The moon shimmered down onto a long field of rough terrain and stone. Grass grew between the niche cracks of the stone, gasping for what little sunlight they could ever reach. Under this field of nothingness laid a bunker, its halls filled with cats anxiously staring at one another or speaking in hushed tones. A fluffy white cat paced the halls, his eyes avoiding the glances being thrown at him. His expression was thoughtful, as if deep thought plagued his head. He paused as the whispering around him suddenly grew quiet, and he glanced up, positioning himself up right as he noticed a grey cat cautiously approaching him.

"Aluchar," The cat hesitantly spoke "I'm sorry to keep you waiting."

Aluchar simply nodded his head, "I understand, Marblenose. The shock needed to settle down first, before anything." He took a moment to think, his tail was flat against the ground, unmoving in his nervous state. He knew exactly what he wanted to say, yet he didn't want to be disrespectful in rushing it. "Is it time?" He slowly asked.

Marblenose was much more hesitant on answering that question. He glanced around his Clan, glimpsing at their scared, worried expressions.

"I.. I don't want to wait any longer, if I'm being honest." Marblenose nervously grinned, the sides of his muzzle showing his bared fangs. Aluchar smiled warmly, though his eyes were screaming his own fears. "Wait here," Marblenose requested, before turning tail and running off back in the direction he came from. Aluchar was left surrounded by his Clan. He didn't even have to turn around to know all eyes were staring at the back of his fur, desperate and pleading. They needed him, he knew that. It was only a moment before Marblenose returned with a few warriors and the medicine cat behind him.

"Aluchar," Rubyheart, the medicine cat, echoed as she paced forward. Her dark pink eyes flashed, and lowered her head for a moment, her ears falling flat as if she embarrassed herself. "I'm sorry, I just.. I never thought Thistlestar would be gone so soon..." She trailed off, her eyes looking glazed with thought as if looking into a distant reality.

"Rule of Ice has gained another great leader," Marblenose reassured her, twining his tail around her own. "I'm not gonna let my lil' sis mourn alone."

Aluchar could understand the siblings' mournful nature. Thistlestar was their father, and their only parent long after their mother had died giving birth to them. And now they only had each other. Aluchar's heart ached for the two siblings. However, Marblenose mentioning Rule of Ice enraged him. If anything, he could see them as being the majority of the blame for taking Thistlestar's life. And now, Aluchar was to be the next leader. The time of change was now.

"Marblenose, Rubyheart.. I hope you don't mind. I too wish to mourn Thistlestar. But as the new leader of Reichclan, I must take rule of my Clan as soon as I can." He bowed his head respectfully, not wanting to push the siblings' loss away like it didn't matter to him. It did, but he had other things to attend to.

"I understand, don't worry," Rubyheart reassured, placing her paw on Aluchar's cheek. "Father would want you to take control as soon as you could. You were always a wonderful deputy." Her glowing eyes illuminated the tears flowing down them. Aluchar grabbed her paw with his own, kissing the back of her paw before letting go. She nodded, and slowly paced her way to be with the rest of her Clan. Marblenose slowly followed, allowing Aluchar to stand before his Clan like a true leader.

"Cats of Reichclan," Aluchar began, his voice shaky at first, but growing more confident as he spoke. "For years, we have followed Rule of Ice. We say these ancestors, who take what they want from us, are justified. We say their plans and prophecies are for one of every cat - but is this true!?" He allowed his words to sink in before he continued "Our rival clans such as Sunclan and Nobleclan have followed Rule of Fire for years. Rule of Fire demands fewer Clans to rule. For one true bloodline to come out on top through sheer preservation." He hissed the words out, his voice growing stronger as he yelled what he believed in.

"But Rule of Ice allows all Clans to have preservation! Rule of Fire demands war and death!" A feminine voice echoed from further back in the crowd.

"So that may be," Aluchar thought of the other Clans that followed the Rule of Ice. Clans like Freedomclan, Empireclan, and Sovietclan. Yet, he could see their belief systems failing. "If one Clan is to fall, then let it! They were weak in their bloodline, anyway. Why should other Clans help them rebuild!? To make themselves look better!?" He quietly thought to himself. "Bloodlines should be pure with strength. She-cats should birth strong, healthy and pure cats that will fight to defend their Clan. Not disabled, useless ones!" Aluchar raised his head amongst his listeners, letting his voice echo around the bunker's halls. "And if its war Rule of Fire wants, its rule we shall serve. For years, we have been treated as a lesser Clan. As weak! Do any of you WANT to be seen as weak!?"

His Clan now held expressions of hurt, anger, or desperation. He knew he hit them in their hearts. The other Clans walked over them, demanded land or food or weapons.. He couldn't blame Thistlestar for just giving it to them. He didn't want his Clan to suffer being thrown into a war they couldn't win. But Aluchar wanted to give the other Clans a war Thistlestar didn't want to push. Aluchar's tail lashed as he continued "We must train our apprentices, we must allow the she-cats to birth many kits to build our army. We must grow strong! We cannot allow the other Clans to mistake our power. And most of all, we will eradicate all those who believe in Rule of Ice! Do you trust me? Will you follow me?" Aluchar questioned his Clan. He wanted to build this Clan into something far greater that could rule all else.

His Clan was quiet for a long moment, trying to process what he had said. He could guess they were pondering most about leaving the Rule of Ice, which they had followed for years. From the silence, Rubyheart took a pawstep forward, her eyes glowing and ears perked up. "I will do nothing but support what my leader thinks is right. I will fight until my last drop of blood! I no longer wish to be seen as nothing more than apart of a weak Clan. You have my word!"

The crowd was silent, as if in shock that Rubyheart, a cat who wanted violence as only a last option, supported Aluchar in his chase of Rule of Fire. "I promise you, Rubyheart, your father and his Clan will be avenged." Aluchar swore as he slowly paced over to her, licking Rubyheart's ear and whispering to her. "Or I will die trying."


End of prologue.

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