Disclaimer: I don't own the Warriors series, just this awesome story/set of stories if I ever get around to finishing them. Do not sue me! I have no money! (Bawls) So Erin Hunter wrote the main series. Not me.

For the Timeline of the story, let's say 50 years after Firestar dies…whenever that is… I'm not going to try to write a fic that's during or before the main series. I am ignoring all that happened in the Power of Three and Omen of the Stars series, because they held utterly stupid concepts in them. Sorry, but cats coming back from hell to kill us all just does not seem like Warriors to me. It also tried to make the reader hate cats that you learned to love in the second series, which was utter BS. So basically, they live at the lake. End. No attacking dead cats, thank you.

Also, Miffin's my editor. 'w ' b She knows nothing of the Warriors series, so that is why she's editing it! (Makes sense, I know) So let's all say 'Hi Miffin!' before we start!

(Miffin note: Hi guys!)

Wind Of The Azure Blossom also helped give me a lot of ideas, but in no way did she help me with the writing. So some credit goes to her as well.

Now, begin!

Warriors: Memories of Blood

Book 1: Ruby

-Prologue-

The stench of crowfood hung thick in the air as a young queen timidly poked her head out from between two large, silver Twoleg bins. Her ears were pricked for any sound; her eyes searched for threats. She opened her mouth to taste the air once, but the only scents she could detect was that of her own, and the putrid stick of Twoleg rubbish.

Her dark ginger-gold fur was smudged with some strange Twoleg tar, and her sides and face were covered in old scars. One of her ears was torn and missing a large chunk; her pelt was horribly unkept as well. Ribs could be seen under her thick coat.

Once she decided the coast was clear, she quickly vanished back behind the bins, only to return herding two small, sightless kits, the larger one mewling pathetically from the cold night air.

"Hush, it'll be okay," she mewed gently, nudging a small, ginger-and-white kit forward with a paw. "You can do it…"

The small tom tumbled forward, but was silent after hearing his mother's gentle voice. She then firmly bit the scruff of the she-kit and lifted her, nudging the little scrap on.

"This way…you can do it…" She coaxed between her teeth, lifting her head higher once the she-kit's legs began to bump the ground.

She moved as fast as she could, sometimes placing the she-kit down to carry the tom forward, before instantly retreating back to lift the tiny dark-ginger kit after him again. Her heart lifted when she saw the black, sticky stone of the Thunderpath only a few fox-lengths away. She nudged the tom on, keeping her head as high as possible for her other kit's sake.

"Just a little further…" She whispered to the tom, silently wishing the Thunderpath closer.

Her neck muscles were aching by time they reached the strange black stone. She placed the kit down between her forepaws, before lowering her head to give it a rest. She breathed out a relieved sigh through her nose. We made it… She thought, just to hear a tiny mew of protest beside her before a small thump. Instantly she turned her blue gaze to the tom, only to see him lying beside her pathetically, his sides heaving with effort.

No! Not now! She thought, desperately whipping her head around to look for any pursuers, but saw nothing.

Her whiskers twitched anxiously as she looked back down to her poor kit, then to the tiny she-kit between her paws. She quickly leaned down to give the tom a quick sniff, and licked his head gently before doing the same with the she-kit, worried by her stillness. After a few moments of continuous licking, the kit began to slowly to squirm around before nosing into her mother's stomach for warmth and comfort.

I'll have to cross and come back for him… She thought hopelessly, her eyes clouded with fear and anxiety. Quickly, she padded onto the side of the Thunderpath and looked cautiously from side to side for any monsters that may be prowling it at this time of night. Satisfied after almost a minute of surveying, she picked up the small ginger kit by the scruff and rushed across the pavement as fast as her paws could carry her, her neck held high, aching from the kit's weight.

Once safely across, she placed the kit down gently, carefully making sure she wouldn't be able to climb back onto the stone. She then quickly turned back to the road, only for her heart to nearly stop in her chest. Crouched next to her kit, starring at her with slit, malevolent amber eyes, was a large ginger tabby. He opened his battle-scarred muzzle and showed her his sharp, yellow fangs.

