A/N hey! This is my first real fanfic, so sorry if, you know, you can tell. Will be updated often. I have 44 pages written already. I just want to start with the first chapter. NOTE – I started writing this before Starlight, so it's going to be different.

Disclaimer - All characters, (except for the ones with the word "mine" next to their name) sadly, belong to Erin Hunter.

WARRIORS: SUNSET

ALLIEGENCES

THUNDERCLAN

LEADER FIRESTAR – ginger tom with a flame-colored pelt

DEPUTY BRAMBLECLAW – dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

APRENTICE, DARKPAW (mine)

MEDICINE CAT CINDERPELT – dark gray she-cat

APPRENTICE, LEAFPELT – light brown tabby she-cat with

amber eyes

WARRIORS

MOUSEFUR – small, dusky brown she-cat

DUSTPELT – dark brown tabby tom

SANDSTORM – pale ginger she-cat

CLOUDTAIL – longhaired white tom

APPRENTICE, BIRCHPAW

BRACKENFUR – golden brown tabby tom

THORNCLAW – golden brown tabby tom

BRIGHTHEART – white she-cat with ginger patches

ASHFUR – pale gray (with darker flecks) tom, dark blue eyes

APPRENTICE, WEBPAW (mine)

RAINWHISKER – dark gray tom with blue eyes

APPRENTICE, RABBITPAW (joint with Squirreltail) (mine)

SOOTFUR – lighter gray tom with amber eyes

SORRELTAIL – tortoiseshell and white she-cat with amber eyes

LONGSTORM – longhaired white tom with dark blue eyes (met the clan in their new home, and became a warrior of Thunderclan when asked by Firestar.) (mine)

SQUIRRELTAIL – dark ginger she-cat with green eyes

APPRENTICE, RABBITPAW (joint with Rainwhisker) (mine)

SPIDERFANG – long-limbed black tom with brown underbelly and amber eyes

APPRENTICES

BIRCHPAW – white-brown tom with green eyes

WEBPAW – gray she-cat, green eyes (mine)

DARKPAW – dark gray, almost black tom with silver stripes and amber eyes (mine)

RABBITPAW – white she-cat with black flecks, amber eyes (mine)

QUEENS

FERNCLOUD – pale gray (with darker flecks) she-cat, green eyes,

mother of Dustpelt's kits, oldest nursery queen

WHITEWHISKER – white she-cat with green eyes

ELDERS

LONGTAIL – pale tabby tom with dark black stripes, retired early due to

failing sight

GOLDENFLOWER – pale ginger she-cat

SHADOWCLAN

LEADERBLACKSTAR – large white tom with huge, jet-black paws

DEPUTY RUSSETFUR – dark ginger she-cat

APPRENTICE, COALPAW (mine)

MEDICINE CAT LITTLECLOUD – very small tabby tom

APPRENTICE, MARSHWHISKER – dark brown and black tom, amber eyes

WARRIORS

CEDARHEART – dark gray tom

ROWANCLAW- ginger she-cat

NIGHTWING – black she-cat

TAWNYPELT – tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes

APPRENTICE, MOUSEPAW (mine)

TALONFANG – dark brown tom

GRAYSTORM – dark gray she-cat (mine)

APPRENTICE, SHADEPAW (mine)

SPECKLEBELLY – tortoiseshell tom, dark eyes (mine)

SHREWTAIL – brown tabby tom (mine)

APPRENTICE, RAINPAW (mine)

MUDFEATHER – dappled brown she-cat (mine)

QUEENS

WOODENFEATHER – tortoiseshell she-cat (mine)

BRINDLECLOUD – tortoiseshell she-cat, blue eyes (mine)

ELDERS

TALLPOPPY – long-legged light brown tabby she-cat

OAKFUR – small brown tom

WINDCLAN

LEADER TALLSTAR – elderly black and white tom with a very long tail

DEPUTY CROWFEATHER – dark smoky gray, almost black tom with blue eyes

APPRENTICE, DUSTPAW (mine)

MEDICINE CAT BARKFACE – short-tailed brown tom

WARRIORS

WEBFOOT – dark gray tabby tom

APPRENTICE, PATCHPAW (mine)

