Chapter 1
Dawn slowly began to make its way over the horizon beyond the vast forest. The red glow grew brighter as two groups of cats waited. One group sat quietly beneath a rocky overhang while the other huddled farther away, their heads together in quiet discussion.
Two in the silent, smaller group, a she-cat and a tom, occasionally glanced nervously at each other and at the pair behind them, hidden slightly within the shadows.
"Brightleap."
The brown tabby she-cat turned towards the tall tom behind her. "Yes?"
"Tell them we wish to cross immediately."
She nodded, sharing a glance with her Tribemate, and approached the other cats. Reaching the unseen boundary line, she paused and lifted her tail to gain the others' attention. "With all due respect," she called, "the ambassadors for the Tribe of Gathering request to approach immediately."
The other cats looked at each other. One of the cats, a light grey she-cat, hurried forward. "Yes, of course," she meowed quickly, "We would be happy to welcome the ambassadors at their convenience. Happy to."
Brightleap narrowed her eyes, then returned to the overhang. She glanced briefly at Antheart, then looked at the pair hidden slightly in the shadows. "They've agreed," she informed them.
"We will proceed then," Moonlight mewed.
The LightClan tom rose to his paws and shook the dust from his black and white fur. Moonlight was a tall, powerfully built tom with a lion-like ruff of longer fur about his shoulders. A green Force-Crystal was attached to his right foreleg with what looked like a thin vine made of a strange unbreakable material. The wrapped crystal was a secret known only to LightClan cats, adding to the air of mystery they held.
Moonlight's sharp blue eyes fixed on the other cats as if assessing them. The Tribe's laws regarding travel and hunting between Clan territories had been in dispute since their inception, but until now all that FieldClan had done in response was complain. The blockade of Green-Trees, the home of the ForestClan cats, was the first act of outright defiance, and while FieldClan was a large, powerful force its action here was atypical. FieldClan cats were usually peaceful. They lacked the aggression and backbone necessary to undertake a challenge to the Tribe of Gathering. Somehow, they had found that backbone. It bothered Moonlight that he could not explain how.
He moved gracefully behind the pair assigned as escort as they approached the other cats, still pondering. The blockade had been in effect now for almost a moon. The Tribe of Gathering and the Clans' mediators continued to debate the action, searching for an amicable way to resolve the dispute. But no progress had been made, and at last the Tribe of Gathering's leader had secretly informed LightClan that he had sent two of their cats to the ostensible initiators of the blockade, FieldClan, in an effort to resolve the matter more directly. It was a bold move. In theory, LightClan served the leader of the Tribe of Gathering, currently a tom called Lionstar, responding on his direction to life-threatening situations. But any interference in the internal politics of the Clans, particularly where a violent conflict between Clans was involved, required approval by the Clans' mediators. Lionstar was skirting his authority in this case. At best, this was a covert action and would spark heated debate at the Great Gathering at a later time.
The LightClan sage muffled a sigh. While none of this was his concern, he couldn't ignore the implications of what it meant if he failed. The cats of LightClan were peacemakers; that was the nature of their Clan and the dictate of their Code. For generations, they had served the Tribe of Gathering, a constant source of stability and order in a changing world. Founded so long ago that its origins had faded into legend, the Clan had only gradually become aware of the presence of the Force. Many, many seasons had been spent in its study, in contemplation of its meaning, in mastery of its power. Slowly the Clan had evolved, abandoning its practice of and belief in a life of isolated meditation in favor of a more outward-looking commitment to social responsibility. Understanding the Force sufficiently to master its power required more than private study. It required service to the greater cause and the implementation of a Code of laws that would guarantee equal justice for all. That battle was not yet won. It probably never would be. But the many cats of LightClan, spread across the many territories that existed, would not see it lost for lack of trying.
Moonlight turned slightly to his companion in this present mission as they waited to be addressed by the FieldClan patrol. "Are we to cross?" Sunpaw asked softly.
