The Light Brigade
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There are few set rules in the universe, none of which can be broken. These laws dictate light, dark, day and night, and everything in between. Every decree moulds our life, keeping it healthy and secure. Most rules are unbroken indefinitely, yet at this day, one rule would be broken in the view of warriors.

Up marched five felines, their gazes filled with rage. Their path was not easy, and this final trek to the hidden valley was difficult to even to a healthy cat. A sandy-coloured tom-cat with great peridot eyes, lynx-like ears, and lengthy, knotted fur, trotted alongside two she-cats, his eyes clouded in thought. Beside him stood a regal, elegant garnet tabby with shining golden eyes, and an anticipating stare directed beyond. Lastly, covered in grime and dust, padded a small, lithe calico-and-white she-cat, equipped with nimble paws and a long, tendril tail. While this young molly was average, it was her eyes that let her be seen, that let her defy laws of the colours of flames. Shining in the calico's sapphire eyes were brilliant azure embers, their rich tones of blue vibrant among her inky black pupil. Her fiery lenses drank up her innermost fury, relishing every single drop of pure anger. The cobalt firestorm, a swirl of wrath reflecting in her hardened eyes, grew with every step she took.

The quintet travelled up the frigid mountains on the quest of finding the hidden valley where AsterClan hid. After days of being trapped in a cave, slowly dying of malnutrition, the clowder of cats had escaped at the dire cost of Grizzlyfang's life. An unknown she-cat had killed him in cold blood, yet the valiant Scottish Fold had sacrificed his life for them. The sound of her mentor's final breath plagued Koisplash as she searched for the safe haven, the small whisper ringing out in her delicate feline ears. Looking around on the bleak horizon, the only thing each cat could spot were countless granite peaks obscured by low-hanging fog and snow. Aside from the monotonous thump of paws hitting the stone, and the light zephyr singing throughout the summits, a cool silence sat upon the group of travellers. With each bound the calico took nearing the valley, the greater her ferocity towards the nameless killer grew.

"I smell water. We are getting close." called a Singapura tom-cat, Daisydust, to the rest of the group. Twitching her blush-pink nose, Koisplash sniffed the air, sensing a brackish odour coming from the crags. The marmalade calico nodded her head in agreement of the statement, easily recognising the faint stench of river-water. Although the past events had been truly horrifying, the lithe molly couldn't help but feel an impression of anticipation as they drew closer to the obscured vale. Countless stories of how AsterClan stole the rumoured-to-be beautiful gorge from the enemy clan's clutches swarmed the speckled she-cat's mind, the tales painting the Battle of the Falls as a heroic mush of fighting buzzed through her conscious. The valley was only used in times of need, hence why the juvenile warrior had never ventured to it. The calculated guess that her clan would take refuge in there was the only idea that the whole group had agreed on. Sharing a suggesting stare with the sandy-coloured tom-cat, Lynpxpaw, Koisplash searched even harder for the vale.

If on cue, a slight aegean blue shimmer appeared behind a wall of alabaster clouds to the left of Koisplash's sight. The faintness of the shine made the young calico doubt that it was even there, yet after a few seconds of hard staring, the glimmer became more defined. "Hey, Daisydust, I think I found it." she mewed with a vocal tremor in her voice. Pointing her rust-ginger paw towards the fog, the flecked molly let out a near-inaudible growl. When she reached her clan, the she-cat envisioned to tell them about her mentor's death, which would (in her fantasy) lead towards the hunt for the killer. "Good job, Koisplash. The waterfall is usually hard to spot. We should head over there right away; our clan must know that we are alive."

Hurried blows of tiny cat-paws replaced any previous conversation as the clowder's steady saunter became a brisk jog. Pointing their noses towards the translucent gleam, the quintet grew a bubble of un-palpable keenness within them. Wafts of light wind grew fiercer with every bound, the gusts creating an eerie melodic howl that echoed throughout the sleet-covered peaks. The graphite-grey granite was quickly masked with a thick layer of muddy slush as the calico-and-white molly and her fellow travellers ventured deeper into cloaks of chalk-white fog. Koispalsh's usually precise feline vision could not see further than her own whiskers as the mist grew denser in comparison. Calling out to the light-cream tom-cat, the flecked she-cat yowled at the top of her lungs. "Daisydust! Are you sure we are going the right way?" Violent gales distorted the young warrior's breathy, feminine voice, yet miraculously, the singapura cat heard it.

