A/N's:

So, I'm up with another chapter. I reckon it's been about a week, pretty good for my updating time. I have to say, I absolute love Gazelle. She's just got such a... personality, and I really love writing her.

Next chapter will be in a new character, so keep an eye out for him!

Thank You's;

Thank you so much to Sky Of Stars and HalfSun for following and favouriting!

Reviews;

HalfSun - Thank you very much! It means a lot to me, so here's the next chapter for you.

CHAPTER ONE: Shade

Belle

"Right. I've had enough. We have been in these shadows for far too long. It's cold, and damp and dark. This is no place to live," Orion announced, stood in the centre of camp - or the Cage, as some called it - with Gazelle by his side and the group gathered around in a misshapen circle.

Belle watched curiously, flicking her ear in keenness. There had been talk around about uprising lately, and it appeared the rumours were true. She had to admit, she was quite surprised. Stern, overbearing Orion wanted a better lifestyle? Impossible. And yet here she was, listening to his ridiculous heartfelt freedom speech. She resisted the urge to snort out loud, knowing she'd get a good thrashing. Her father was not a tolerant one, that was for sure.

Gazelle seemed to understand, getting to her paws and slinking around her fellow ruler. "Ah," she meowed mysteriously, a sly look on her pretty face. "But the dark is where we thrive! You aren't suggesting we become like a... Clan, are you, Ori dear?"

A harried gasp and several snarls erupted from the crowd, and Orion bared his teeth. The huge brown tom stiffened, glaring at the sleek black she-cat. "Of course not, Gazelle," he spat, but Belle couldn't help doubting her father. While she had to admit he was a well-suited leader, at times he was simply too rabbit-brained to be alive. Cats without smarts didn't do well in terms of survival around in this place.

"I'm simply saying this... pit that we live in is not enough," Orion continued, snapping at Gazelle. "While you may think we thrive, I believe we do not flourish. So I am proposing that we move."

One of the substitutes, Cane, spoke up, raking a claw in the ground angrily. "Don't be foolish, Orion! Are you saying we should flee? Run and hide from those Clans?"

Yowls of agreement rang in the air, splitting the tense silence. Belle joined in with the calls, sending a smirk in the direction of her enraged father. When the cats finally died down, Gazelle sat down, wrapping her tail neatly around her paws.

"Dear, dear Ori. You must have eaten some rotten fresh-kill by accident recently. Do go and see the menders afterwards, won't you?" Gazelle's voice, sickeningly sweet, sounded clearly in the camp. She had one of those compelling, alluring voices whom everyone just had to listen to. "And while he has bees in his brain.." She paused, as if for dramatic effect. "He may have a point. We have been cowering, hiding for so long. Isn't it time to show our true selves? To go out there and fight? We are not cowards, nor weaklings. We are winners, fighters. And where do we thrive best, my dears?"

"In the dark!" The roar was loud, filled with rage and eagerness and anticipation. Belle had to admit, the female leader was good at her job.

Gazelle smiled, seeming content as she stretched a paw lazily and cleaned it, although her fur was already glossy and pristine. "Then it is decided, is it not?" She focused her narrow amber gaze on the two second in commands that stood stiffly behind her. "Substitutes, gather up the heroes. We have a meeting, and matters to discuss."

...

"A plan has been concluded," Solstice's measured voice rang through the Cage, seeming to draw cats in quickly. Belle couldn't blame them, the entire group had been waiting for what seemed like moons for information.

Took them long enough, Belle snorted to herself, peering up at the sky, which was just beginning to darken into night time. She flexed a claw, settling down somewhere near the back to listen. That way, if havoc broke out - which it did often - she would have room to fight, or run.

The honoured group stood up front, perched carefully on a smooth boulder. There were the rulers, the substitutes, and then the heroes. Belle curled her lip in distaste. The heroes. They were the ones deemed worthy enough to be called a hero. The ones who had won a battle, been especially smart. The ones who excelled.