ONEWHISKER – brown tabby tom

APPRENTICE, FROSTPAW (mine)

ROBINWING – light brown she-cat with blue eyes

THISTLECLAW – tortoiseshell tom

WEASELFUR – dark brown tom with lighter brown stripes and blue eyes

SOOTCLOUD – dark gray tabby she-cat (mine)

THORNHEART – small, white and brown tom (mine)

APPRENTICE, SNOWPAW (mine)

QUEENS

ASHFOOT – gray queen

WHITETAIL – small white she-cat

ELDERS

MORNINGFLOWER – tortoiseshell she-cat

OATWHISKER – creamy brown tabby tom

RIVERCLAN

LEADER LEAPORDSTAR – unusually spotted golden tabby she-cat

DEPUTY MISTYFOOT – gray she-cat with blue eyes

APPRENTICE, WILLOWHEART – dark gray she-cat with blue eyes and thick fur,twisted left paw

MEDICINE CATMOTHWING – dappled golden she-cat

WARRIORS

BLACKCLAW – smoky black tom

HAWKFROST – dark brown tom with a white underbelly and ice blue eyes

APPRENTICE, GORSEPAW (mine)

SWALLOWTAIL – dark brown tabby she-cat with green eyes

SPLASHFOOT – pale gray tom, blue eyes

APPRENTICE, FERNPAW (mine)

STONEHEART – gray tom with amber eyes

APPRENTICE, PUDDLEPAW (mine)

VOLEEYE – tortoiseshell and brown she-cat, dark eyes

TUMBLECLOUD – very pale gray, plump, round-faced tabby tom

NIGHTFROST – black she-cat (mine)

QUEENS

MOSSPELT – tortoiseshell she-cat

DAWNFLOWER – pale gray she-cat

ELDERS

SHADEPELT – very dark gray she-cat

LOUDBELLY – dark brown tom

CATS OUTSIDE CLANS

ROBIN – red-brown she-cat with white chest and amber eyes, rogue (mine)

PROLOGUE

Firestar looked over to where his daughters were sitting. He could hear their cheerful purrs from where he sat beneath the Highrock. He hadn't seen those two look so happy since they were still in the old forest, their first home. He padded over to find out what had caused such great joy.

"Well," He interrupted them. "You two sound awfully happy today."

"Firestar!" Squirreltail exclaimed, leaping to her paws. "I have news!" She whirled around to face her sister. "Would you mind getting Brambleclaw and Sandstorm?" she pleaded. Leafpelt nodded and bolted off to find the two warriors.

"News?" Firestar purred with amusement. Squirreltail had never seemed so excited in her life, and she was always excited! And lately, all the "news" he got was bad. Thunderclan was long due for some good news. Just then, Leafpelt rushed over with Sandstorm and Brambleclaw hot on her heels.

"So, what's this all about?" Sandstorm asked amusedly.

"Is anything wrong?" asked Brambleclaw, worriedly sniffing Squirreltail's flank.

"Everything's fine." She purred, rubbing her head against Brambleclaw's chest. He and her parents looked at her expectantly. Squirreltail glanced around the clearing. "Can we talk in your den, Firestar? I think I would like you three to hear what I have to say before the rest of the clan does."

"Of coarse." Firestar replied.

The five cats made their way across the camp to the leaders den. They settled in and once again, all eyes were on her. She sighed.

"This morning," She began. "I went to see Cinderpelt and Leafpelt," The three cats' eyes darted to Leafpelt, who was quivering with excitement. "And," She paused for effect. "I'm having kits!"

She squealed. For a moment, all were silent. Brambleclaw's fur was standing on end, and he wore an expression that suggested he'd just seen a cat from Tigerclan. Then…

"I'm going to have kits!" Brambleclaw burst, hurtling into her. Then he backed away to look at her. "They are mine, aren't they?"

"Yes, mousebrain."

Brambleclaw butted his head against her's, purring wildly.

"Squirreltail, that's fantastic!" Sandstorm exclaimed. She bounded over to her daughter, and began grooming her fiercely. "I'm so proud of you!" she managed between licks. Firestar's fur bristled with bewilderment. Then, he let out a delighted purr.