Moonlight dipped his head. "Newtstar will meet with us."
He studied his apprentice for a moment. Sunpaw, nearly 24 moons old, was more than 60 moons younger and still learning his craft. Not a full warrior yet, he was close to being ready. Sunpaw was smaller than Moonlight, but slender and quick. Like his mentor, the light brown tom had a Force-Crystal, a blue one, bound to his right foreleg.
Moonlight was looking towards the FieldClan cats when he spoke again. "Why Green Forest, do you think, my young apprentice? Why blockade this particular territory, when there are so many to choose from, most larger and more likely to feel the effects of such an action?"
Sunpaw said nothing. Green-Trees was indeed an odd choice for an action of this sort, a territory at the outer edge of the Gathered Territories, not particularly important in the scheme of things. ForestClan's leader, the current Forestspeaker, was something of an unknown. She had only been leader for a couple of moons before the blockade had begun. She was young, but it was rumored she was prodigiously talented and extremely well trained. It was said she could hold her own with anyone in a debate. It was said she could be circumspect or bold when necessary, and was wise beyond her age.
The LightClan cats had been given a description of Forestspeaker before they left Gathering-Place. Forestspeaker cloaked herself with clay-dust that disguised her true fur color. She was a chameleon of sorts, shielding herself from other cats and finding companionship almost exclusively with a small group of warriors who were always with her.
Moonlight mulled the matter over a moment longer, then mewed to Sunpaw, "Come, let's be off."
They moved forward to greet the now-beckoning she-cat, who introduced herself as Greyfur. Leaving the rest of the patrol behind with their escorts, they followed her silently through the brush and into a large cave in one of the hills. It was clearly a recent creation rather than a natural part of the hill.
"I hope you both will be comfortable here," Greyfur told them. "Our leader will be with you shortly."
She turned and hurried away. Moonlight watched her until her tail vanished into the makeshift camp, then moved to join Sunpaw in looking out over the trees further down the hill opposite the camp.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Sunpaw mewed after a moment's contemplation.
Moonlight shook his head. "I don't sense anything."
Sunpaw nodded. "It's not about here, Mentor. It's not about this mission. It's something … elsewhere. Something elusive …"
The older tom touched his tail to the other's shoulder. "Don't center on your anxiety, Sunpaw. Keep your concentration on the here and now, where it belongs."
"Lightstar says I should be mindful of the future –"
"But not at the expense of the present." Moonlight waited until his apprentice was looking at him. "Be mindful of the Living Force, my young apprentice."
To his credit, Sunpaw managed a faint purr. "Yes, Mentor." He looked back out again, eyes distant. "How do you think Newtstar will deal with Lionstar's demands?"
Moonlight flicked an ear. "These cats are cowards. They will not be hard to persuade. The negotiations will be short."
On a ledge above the makeshift camp, the FieldClan leader Newtstar and his medicine cat, Finclaw, stood staring in shock at the cat they had sent to look after Lionstar's ambassadors.
"What did you say?" Newtstar hissed furiously.
Greyfur was impervious to the look her leader gave her. "The ambassadors are LightClan cats. One of them is a sage. I'm quite certain of it."
Finclaw, a flat-faced, restless sort, wheeled on his companion in dismay. "I knew it! They were sent to force a settlement! The game's up! Blind me, we're done for!"
Newtstar lifted his tail placatingly. "Stay calm! I'll wager the Tribe is completely unaware of Lionstar's moves in this matter. Go. Distract them while I contact Darkshadow."
The medicine cat gaped at him. "Are you mouse-brained? I'm not going in there with two LightClan cats! Send Greyfur!"
He waved his tail hurriedly at Greyfur, who dipped her head and went out.
