(A/N: Hey, peeps. I still need people who can animate to be part of The Yellowfang and Nightcloud Show project! I have voices, but no one who can draw AND animate. Please help us out!)
Allegiances
ThunderClan
Leader: Bramblestar- dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Deputy: Ivypool- silver-and-white tabby she-cat with blue eyes
Medicine Cat: Jayfeather- gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes
Medicine Cat Apprentice: Streampaw
Warriors:
Squirrelflight- dark ginger she-cat with green eyes
Nightcloud- black she-cat with green eyes
Berrynose- cream-colored tom
Apprentice: Brindlepaw
Mousewhisker- gray-and-white tom
Poppyfrost- tortoiseshell she-cat
Apprentice: Maplepaw
Cinderheart- gray tabby she-cat
Lionblaze- golden tabby tom with amber eyes
Rosepetal- dark cream she-cat
Bumblestripe- very pale gray tom with black stripes
Blossomfall- tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat
Dovewing- pale gray she-cat with blue eyes
Molewhisker- brown-and-cream tom
Cherryfall- pale ginger she-cat
Apprentice: Swallowpaw
Snowtail- white, fluffy tom
Sorrelcloud- golden tabby she-cat
Apprentice: Stormpaw
Hollyfrost- gray tabby she-cat
Apprentice: Dustpaw
Tawnyheart- dark brown tabby-she-cat
Sunblaze- dark ginger tom
Rowanfur- long-haired cream-colored tom
Hazelleaf- ginger tabby she-cat with green eyes
Smoketail- gray-and-white tom with green eyes
Queens:
Lilyheart- tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat (mother of Snowtail's kits: Brackenkit (tom), Ravenkit (tom), Applekit (she-cat); five moons old)
Tawnyheart- dark brown tabby she-cat (mother of Rowanfur's kits: Hawkkit (tom) and Goldenkit (she-cat); three moons old)
Blue-eye- tortoiseshell she-cat with remarkably blue eyes (expecting Sunblaze's kits)
Apprentices:
Swallowpaw- black she-cat with green eyes
Streampaw- brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes
Dustpaw- dark cream tom
Stormpaw- pale gray tabby tom
Brindlepaw- tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat
Maplepaw- long-haired cream-colored she-cat
Elders:
Sandstorm- pale ginger she-cat with green eyes
Brightheart- white she-cat with ginger patches
Thornclaw- golden-brown tabby tom
Leafpool- tabby-and-white she-cat (retired after bad case of greencough)
Birchfall- light brown tabby tom (retired after bad case of greencough)
Chapter 1
"I swear if Sandstorm complains one more time about aching joints I am going to lose my mind!" a brown tabby cat cried as she pushed through a heavy dark green lichen curtain.
A dark gray tabby tom snorted at his companion entered their den. "She promised to be the grouchiest elder ever, and she's certainly living up to that."
"The least she could do is say 'thank you' once in a while," the she-cat grumbled. "Graystripe? He appreciates me. Birchfall? He appreciates me. Leafpool and Thornclaw?"
"Streampaw, if you dislike her so much why don't you just put a few burrs in her nest?" the tom meowed, shoving a pile of mint leaves further back in the den.
Streampaw's amber eyes widened with shock. "I would never do that, Jayfeather! I may not like listening to her complain, but Sandstorm is my elder and I would never do anything to upset her."
Jayfeather shook his head, flicking his apprentice with his tail. "I know you wouldn't. You're too nice for your own good. How about I put in a word to Dustpaw and Stormpaw? I'm sure they wouldn't mind giving Sandstorm some trouble."
"No, don't do that," the tabby she-cat replied. "They'd just put burrs in all the elders' nests."
"You're right about that," Jayfeather meowed. "They actually put burrs in my nest! I was ready to give them a piece of my mind when-"
"Hey, Jayfeather?"
The tom stopped as a voice interrupted his rambling. Streampaw turned around to see a tortoiseshell she-cat padding into the den. "Hello, Blue-eye," the medicine cat apprentice meowed coolly, eyeing the warrior.
Blue-eye nodded to Streampaw in greeting before turning to Jayfeather. "So, Jayfeather, I was wondering if-"
"You're expecting kits," the tom meowed, interrupting the tortoiseshell.
The warrior's eyes widened, sending a questioning glance to Streampaw, who shrugged. "Yes, but I was wondering if I-"
"No, you don't have to move into the nursery immediately," Jayfeather growled. "You can still patrol and hunt for another moon or so."
