Another nice and boring chapter for ya! This is mostly a set the scene/charrie introduction kind of thing. Made it short though.

...Brighter in the Dark...
Chapter One: The Last Mission

Spirits,

Everything is coming undone.

I can't struggle with this any more.

I can't keep this up.

But I must.

I must life for those who can't.

I must complete the mission of those before me.

Spirits, I need your guidance.

* * * *

It was midmorning, the warmest part of the day in the warmest part of the year, and everything that lived on the mountain was making the most of it. Mice were coming out from hiding, but only with great caution. Eagle were flying too, their wings outstretched in hope of catching an easy updraft.

The cats, too, were active. On a good sized plateau four of them stood. The youngest three were watching an older cat, each with varying degrees of interest. By far though, the most interested was a small tawny colored she-cat with four white paws.

Not far away was another cat with midnight black fur. She was moving quietly and swiftly from one rock to another, getting closer and closer to the group of cats. "Now, Owl. Please tell me what I've said about locating mice a night."

"Well… You said…" The handsome golden tom was stuttering. "That we should always look in sage and bottle brush fields." His statement sounded more like a question then an answer.

The teacher, a silver cat with very faint stripes and a darker head, sighed quietly. "Actually, I never said a thing about hunting mice at night because it is a beetle brained thing to do." Owl seemed a little embarrassed and backed away, disappearing between the small she-cat and another tom.

Meanwhile, the black cat was drawing closer and closer.

"Mint, why is it not a good idea to hunt mice at night?" asked the silver tom to the young tawny she-cat.

"Because you might fall off the mountain." She sounded a bit afraid, but her shyness was lifted after the teacher have her an encouraging nod.

"Yes, that's corr--"

"GGGRRRR!" Mint jumped back as the black cat leapt from the bushes. She scrambled away and disappeared behind a rock.

The teacher glared at the two toms, who were laughing wildly at Mint. "Come on out. There's no danger here." Mint, still breathing hard, picked her way out from behind the rock.

The silver cat then turned to the black one. "Moon, you know that Mint doesn't take those kind of things too well." Despite his attempt at seriousness, he couldn't help but laugh a bit.

Moon turned to Mint. "Sorry, but the look on your face was pretty good." Mint smiled a little.

"That's ok, but please don't do it again." Moon then turned to Owl, who wouldn't quite quiet down.

"Do you want to be sent on a mission to the lowlands to collect fire weed?" Owl's eyes widened a little.

"No, Moon."

"See, Shadow. He isn't that bad. He listens to reason. Anyway, how's the training coming?" Shadow sat down and curled his tail over his paws.

"These three aren't doing too bad. Rush caught an eagle yesterday and Mint came that close to catching a hawk." Moon turned to them.

"And let me guess. Owl was too busy flirting to do much." Owl's ears turned bright red upon hearing this.

"Hey, I caught something too. An old buzzard got lost up near the Windy Burrow…"

"And we'd all love to eat a buzzard," smirked Rush. Shadow flicked his tail towards a passage in the rocks.

"You three practice your stalking over there. And be careful; I've heard that a few loners are traveling through here." The three scrambled away, leaving Shadow with his sister.

"Something else for me to worry about?" Moon sighed. Shadow nodded quietly.

"Well, actually about three things. Stoneteller's busy and told me to inform you."

"Do you have to? I mean, me knowing really isn't going to change--"

"Yes, you have to know. It's your duty." Shadow paused for a moment. "Anyway, Wind is going to be kitting soon, maybe sooner than expected. I just need you to be ready. Second, those rouges I was talking about."

"They can't be anything much. I mean, remember Changa and Archie? They weren't as bad as we thought they we going to be."

"Doesn't matter," Shadow countered. "We have to be on the lookout. Oh, and third. Stoneteller is taking you on another trip to the Sliding Rocks tomorrow while the dawn is still gray." Moon started to pace lightly. She didn't like standing still too much, especially when being told her ever-stressful duties.

"I swear, Stoneteller's trying to kill me! He's making me look for omens in everything, making me walk the mountain for signs twice a day, and, on top of that, now we have to go to the Sliding Rocks!"

"Calm down. He's only doing this because he wants you to prepared. Look, you should go back to the cave and relax. Fang said he'd save you something to eat." Moon started for the cave without as much as a 'good bye.'

* * * *

Moon slipped behind the waterfall, standing still for only a moment to allow the thin mist to land on her pelt. The cave guards were standing alert at the entrance, so bored that they were about to fall asleep on their paws. "You're discharged," said Moon off-handedly.

The darkness overtook her, blinding her for only a moment. Despite Shadow's promise there was no piece of fresh-kill waiting for her. "Fang, I thought you were saving me some." She glared at the cream colored tom, who was snacking on her hawk with his mate, Swallow.

"I'm so sorry!" said Swallow quickly, but Fang didn't even glance at her.

"You were late," he said. Moon hissed.

"I'm the Stoneteller to-be. You don't eat my prey, Fang." The creamy tom leered at her.

"Well, the damage is already done. You can have the bones I suppose." Moon's eyes came alive with fury. Swallow stood up.

"Here, have my half," she offered, but her mate wasn't going to stand for that.

"No, she can't. It's our prey, not her--"

"Stand down, Fang." A deep voice came from within the Cave of Pointed Stones. Stoneteller trotted out, blue eyes fixed on the hawk. "Give it to her. That isn't your prey." Grumbling, Fang passed his bird to Moon. "Don't you know that we always share food?"

"I know, but it was going to go stiff if she didn't get here soon."

"Next time you think about taking a double-portion, ask me. That goes for you too, Swallow." The ginger she-cat nodded her head. "Anyway, Moon, come with me. We have a trip to discuss."

Moon padded after Stoneteller into a dark corner of the cave. "Please, don't make me go…" she whimpered.

"No, you have to go. You'll never have to go anywhere with me ever again after this. I'm growing old, Moon. The Spirits are going to force me into retirement soon."

"I know. You're told me that for the last moon."

"So it is decided. We will set out for the Sliding Rocks tomorrow at gray-dawn." Without even waiting for an answer, Stoneteller padded away, back into his cave.


Next time on "Brighter in the Dark"...

To Sliding Rocks they go! Gee, makes you wonder why it's called that...