The queen paused by the side of the Thunderpath, unsure of what to do. Her heart ached to go back for her kit, but she knew she was no match for the large tom. Her tail tip twitched anxiously and her fur was fluffed as much as the disgusting tar on her would allow it to. Finally, her maternal instincts took over. She looked across the Thunderpath quickly, before padding into the center of the road; every muscle in her was body tense.

As if expecting her, the tom stood up and moved between her and the kit; his eyes narrowed and his lips drew back into a cruel grin.

"Step away from my kit, Scathe..." She mewed quietly, but firmly.

"And why would I do something like that, hm, Blaze?" He meowed, his amber gaze boring into her. "Because as I recall, he is my kit as well…"

"Enough!" Blaze hissed. "He is as much your kit as you are compassionate!"

The tabby grunted and flicked his tail uncaringly.

"Compassion catches no prey." He growled.

"Prey? What prey?!" The queen demanded. "I've barely seen a mouse tail in a moon!" She spat, glaring coldly at the tom. "You are far from worthy of being called this kit's father…both of them!"

The tabby tom snorted.

"'Both' you say…" He murmured, his eyes fixed across the road to where the tiny she-kit could barely be seen squirming. "I am no father to that pitiful scrap of fur you call a kit."

Blaze dug her claws into the Thunderpath. Her fur bristled and she drew her lips back with a fierce snarl. "How dare you disown your own kit like that…?" She demanded coldly, her eyes slitting. "What wrong did she ever do to you?!"

Scathe only snorted and turned his back to her, padding closer to the tom. He waved his tail in dismissal to her question.

He was silent, starring at the tiny ginger-and-white kit for a number of moments unblinkingly, as if in deep thought. "Nothing." He admitted at last, then he turned his massive head to look back at the queen, a small, sadistic grin on his face.

"She was only born."

At that moment, Blaze forgot everything but the cat that stood in front of her. She lunged at him, hissing and spitting, claws out to strike. Quickly, the tom turned on her, claws raking out at her face, but she kicked down on the ground and hit his massive paws away with a well aimed swipe.

"Fiend! Heartless!" She yowled, biting at one of his hind legs, only to be batted away with his giant paws. Digging her claws into the thick stone of the Thunderpath, she managed to keep her balance, just barely, and lunged right back at him. He was taken off guard this time, and the force of the collision sent both cats rolling closer to the middle of the road.

"You call me the fiend?!" He demanded, pinning her down with his huge claws and raking at her face and chest hard. "Who tried to take away my kit!?"

Suddenly, Blaze went limp, her eyes looking vacant and blurred. With a purr of satisfaction, Scathe slowly stepped off of her, and headed back toward the ginger-white tom. Almost instantaneously, Blaze shot up from the road and collided into the cat at full speed, before fastening onto his back, claws digging deep into his fur.

Scathe yowled in pain and spat, thrashing around wildly in a desperate attempt to fling the queen off, but she held tight. Blaze could hear and feel his heart beat quickening, almost as fast as her own, but his near-steady breathing told her that he was nowhere near as tired as she was right now. She clenched her eyes shut as he began to jump and kick, her claws becoming looser in his greasy fur.

I can't let go! She told herself desperately, clinging with all her strength, but it wasn't enough. With one final, powerful jerk, her claws slipped from his oily pelt and she was flung a good distance, landing heavily on the Thunderpath. She let out a small moan of pain, vaguely noticing the tabby tom hovering over her; a look of triumph in his eyes.

"Did you really think you could defeat me?" He asked rhetorically, "Did you really think that I would lose to such a weak cat like you? You are nothing compared to me! And neither is that pathetic wriggling mess you call a kit!" His tail flicked across the Thunderpath at the she-kit, slowly squirming toward the road blindly.

"It cannot even walk, let alone speak!" He hissed, his amber eyes glaring at the pathetic scrap.

"Why do you hate her so…?" Blaze asked, weakly beginning to get to her paws, but Scathe put one powerful paw on her chest and held her down.

"Why do I hate her?" He echoed. "Why don't I hate her?!" He demanded, thrashing his tail angrily. "Just look at her! She is weak! She'll be no use to the Clan!"

