Dunepaw found himself beside his mentor as he trudged along the woodland's murky landscape. It was yet another hot day in MoorClan, and Waspfire had decided it best to train in the shade. Dunepaw had to agree.

    Waspfire led him to a rocky area by a small stream that trickled by. Dunepaw bent over and took a few laps of the relievingly cold water. Finally, he settled beside his mentor. Waspfire's gaze was distant, and it startled him when he asked, "Have you heard the story of AppleClan?"

    Dunepaw shook his head.

    "Appleleaf was a young and ambitious warrior. She wanted nothing else but than to become leader. Thankfully, she was not willing to murder for the position, however. Her mate, Buzzardcloud, convinced her to start her own Clan if she was so desperate.

    "So that's what she did. Buzzardcloud came with her, and they started a new Clan, right here. MoorClan was unaware of where she and Buzzardcloud had gone, and search parties were sent out. One patrol found them, but didn't return with them. Instead, the patrol informed their leader, Lavenderstar.

    "Lavenderstar was furious. Since it was only two cats and now a few kits, Lavenderstar and her deputy Wildclaw killed them all, including the kits. That was the fall of AppleClan." Waspfire finished in a tone Dunepaw hadn't expected.

    The young apprentice thought his mentor would be more caring when it came to a whole family being murdered because they wanted to start something new. "Why did Lavenderstar kill them?"

    Waspfire shrugged. "I'm not sure, really. My mentor told me it was because they had taken over the forest. It was a prime hunting spot at the time, so Lavenderstar had good reasoning."

    Dunepaw had a worried expression but didn't question Lavenderstar's intentions further. A leader did have to take responsibility for their Clan first right? The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few..? The story gave questions of just how far his own leader, Dovestar, was willing to go.

    Waspfire flicked his tail. "Let's have a quick hunt before we go back to camp. After that I'll let you have a bit of a free day. You deserve it."

━━━━━━━━━━━

    Dunepaw basked quietly in the sunshine atop one of the lookout rocks in camp. His yellow gaze swept over the camp, and a spark of happiness lit in his eyes. It was nice to see the camp bustling about. Swiftpaw and Flypaw we're practicing battle moves in the clearing while Snailpaw pestered Swiftpaw to let her fight.

    Waspfire had just arrived back from yet another patrol and he ambled over to talk with his mate, Ambervine. Dovestar sat atop an opposing lookout rock. When she caught Dunepaw's gaze, she looked away. Dunepaw looked away, too, nervously. He wasn't too fond of his leader, and Dovestar wasn't fond of him.

    Sometimes when he was a kit and Hollybloom wasn't around, Dovestar would lecture him often. It was almost like the gray molly disapproved of him, and it wasn't only him. It seemed like Dovestar didn't trust his father, mother, or siblings. She also always gave wary glances to Duskflurry, Rainheart, and Rubblefall.

    Maybe it's because my parents are from a completely different Clan? Dunepaw decided to shrug his thoughts off. Dovestar was MoorClan's leader weather he liked it or not. But something about it brushed his fur the wrong way, and he was more nervous than before.

    "Dunepaw," a commanding voice sounded from behind him, and it made him jump.

    Dovestar! Oh mouse-dung! Dunepaw looked into his leader's wide green eyes. "Y-yes?"

    "What are you doing wasting your time? The Stormbringers will attack in only a few moons time." Something in those green depths glinted. It was unholy and troublesome.

    Stormbringers? Who are the Stormbringers? Before he could stop himself, the question was out. "Who are the Stormbringers?"

    A sly, devilish smile painted it's way onto Dovestar's features. "Come, Dunepaw. Let me take you to a far away place. To a land where stories are told... A story of our past." Dovestar's eerily enchanting voice rang through his ears, and he felt trapped. Unable to escape the story already, and a fear brushed through his veins as he was led to a place in camp that was somehow foreign to him.

    Dovestar jumped delicately from rock to rock, waving her tail and not stopping to see if the young apprentice followed. Entranced and mentally trapped in a cage made of vines, he followed. Dovestar wiggled her way into a small opening in the lookout rock, and darkness immediately took over.

    "Keep close, young one.." Dovestar continued downward and downward, and the solid stone gave way to dirt and gravel. Dunepaw found himself slipping occasionally, and a cold wind crept over his fur as they decended farther downward.

    How far does this go down? Dunepaw did not dare to voice it out loud, but somehow Dovestar knew.

    "Almost there," A silver light outlined the leader's fluffy gray tabby coat, and soon enough they had entered a large cavern with only a bit of sunlight penetrating through the ceiling.

    "Couldn't you have just told me outside?" He asked nervously.

    Dovestar's lip curled and her sharp, yellowing fangs glinted. "Don't question my motives."

    Dunepaw pressed his flank to the wall and crouched down submissively. His eyes widened in fear.

    "Good," Another devilish grin creeped onto her features.

    Dovestar bounded atop a rock, much like hightree, except it was a rock. "You see, Dunepaw. Our Clan is a strange one. Though we have been here for only a short amount of time, only nine seasons to be exact, we have only gone through a small amount of leaders and warriors. I am the third leader of MoorClan.

    "Our elders, Seabriar and Skyglow have lived in this Clan since nearly the beginning. They know most of our history, but not how we became MoorClan. From what I hear of your ancestors, Dunepaw, your father originated from a Clan known as CavernClan. Nightwatcher has told me of his past, and how the old Clans had dispersed due to a fallen StarClan..."

    What's StarClan...?

    "...The only thing they did not know is that the lake Clans had left seasons ago. Ten seasons ago. WindClan came here, and then became known as MoorClan. Nobody knows where the other Clans went. But when we arrived here, there was a group of rogues, stronger than the barn cats, that attack two or three times on every greenleaf each season. We call them the Stormbringers. And as for our ranks, which I feel is something you should no by now, are very different than those of the old WindClan's.

    "Elite warriors are warriors most suitable for the deputy position once a leader is gone. The deputy takes the spot as leader and appoints either an elite warrior or a senior warrior. That elite or senior warrior is then talked to in more detail of our history and is sworn to secrecy. If that information is let out, they are killed. A leader also only serves for three seasons, until they are killed, driven out, or challenged by their deputy. This is my last term." Dovestar finished her long story of information.

    Dunepaw was dazed and confused by all the new information he had just gained. "Why are you telling this to me?"

    Dovestar's lip curled in another hideous snarl, and her eyes drew to slits. "Because you are a danger. I hope these stories put you in your place. Live with fear, Dunepaw. It will keep you alive."