A Breeze of Shadows

#### Prologue by Bearpaw, edited by Mosskit

The sky was dark and starless, and no moon shone through the leafless trees of the gloomy forest.

There seemed to be no life here, except for maybe the small, ragged circle of cats that was sitting in a little clearing.

The cats were growling and hissing at each other, although no blood had been spilled yet.

"We mustn't just *give up*!" a translucent, ginger tortoiseshell she-cat hissed, the trees showing through her scarred pelt. "Just because the Clans defeated us in one battle does not mean they will win the war!"

"That *was* the war," a dark gray tom with black tabby stripes mewed mournfully. "But you are right about one thing, Mapleshade. The Clans have defeated us."

"Stop twisting my words, mouse-heart! That's not what I said! I said-"

The she-cat was cut off as a skinny white tom with scarrs along his pelt mewed, "If you're so eager to try again, Mapleshade, what's your plan?"

Mapleshade paused. "Well-"

"See? Even Mapleshade doesn't know what she's doing! She's going to send us all to our deaths!" the dark-furred tabby tom wailed.

"Let me speak!" Mapleshade growled, the fur along her spine lifting. "If any Dark Forest cat should have died in that battle, it should have been you, Darkstripe."

The tabby, Darkstripe, let out a hiss, unsheathing his claws.

The skinny white tom, a mottled brown-and-ginger tom, and a small, mottled brown she-cat's eyes glittered with anticipation at the thought of a possible battle.

"What did you say?" Darkstripe spat.

"I said you're a mouse-heart, and I would easily trade your life for anyone else's life that died in the Great Battle," Mapleshade snarled.

Darkstripe hissed and leaped at Mapleshade, and a ragged, pale gray tabby tom let out a yowl of excitement.

The two cats fought ferociously, clawing and spitting, until eventually Mapleshade came out on top, her paw pressed on Darkstripe's throat.

"Don't pick battles you can't win," she growled in the dark-furred tom's ear.

Darkstripe spat at her and wriggled out from her grasp, but didn't attack again.

"Was anyone else planning on arguing?" Mapleshade hissed, whirling around to face the rest of the cats, whose pelts were all bushed with excitement.

One by one, they all shook their heads. Mapleshade turned to Darkstripe. "And you?"

Darkstripe lowered his head but said nothing, his eyes burning with anger and shame.

"Good." Mapleshade purred slightly. "The Clans have a weakness that we have left over from the Great Battle. Is anyone here smart enough to realise what it is?"

The small mottled she-cat nodded her head eagerly. "Some of the Clan cats may still be loyal to us!"

Mapleshade nodded approvingly. "Yes, Sparrowfeather, that's right." She lashed her tail. "And there's only one cat who stayed loyal to us all throughout the battle."

"Breezepelt," three cats mewed simultaneously.

Mapleshade nodded. "We may still have a chance with him; to get him back on our side. He'll be our spy on the Clans while the Place of No Stars grows stronger. We must resume training, and then we can bring Breezepelt onto our side. Then we will have our revenge!"

The other cats let out yowls of agreement, which were only broken up when Darkstripe's voice called out, "And who's going to visit Breezepelt?"

Silence fell over the clearing.

"Well?" Mapleshade prompted, her gaze menacing.

"How about you do it?" Darkstripe hissed, blood dripping from a fresh tear in his ear. "You're the one who brought it up, and clearly you're pretty good at inspiring speeches."

The skinny white tom nodded. "It does make sense, Mapleshade."

"And you don't want to do it?" Mapleshade hissed.

The cats looked at each other uneasily.

"Okay, fine then. I'll do it. But this means you will have to follow me into battle, even if it means death." Her gaze swivelled toward Darkstripe. "We must have our revenge."

The other cats gazed at one another for only a moment before nodding and joining the chant:

"We must have our revenge!"

Their voices echoed throughout the Dark Forest, growing louder and louder as their courage grew.

The Dark Forest was rising.

#### Chapter One by Wolfpaw edited by Drizzlepaw/Polarpaw

Breezepelt stared out at the red and orange sun began sinking its way farther below the trees, hills, slopes, rocks, dirt, and grass into the horizon. It is making a desperate struggle by shooting beams of yellow, orange, and red light into the dark blue sky. The sunset filled the sky with a deep red flame, setting the clouds ablaze.