"She isn't even a moon old!" Blaze objected, only for Scathe to put more pressure onto her chest.

"I never wanted to hurt you, Blaze…" He said, slowly turning his amber gaze down to her. "But you must understand my position…that kit is a danger to our Clan. It can't even crawl right!" He growled angrily. "How is it supposed to hunt? How is it supposed to survive?"

The ginger queen grit her teeth and flattened her ears, her eyes half closed. She had to admit—as much as she hated to—that Scathe was right. She had the kits nearly a half moon ago, and yet, never once had the tiny kit even squeaked a sound. Her heart ached at the thought of agreeing with the tom. She couldn't walk yet! The most she could do was squirm and wriggle. She was weak!

Blaze shut her eyes tightly and let out a long moan of grief. What should she do? If she stayed here, surely Scathe would kill her kit…if not in cold blood, abandon her in the cold, unforgiving night. But if she fled…what would she gain…? All she knew of life was the Clan. She had scarcely ever left its territory, let alone tried to flee it. She had never even heard of other cats trying to survive elsewhere…other than kittypets…but that life was not an option for her, or her kits…

"Do you see now, Blaze?" Scathe continued, his tail waving with anticipation. "I've been trying to protect you and this kit." He motioned the small tom on the opposite side of the road with a flick of his tail. "You are my mate, and he is the next leader of our Clan. You cannot take him away from the Clan, just for the sake of one pitiful excuse for a kit!"

Ever so gradually, the tabby lifted his paw from her chest and took a few paces back. Curling his tail over his forepaws calmly, he sat, his amber eyes watching her closely.

Weakly, Blaze forced herself up, grunting as she felt her chest burn where he had slashed her. Slowly, she copied his movements, less hostility in her blank eyes. He was right again. If she left with the tom now, it would most likely be the end to their Clan, and she knew it…already, there were few cats. Most had died of sickness, while others were mauled to death by dogs and even rabid Twolegs. Prey was also scarce, and strange Rogues continued to loiter onto their territory, stealing what little they had.

The queen slowly looked up to the tabby helplessly.

"I…don't know…" She mewed quietly, lowering her head once more. "They're…my kits…I don't want them to suffer…"

Scathe nodded in agreement, his ear flicking understandingly. "Don't worry," he meowed soothingly, "there will be no suffering for our kit…"

Blaze's ears pricked, but she said nothing. Maybe he just forgot about the she-kit…

The tom got up slowly and turned his head to the other side of the road, staring right at the dark red kit. Calmly, he began to pad toward it, eyes on it, and it alone.

Blaze's heart beat quickened. She knew what he was going to do. She knew he would go through with it too…clumsily she stood up and padded beside him hastily, her tail waving frantically.

"S-Scathe, please…don't do this…" She begged, but he flicked his tail, ignoring her. "D-don't do this! She's your kin!"

The tabby suddenly turned on her, amber eyes ablaze and claws unsheathed. Blaze took a terrified step back, but quickly held her ground again. "That wretch is no more my kin than a Twoleg mutt!" He yowled, stepping toward her threateningly. Blaze took another small step back, her fur beginning to bristle. "No kin of mine would be so weak. No kin of mine would be so pathetic!" He spat, digging his large claws into the Thunderpath. "No kin of MINE would be so useless!" With that, he suddenly flung himself toward the center of the Thunderpath, claws extended towards the kit.

Blaze didn't hesitate. She was on his heels the second his amber eyes were set back on the kit. Quickly, she sprang onto his back once more, before ripping down his sides with her claws, ignoring the chance of falling off. Scathe howled in pain and flipped around quickly, trying to claw at the queen's sides, but she suddenly jumped off and retreated between him and the she-kit, hissing and spitting crossly.

"How dare you?!" She demanded. "I can't even believe that I ever became your mate!" The queen's fur bristled even more as the tabby tom stepped forward, his sides painted crimson with blood. "I will never let you kill her!"

Scathe snorted crossly.

"How dare you disobey me…I'm your Leader!" He roared.

