Chapter 10 - The Omen
“Shadedmoon! Hunt in the left territory with Fallenwings, Lightsplash, and Sunheart.” Moonflame declared when announcing the morning patrols.
The four cats gathered around the entrance, and padded out of the sun-dappled camp, filled with waking cats. The green - leaf light warmed Fallenwings’ pelt as they walked through the territory.
“Shadedmoon?” Fallenwings suddenly asked, “How is Rabbitfoot doing?”
“Oh she's fine. She told me that there was a twoleg on the patrol. Twolegs just scare her, once she saw one with a thing that looked like her tail. Nothing to worry about.” Shadedmoon said breezily.
Lier. Fallenwings thought, but decided to say nothing. He knew that what she said could never be true. He sighed softly, wishing people trusted him enough to tell him these things. The patrol walked onward, some cats quietly chatting, but not Fallenwings, for he was deep in thought. The rogues aren't a problem, are they? There's just 10 rogues who want to mess with us. Probably former kittypets. But what about that one, the black tom me and Bramblepaw saw? With the skill of a warrior and the grace of a bird? Fallenwings pondered about the rogues for a minute.
“What about him…” He muttered absentmindedly.
“Shush. Robin.” Shadedmoon whispered from his side, quickly flicking her tail to the left, where prey-scent floated through the breeze, and lowered into a hunter’s crouch.
Fallenwings heaved himself out of his thoughts and did the same. He glanced to the side, seeing Lightsplash and Sunheart stalking the now visible bird from opposite sides. The fat robin was on a carpet of leaves, pulling a worm out of a hole, pitifully clueless of the cats hunting it..
He gently stepped forward, Shadedmoon beside him. The four cats shared a look, one saying to chase the bird to Shadedmoon and him. Lightsplash and Sunheart changed their position so they could get behind it. When everyone was in place, Shadedmoon flicked her tail, signaling Sunheart and Lightsplash to pounce. Fallenwings heard soft footsteps. Then he smelled a menacingly familiar cat scent. Before he could raise his head, before Lightsplash or Sunheart could pounce, an inky black shape jumped out of one of the smaller trees above, and neatly landed on the robin, breaking it’s spine with a sickening crunch.
“HEY!” Fallenwings shouted.
“You DARE?” Shadedmoon shrieked at the same time.
Fallenwings glanced at her, slightly surprised to see recognition, rage, but also terror in her eyes.
He suddenly processed the scent as the one of the rogue he and Bramblepaw had seen, the one he was just thinking about.
The rogue lifted his head and Fallenwings saw his eyes. Pitch black like a void.
“I’m Dark.” The rogue said in a menacing voice, “I want your land. I want your prey. I want your camp. And I will fight for it. No, we will.”
A huge crowd of cats, bigger than FallenClan emerged from the shadows of the trees. He froze. All of the patrol had already bolted. The cats advanced. Dark bared his teeth, showing long, slightly bloody fangs. Then all Fallenwings could do was run.
…
Fallenwings sighed. The patrol had come back to alert the clan and get backup, but by the time they were there, the rogues were gone. The forest felt empty of prey, and the world seemed more dreadful than ever. Even the morning later everyone felt terrible. Why would StarClan do this to us? The rogues probably stole most of the prey and then scared away the rest. They are going to take our territory. FallenClan is going to starve and die in green leaf for StarClan’s sake. Pathetic. He looked around at the crestfallen cats, his gaze heavy. The clan was tearing apart their prey, slowly, but not eating much. He looked around FallenClan camp, wondering how much longer it would be FallenClan’s. Why did he even want to be leader once? These things seem so petty now. Now that they were going to lose their home to a bunch of rogues. Not even warriors. Just stupid rogues. Fallenwings shook his head out, and puffed up his fur. I am Not letting a bunch of rogues get to me. I am not letting them take my clan. Fallenwings straightened his posture. He decided that he should tell Silentstar that they should prepare for battle. No, war. Being on the patrol that saw all of them, he knew a little more than some of the other warriors. Should I bring anyone else? No. I would like to discuss my opinions with Silentstar alone. Fallenwings’ gaze scanned the camp, and finding Silentstar with her back turned to the entrance of the main den, he padded toward her.
When he arrived, he heard voices talking. Fallenwings recognized Darkvalley’s soft meow telling Silentstar something in a slightly panicked voice. He was split between three things, one, to lunge in there and calm his daughter, two, to just walk away and not eavesdrop, and three, just plain old eavesdropping. Against his better judgment, he quickly picked three.
“Silentstar. What could this mean? Why would Hollystar tell me this?” Darkvalley quietly meowed.
“I don’t know. But it isn’t something good. Beware is never good.” Silentstar answered.
“Beware of the Darksun… It's not a prophecy. But an omen. And I don't want to know what it means. But I think… we should bide our time. Remember, these may be the last days FallenClan, or anyone sees, if we aren’t careful.” Darkvalley declared.
Fallenwings made a small gasp, but held it in as best as he could. He backed away from the spot he was hiding near the den, fear choking his body, and not enough air seemed to fill his lungs. He glanced around not sure what to do. His body shook with the horror of everything and everyone he knew being gone. Gone as is dead, lost, gone forever.
“Fallenwings? Are you ok?” Echonight’s gentle voice asked him, appearing out of nowhere.
Fallenwings looked at her, terror in his eyes, fur fluffed. He then whispered:
“No. Something bad is coming, and we can’t stop it. StarClan can’t stop it.”