder of our victory." Ivypool added, a deep purr rumbling in her throat.

Mapleshade snorted, before stepping over the still-bleeding body of Applefur.