"Correction," Blaze sneered, "you were my Leader…"

A low growl rumbled in the tom's throat. "You are making a big mistake, Blaze…you will never be allowed to walk this territory again…nor will your 'kit'…"

"It's a chance I'm willing to take." She growled back curtly, turning her back to him, and with a flick of her tail, headed towards her kit.

There was a flash of dark ginger in the corner of her eye. Blaze barely had a moment's time to react before the tom came crashing into her, hissing wildly.

"Wrong choice!" He howled, his claws raking into her fur once more. Blaze attempted to slither out of his grasp, but the tabby tom was just too powerful! With his hind and front paws pinning her down, she could do no more than watch in horror as he loomed over her; his amber eyes seeming to gain a crimson tinge to them.

He leaned his head down so close that his whiskers brushed her cheek and his hot, rancid breath made her eyes water. "I tried to warn you Blaze…I tried to be easy on you…but no more… So what if I have to kill you? I'll just say you were hit by a monster." A cruel grin crept onto his face, and his eyes glittered. "Ah, I can see the doubt in your eyes, Blaze…but who do you think they'll believe? I am their Leader. My word is law…and I shall take that precious, little, kit of yours, and say that it perished along with you…" He prodded her hard in the chest as he spoke, making her shake in rage in fear.

"You're…a monster…" Blaze snarled as Scathe showed her his glittering fangs.

"Maybe," the tabby shrugged, "but does that really matter? All that matters is survival. I can't have someone like you trotting around, poisoning the minds of other cats of the Clan, now can I…?"

The ginger queen spat at him, but Scathe ignored her.

"This is good bye, Blaze." His eyes glittered almost joyfully. "And don't worry…that precious little kit of yours will be jointing you very soon…"

Blaze shut her eyes tight as Scathe reeled his head back, mouth agape for the killing strike. She could imagine his head lunging closer to her neck, feeling his hot breath sink into her skin. N-no! This can't be! It wasn't supposed to be this way! She wailed inwardly, tensing herself for the strike.

Scathe's head rushed forward. His eyes glittered as saliva rushed to his mouth, ready for the taste of blood. He almost couldn't believe it. After so long, he would finally be able to kill the only cat that stood in his way from completely taking over the Clan! How many moons had he dreamed of this day?! And now, the time had come…no longer would he have to worry about other lower, insignificant cats seeking advice from this pathetic scrap! He would be their absolute Leader, and his son, Ragnorok, would lead after him!

This is the end!

Suddenly, the stones beneath the two cats began to rumble, steadily becoming more and more violent by the second. Scathe looked up, confused, before quickly realising what was happening. Instantly he flung himself away from his prey, dashing toward the other side of the Thunderpath as he did so, terror in his eyes.

Blaze groggily stood, also realising the danger she was in. Her head flicked to the side, seeing the oncoming monster rushing towards her; angry, glowing eyes glared at her as it made a hungry roar. Her fur stood on end as she stared in shock at the giant beast, looming closer and closer to her. She begged her legs to run, but no matter how much she wished to flee, her legs stood still with fear. The monster loomed ominously closer to the queen, its dash unfaltering.

C-come on! Move legs! She howled inwardly, her eyes growing to the size of moons as she watched the monster continue to advance. Then, in the bright, pale light of the beast's eyes, Blaze saw a flicker of moment on the edge of the Thunderpath. Weakly, she turned her head to see the crimson kit beginning to weakly crawl towards the thunderous pathway of the monster.

Instincts took over. The queen forced her heavy legs to race to the side of the Thunderpath, and hastily bit onto the scruff of the kit's neck and dragged her with her. She didn't slow her pace until she was a good couple of fox-lengths from the Thunderpath, and then weakly collapsed, nuzzling the bruised kit.

"You saved me…" She purred, licking the kit to comfort it, as well as herself.

She then cautiously looked back across the treacherous stone pathway, noticing the angry, amber eyes of her previous mate.

She could not hear him from their distance, but she could read his lips and thoughts just fine.

"You were lucky this time, Blaze, but next time, you will not survive. You will never, ever return her again. This is MY territory now."

"BloodClan is mine."