When the warrior was gone, Finclaw summoned Hawkfur, the Clan's deputy, drew both cats to a closed-off section of his den where they wouldn't be seen or heard by any other cat, and placed a paw on the clear stone he kept hidden there: FieldClan's Starstone. After a few moments, the Starstone began to glow brightly. As the glow faded to a faint gleam, the ghostly image of a cat emerged, shadowed so that its features were distorted and hidden and its face couldn't be recognized.
"What is it?" an impatient voice demanded.
Newtstar found his throat so dry that for a moment he could not speak. "The Tribe's ambassadors are LightClan cats."
"LightClan?" Darkshadow breathed the word softly, almost reverently. There was a measure of calm about his acceptance of the news. "Are you sure?"
Newtstar found what little courage he had been able to muster for this moment quickly disappearing. He stared at the shadowed form of the DarkClan cat in mesmerized terror. "They have been identified."
As if unable to endure the silence that followed, Finclaw charged into the gap, wild-eyed. "This scheme of yours has failed, Darkshadow! The blockade is finished! We dare not go up against LightClan cats!"
The dark figure turned slightly. "Are you saying you would rather go up against me, Finclaw? I am amused." The shadow shifted toward the Fieldclan leader. "Newtstar!"
Newtstar stepped forward quickly. "Yes, Darkshadow?"
Darkshadow's voice turned slow and sibilant. "I don't want this stunted piece of crowfood in my sight again. Do you understand?"
Newtstar's paws were trembling., and he wrapped his tail around them to still them. "Yes, Darkshadow."
He whirled on Finclaw, but the other was already scrambling away, his face filled with terror.
When he was gone, Darkshadow meowed, "This turn of events is unfortunate, but not fatal. We must accelerate our plans, Newtstar. Begin advancing your warriors. At once."
Newtstar glanced quickly at Hawkfur, who was trying his best to disappear into the walls of the den. "Ah, of course, but … is that action permissible?"
"I will make it so, Newtstar."
"Yes, of course." Newtstar took a quick breath. "And the Lightclan cats?"
Darkshadow seemed to grow darker, his form further obscured by shadows. "Lionstar should never have brought LightClan into this. Kill them immediately."
"Yes, Darkshadow," Newtstar answered, but the image of the DarkClan cat had already vanished along with the Starstone's glow. He stared at the space it had left behind for a moment, then turned to Hawkfur. "Kill their escorts. I will send a patrol to finish them."
In the den in which they'd been left, Moonlight and Sunpaw sat facing each other.
"Is it customary for FieldClan cats to make their guests wait this long?" the younger tom asked.
Before Moonlight could respond, Greyfur appeared carrying a large rabbit in her jaws. She padded over and placed the freshkill in front of them. She moved back then, waiting. Moonlight gestured to his young companion with his tail, and they each took a bite.
Moonlight dipped his head at the anxious she-cat, then looked at Sunpaw. "I sense an unusual amount of maneuvering for something as trivial as this territory dispute. I sense fear as well."
Sunpaw sat up and started cleaning his whiskers. "Perhaps –"
A loud, distant yowl suddenly cut through the air, followed by another, then silence. The LightClan toms leapt to their paws, claws unsheathed and Force-Crystals blazing. Greyfur scrambled away quickly, fur spiked, wide eyes looking every which way at once.
"What's happened?" Sunpaw asked quickly.
Moonlight hesitated, closed his eyes, and retreated deep within himself. His eyes snapped open. "They've killed our escorts."
He glanced around swiftly. It took only a moment for him to hear the approaching sound of many paws outside from the direction of the camp.
"A patrol," he meowed to Sunpaw in warning.
Pressed against the wall near the entrance, the frightened she-cat curled into a pitiful ball like a kit.
At the camp entrance, Newtstar was giving directions to one of his warriors. "There are only two and shouldn't cause too much trouble. Make certain that they are dead."
The tom dipped his head and hurried out of camp followed by his large patrol. The cats approached the den entrance with caution. They froze as a cat scrambled out, then relaxed slightly as they recognized Greyfur.
