Here It Begins

It's been several moons since you could last a battle, since the Clans were at each other's throats. Threats that once made the hair on your pelt bristle were quiet memories on the warm winds of greenleaf, and even the last few Gatherings had been rather pleasant. Greenleaf had come, and was ing, and brought forth good fortune for all that were lucky enough to partake in its splendors.

One day you are out on patrol, relaxed and enjoying a friendly chat with those that volunteered to come with. Friendliness didn't mean the Clans weren't still cautious about their borders, although the markings hadn't been as fierce and obvious.

There was a crackle from somewhere ahead in the bushes, and the strange shadow of a cat, or two? It was hard to tell- even harder to smell. Eerie whispers had ed through the air, hardly more than a breath, and before you knew it it was gone.

For a moon the Clans would Gather anxiously to share the same story of black shadows and strange scents, and for a moment you began to wonder if somehow the Darl Forest was rising to make an affront on the Clans. That all changed quickly, however, when the first blood was spilled.

A storm had raged across the Clans for two days and two nights before the clouds parted just long enough for you to see it: a lunar eclipse, a giant shadow smudging out the moon. Some cats wailed that it was StarClan promising death for all, and others beseeched the medicine cats for some sort of word from their starry ancestors, but none came. That night, among the hysteria, came the twins Jaitanu and Ascasius, like shadows among the light, bearing claws and teeth to all of the Clans.

Warrior blood spilled first, then apprentice, queen and elder, and kit alike. None knew life after without a reminder of who had come in the storm. Who had darkened the moon.

It was that night that all four leaders bowed to the shadow twins Jaitanu and Ascasius, and their throng of shadows-among-the-light. For they were gods among cats, and held their heads high for it. The Clans bent, and broken, only asked for mercy under the footsteps of the terrible twins who rained blood upon them like the sun rained heat on the moor. And so it was.

To save their Clans, each leader had to give up something precious. For some it was a kit, for others a loved one, or perhaps even a piece of their own self. Jaitanu, Eyes of Ice, reigned over WindClan and RiverClan. Ascasius, Eyes of Emerald, took his rightful position over ShadowClan and ThunderClan.

The Gathering became a tournament of sorts, in which blood stained the ancient ground of peace. The moon served as a guide by which they hunted, for all things took place in the shadows. Day was a time of sleep, and by night they rose to serve the shadow twins and their clan of shadows-among-the-light.

And what could they do but hope StarClan was listening to their prayers...