Deer = Fawn. sorry it's staying Fawn! pretend it never happened O-O
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(1 Moon Later...)

Midnight's P.O.V.

I overheard Leaf and Venom speaking in his den last night, something about a dream they both had... "Dark washed over the Tribe and everyone died," Leaf had murmured to Venom. "It must be a message from Tribe of Glittering Stars! It's StarClan out for revenge, Venom!" Leaf hissed under her breath, worry edging her tone. It might've been a nightmare, who knows? Leaf is getting older and that could be the reason... but Venom too said he had the same dream... could it be? Could the Tribe of Rotting Skulls be coming to an end?

Shaking the thoughts out of my head, I padded to the center of the clearing and watched the cats gather to hear the days patrols. "Kink, Dodger, take your appretices out to learn battle training. I want Shell to teach Brindle and Fox teach Slash while Sunny and Shadow are sick, Lily go with them, you need training," I began. "Thorn, take a hunting patrol out with Blossom and Bella. I will lead one to WindClan's border with Whip while Venom stays here." I announced, the patrols gathering up each other and leaving without any words spoken.

I led Whip out the camp. Silence ebed between us as we trotted down the trail and around the boulders. "Do you think a huge black crow is going to kill off our cats, Midnight?" Whip asked, his voice sounding concerned but not scared. I shook my head, "No, I think she had a nightmare and she thought it was real or a prophecy," I sighed. Whip nodded but said nothing more about the topic.

Whip sniffed the border line and pricked his ears, turning his head. I narrowed my eyes at him and listened, but all I could hear was the sound of water crashing a far distance away. "What's up with you?" I murmured. "I hear something... Come over here, it sounds like..." Whip trailed away and I stood beside him, listening closely. "Like a group of cats yowling..." I whispered. Whip nodded and I stretched my head up at far as it would go but nothing came down the hill. I shrugged, "It must be from their camp."

Whip nodded but uneasiness was still filling his gaze.

We set our markers and padded away but a sharp yowl from close made us whip around. But nothing was there. The long grass in WindClan's territory swayed with the small breeze, coming toward us. A whiff of WindClan scent came from the hills and small shapes came thundering down. My eyes widened and I growled, "Whip! Get Venom, hurry!" He hesitated for a heartbeat but then ran up the trail.

The cats came closer and closer until I could make out their faces, some recognizable from our past battles. I unsheathed my claws and curled my lip, my fur standing on end. I took a step back as I realized I was way out numbered by several cats storming toward our territory.

One to a thousand.

Just then, Venom and Whip came rushing towards the territory line just as the large group of cats halted in front of us.

Three to a thousand, now. Still way out numbered...

"What do you want?" Venom snarled at them. "We've come to take our revenge. For too long we have been defeated and now, with barely any cats to protect you and your puny Tribe, we can finally be victorious!" The white cat, I think he was Onestar, maybe?

"How do you know we don't have vicious cats waiting in our camp?" Venom questioned, as calm as the breeze. "We've been watching you from the trees for a moon now. And you guys didn't even suspect it!" A dark grey warrior with yellow eyes snickered, showing sharp yellow teeth. My heart pounded... How couldn't we have known? Not even the slightest smell of cat came to me. how could it have gotten past Venom? And most importantly, why weren't we given a warning from Tribe of Glittering Stars?

"And here we thought Clans were little kittypets... I guess I was wrong." Venom pouted mockingly. Just as the leader was about to speak, Venom jumped in. "Our Tribe shall be feared by all of the puny Clans with your soft hearted warriors! We don't call ourselves The Tribe of Rotting Skulls for nothing!" He meowed, an evil smile spreading across his face. Whip's claws slid in and out, creating marks on the ground.

"Give us another moon to prepare for this battle. Just WindClan and us. No other Clan or help, we won't get help from the other Tribe if you agree." The grey cat with piercing yellow eyes opened his mouth to reply but the WindClan leader silenced him with a flick of his tail, answering for him, "We agree to do this. But I am warning you, WindClan will be feared among your Tribes. We will be victorious!" He yowled, the WindClan cats yowling in agreement.

