Shadows || Warriors

Prologue

Robinstar padded through the unknown territory. Her brown fur was prickled in unease as the leader of FernClan trekked through the dark place. She couldn't even seen a tail-length in front of her, so she was mindful where she put her paws.

She had no idea where she was. The place was unfamiliar to her, as were the scents. Was this a part of StarClan territory she had yet to come across? If that was the case, why was it so dark? Why did she feel so uneasy if she was in the home of her fallen kin?

The brown she-cat suddenly came to a halt as she spotted something in the darkness. Her fur began to bristle as she stared at the eyes that stared back at her. She couldn't make out what it was, but a feeling of dread told her it wasn't good.

"Who are you?" Robinstar demanded, her voice surprisingly firm despite her fear-scent she was giving off. "What do you want?"

The eyes never answered her. Slowly, more and more began to form around the FernClan leader. Her ears folded back against her skull as she looked around at them all. A black mist had appeared around the clearing as the eyes moved closer to her.

Fear slashed her through like claws on her pelt. She spun around and bolted as fast as her legs could carry her. The sound of thundering paws behind her told her the creatures were racing after her. An unseen root caused the she-cat to trip, falling onto the ground with a pained cry. Before she could get back to her paws, the eyes were surrounding her once more.

In the moonlight, she could make them out clearly. They were cats, but nothing like she had ever seen before. They were shadowy in appearance, easily blending in with the darkness around them. Their cruel eyes promised pain and torment as their tails lashed behind them.

"Who are you?" she asked again, taking a step back from the crowd of cats. "What do you want with me?"

Again, she was giving no answer. Before she could ask anything else, the shadow cats sprang onto her, burying her in a sea of dark pelts. Robinstar yowled in terror, clawing fearfully at the other felines that bit and slashed her in return. Just as she thought she was going to die, the felines suddenly disappeared in a flash of blue light.

The FernClan stumbled to her paws dazed and confused. What in the name of StarClan just happened? Where did the dark cats go? Pawsteps echoed behind her and she spun around with a hiss, claws gripping the grass, ready to tear into flesh. Her eyes widened as she spotted a starry cat she knew all too well.

"Foxstar!"

The orange-and-white tom dipped his head in greeting, amber eyes sparking. "Greetings, Robinstar."

The brown she-cat purred warmly as she pressed up against her former leader. Joy sparked through her at seeing him again. It had been moons since she had last seen her old leader.

"Do you know what that was about?" Robinstar questioned as she pulled herself away from Foxstar. "What were those shadowy cats?"

"I've come to give you a warning, Robinstar."

The FernClan leader perked her ears. "What about?"

"When the forest cries, the Clans all run. An union of shadows has begun. Blue twilight will free your lands."

Robinstar was puzzled by what her former leader had told her. What did that mean? "What do you mean?"

But Foxstar was already beginning to fade as the world grew dark around her once more. The brown she-cat awoke in her nest in her den, the camp dark and silent. She pushed herself to her paws as she lifted her gaze up to Silverpelt, her dream still fresh in her mind. She wished that she could make sense of all this before it was too late.