2 SY after Restander Skies Crisis

~

The moon rode high above the emerald canopy of the Starless Reign, its light casting the bleak, pale branches in a silver chiaroscuro. Such a spectral location was a rainforest world, dark green and oppressively humid. The only other source of light was a sickly green aura, aimlessly wandering through the gaps of the weary-worn trees, brushing past the tips of the decaying reeds, sifting through the lifeless petals of withering blossoms.

It wasn't long before it slipped through the fanned gaps of the sullen longleaf pines, one which offered glimpses of a spectral gathering in veins of emerald and silver-grey shadows. A split moment of hesitation, then wrapped itself around the rough clearing, outlining the contours of physical presence in a trembling virescent radiance.

The strange mist gathered beneath black paws, swirling in relentless circles as the leader paced restlessly upon the gravelly ground. One black paw closed itself into a fist; and as if an invisible current had pushed it, the mist drew itself towards the paw before winking out of existence.

"What happened?" a shrill voice demanded. "What happened?"

His shoulders were pinched back, jawlines alarmingly rigid, jade eyes grazing a burning line onto his minions. A low growl vibrated from his chest, the raven-black pelt bristling like brambles.

He spun around and blindly seized the closet feline, unsheathed claws digging mercilessly upon the other's flanks. "Tell me," he hissed through clenched teeth. "What. Happened?"

The apprehended victim flinched, her amber eyes flickering and sputtering. "D-d-don't–" she stuttered. "P-please–!"

The tom closed in. "Answer," his right eye twitched dangerously. "I say, answer me."

And the victim's amber eyes flickered one last time, before the hope dwindled and faded like dying flames. "They defeated us," she whispered. Her voice was almost inaudible, the iron submission of doom cladding upon her countenance. "We lost."

Moments after the final words left her tongue, the tom already whipped around, his tail slamming onto the lifeless body of his late minion.

"Lost," The black pelted bit the word out through gritted teeth. "After all of that." He released his fist, and crimson liquid dripped onto the ground in painful slowness, the soft drip drip drip of the droplets, tainted green.

His demoniac eyes glowed with savage anger. He unsheathed his claws, dragging them across the hard ground, burning deep imprints onto the dirt ground.

"Shade!"

A massive brown tabby stumbled his way to the leader, his eyes beseeching as he sagged towards the floor. "Please, my lord," his voice was weary and hoarse, his features sullen. "I swear by the darkened sky, everything was according to plan. But–"

The black tom let out the slightest snarl, the only reaction he let slip under the mask of his icy fury "And why should I believe that?"

"I-"

"You've failed me, Shade. Not only once, but twice. We shall see the end of you."

Shade desperately tried to bundle away, but his attempt was in vain. A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the perpetual night of the forest, clinging to the ears of every remaining cat, and would cling to their memories as long as they dwell upon the bleak land.

"M-my lord?"

A collective gasp sounded through the crowd.

The black tom spun around with a low hiss.

A calico she-cat stepped forward. Her limbs were trembling, and her heart was pounding as if she was a mouse caught in a badger's den — yet all the same, she stood her ground, her eyes burning with determination.

"Dawn," the other sent a scathing glare at the she-cat. "Perhaps you want to feel death at my claws as well?"

Dawn shrank back, cowering under her leader's scorching gaze. "I- I just want to s-say I h-have found, " she finished in a rush.

"Speak," he ordered. "And we shall see if you get to live."

Dawn took in a deep breath to steady her voice. "I-I am not sure what it means," she hastily added. "I-"

"Speak," Raven's right eye was pulsing again, with barely contained fury. "I have no patience for doubts."

She took another deep breath.

Through the layered mist; should the branches turn silver;

A lost mark perceived; thousand years to pass by;

Shadows camouflaged; beware what seems so be stars;

The dance of the flames; a storm unleashed.

Dawn gazed up at Raven, her eyes swimming with fear and apprehension. She expected her leader to snap at her and raise his claw again, but to her immense delight, Raven sank into a deep, contemplative silence.

"I have miscalculated," Raven said after a long pause. Dawn's expression remained mercifully blank, but the surprise was coursing through the crowd now– their leader admitting his own mistakes was a precedent. "I believe this would mean well to us."

"Ah," Instead of icy fury, the emerald eyes now burned with a hungry flame, a flame which threatened to swallow anything that dared to hinder his path. "I bring good news. We have a plan in place now."

"But what if it fails again?" A squeal sounded below.

The leader merely purred. "Oh, there's nothing to fear for," a sinister smile unfurled on his face, his eyes gleaming with such light that sent chilling shivers down every feline's spine.

He raised his head to the starless sky, the blood of a fallen warrior thick upon his claws. "One thousand years. We have plenty of time to prepare for— nothing will come in our way. Not this time," with a wave of his paw, the mist condensed and the moonlight, now fractured, struggled to peek through the distant gaps. "Not anymore."

Upon the bleak branches, a raven alighted and cocked its head sideways, amber eyes tarnishing into a shade of gleaming basil as it studied the commotion beneath its footing.