Shadows Burning

"We need to hide it! The Cat Clan leader might be crazy enough to attack us now to get the stupid thing back!" Eagle hissed, turning human as she hit the ground.

"If our leader and the cat leader are in league, we probably won't be attacked." Said Falcon. 

"Everyone! Our leader is working with the cat clan leader! We are no longer safe! Crow, Owl, Dove, Eagle, and I are going to take this kitten to safety!"

The crowd looked confused.  "Our leader has joined forces with the enemy!" Crow repeated.  "They think there is power in this kitten, and they want to control it.  We can't let that happen, or they will become unstoppable!"  An old woman stepped forward.  "I know a place you can hide." the woman said.  "Follow me."  "Wait!" shouted Hummingbird, weaving through the crowd.  "I'm coming with you!" Crow nodded.  They wouldn't leave their friend behind.  The old woman led the group deep into the forest.

       About a year after they had first left the clan, crow awoke and looked around the treehouse.  The two-year-old cat clan boy (Who is really cute, can now talk, and needs a name) was snoring away in the corner.  Crow heard a knock on the door.  Tensely, she peeked out of the window, then opened the door, relieved.  It was the old woman.  It had been months since they'd heard from her.  Crow gestured for her to sit down as she woke up her friends, anxiously awaiting the report of the rest of the forest.  "Things are bad." the old woman began.  "Most of our clan have joined the leaders out of fear.  The rest have been, killed, enslaved, imprisoned, or fled to the woods.  The leaders and their closest followers have also started taking the weaker clans as slaves.  They claim to need lots of servants to complete their noble work.  There is no chance of fighting back now, but if we can find the rebels who have escaped and unite them, we may be able to free more from prison and draw people to our side. You are the ones who were there when our leader betrayed us, and you are the ones who hold the power he seeks.  You could be seen as heroes, as leaders.  Right now your most important job is to protect the child, but things won't get better if you don't take action, and the clearest action to take is to start a rebellion."  With that, the woman departed, not even giving Crow time to respond.  She was left staring, speechless, at her friends.

Falcon was shocked. She hadn't thought it would go this far. "There's nothing we can do," she thought with despair. She thought back to the last time she had been at their clan's den. It had been soon after a fight with the cats...

Then an idea hit her. It was ridiculous, and very dangerous...but it just might work.

(can the little cat kid be a tiger, or is someone else already one?)

Crow sighed, letting her shoulders drop, but her eyes sparkled.  A rebellion.  something exciting was happening, and it was about time.  she was sick of being cooped up in this treehouse taking care of a dumb cat kid.  "Anyone have any ideas?" she asked.   

Falcon nodded. "You guys might think I'm crazy, but I think we might be able to stop them... if we team up with the cats."

"Did you forget the last we were with the cats?! They almost killed us! If they are loyal to their leader, they could just turn on us when we are most vulnerable!" Eagle said. "But, I really am sick of all this hiding."

"Maybe some of the cats are just as upset with their leader as we are." Crow said.  "The question is, how do we find and communicate with them?"

(Maybe, once our birds meet them, our cat characters can become spies, so they live in the cat clan but are secretly working for Crow, Falcon, Eagle, and dove)