The setting sun sends a burning light into the clearing, turning the grass red. The area looks lifeless, not an animal in sight. The wind stirs the bushes, a rustling noise filling the air. A white she-cat crouches in waiting, cws unsheathed. More cats surround her, watching, waiting, for their moment to strike. The crisp breeze buffets the cats’ fur, a bite in the air. Leaf-bare is on its way. A movement in the bushes catches her eye. A pair of blue eyes peek out of a clump of bracken on the other side of the clearing. The scent of ShadowCn blows towards her. A brown tabby steps out, followed by five other cats. The white cat looks to her warriors, whipping her tail side to side.“RiverCn, attack!” The white she-cat hurled herself out of the bushes, snarling at the intruders. She leapt at a ginger and white tom, tackling him to the ground. She pummeled his back with her hind paws, cws unsheathed. He squealed, trying to run. She lets him go, hissing after him as he disappears into the bushes. She whipped around to see a small tortoiseshell struggling under a rge warrior.“Spottedpaw!” The white she-cat bunches her muscles, ready to take a flying leap towards the warrior when a rge weight sms into her side. She catches a glimpse of an enormous grey tom. She screeches, trashing out with unsheathed cws. The tom holds her down, a paw on her throat, pushing down. She gasps for air, the edges of her vision going bck. The bck grows, a void threatening to swallow her whole, and suddenly the weight is lifted off her neck. She springs up to see a brown tabby dragging the snarling grey warrior by the scruff.“Oaktalon! Thank StarCn!” She pants.“Well, it’d be a shame if RiverCn were to lose its deputy, right Cloudfur?” Oaktalon meows in a silky voice, a strange look on his face.“Yeah, it’d be bad,” Cloudfur replied, nervous, “But why are you saying these things?” She begins to back away. Oaktalon steps forwards, cws unsheathed.“Too bad it’s going to happen anyway.” He growls, springing towards Cloudfur, paws outstretched. She rolls out of the way, swiping at him as she dodges his attack.“Oaktalon, what has gotten into you?” She yowls, eyes wide.“Your time as RiverCn’s deputy is over.” Oaktalon growls, his voice dangerously quiet. He advances towards her, a grin on his face, ears ft. Cloudfur backs away, her fnk hitting a rock jutting out of the ground behind her. There’s nowhere to run; the only way of escape is through Oaktalon. Cloudfur crouches, bracing herself for the attack. It doesn’t come. Instead, she hears a blood-curdling screech. She raises her head. Oaktalon is writhing on the ground in front of her, a gash in his throat spilling crimson blood on the grass. He opens his mouth to speak, but all he can do is cough up more of the sticky, red liquid. He raises a paw towards her, before breathing out his st breath. The light fades from his eyes, leaving them clouded and dull. Cloudfur shudders at the sight. The sounds of the battle fade around her; RiverCn has won. She looks for the cat who killed him, but there’s no one to be found.“RiverCn, retreat!” She grabs Oaktalon by the scruff and drags him into the bushes towards camp.──────────────────A grey tabby sits in the middle of a sandy clearing, ears ft against the bitter wind. She turns as a tortoiseshell and white cat pads softly towards her.“How is everyone, Ashtail?” The she-cat asks.“They’ll heal, don’t worry Spottedstar,” Ashtail replies, dipping her head respectfully. She turns towards the body in the clearing, “It’ll be time for his vigil soon.” Spottedstar fttens her ears.“What if he doesn’t deserve a vigil?” She snarls, her upper lip curled. She continues, “He tried to kill Cloudfur!”“The Cn can still mourn for him, can’t they?” Ashtail objects.“I suppose. I advise you to sleep for a little while. You’ll be up all night if you want to hold a vigil for this traitor.” Spottedstar replies, padding towards her den. Ashtail heads towards the bramble tunnel of the medicine den. She pauses, making sure the wounded cats will be alright, then curls up in her mossy nest. She falls asleep to the sound of the stream outside. She wakes in a dark forest. She looks up, an earsplitting shriek escaping her mouth. The sky seemed to be bleeding onto the bck trees of this forest. It reeks of death, blood, and crowfood. A twig cracks behind her. She jumps, whipping around. A starry figure stands behind her, white fur patched with ginger glowing with light.“Ashtail.” The cat whispers. Ashtail steps closer, so the cat’s breath tickles against her ear when it speaks again, “Listen closely. When the sky runs red, dawn will rise from the dusk.” Ashtail backs away, nodding.“Thank you.” Her vision begins to go bck, like night trying to swallow her whole. When she can’t see the forest anymore, she sits bolt-upright in her nest.