"Excuse me, I'm so sorry," the she-cat stammered as she bolted past them and into the brush.
In the next instant the LightClan cats appeared, charging from the den with Force-Crystals flashing and claws unsheathed. Moonlight, foreclaws glowing with the Force-Crystal's green glow, sent a pair of the FieldClan cats flying back with their pelts burned. Sunpaw dropped several more, his own foreclaws glowing blue and burning each cat they touched. He raised a paw and another cat went crashing into a tree as if flung by an invisible blow.
Back in the FieldClan camp, the leader and deputy struggled to see what was happening. The pained yowls and screeches of the patrol could be easily heard throughout the camp and the remaining warriors were milling about in alarm.
"What in blazes is going on down there?" Newtstar demanded, eyes wide.
Hawkfur lowered his ears doubtfully. There was fear in his amber eyes. "You've never encountered LightClan warriors before have you?"
"Well, no, not exactly, but I don't see …" The sounds from the patrol got louder, then began to fade, and suddenly Newtstar was unabashedly afraid. "Block the entrance!" he yowled frantically.
Hawkfur backed away as the other warriors scrambled to block off the camp entrance with nearby stones, brush, and dirt. His voice was small and went unheard as he mewed to himself, "That won't be enough."
In seconds, the LightClan cats were standing outside the camp dispatching the last of the cats that stood in their way. An unstoppable force, the two toms worked in unison against their adversaries, seemingly able to anticipate every form of attack. Force-Crystals flashed and claws slashed in brilliant bursts of color. Cats fell away burnt and still.
"More stone!" Newtstar screeched, watching as one of the LightClan cats began cutting through the barricade with his glowing claws. He felt his throat tighten and his fur began to bristle. "Keep the entrance blocked! Now!"
More stone was quickly and frantically shoved onto the pile. The FieldClan cats not moving stone stood transfixed as they heard the continued sounds of the LightClan cats continued their attack, claws cutting at the stones and melting them away with the burning glow created by their Force-Crystals. Mews of disbelief were heard, and Newtstar screeched at them to be silent. Sparks could be seen above the barricade, and a burning hole slowly began to appear in the center where the larger tom dug his claws deep into the barrier.
The FieldClan cats all shrank away. At the center of the barricade, the stone began to crumple and fall away.
"They're still coming," Hawkfur hissed, flatting his ears as he backed away further.
Newtstar gave no response. Impossible! he was thinking. Impossible!
Moonlight was battering at the barricade with every ounce of strength he possessed, determined to break through to the treacherous FieldClan leader, when his instincts warned him of danger from another quarter.
"Sunpaw!" he yowled to his companion, who whirled toward him at once. "Foxes!"
The younger tom dipped his head, purring. "I'd say this mission is past the negotiation stage."
Past the bushes to one side of the area in which the LightClan toms had fought, a trio of foxes could be heard rapidly approaching. They had likely heard or smelled the battle and were now coming to investigate to commotion.
Scampering out of the brush, the foxes took in the scattered bodies. Catching the scent of the last two cats standing, they started sniffing around for them.
But the LightClan cats were gone.
Inside the camp, Newtstar and Hawkfur peered cautiously through the remains of the barricade. The foxes were hurrying away, likely pursuing the LightClan cats.
"They're on the run," Hawkfur breathed, scarcely able to believe their good fortune.
Newtstar didn't reply, thinking that their escape had been entirely too close. It was ridiculous that they should be fighting LightClan warriors in any event. This was a matter of travel, not of inter-Clan-relations. FieldClan was fully justified in resisting the Tribe of Gathering's mouse-brained decision to interfere with travel and hunting matters between Clans when there was no reason or basis to do so. That FieldClan had found an ally to stand with them in this matter, to advise them on imposing a blockade and forcing a withdrawal of rules, was no cause for calling in LightClan.
He crouched low and licked his chest fur to disguise his shaking as the other cats began clearing away the debris.
