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Divided Loyalties -rewrite-

PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 6:18 pm
by Hopeflower
Divided Loyalties –REWRITE–

Allegiances:

The Tribe of Endless Flame

Leader:

FALLEN STAR
A black she-cat with a white splash on her nose

Second:

SLY FOX
Dark ginger tabby tom

Healer:

FURLED BRACKEN
Big ginger and white tom with green eyes

Sharpclaws:

SHY FAWN
Small tabby and white she-cat

FLYING JAY
Gray tom with white paws and chest

DOVE’S CALL
Pale gray she-cat

NEW MOON
Pitch-black tom with amber eyes

ADDER’S FANG
Dark brown tabby tom

RABBIT LEAP
Small dusky brown she-cat

Softpaws:

BROKEN SHADOWS
Black and white she-cat

FALLING LEAVES
Ginger, white and brown tom

Kit-mothers:

LARK’S WING
Light brown she-cat

Elders:

RUNNING HORSE
Dark brown tabby tom

BRIGHT SUN
Gray and white she-cat

The Tribe of Dancing Thorns

Leader:

DUST STORM
Dusty brown tom

Second:

LION’S ROAR
Golden-brown tabby she-cat

Healer:

HAWK’S SCREECH
Brown tabby tom

The Tribe of Swaying Ferns

Leader:

DAPPLED LIGHT
Tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes

Second:

LIGHT SNOW
Pale gray she-cat with white patches

Healer:

HALF MOON
Smoky gray tom

The Tribe of Flowing Streams

Leader:

RIVER’S SONG
Blue-gray tom

Second:

MISTY POOL
Unusually spotted silver tabby she-cat

Healer:

FISH LEAP
Black tom



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Prologue
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The desperate wail of a female cat sliced through the otherwise quiet moonless night. The cry was cut off by a deep snarl; for a moment all was silent again. Then a sob shattered the relative peace again. It was followed by another, and another, the sounds so broken and mournful that it seemed anything listening, cat or otherwise, would be compelled to cry with her.

“You l-lied to me,” the she-cat choked, crouched over the body of another feline. Grief-stricken, she pressed her nose into his fur as though she hoped there would be some warmth remaining. But he was as cold as the distant stars that his wide open eyes reflected.

“My dear,” a silky voice meowed, “I warned him that I don’t tolerate weakness in my ranks. He knew full well what he was getting into.”

The she-cat hardly seemed to be listening. Bitterness crept into her voice as she spoke again. “You told me he wouldn’t get hurt.” Green eyes, burning with rage and sorrow, glared up at the tom who stood on the other side of the clearing. “You lied to me!” The repeated words came in a snarl.

A sudden clap of thunder boomed overhead; lightning snaked from one cloud to another, and then the heavens released the torrent that been held within the heavy storm clouds. The two cats, and the body of the third, were soon soaked.

“Look at that.” There was a sneer embedded in the tom’s words as he looked toward the sky. “Your beloved ancestors are watching.” He flicked water droplets scornfully from his ears and looked down his dripping muzzle at the she-cat. “Perhaps they’re even welcoming your friend as we speak.” He gave a low, dangerous chuckle. “But they didn’t save him. And they won’t save you either.”

The she-cat gave a defiant growl, flattening her own ears. “They’ll know what you’ve done,” she spat. “No matter what you do now, they’ll know.”

“True.” The tom gave a cruel, satisfied smile as lightning flashed again. “But they can’t stop me, now, can they.”

“Mark my words...” Thunder drowned the she-cat’s voice as she uttered the tom’s name. “You won’t harm another cat!”

The tom padded towards the body of the dead cat. He turned the sodden thing over with one paw, ignoring the she-cat’s warning snarl. Then he tisked disapprovingly and turned mocking amber eyes on her. “You don’t know me well at all my dear.” As he walked toward the she-cat, his claws slid out. “This pitiful excuse for a tom was hardly my first kill.” He gave another of his chuckles. “And he won’t be the last.”

Realizing what he intended to do, the she-cat scrambled to get away, her paws slipping on the wet terrain. She lost precious time finding her footing, and in that time the tom was on top of her, sharp teeth bared. His claws pierced her shoulders deeply, and she let out a wail that was cut off as he pressed her muzzle into the mud.

He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Greet the Tribe of Starry Skies for me.” And then he sank his teeth deep into her neck.

Her final cries were never heard, and died with her.