"All you had to do was stay at your post, Poisonowl." The tom stretched wide his bat black wings. They were scaly, and dark-dark the blackest night. The she-cat quivered her long wings, also scaly, were in shambles. The cats, if you could call them that, were all black , without a hint of any lighter colours, with black scaly wings, and black horns that pointed out from behind their black ears.

"I-i'm sorry...Xenostar, please,.....mercy!" Then she lowered her head, her milky white eyes round and terrified. "You made your choice." Xenostar narrowed his eyes and a thick black metal shot from the earth stabbing the she threw her chest. Xenostar stared at his handiwork for a while then turned to a tom at his right. The tom didn't meet his gaze but stared blankly ahead ready for a command. "Voidstorm, dispose of the body." Xenostar turned away from his deputy and padded up threw the dark metal steps to a metal tree stump, he laid across it and raised his head to the sky as if listening for his ancestors, The Void of Endless Broken Dreams, to answer his plea.

Meanwhile Voidstorm grabbed the scruff of the body and began hauling her out of Xenostar's blood-red gaze. He dragged her over slimy banks and well rotten trees. Then he stopped and began to dig his thick claws threw the earth to lay his sister to rest. Once the hole was a sizable amount he dragged Poisonowl in, and sat in silence. "I'm sorry sister, I should have left my post, not you." Then he dipped his head and scrapped dirt over her. Dipping his head he returned to his leader, having no other choice. He was the deputy everyone one of his clanmates would fight for his position. But he knew it deep in his bones. Their clan was evil, Xenostar was a liar when he preached their innocence. Their curse.

Xenostar was still in the same position, eyes up to the sky. "Xenostar..I have a suggestion." Voidstorm padded up to the tom ears flattened. Xenostar met his gaze, "We should send a search party. I mean The Lost Powers, must be out there..." Xenostar studied him and paused, narrowing his eyes, "And who..." Xenostar lowered his face to Voidstorms, "...do you suggest to take?" Voidstorm swallowed and stopped himself from padding backwards.

"Bristlingthorn, Ironshard, and Zerodawn." Voidstorm kept his voice steady. "Zerodawn is rather new....and his pupil...Tenpaw?" Xenostar spoke slowly, his eyes locked onto Voidstorm. "Well...." Voidstorm swallowed again and ducked his head. A thick metal shard shot from the earth and pushed his head up, without leaving a scratch. "I am pleased with your work ethic. You may try and find The Lost Powers. But do not lose one soldier, it is your choice to engage or not." Xenostar's metal thorn faded into the ground once more.

Voidstorm nodded but stayed still, never turn your back until you are allowed to. The rule echoed threw his head, and he met the leader's gaze. "Any ideas for the temporary deputy?" Xenostar asked. "Bitterstem, or Yellingpoppy." Voidstorm blurted. "A Veritas?" Xenostar mused then flicked his tail, "Very well. Quaesitor. Leave me." Voidstorm flattened his ears and raced away. Xenostar had called him a Quaesitor, a seeker. And that meant only one thing. If he returned empty-pawed. He would meet Poisonowl again, in death.

Annunciation Guide:

VERITAS: very-tas

QUAESITOR: kay-see-door

XENOSTAR: zee-no-star