"I'm sure!" Daisydust shouted back, his bronze-amber eyes staring at the calico. "We need to stick together, the wind and fog are dangerous!" Nodding in understanding, the lithe she-cat turned around, searching for the cats behind the wall of thick fog. How had the mist and wind picked up this fast? Koisplash was confounded on the mountain's weather patterns. Perhaps it was the high elevation that changed the meteorological conditions or StarClan's influence on the ever-changing climate. Beyond the blasting gust, three wind-stricken figures appeared in the dainty molly's line of sight. Trudging towards them, the azure-eyed calico and the sandy-coloured tom-cat regrouped, shouting directions among the clowder. "Koisplash, bite onto my tail," grunted Daisydust. "Softly." he hissed as she snapped her pearl-white fangs into his long tail. Murmuring a soft apology, Koisplash flattened her ears in embarrassment. "You three, do the same. We'll make a line so none of us gets lost. I know the way to the valley, we're not far."

Flinching slightly as Lynxpaw bit into her tail's delicate pink skin, the juvenile freckled she-cat trekked through the wind, following the senior warrior's every move. The lack of surprise radiating from Daisydust confirmed the marmalade calico's suspicions on the unpredictability of the alp's weather. Peacefulness overcame the feline as she embraced the trashing of the punitive wafts. Cobalt fire softened in Koisplash's eyes with every bound she took inside the cloud. The AsterClan warrior was logical and rational, not one to let emotions cloud her judgement. While her beloved mentor was killed, she couldn't commit a crime of revenge in the dead Scottish Fold's name. In the molly's complex mind, she knew karma would eventually catch up with the unknown murderer. The thoughts of natural justice and karma soothed the nimble she-cat from her raging emotions of grief and desire for retribution.

After what seemed like hours of painful hiking on the pewter-grey summits, the harsh wind gradually mellowed out into the gentle breeze it once was, and the thick vapour began to dissipate. The steady incline of the path to the vale swelled, then dropped suddenly, and rapidly became uneven. Loose pebbles trundled down the slope every time a foot touched the coarse surface. As the group began to slow out of exhaustion, the once-compact smog thinned into a wispy haze, creating an ethereal expression to the snow-topped crags. Wet moisture crammed the fresh air as the brownish slush began evaporating under the thinning mist. The cats unconsciously and instinctively let go of each other's tails as the visibility was somewhat restored. Scanning the stone, the fiery she-cat noticed another abrupt ascent in the mountain's irregular gradient.

Trailing up the mountainside yet again, Daisydust's heartbeat thumped against his ribcage, letting the quartet know of his excitement. "We are almost there." chirped the old moggy with a gleeful smile. He quickened his pace despite the fatigue wearing at his bones, and the rest followed with equal enthusiasm. Once again, predictive images of a lush valley formed behind Koisplash's sapphire eyes. The calico-and-white cat overheard a hushed tickle on rushing water, sounding from somewhere near. Slowly, the trickle became a spurt, and then a boom of liquid spattering down below. Tiny droplets spat at the she-cat's cotton-white face, dampening her long fur. The thought of meeting Beepaw again came to Koisplash as the granite surface came to a point of no incline. A snow-clad peak stood boldly in front of the escapees, gushing ocean-blue fluid through a sight crevice at the peak. The water collapsed through tiny clouds, and into a large trench.

"We're here." the limber calico-and-white she-cat felt an electrifying shiver crawl up her spine as the warrior uttered the two words. A chartreuse-eyed tom-cat stared at Koisplash, his eyes wider than a badger's jaws. "Pretty cool, huh." he grinned, his lynx-like ears pointed towards the navy sky. "You haven't seen nothing yet, Lynxpaw. Follow me." chortled Daisydust before the flecked feline could reply. One final time, the clowder travelled across the flat, ash-grey stone. The thunderous roar of the magnificent waterfall almost deafened the group as they neared the falling column of Aegean water. Koisplash's paws seemed like heavy trunks as she wanted over to the basin, her legs almost unwilling to move. In almost slow motion, the quintet arrived at the edge of the mountain, looking down into AsterClan's infamous mythical valley. With shining azure eyes widened, the black, white, and marmalade cat stared down at the beautiful sight that lay in front of her.