"That's great!" he croaked. "I'm so happy for both of you!" He sank his teeth into Brambleclaw's scruff and pulled him back into his own flank, giving him a friendly nudge on his shoulder. "We must tell the clan!" He exclaimed. "They'll be grateful for something to celebrate." He purred excitedly. He wound his lean body around Squirreltail, giving her ear a quick lick before he fled to the Highrock to call the clan around him. "Cats of Thunderclan!" They heard him yowl from outside the den.

"Guess we'd better join them." Squirreltail murmured in Brambleclaw's ear.

"Guess so." He whispered back. The two of them padded out into the clearing, tails intertwined. Sandstorm and Leafpelt followed close behind.

"Let all those cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!" Cats came from every direction and sat before Firestar, looking up at him. The last to creep out of their den were Whitewhisker and her three kits, each of them looking especially well groomed.

"That's right!" Squirreltail hissed to Brambleclaw. "Her kits will be made apprentices today, won't they?"

"Yes, they will." Brambleclaw purred. "And so will our's one day." He buried his muzzle in her chest fur. Squirreltail gave his ear an affectionate lick.

"I can't wait!" she purred, resting her muzzle on his head.

"I know, I know!" He shivered. When Firestar knew all the cats were gathered around him, he began.

"First, I would like to congratulate Brambleclaw and Squirreltail on her anticipated kitting!" Yowls of approval rose up from the mass of cats in the center of the camp as they moved to congratulate the pair of warriors themselves. When the noise died down, he spoke again. "I believe it is time for another ceremony." He yowled, glancing up at the sky. He gestured with his tail and Whitewhisker gave each of her kits one last quick lick before gently nudging them in the direction of the Highrock. The three kits padded to meet him as he leapt to the base of the Highrock. She looked fondly at them as they sat, awaiting their apprenticeship. Spiderfang, the kits' father, sat beside her looking as though he might burst with pride. "Ashfur," Firestar meowed, addressing the young, gray warrior. Ashfur blinked in surprise. "You are long due for your first apprentice. You will be mentor to Webpaw." Ashfur's face lit up, as he bounced forward like a kit to meet his newly named apprentice. "Ashfur," He repeated. "You have shown courage and bravery in difficult situations numerous times, since you, yourself were only an apprentice." Firestar mewed. Squirreltail knew her father must be thinking back to when a pack of dogs attacked Thunderclan. After Ashfur's mother, Brindleface, had been killed by a cat named Tigerstar, also Brambleclaw's father, to give the dogs a taste for cat blood, he and his sister, Ferncloud, who were apprentices then, had played a big part in a plan to lead the dogs away from the clan, and ultimately, to their death. Their plan succeeded in taking the dogs' lives, but took the leader at that time, Bluestar's life as well when she tackled the leader of the pack, sending herself, as well as the dog over a cliff, saving her clan and Firestar's life. Her death obviously resulted in Fireheart becoming "Firestar" and the leader of Thunderclan. Squirreltail hadn't been born yet when this had happened, but she knew the story well from all the times her parents, Brambleclaw, and the elders had told her about it. "Do your best to teach all that you know to this young apprentice." Firestar concluded. Ashfur was shaking with excitement. Webpaw, too looked excited as she touched her nose to his, shyly backed away and followed him to the other side of the clearing to sit together as mentor and apprentice for the first time. Firestar turned to gaze at Brambleclaw. "It is time that you also have an apprentice of your own." Brambleclaw shook himself. Was he really finally going to get his own apprentice? He thought this day would never come! He looked over at Squirreltail who looked just as excited as he was, but merely shrugged happily and urged him forward. He looked up at Firestar, eyes

filled with emotion. "You," Firestar continued. "Will be mentor to Darkpaw." Brambleclaw padded over to meet his apprentice, fighting to stay calm and walk slowly rather than yielding to his great urge and running over to start licking the young apprentice who looked equally thrilled. "Brambleclaw, you have fought every battle with strength and ferocity rarely seen in a cat. You have shown undying loyalty to both Thunderclan and the warrior code. You have proven that you will put every cat in this clan before your own life, and I know you will do your best to pass these qualities on to Darkpaw." Firestar finished. Brambleclaw was overcome with emotion as he dipped his head respectively to Firestar and went to touch noses with Darkpaw. As their noses met, Brambleclaw silently vowed to make this apprentice the best warrior their knew home had ever seen. He and Darkpaw went to stand beside Ashfur and Webpaw to wait for the apprentices' sister to join them. Firestar gazed around at every cat in the clan before shifting to look at Squirreltail. He stood looking at her for a moment. Then, he addressed the clan. "I had originally chosen Squirreltail to mentor Rabbitpaw," Firestar began. Squirreltail leapt to her paws so fast, it looked as though she might have sat on a thorn.