As a kit, he would ask the queens where the sun went at night. Did the sun sleep, just like he did? They would giggle, telling him that the sun went to the sun-drown-place. It would sink beneath the waves of a vast body of water.

The sun disappeared to the moon could have a chance to glow.

Or maybe the sun sank down into the dark because it wanted to.

Maybe it would get sick of the world it saw, the way cats leered at it whenever they looked in it's direction.

Breezepelt felt that way, too. That was why he joined the Dark Forest when the ghost of Tigerstar approached him. The WindClan warrior recalled the sympathetic look and the gentle tone he had when they spoke. Tigerstar told Breezepelt that he knew how he felt and that he was sick of the looks his Clan gave him and his father’s emotional distance.

Tigerstar offered to help hone Breezepelt’s anger and get his retribution.

He gladly accepted.

Moons went on and Breezepelt’s resentment and scorn towards everything became more and more clear. Any goodwill left for him in WindClan was snuffed out after he allied with the Dark Forest during the battle. Many trainees defected after they learned the truth, but not him – he knew what their true nature was. Breezepelt considered them yellow-bellied, unable to stomach what they had set out to do.

He realized now that none of them were cowardly, only that they couldn’t turn on the cats they knew and loved. Breezepelt never experienced anything like that, having always felt distant from WindClan.

What did that leave Breezepelt after the Dark Forest was defeated?

Alone.

He sighed as the moon poked it's golden head out of the hills before climbing it's way to take its place atop the night sky.

The warrior got off his haunches, turning around and slowly making his way back to WindClan camp.

Lonesome and cast in pale silver light.

Breezepelt dropped the rabbit on the ground, listening to the soft thud. The first piece of prey in a new fresh-kill pile, just sitting on its own. The tom scanned WindClan camp. There were a few cats, stretching and yawning or grooming themselves. The sun had set and there was a chill in the air. His paws were wet from dewy grass as it had been raining earlier.

As was Breezepelt’s side after he slipped while chasing some prey.

That one got away.

The warrior pushed away the thought of his failure. He was trying to make up to WindClan, prove his loyalty to them. It was a small gesture, sure, but it was a start. Obviously, the warrior would have to do more if he wanted to earn WindClan’s trust back.

*But will anything be good enough for them?*

"You know a there's no pleasing these mouse-heart," a familiar, deep and smooth voice meowed in his ear.

Breezepelt's fur bristled as he flicked his hear and whipped his head around to see nothing by a fiery red maple leaf fluttering to the ground.

The black tom made his way to his nest, only to be approached by his mother.

"You alright Breezepelt? You think a little tense. . ."

Breezepelt offered a tired, fake smile, “Fine, thanks." he let out another sigh as he curled down into his nest and closed his eyes.

"Welcome back, Breezepelt." a she-cat meow accosted him gently. Breezepelt, still half asleep and his eyes still adjusting to them dimmer light, just stared at her. "huh?"

The she-cat's teeth, ever so slightly yellowed with age, flashed a smile. "Don't tell me you don't remember your mentor."

Breezepelt then leaped to his paws. He was in the shadowy forest he had spent night after night spilling blood and loving every moment of it, listening to the sweet nothings whispered to him by the ghosts who resided there, covering up the murder of Antpelt. Descending further into the dark, screaming bloody murder all the while.

Breezepelt let out a snarl and unsheathed his claws. "Mapleshade?"

"Greetings Breezepelt, it's good to see you again." the tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat took a step closer to him. "You loved it here, you *thrived* here. You can again, we can resume training and finally take over the Clans."

Breezepelt hissed viciously, anger surging beneath his pelt. "Your a mouse-brain if you seriously think I would join the Dark Forest again!"

Mapleshade frowned, her eyes blazed in the gloom. "Very well," she turned to pad away then paused to mew over her shoulder. "But I'll be seeing you soon Breezepelt."

Panicked, he turned and fled, swerving between the dark trees. Mist swirled around him and he slipped and staggered as he ran, fighting to keep his balance as trunks loomed from the fog, and the undergrowth seemed to grab for his paws. Heart pounding, he slowed. He was tired and he didn’t want to be here. He wanted to sleep. He wanted to be back in his nest. He stumbled and fell onto the the tangled undergrowth and closed his eyes as a tried to catch his breath.

