Thanks Maganerd for reviewing last chappy!
Prologue Part Two
Starlight glimmered on the surface of the water, enlightening the darkness.
"It's a beautiful night," Hailbreeze whispered. The tabby she-cat beside him purred. Tails twined, pelts brushing, they moved as one, pawstep for pawstep, mouselength for mouselength.
"Let's sit here, Driftsong," Hailbreeze flicked his tail toward a maple tree. Thick leaves littered the sandy shore. Sunningrocks had belonged to ThunderClan since the river changed its course a season ago, after an enormous flood. Many needless battles had already ensued over the rocky outcrop. The sooty tom flinched inwardly as he brushed a leaf over a clump of dried blood.
"I love you," Hailbreeze murmured, voice thick with emotion. Driftsong jerked away from him abruptly.
"I couldn't hear you," She teased. Hailbreeze wryly licked her cheek. The she-cat's blue tabby fur was dappled with the reflection of the river.
"Fine," Hailbreeze sniffed.
"I said I love you!" His proclaimation rose over the river. Driftsong stiffened beside him. Hailbreeze could feel every hair raising, every muscle contracting.
"You're going to wake up the whole of RiverClan!" Driftsong hissed. Hailbreeze laughed.
"I don't care if they hear. It's true, and I'm not afraid to admit it," Hailbreeze declared loudly. Driftsong cuffed her mate over the head. But suddenly, she sighed quietly.
"What-what if one of us doesn't make it back tomorrow?" The laughable mood became somber. Hailbreeze turned on his mate.
"Don't you dare say that," Hailbreeze snarled. The senior warrior's ears were flat against his head.
"I'd die for you."
Hailbreeze yowled a battle cry as he charged toward a stocky RiverClan warrior. The dark warrior bowled the tom over, delivering a series of blows to his opponent's soft underbelly. Hailbreeze let go of the slick tom, sitting on his haunches to catch his breath.
He quickly scanned the battleground for Driftsong.
She was holding her own against the RiverClan deputy, a glossy coated she-cat by the name of Birchsplash.
A sharp pain ripped down Hailbreeze's spine. He whipped around, slashing at a tortoiseshell she-cat's soft nose. The warrior screeched in agony. Hailbreeze, sensing that she was about to give in, batted her away into a couple of apprentices. They tumbled down the slope, slamming into the thick trunk of a maple tree.
"RiverClan, retreat!" Birchsplash's order echoed through the rocks.
Out of the corner of his eye, Hailbreeze spotted a light shape creeping upon the shadows. The tom's gaze was fixed on a blue-grey form snarling at the receding wave of warriors.
"Driftsong, watch out!" Hailbreeze shrieked. But it was too late. The muscular white Riverclanner caught Driftsong's throat between his slavering jaws.
"Snowtuft, let her go," Birchsplash warned.
A group of ThunderClan warriors surrounded the white tom, baring their teeth.
"Not so fast. If any of you get closer, I'll kill her," Snowtuft spat around the mound of fur.
Hailbreeze stalked up behind the white tom, helpless.
"Do it," There was no fear in Driftsong's eyes, only raw determination.
Hailbreeze stared at his mate in horror.
"I said do it, Hailbreeze,"
Hailbreeze hesitated for a moment longer.
He leapt.
The resounding snap rang out over the river.
An eerily mournful wail broke the hearts of many cats that day.
"Driftsong!"
Yes, Snowtuft is the dark forest Snowtuft. Reviewers get a sparkly Driftsong plushie!