For moons, Belle had trained and trained. Charged forward first in every battle, taken initiative when needed, stepped back when ordered. She had been the perfect soldier, in every way, shape and form. When they had drawn up a ceremony only four moons ago, Belle had been so excited. Until they had given the title to Tank. Of all cats, Tank.

Belle had a sneaking suspicion that Gazelle favoured her toms. After all, non of the heroes were she-cats. Still, Belle was not a quitter. One day, she would earn a spectacular title, she would maybe even become the ruler. She just had to prove herself.

Drawing her head up high, she turned her attention back to the meeting at paw. Right now, there were more important matters to discuss.

"We've been talking," Orion announced gruffly. "And now we've got an answer."

Gazelle purred, sliding to her paws and winding elegantly around. "Oh, Ori dear. Give it a bit more splendour to that, don't you think? This is no simple battle. This is our.. revealing, shall we say?"

"You speak then," Orion grumbled, baring his teeth menacingly at Gazelle. Belle bit back a chortle. No one could ever argue with Gazelle; that was a known - and proven - fact.

"As we excel best in the dark and secret, we've decided to implement a bit of... spying," Gazelle meowed, seemingly ignoring the fuming Orion. "We'll send in two cats. They'll worm their way in, gain their trust, and report information to us. Once the time is right, we'll launch our attack."

"Don't you think that's a little bit dark, even for us?" A tentative voice came from the crowd, and it didn't take long for Belle to swivel her gaze and detect the source. It was Fall, a young mender fledgling with a large frame and thick russet fur. Belle almost outright snorted at the young she-cat's naivety.

Gazelle paused, slinking towards Fall with poised elegance. It was obvious that Fall had uttered wrong words. "Fall, dear. That's a perfectly good question. Why are we being so cruel? Well, let me bring you back to the old days. Do you know how this group was formed, fledgling? Why we have to live in this damp valley? Why the prey is so scarce?"

Belle noticed with slight amusement that Fall had diverted her gaze, shuffling nervously with both paws. Key signs of fear. "No, Gazelle."

"It is because they drove us down here." Gazelle's voice was still smooth and honeyed, but now it held hatred and venom as well. "I presume you have all heard of our founders, the great Holly and Raven. They did not live a life of sunshine and butterflies. Did you think they wanted to live in this forsaken.. pit? No. But they were forced to. They had been driven from their own Clan, scorned. The Clans murdered innocent kittens."

The group was silent. Not even them, who thrived in the dark and were often meaner than most, were cruel enough to murder the innocent lives of those so young.

"And so now we take revenge. We will avenge those kittens, and any other lives they have taken! We will claim their land, give them a taste of being exiled, instead of the pampered lives they lead! We need two cats to enter. Who is up for the challenge?"

Silence. No one wanted to risk their lives and wander into a Clan. In fact, Belle reckoned anyone who would was mouse-brained. But as she further explored the possibilities, she began to wonder. The cats who succeeded would no doubt be awarded. Well-known to others, prized. Maybe even offered the chance to be a hero.

And so that was how she found herself padding forward, head high and voice proud. "I am up for the challenge."

Orion curled his lip, obviously displeased with her decision. Belle only stared back steadily; she didn't give a rats tail of what he thought. She knew her father believed her to be weak, but she would show him. Stiffening, she switched her gaze to Gazelle. She was pleased to see that Gazelle looked content, eyes gleaming in an unreadable expression.

"Here, we have a true warrior - a champion. Who else will follow in this path of glory!"

A familiar white-footed black tom stepped forward, looking steadily forwards. "I'll go."

Gazelle purred, looking incredibly pleased. "Perfect. Then we shall start. Colt, Belle, come into my den and we'll go over things. We'll see you off at sun-high tomorrow morning. Everyone is dismissed!"

...

It was a surprisingly good day. Sunlight glinted off every speckle of dew that sprinkled the ground. The rays warmed Belle's pelt, and she honestly couldn't recall the last time she had felt so warm and comforted. The Clan cats had it good, she had to admit. Their territory was so much better.