The group of cats hurried back to their camp and Venom led the way back to our camp. A faint scent of WindClan lingered over the territory line and I turned around to check, but no cat was there. I shrugged and turned around, back to the trail.

The camp entrance came into sight before I could suggest a cat was spying now. I sat down beside the trail to the nursery and looked to the sky. Clouds had covered the sun now and had become grey. "Looks like snow, huh Midnight." Mewed a small figure from up the trail. "Good morning Ash," I purred, meeting the small kit half way.

Ash was one of three of Mini's kits. Froya and Sorrel were his siblings. "Morning, Midnight!" Ash squeaked, "Race you to the fresh-kill pile!" I purred and trotted down the trail, puffing. Ash raced by and got to the fresh-kill pile in no time, me coming shortly behind. I pretended to be tired and sat down with a gasp of air. "Oh my Ash! Your some fast! I could never beat you!" I puffed, breathing heavily. He puffed out his chest and walked around me, standing on the tips of his paws. "Oh I know, I should be a warrior now! I would be the fastest and best fighter in the Tribe!" Ash boasted. "You have to wait 3 and a half more moons to be an apprentice, you have to be patient," I warned.

Ash acted like he didn't hear me and stalked up at a skinny mouse and pounced. I pulled the dead mouse away and set it in the small pile of prey. "Now Ash, don't be attacking fresh-kill if your not going to eat it." He opened his mouth to argue but I added, "And you aren't old enough to eat prey." Ash slumped his shoulders but said nothing else. I heard small squeaks come from the nursery and Froya and Sorrel came tumbling out of the nursery. Mini watched them and twitched her whiskers in amusement.

She sat beside me while all three kits tumbled around. "Aren't they precious?" She whispered. I purred, "Yes, yes they are,"

I sighed and a patrol came through the entrance with fresh-kill. My ears shot up as they set down a hawk and a rabbit. Bella had a nothing but a bloody paw. "What happened Bella?" I asked her. "Oh, I ran into a thorn bush trying to get a snake. I stepped on a bush with thorns on it, my paw is full of thorns!" I nodded, relieved that we weren't being attacked. "Strike should know what to do, if not, Leaf might help," I instructed her, pointing my tail to the medicine den. "And could you tell me how Shadow, Sunny and Thrush are?" Bella limped off and nodded, disappearing in Leaf's den.

I turned to Thorn and Blossom, "Great catches you two. Any sign of twolegs or WindClan cats?" Thorn shook his head, "Twolegs no. But their is a faint scent of WindClan through out the trail. Only one cat though," He explained.

I narrowed my eyes in thought. "Thorn, go look around our territory to look for any WindClan cats." I ordered, adding, "And take Whip with you, he needs to get out more," He grabbed Whip, trotting out of the camp with tails high.

I watched him and Whip leave before I realized that Bella was limping back. "Thrush should be okay to go back to his duties, same with Shadow. But Sunnys fever collided with greencough, making her worse," she announced as she got closer. I sighed and looked at Venom's cave. "I should go speak with him..." I whispered, walking up to the cave. "Oh! And Sunny is due to have her kits in less then a quarter-moon," Bella called as I entered Venom's cave.

"Venom, I have good news and bad news about Sunny," I mewed, my voice echoing through his cave. His head lifted from his paws, ears perked. Just a bit of day light came through his den entrance, just enough for me to see where I was going. "Come in, I need to know what is going on." He mewed. I dipped my head and padded silently in, sitting down in front of him. "Good news first," Venom rasped. "The good news is she is due in a quarter-moon..." I explained. He nodded. "But the bad news is her fever has collided with greencough and she may not be able to survive to give birth to her kits," Venom stomped his paw on the rock, skidding his claws across the floor, making the screeching sounds echo. I covered my ears with my paws and squeezed my eyes shut.

Venom stood up, "I'm going to see her right away!" He hissed, running out of his cave. I sighed and slowly dragged myself to the center clearing. My stomach growled; I haven't eaten for at least 3 days. Which isn't good for me... Obviously.

I padded to the fresh-kill pile and chose the smallest prey there, just to make sure everyone else got something when they came back.

Finishing quickly with a lick on my lips, I pilled up the bones for tonight. We barely had any, but it's still something. Stretching my back, I shook out my fur to clean out a tick I haven't bothered to get. I unsheathed a claw and picked it out before it could get any deeper and licked my fur flat in that particular spot.