He was distracted by the arrival of one of his patrolling cats from the border. "Newtstar, ForestClan wishes deliver a message."
Newtstar hurried after her, beckoning to his deputy as he passed. On the ForestClan side of the border, facing the rest of the patrol, was a small group of ForestClan cats. The she-cat in the center of the patrol drew Newtstar's attention. She was young, beautiful, and serene. Clay-dust coated her pelt, turning her fur a dusty reddish-brown. She stared out past the FieldClan cats as if she were so far above and beyond them as to be unapproachable.
"It's Forestspeaker herself," Hawkfur hissed, keeping his voice low so as not to be heard.
Newtstar dipped his head as they moved closer. "At last we're getting results," he hissed back.
He stood across from the ForestClan leader. Forestspeaker sat regally on a protruding tree root, setting her partially off the ground. She was flanked by five of her warriors. Her gaze was steady and direct as it took in the FieldClan leader's ragged appearance.
"FieldClan is pleased you have chosen to come before us, Forestspeaker," he began smoothly.
"You will not be so pleased when you hear what I have to say, Newtstar," she meowed flatly, cutting him short. "Your siege is ended."
Newtstar fought down his shock, regained his composure, and flicked an ear at Hawkfur in amusement. "Really, Forestspeaker? I was not aware –"
"I have word that the Tribe of Gathering is finally voting on the matter," she continued, ignoring him.
"I take it you know the outcome already, then." Newtstar felt a measure of uncertainty take hold. "I wonder why they bother to vote at all."
Forestspeaker leaned forward slightly, and the FieldClan leader could see the fire in her brown eyes. "I have had enough of pretense, Newtstar. I am aware that Lionstar's ambassadors are with you now, and that you have been commanded to reach a settlement. What is it to be?"
Newtstar felt a deep hole open in his waning confidence. "I know nothing about any ambassadors. You must be mistaken."
There was a flicker of surprise on the ForestClan leader's face as she studied the Fieldclan leader carefully. "Beware, Newtstar," she mewed softly. "FieldClan has gone too far this time."
Newtstar widened his eyes, drawing himself up in a defensive posture. "Forestspeaker, we would never do anything in defiance of the Tribe's will. You assume too much."
Forestspeaker sat motionless, brown eyes fixed on him – as if she could see the truth he was trying to hide, as if he were nothing more than clear water. "We shall see," she mewed softly.
She turned and leapt off the root, hurrying away. The ForestClan warriors followed after her immediately and the group vanished into the trees. Newtstar drew a long breath and let it out slowly, not caring much for how this she-cat made him feel.
"She's right," Hawkfur mewed at his shoulder. "The Tribe will never let –"
Newtstar lifted his tail to cut him short. "It's too late now. The invasion is underway."
Hawkfur was silent for a moment. "Do you think she suspects an attack?"
The FieldClan leader whirled away. "I don't know, but I don't want to take any chances. We must move quickly to ensure they cannot summon aid until we're finished!"
Moonlight and Sunpaw crouched silently above a large, partially hidden gorge just outside the ForestClan border. The gorge was filled with a very large number of cats, so many that the pair could barely see the ground below. The cats' movements were synchronized perfectly.
"FieldClan has expanded their number of warriors," Moonlight mewed softly. There was surprise and dismay in his deep voice.
"It's an invasion army," Sunpaw mewed.
They continued to watch for a time, taking in the scene, counting cats as they moved out of the gorge and towards the ForestClan border, taking measure of the size of the army.
"It's an odd play for FieldClan," Moonlight observed. "We've got to warn ForestClan and contact Lionstar."
Sunpaw dipped his head. "We'd best do it somewhere besides here."
His mentor glanced at him. "Maybe we can follow behind our friends there."
"It's the least they can do after the way they've treated us so far." Sunpaw flicked an ear. "You were right about one thing, Mentor. The negotiations were short."
Moonlight purred and beckoned him ahead.