"Alright." Cane slowed to a stop, halting the small patrol in it's tracks. They had stopped in a tiny clearing, with springy moss under paw and a light canopy overtop. "Here'll be good."

Gazelle purred, winding herself around the area in examination. "Perfect, Cane. I knew there was a reason why you were selected for substitute. Solstice, any ideas?"

The black and white she-cat nodded, flicking her tail and nodding over to the thick clumps of bushes and plants growing only a tail-length away. "Roll in the ferns to cover your scent. You don't do that and they'll know what's up in a heartbeat. Once it wears off you'll be smelling like them anyway."

Belle wrinkled her nose at the thought. Smelling like those wretched Clan cats? A horrific experience, no doubt.

"Just focus on StormClan," Solstice continued briskly, seemingly unaffected by the warm sunlight that filtered through the branches. "After we defeat them, we'll move on to MistClan."

"Well said, my dear," Gazelle praised, licking a paw and swiping it over a keen ear. At an obvious nod, Belle padded forward and stared reluctantly at the clump of ferns that lay strewn across the ground. It was only with another pointed look from Gazelle that she bent down and began to roll, shivering slightly as the dew seeped into her fur.

"Now, do you remember your cover stories?"

Belle exchanged a glance with Colt, and he nodded, rising to his paws easily. "We were two cats who ran away from an old twoleg place. We're seeking refuge and help."

"And our names are Pearl and Chase," Belle supplied next, rolling back onto her paws and shaking her fur our with a discontent shiver.

"Well done," Gazelle said, looking deeply amused. She slipped forward, winding around Colt and Belle gracefully. "You were attacked by a group of rogues, am I correct?" The slim she-cat didn't wait for an answer before continuing. "Then we must make it seem real. Good luck, my warriors."

Then as quick as lightning, Gazelle dashed forward and slashed at Belle's muzzle.

...

Belle staggered through the forest after Colt, who seemed to be walking steadily despite the wounds and scratches that laced up his figure. They had been walking for a while now, and Belle was now getting used to the sharp tang of blood that mixed in the air.

Suddenly rustling came from not far off, and Belle had to stifle a snort of contempt. These Clan cats definitely weren't as skilled as cats made out. Anyone could hear them from miles away. Sure enough, a group of five cats burst through the trees and into broad view.

"Who are you?"

Time to get into the act, Belle thought triumphantly. "Stop, please!" She squealed, flattening herself to the ground and laying back her ears in a timid fashion. "We don't want to hurt anyone."

The one in the front - a big white tom - narrowed his eyes suspiciously, flicking a bushy tail. "Who are you, and what are you doing on our territory?" He repeated.

"We're loners," Colt stepped in, sounding slightly afraid. Belle silently admired his acting skills. "We were kittypets, but we were cast out of our home."

"Then a group of rogues attacked us," Belle added, doing her best to look pitiful and pained. It wasn't too hard, the wounds on her body stung like fire. Swallowing, she shifted slightly to make the scratches more visible.

One of them - a tortoiseshell she - gasped, whirling to face the white tom. "Whitepelt, they're injured," she pleaded. "Let's bring them to Hazelcloud, we can consult them once they're healed. They won't do much harm in this state anyway."

Whitepelt looked unsure and wary, but eventually he dipped his head. "Alright, I suppose. We'll escort you to camp," he growled. "And we'll treat your wounds. No funny business, or we'll be on you in a second."

Belle nodded her head respectfully, but her eyes gleamed. Yes, these idiotic Clan cats have actually fallen for our little ruse. "Thank you so much."

Fernfoot darted forward, nudging Belle's side and supporting her. Belle felt uncomfortable with the close contact, but she forced her fur to stay flat. It wouldn't do to distance herself. The white tom - Whitepelt - nodded towards one of the smaller cats.

"Brackenpaw, run and tell Poppystar and Hazelcloud what's happening." The small tabby tom dashed off immediately, and the other cat - a pretty cream she-cat - padded forward to help Colt along.

"Let's get you two back to camp, shall we?"