I watched as the apprentices came padding in, hopping around in excitement. "Did you see that strike I got at Brindles ear? She didn't even see it coming!" Boasted Adder. "Yeah, well, I got your tail just as good!" Brindle insisted, lashing her tail. Slash purred mockingly, "I got both of you while you were fighting! You should have seen your faces!" I twitched my whiskers in amusement but did nothing else. "Kink, did you see Thorn coming back?" I called to her. She turned her head and shook it, "No, why? Was I supposed too?" "No I sent him and Whip out to check the territory, it's fine though,"

Fox narrowed his eyes, "How come? What crossed in our territory this time?" He hissed. I shook my head, "Nothing of your concern," I meowed simply. Fox opened his mouth to say something but I got there before him, "I said it was nothing, Fox," he rolled his eyes and clenched his teeth in anger but said nothing more.

"Midnight, I'll be back, I'm going to go hunting," Blossom called over to me. "I'll go too," Soot mewed, padding over. "No, Soot, I would like my alone time..." She whispered kindly. Soot smiled and dipped his head, "Alrighty! See you then, Blossom,"

'I don't understand how he can be so calm about things... Hanging out with Fox as an apprentice didn't help any. But it's good to have such a loyal, cheerful, happy-go-lucky warrior.' I thought to myself, twitching an ear in thought. Soot padded away and shook out his pelt, cleaning it thoroughly. I looked around and saw a bug flying around my head, its buzzing sound annoying the heck out of me. I growled and watched it, swatting my paws at it, hoping I get it. I was so caught up in trying to catch the bug, I hadn't realized every cat was staring at me. Growling in a leap to get to the bug, I leaped and landed on something; with a loud "oof!' in shock, I scrambled up and my fur went hot. The deputy was supposed to be mature... And that definitely made me seem non-mature.

I realized the cat under me was Leaf. "Oh great Tribe of Glittering Stars, I'm sorry Leaf!" I apologized, getting off of her as soon as I finished. She looked at me through narrowed eyes, her tail twitching. "Stop playing around like your a kit Midnight!" She hissed, "Your the Tribe deputy, grow up!" Fox snorted and whispered something into Dodger's ear and he nodded. Whatever it was, I bet it was rude... Knowing Fox and all. "Sorry... The bug was bugging me and..." Venom quickly rolled his eyes and stood up, "Midnight, stop it. We all know you aren't mature enough to be a deputy, let alone a leader, I'm afriad Fox will take your place," I gasped and shook my head.

This couldn't be happening! Why is it happening so quickly? This isn't right! I started breathing heavily and my vision blurred. "Midnight? Midnight?" I heard in the distance and the cats around me faded into the darkness as it surrounded me. "He isn't waking up... Jump on him!" I heard a loud squeak in the backround and something, well actually a few somethings, jumped on me, causing me to open my eyes wide in shock. I looked on my back to see Brindle and Adder jumping on me. I groaned and stood up, "I'm up, I'm up," I shook out my fur and the two apprentices purred. "What do you need?" I mewed, licking my chest fur down. "You have to make the patrols now!" Brindle meowed.
"Oh! Right, okay," I mewed and hurried to where to cats were gathered. "Thorn take Shell, Lily, Deer and Adder out to put the bones on twoleg ground. This time put it on the wood near the entrance, be careful. Deer, I'm trusting you to stay with the patrol," I called sternly. She nodded and followed the patrol. "Mystery, Whi-" I stopped as Venom whispered into my ear, "Tell the next patrol they are going in the twoleg dens," my eyes widened, "Venom, I can't do that! We can't lose anymore warriors," I whispered back to him. "I am the leader Midnight and you will do as I say, order them to do it, now!" He hissed.

I let out a deep sigh, "I would like Mystery, Bella and Fox to come with me... to go into twoleg dens... We will be destroying the territory inside of twoleg dens," Fox's jaw dropped in shock but a smile spread across his face soon after. Mystery and Bella looked just as shocked, but after time, neither changed. I glared at Venom as he padded to the fresh kill pile. "Where is all the fresh kill? Is this really all we caught today?" He hissed in frustration.