A circle of towering cliffs surrounded a lush, v-shaped valley. An aquamarine waterfall sliced through the morning mist, it's frigid water spraying from a crack in the highest pike of the mountain cluster. Rough kobicha tree trunks with brittle, peridot leaves protruded from the thick clouds of smog, creating small clusters of lavish jade clouds. The clean mountain air was stagnant, allowing a cold front to lay on the hard, rocky floor. Beneath a few loitering clouds, lay gleaming shamrock-green grass paved throughout the depths of the gorge, dew glistening on the chloroplast-ridden tufts. Amongst the clusters of grass were an assortment of fuschia, lemon and canary-yellow asters, spread out amongst the gorgeous field. Veins of impure salt weaved throughout the glossy dell walls. Emerging from the vapour collecting at the fall's bottom was a wide, deep steam, flowing throughout the surface and eventually assembling into a small, shallow lake at the southernmost point of the basin. Towards the densest constellation of bright flowers lay a large indent in the valley's wall, most presumably the camp.

Pure awe struck the group as they gazed into the vale below. "How will we travel down?" asked the regal red tabby, suddenly appearing beside the she-cat. "There is a path behind the falls. It leads to the ground. It's pretty slippery, though, be careful not to fall off." answered Daisydust. Without hesitation, the senior warrior turned and padded towards an inconspicuous indent on the side of the pike. Koisplash stood up, intending to trail her superior until she got to the bottom of the vale, but was stopped but a scarlet paw pressing on her own chiffon-white one. "Go ahead." called a soft, girlish voice. "I need to ask Koisplash a question" Confusion flooded the lean calico's expression as she saw the three cats disappear into the tunnel behind the waterfall. A quick flash of regret passed through Cherryspark's piercing golden eyes as she watched the last of the trio leave them to talk by themselves. Following a few seconds of awkward silence, the red she-cat pricked her ear, trying to detect any nearby cats. Obviously not finding any noise from the departed trio, she tabby let out a small 'mrrow' of discomfort and leapt towards the tricolour cat.

Cherryspark's large, beefy paws easily knocked the lithe she-cat down to the ground. Placing her muscular legs and paws onto the calico's torso, the garnet tabby pinned her down, exposing her soft, alabaster-white belly. Screeching in surprise, Koisplash struggled against the larger warrior's grip. "What in StarClan's name are you doing?!" gasped the sapphire-eyed feline in disbelief. "We need to go down to the valley! Our clan are waiting for us." She continued to thrash under Cherryspark's ironclad grip, her inky pupils narrowed into terrified slits. "If we go down there, we'll be captured by the other clan. Your friends have probably been taken captive by now. You need to stop fighting back; I'm here to save you." The AsterClan she-cat's muscles involuntarily relaxed, yet the cobalt firestorms returned to her eyes. Raising her hackles in a threatening growl, Koisplash snapped back at the heavy molly on top of her. "Save me?! If this nonsense you're saying is true, then why?" The answer did not come. Instead, the currant-red feline let the multi colour she-cat escape from her clutch. "Come with me." She rasped at the smaller warrior. "If you don't, you will be hurt."

The duo strode stiffly to an overhang on the other side of the waterfall. Too many conclusions and assumptions preoccupied the long-haired she-cat's thoughts to have her observe her surroundings. The elusive tabby brought Koisplash before three cats, one of which held an air of somewhat importance. This cat sat between two pure onyx tom-cats, both with amber eyes. She was a beautiful chocolate-and-white tortoiseshell, with elegant features and an imperial expression painted on her delicate features. Hard-earned muscled rippled through her short fur, particularly prominent on her shoulders and hind. Her sharp pear-green eyes raked the tri-colour calico from head to paw, searching for any weakness. "Thank you, Cherryspark. Your actions have been greatly appreciated." greeted the tortoiseshell in a slightly feminine, fruity voice. Her voice mimicked the texture of honey, and the small calico felt like a fly. With a shock realisation, Koisplash noticed the many similarities between Grizzlyfang's nameless killer and this new she-cat's voice. "Hello, young one, my name is-"