"But she's having kits!" Whitewhisker mewed matter-of-factly. Squirreltail's face fell.

"I have already considered that, Whitewhisker." Firestar replied calmly. "And I have decided that Squirreltail will share Rabbitpaw's training with Rainwhisker."

"You mean I get to have two mentors!" Rabbitkit Squealed.

"Hush." Whitewhisker gently mewed to her kit. Firestar looked down at the apprentice-to-be.

"Yes Rabbitpaw, you do." He murmured softly. He lifted his head, eyes resting on his daughter. "Squirreltail," he started. "You have earned your first apprentice as well." He turned to Rainwhisker. "Rainwhisker, I believe that you, too are ready for an apprentice." Rainwhisker rose to his paws, his eyes glittering with excitement. He nodded to Squirreltail, who followed him to sit in front of their delighted apprentice. "Squirreltail," Firestar meowed. "You had an excellent mentor in Dustpelt, and with his help you have become a strong, smart, independent warrior who is unafraid to fight for her clan, no matter what it takes. I expect you to help with this apprentice's training by passing on these qualities, as well as all that Dustpelt has taught you on to Rabbitpaw." Dustpelt gazed at Squirreltail with fondness and pride as she touched her nose to Rabbitpaw's, just as he once did with her. He nodded to Firestar with approval. Firestar flicked his tail in acknowledgement. "Rainwhisker, you have earned your bedding in the warriors' den many times over. You have fought every battle with all your strength and energy without hesitation. You are an amazing warrior and an excellent hunter. Help this apprentice to learn all that you know in the ways of our warrior ancestors to the best of your ability."

Rainwhisker touched noses with Rabbitpaw, and the two warriors, he and Squirreltail, flanked their joint apprentice as she padded over to sit with her siblings.

"So," Brambleclaw asked Darkpaw. "How does it feel to be an apprentice?"

Darkpaw let out an excited squeak and bowled into him, almost knocking him over. Squirreltail twitched her whiskers in amusement, hearing Brambleclaw yelp with surprise.

"Just apprenticed, and he's already beating his mentor up!" She teased.

"He's stronger than you know!" He protested.

Darkpaw held his head and tail high, hearing his mentor's praise.

"Well, I'm stronger than he is!" Webpaw bragged.

"And I'm stronger than both of 'em!" exclaimed Rabbitpaw.

"We'll see who's stronger in due time." Ashfur mewed, with a "mrrowww" of laughter.

"Hey, we should take these three on a tour of the forest tomorrow, all four of us!" Rainwhisker proposed.

"Good idea! We could…" Brambleclaw stopped mid-sentence when a blur of red-brown fur exploded into the clearing, silencing the entire clan.

"Robin?" Firestar padded across the clearing to meet the rouge she-cat.

"Firestar!" She rasped, trying to catch her breath. "When you first came to this forest, you told me of a shaggy, gray tom, a friend of yours who was taken from your old home by twolegs before you left. You said he was called 'Graystripe'. I've seen him! He told me his name and I came to find you! You have to come!" Firestar yowled his thanks to Starclan with more joy than the clan had seen since their former deputy's capture. He raced over to Brambleclaw and had to yowl to make himself heard over the sudden chatter of the other cats.

"I'm sorry, but Graystripe will assume his old position of deputy when we get back. I just want you to know that you have been a better deputy than a cat could ask for in these hard times. I owe so much to you, Brambleclaw! Thank you!" They butted heads. As Firestar turned away, Brambleclaw yowled after him.

"Travel safe, Firestar!" And with a flick of his tail in acknowledgement, he fled Thunderclan camp, following Robin through the thicket of bramble that marked the entrance.

A/N Thanks for reading! Trust me, it gets better! Well, r&r, I guess.