"That was all we could find, Venom," Soot mewed, "There isn't much with all this harsh weather." Venom growled but didn't grab the last mouse. "Also, I need a patrol to start scratching at the sides of their dens, it may seem dangerous but just stay well hidden," I announced, "Venom, take a patrol to annoy the twolegs, and to distract them as my patrol goes inside. Soot, Blossom, Brindle and Slash, your going with him," When I called Venom's patrol, Blossom never came. "Soot, could you go find Blossom? She needs to hurry her haunches up before our patrol leaves without her!" Venom growled. Soot nodded and sprinted off. "Thorn, you may set off," I called over.

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Soot's P.O.V.

I nodded and sprinted off towards the enterance. I could smell the scent of blossom, still a bit fresh. I followed it until I realized it was leading to the river that bordered The Tribe of Jagged Rocks from us. My heart pounded, 'Could Blossom be meeting a cat from The Tribe of Jagged Rocks?' I wondered. I shook my head, Blossom would never do that! Shes's loyal!

I soon came to a stop at a bush; I peeked over the bush and saw what I had feared. "No!" I whispered and mentally tore my throat out. I watched as Blossom and another cat - who was brown and much bigger then her - watched the water splash by. Blossom leaned forward and the other cat unsheathed his claws and his eyes flashed. He raised a paw at her and I jumped forward, "Stop!" Blossom jumped back up and the other cat's fur raised. Blossom's eyes were filled with surprise and the other cat's were filled with hatred but he acted as if he were surprised.

"Soot! What are you doing here?" Blossom gasped. "Same to you, Blossom!" I growled and took a step closer. "You," I began, my fur raising at the cat who was going to push Blossom off, "You were going to shove Blossom into the river!" I sneered. The cat gasped and stood up, "I would never do that!" "You say that but I saw you," I growled and took a few steps closer. He backed up and looked at Blossom and then back at me, "No I didn't!" He spat, "You have no prof!"

A growl raised in my throat, "I know you were going to! You can't deny it forever!" The cat yowled and jumped at me, pinning me down. "I'll kill you and that kit you call a warrior!" He spat. I heard Blossom gasp. She was furious. "I. Am. Not. A. Kit!" - she got closer with every word - I slashed at the cat and kicked at his stomach. He got off and Blossom attacked him, "I thought you loved me..." She whispered and pushed him into the river.

The splash rung in my ears and I ran up to Blossom, watching the choppy water splash by. I glanced at Blossom, her eyes wide with shock and confusion. I looked away and watched the river keep splashing by. I heard Blossom get onto her feet and start to walk away. Before I could open my mouth to say something, she was gone. I stood up quickly and trotted after her, finding her quickly as she padded away slowly, tail drooping.
"Look, Blossom," I began, sighing. She looked at me with dull eyes, twitching an ear. "I'm sorry this happened but you can't trust those cats. They're as evil and back stabbing as us," she nodded but said nothing, breaking into a run, away from my presence.
'She'll be okay,' I thought to myself.
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Venom's P.O.V.