"You killed Grizzlyfang!" shouted Koisplash with a brittle undertone, cutting off the emerald-eyed molly. The young warrior was fuming, for she had finally met the killer only after hours of swearing that she would not take vengeance. "And so I do not deny it." the cat affirmed. "My name is Puddlestalk, and I owe you an explanation on what is happening." rolling her eyes, Koisplash snorted. "You sure do. What is going on?! Why did you kill my mentor?!"

Puddlestalk closed her eyes slowly and opened them again. "My dear, there are many things you do not know about your precious clan. Before I start my story, do tell me in your opinion, who are the two strongest - and dead- warriors of the clans." The question was rhetorical, and everyone from a newborn kit to an ageing elder knew the answer. "Myrtletuft and Azure-eye, the most powerful pair in the clans. Little do the general population know, the two formed a secret club as apprentices, where they trained at night to learn moves." Koisplash tilted her head, misunderstanding the point to this conversation and abduction. "At first, they invited an AsterClan medicine-cat to join the little guilt. Canarycry was his name. From then, Canarycry recruited me, and I recruited your pathetic mentor when he was an apprentice. The poor, insecure kitten was too oblivious to see the intentions of the group."

Was Puddlestalk trying to justify her cold-hearted murder? Koisplash continued to listen to the story, in hopes of finding out the motive, besides, she couldn't escape; she was outnumbered. "Over time, this club grew to form a midnight clan, and that soon evolved into an elite group of shadow warriors. We trained, formed alliances, and gossiped. Grizzlyfang, or Grizzlypaw at the time, was brought into the group when it first revealed its true self. The members began to use their connections to gain power within the two clans. Seemingly randomised killings ensued over many moons. It wasn't until my sweetheart was so obscured by the darkness when I realised that we had been brainwashed, and this was all wrong." The chocolate-and-white tortoiseshell took a deep breath, then continued. "I managed to escape their grasp one night, but your mentor left a message for me. He killed your mother, Koisplash."

The lithe feline could not express surprise. She had come to terms with her late mother's gruesome death many moons ago. "So? What next. Why are you capturing my classmates?" Koisplash demanded. "I soon began my purification of the obscurities. I slaughtered every clanmate that had interacted with the union and then began executing your clan's poison. I started the fire that killed Brushnose, I poisoned your water, and I captured that striped apprentice." No... this was all too much to hear at once for the freckled warrior. "When that unfortunate earth-rumble occurred, I gathered your clan at the valley and murdered all the traitors. I will be the one to rebuild AsterClan." The new elevation of Beepaw sent shocks of horror coursing through Koisplash's veins. "But then why take me to you? Why spare me?" The blue-eyed feline shouted at Puddlestalk.

"Because Beepaw asked me to."

This could not be happening. The dots were finally connecting. The she-cat's brother was helping Puddlestalk. "But why?! You captured him!" In response, the royal-like molly flicked her feather tail, beckoning a hidden figure. Slowly hiking towards her was a familiar striped apprentice. With porpoise-grey eyes looking sheepish and ashamed, the tom-cat sat next to Puddlestalk. "Because I saw reason in her statements, sister." murmured Beepaw. "And you will too. I have been asked to give you an ultimatum. Our leader wishes to cleanse AsterClan, and erect it from the ashes. Our clan's population will be reduced, and we need the enlightened to control it." The calico could not bear looking into her littermate's pleading eyes, as all she could see was a traitor. A metallic tang entered Koisplash's lips as she realised what was coming. "My sister, I love you. I am doing this for you." The young warrior shook her head at Beepaw's statement, wishing that she could believe that it was not true. "Koisplash, Puddlestalk is giving you two options. You may be executed with the defectors, or you will join us." Eyes widened, the splotched molly knew exactly how much she valued her precious life.

And she had no choice but to join them...

the end