"You could let me finish speaking, you know," Blue-eye grumbled. She flicked her tail in annoyance, glaring at the medicine cat. "Don't you know it's rude to interrupt?"
The tom turned his back on the warrior, facing his herb store. "You don't have any questions I haven't heard a million times. When something goes wrong you can come to me then."
Blue-eye turned back to Streampaw. "You have any better advice?" she asked.
"Yes," the tabby mewed. "Don't pay attention to Jayfeather's attitude." Streampaw's gaze softened, seeing the normally arrogant warrior shift her paws worriedly. "So who's the father?"
"Sunblaze," Blue-eye mewed. "He's the one who insisted I come see Jayfeather immediately. We don't want anything to hurt the kits."
Streampaw nodded thoughtfully. "Sunblaze is a nice tom. You're very lucky."
"I know," the warrior mewed, looking slightly embarrassed. "Are you sure there's nothing I should do? Like not go on too many patrols?"
The tabby shook her head. "I wouldn't recommend tree-climbing, but other than that you should be okay until it's nearly time for the kits to be born."
Blue-eye sighed with relief. "That's good. Sunblaze was sure I'd hurt the kits by walking! He's a bit paranoid."
"That's better than him not caring," Streampaw mewed. "Would you rather have that?"
"Are you two going to stand there gossiping all day?" Jayfeather grumbled from behind the she-cats. "Streampaw has things to do, Blue-eye, so unless you're dying- go away!"
The tortoiseshell warrior glared at the blind medicine cat. "Well!" she snapped. "I can see when I'm not wanted!" She whipped around to leave the den, sending one last glance at Streampaw. "Thanks for being nicer than your mentor!"
Streampaw watched as Blue-eye stalked out of the den, shaking her head in amusement. After the warrior had left, the she-cat turned to face her mentor. "You didn't have to be quite so short with her, you know. This is her first litter. She's worried."
"Every she-cat is worried about their first litter for no reason," Jayfeather growled. "When's the last time a she-cat died giving birth in my Clan?"
"I have no idea," the apprentice meowed. "That must have been before I was born."
The medicine cat nodded. "Before you were born, before I was born, before Leafpool was born…yeah, it's been a while."
Streampaw nodded seriously, understanding her mentor's point. So what was it you wanted me to do?"
"Go see your sister," Jayfeather meowed. "She tore a muscle in her hind leg chasing a squirrel and I want to make sure she's resting and not out patrolling."
"I'm pretty sure she went on the dawn patrol this morning," the tabby mewed. "In fact, I saw her leave with Sorrelcloud, Molewhisker, and Cherryfall."
The tom heaved a sigh. "And I bet she was limping. I swear that she-cat has bees for brains!"
Streampaw touched her mentor's shoulder with her nose. "She just wants to serve her Clan. How can you fault her for that?"
"Because if she's serving her Clan now she won't be able to serve her Clan later," Jayfeather muttered. "That leg will be damaged forever if she doesn't stay off of it for a few days! Go tell her she is not to go on any patrols for the next three days!"
"I will," the tabby she-cat mewed. "But don't get mad at me when she doesn't listen!"
Jayfeather snorted, shaking his head. "Then maybe I'll just have you sit on her for three days! If she wants her leg to feel better, she's go to stay off it!"
The apprentice let out a mrrow of laughter. "I don't think sitting on her would keep her in camp. When Swallowpaw gets an idea, you know she's set on it and doesn't let anything get in her way."
"I know," the medicine cat grumbled, "but that determination is going to get her in trouble. Next time it won't be a squirrel she's chasing. It'll be a hawk she's leaping to catch!"
"Be glad we're not in WindClan," Streampaw laughed. "Then you really would have that problem."
The tabby she-cat turned away from Jayfeather and padded out of the den, letting the lichen brush over her smooth striped fur as she stepped out onto the grass. The sun was shining brightly over the ThunderClan camp, and a cool breeze buffeted the young cat's fur. Crunchy brown leaves covered the camp ground, and the few leaves remaining in the tall oak and maple trees were brilliant shades of amber and orange. The air had turned cool, but so far there had been no sign of snow. Streampaw hoped this meant the Clans would have a mild leaf-bare. ThunderClan was doing well at the moment. Every cat was fed, the nursery was filled with kits, and the Clans were at peace. Everything was alright, and the optimistic tabby cat was sure that nothing could destroy the happy lives that lived around the lake. StarClan had blessed the Clan cats, and they would enjoy many more moons of happiness. Streampaw was sure of it.