I had another plan going now. Leaf and I had the same dream about darkness and stuff, but it couldn't be bad, right?
Should I tell Midnight? I thought for a while, deciding whether or not to tell him. 'No, he might get worried. we have a battle to train for right now, I'll tell him later.' I decided finally, watching below.
I swished my tail on the smooth rock, laying down on the top of my den. I watched as Midnight ordered the night patrols and as Blossom and, soon after, Soot came in. 'Where have they been?'
Shrugging I looked around. I need to announce the upcoming battle, we need to prepare.
"All cats old enough to kill, gather around to hear my words!" I yowled to the cats in the camp. I watched as Blossom sat alone at the edge of camp, Midnight sat below my den, Mini rounded up her kits and sat at the bottom of the trail with Mystery beside her, Dodger and Fawn sat together and Whip and Slash close behind. I looked up to the sky and watched the sky turn grey and dark as the sun went down, clouds covering it. I could tell snow was coming.
Once everyone was settled and listening curiously, I spoke again, "WindClan is going to be attacking in one moon," I began, "We will be focusing more on battle skills instead of hunting. if the battle is this close, we need to practice different and more unique ways to attack WindClan," the apprentices murmured with happiness as I told them about more battle training. They were clearly excited about that announcement, but the warriors, not so much.
"WindClan is the fastest Clan cats we know. We need to practice our speed as well, stalking in the grass quietly and different techniques on how to out smart them. We cannot lose this battle!" I announced, watching the warriors and apprentices as they reacted. I nodded, finishing the announcements by raising my tail, not letting any arguments come my way.
I hopped down off my den and slipped in beside Midnight, who was about to make the patrols. "After your done, I must speak with you. In private," I mumbled in his ear. He dipped his head as I padded away. 'I might as well get it over with and tell him,' "I can't believe we don't have to do hunting training!" Whip mewed to Slash. Slash nodded eagerly in the corner of my eye. I realized I had stopped in the centre of the clearing. I shook my head and trotted to the medicine den where Sunny was sleeping.
I padded in and Leaf quickly blocked my way. "She is very sick, Venom, you cannot see her," she mewed calmly. "So? I want to speak with her." I growled, my fur starting to lift up in frustration. "No Venom, we can't risk out leader getting greencough and fever." She murmured sternly, beginning to push me out. "Isn't there a herb to take away the fever?" We were now outside of the medicine den and my voice was starting to raise. "I would assume but whatever it is, it isn't here! I would've taken care of her by now if I had it!" Leaf hissed, fur raised.
I opened my mouth to reply but she turned around and stalked into the medicine den without letting me speak. I rolled my eyes, 'I'll sneak in when she's out with Strike, she can't keep me away from Sunny forever,'
I say down and flattened my fur with my tongue, listening to Midnight finish making the patrols. "Dodger, Thrush is now capable of being in training, he will join. Mystery, you will fill in for Shadow, you'll have Brindle." Midnight announced, "Kink go with Adder, take Whip too; Soot fill in for Sunny, so you'll take Slash. Lily, you need to catch up too, go with them." I finished cleaning my fur up and stood up. "You will go to the training center."
The big group of apprentices and their mentors left, pilling out of the camp entrance. I took my time heading toward Midnight, flicking my tail for him to follow me to my den.
"You wanted me?" He mewed, his voice bouncing off the empty walls. I nodded slightly. "I had a dream about darkness washing over the Tribe, Leaf too," I began. I could feel Midnight's stare pierce through my pelt through the dim light. "She thinks it's a sign from The Tribe of Glittering Stars but I don't know..." Midnight remanded silent. "Do you think it's a sign? Darkness washing over the Tribe, killing everyone. It sounds bad but it could be a dream, right?" Midnight shrugged, "It sounds like a sign, but your right, it could be a bad dream."
I nodded slowly, standing up. "That's it? Just a dream? I'm supposed to be in a patrol, Venom," he growled, following me out of my den. 'Well that went well.' I think to myself, sighing.
"Yes, that's it. It's a patrol, Midnight, you can go find them now," I hiss under my breath.
I narrow my eyes at him as he pads away. "What's your problem?" I call to him. He doesn't even look over his shoulder, "Nothing, I'm just tired." He replies. I turn around and forget it, he probably is just tired.
I quietly headed toward the medicine den and pricked my ears, listening to what was going on inside. "Strike, I need the catmint." Leaf ordered. I heard some scrambling around before Strike answered. "'Were all out, we gave the last bit to Shadow," he mewed. "How could we be out? I thought you said we just got some?" Leaf asked, a bit of frustration at the edge of her voice. "No I said we got some chervil." Strike was becoming impatient more and more with his mentor, she was becoming old and can barely hear a thing he tells her.
"Well if you would speak up, maybe I'd hear you!" She hissed. "Without catmint, Sunny could possibly die giving birth to her kits... she isn't strong enough. The kits are supposed to be born today or tomorrow from the looks of her stomach," Leaf murmured, probably to herself.
'Sunny could possibly die,' Leafs voice rung in my head, repeating the sentence that stuck out to me the most. I shook m,y head she's strong enough! I hid beside the medicine den as Leaf slipped out; that old flea-bag must be going out to get catmint.
This is my chance! I darted into the den and stood beside Sunny. Her stomach was swollen with kits, kits ready to come out. Her chest heaved slowly, the sound of her voice worried me. "Venom? Hello?" Strike mewed, prodding me with his claw. "Yes?" I answered. "Leaf will kill both of us if she finds out you were in here. She doesn't want you to get sick, you know." He replied, sitting down next to me. Strike looks like he's barely eaten, his ribs jutting out of his fur. "Have you been eating?" I ask, ignoring what he stated.
Strike shook his head, "With Sunny's kits coming, they need it more and so do the apprentices and warriors for the upcoming battle." "Your the medicine cat apprentice, you need to heal our cats after the battle. If we lose you, we're dead." I meowed, looking back toward Sunny. "I'll eat when the next patrol comes back with more prey," He replied, padding away toward the stock of herbs.
I stuffed my muzzle in Sunny's fur. She was so warm and fluffy... "Venom, Leaf will be back soon, you best leave." Strike suggested. I dipped my head and left, shaking out my fur. 'I need to go out for a walk, to stretch my muscles, see how the apprentices are making out and maybe to catch something for Strike and Leaf,'
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Dodger's P.O.V.