Breezepelt began panting and unsheathed his claws. He pricked his ears as he heard Harespring sorting patrols. Every cat looked well fed, sleek furred, and confident that their territory was safe. Mapleshade's words came back to echo in his mind. Breezepelt's fur prickled with foreboding before sitting at the entrance of the den and looked on with uncertainty.

Had he made the right choice?

#### Chapter Two by Jaymoon edited by Bearpaw

The dark trees surrounded Mapleshade, shadows everywhere, and yet, she could still find her way through them.

She came to a hault when she tasted the familiar scent of Darkstripe.

“Get out here and show yourself,” she hissed. No one replied.

*Cheeky little fox,* Mapleshade thought. She heard the scamper of feet and Darkstripe appeared in front of her.

*Breezepelt,* Mapleshade reminded herself, trying to stem her anger. *This is about Breezepelt*.

”Gather some of the Dark Forest warriors. We need to chat,” Mapleshade ordered, scowling.

Darkstripe growled a little, but obeyed, pelting off and causing dust to fly up in Mapleshade’s face.

*Breezepelt doesn’t want to come to the Dark Forest again… I wonder what it would take to get him back,* Mapleshade thought to herself as she waited for Darkstripe to return.

The mist covered the trees, the floor, covered in dust. The Dark Forest was a good place for those who’ve done wrong. Hopefully Breezepelt could see what he’s done wrong and continue his life with the Dark Forest, accepting Mapleshade’s offer.

A moment later Darkstripe appeared, followed by Silverhawk, Snowtuft, Rushtooth, Sparrowfeather and Redwillow.

Mapleshade looked past the Dark Forest warriors and to the starless sky. Breezepelt may be quite a challenge… but she knew that he wasn’t invincible either. She looked back at the cats in front of her. “Sit around.” Mapleshade ordered firmly.

The cats formed a half-hearted semi-circle around Mapleshade.

“How’d it go, Oh-So-Great *leader?”* Darkstripe sneered scornfully.

Mapleshade hissed back and began her story. “Breezepelt is not keen, not at all. But I think there may be a hidden pathway.”

Silverhawk looked up, confused. “*Hidden pathway?* What do you mean?”

Mapleshade glared back silently. “Breezepelt isn’t invincible, so we’ll use that to our advantage. Though, I don’t know how to get him back on our side.”

The Dark Forest warriors looked confused, then the confusion faded into a fierce focus.

”Threaten him first. Then maybe persuade him to join," Redwillow meowed. Mapleshade stared back at him silently, then looked away.

”It may work, if you can do it,” Darkstripe mewed, his eyes glittering with scorn.

Mapleshade refused to look at him at all, but she found herself agreeing. “Redwillow, you may be right.”

”And maybe wrong,” Snowtuft muttered.

Mapleshade waited. The day was nearly over, and soon, the Clan cats would all go to their nests.

She pawed at the ground impatiently. This would be Breezepelt's dream.

Soon, the black outline of his body began to appear in front of Mapleshade, and then his features filled out, showing him staring at the ground, looking defeated.

Breezepelt looked up. He then frowned, he seemed to know what this was about. Mapleshade glared at him thoughtfully.

Breezepelt continued to frown, as though if he stared hard enough it would scare Mapleshade away.

Mapleshade began. "You know what this is about, don’t you?”

Breezepelt nodded angrily and looked away.

”You should join us. All the Clans are just rogues, waiting to be caught like mice,” Mapleshade sneered at him.

“No they’re not! The Clans are much more powerful than you!” Breezepelt protested.

She stared at him for a long time, until she began to speak. ”Your life will be miserable without the Dark Forest. If you join us here, you don’t have to fight for borders. Instead, fight for freedom. No warrior code exists here, no fighting because you are not forced to follow some petty rules made up by your ancestors,” she persuaded.

”No! I’ll never come back! I told you before, I don’t want to come back. I’ve learnt my lesson from the last time I came to the Dark Forest!” Breezepelt rejected angrily.

Mapleshade frowned at him; he didn’t seem to want to come back. So when would he?

*We’ll see, Breezepelt. We'll see how this all turns out in the end. I’m not done with you yet.*