We settled in the training center, the apprentices sitting in front of their mentors, backs straight. "Alright, listen up." Kink raised her voice above the waterfall, which wasn't to far away. "We have discussed some new ways to fight. They are tough to learn but you'll get the hang of it. For a warm up, do five laps around the training center," Kink ordered. The five apprentices quickly got up and raced around their mentors, Thrush the slowest. He wasn't to far behind but Kink wasn't satisfied. "Lets go Thrush! Your no longer sick, push it! Lets go! Run, what are you, RiverClan cats?" Thrush pushed harder and harder and caught up. The five finished their laps in a good amount of time.
The five sat down in front of their mentors, breathing heavily. 'They should've eased into the run, no thanks to Kink,' "Okay, first lesson," I began. Standing up and walking around the apprentices, Kink sitting.
"This battle move is best in grass, long grass to be precise. Kink, let me demonstrate." Kink nodded and walked to a spot behind the apprentices, making them turn to see. I got down, in the position to stalk prey, eyes locked on Kink. "You must stalk toward your enemy, get close enough, fast enough, and trip them. Then attack their stomach. Which, if you do it right, will be simple because they will be on their back." I explain, doing what I said at the time I said it. "
I got off of Kink and sat in front of the apprentices again, "Now your turn. Lily, yo'll be fighting with Thrush. Whip and Brindle will be together and Slash and Adder." I ordered, watching the apprentices stand and walk to separate places.
We watched like hawks as the apprentices closed in on their enemies. I watched every detail of Thrush as he stalked toward Lily. He grabbed her feet with his jaws and threw her to her side. Lily, being older, still fell and laid on her back and Thrush pinned her. I looked at Brindle and she had pushed Whip, while Slash went under Adder and made him fall from below. 'They all have different techniques...'
I heard swishing in the grass and saw Venom pad in to see us. "Just coming to check in," he meowed to Kink as he walked in, "How's everything going?" "Good, they are practicing a new battle move." She replied.
"Brindle, Whip! Demonstrate the battle move!" Kink ordered. The two apprentices padded over and this time, Brindle was the enemy. Whip stalked silently over and shouldered Brindle over, pinning her down. "Then we attack their stomach and kill them!" Whip called to Venom. Our leader nodded, eyes narrow. "You need to work on your speed when you hit their back." Venom mewed, dipping his head and padding away again.
"You heard Venom! Work on speed! Follow me," Kink yelled, whipping her tail for the five apprentices to follow.
She darted ahead, the apprentices following behind. "Push your limits! Lets go, lets go!" I called to them. Whip pushed harder, Slash on his heels. Brindle and Adder fought to get in front of one another while Thrush gave all he had. "Come on Thrush! Imagine your chasing a rabbit for your Tribe! Don't let them down! Go, go, go!" Thrush pushed harder and harder until he was beating Brindle and Adder.
Kink did a zig-zag and ran around boulders. Kink made it harder by going around and over boulders and fallen-trees. "Go, go, go! Push it! Come on!" I yelled, giving them a scare.
'They need to hurry up, it looks like a snow storm is coming again,'