A/N: This was actually my first story idea which I came up with after I first read the stories… which was about ten-eleven years ago. Clovertail (although you
don't know her yet) was my only new addition, characterwise, and then suddenly the story fell into place so that's why I'm writing about it now.
Background: ThunderClan, ShadowClan, RiverClan and WindClan have been destroyed after an invasion of the lake and their successors, Nightstar,
Miststar, Breezestar and Moonstar have saved the Clans by bringing them to live by the White River. (I might write a prequel but for now I just liked
the idea of having four Clans derived from the originals living in a new place.) They formed four new Clans by the names of NightClan (from
ThunderClan heritage), MistClan (from Riverclan heritage), BreezeClan (from WindClan heritage), and MoonClan (from ShadowClan heritage).
NightClan - Allegiances *sc=she-cat, tc=tomcat
Leader-
Hawkstar tc - a huge tom with black-and-white patched pelt and gray-blue eyes
Deputy-
Leafnose sc - a lithe tortoiseshell with long legs and amber eyes
Medicine Cat-
Sparrowdawn sc - a beautiful light brown tabby with white "mittens" and tailtip and green eyes.
App: Darkpaw tc - a dark gray tom with a small frame, long tail and huge green eyes.
Warriors-
Icewhisker tc - a long-furred white tom with hazel eyes and long legs.
Palemoon tc - a very light-colored cream tom with blue eyes and a black bands on his tail.
Cloudnose sc - A black cat with a distinguished white blaze on her nose and dark brown eyes.
Apprentice: Foxpaw sc - A fluffy russet-furred apprentice with a bushy red tail and blue eyes.
Moonstripe tc - A light gray tabby with black stripes and black spots on his legs, paws and tail.
Apprentice: Rainpaw sc - A dark gray she-cat with dark blue eyes and a silver tail-tip.
Daisyheart sc - a gorgeous light-brown delicate she-cat with a long tail and dark amber eyes.
Apprentice: Snowpaw sc - a pure white she-cat with bright green eyes and a short tail.
Skyleap sc - a tawny-colored she-cat with white speckles on her back and violet eyes.
Ashtail tc - a light gray tom that progressively darkens toward his tail and has dark red eyes.
Apprentice: Cedarpaw tc - a dark brown tom with a massive build and yellow eyes.
Quailfoot sc - a blue-tinged she-cat with a gray undercoat and a silvery-white stripe on her back.
Torncloud tc - a pale brown-white tom with gentle blue eyes and spiky fur.
Redwind tc - a reddish russet tom with dark red eyes and dark brown paws.
Apprentice: Sorrelpaw sc - a tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow-orange eyes and large ears.
Sandfall tc - a sandy-colored brawny tom with wide shoulders and amber eyes.
Bluewing tc- shaggy-furred cream tom with brown ears and paws and piercing blue eyes.
Apprentice: Thunderpaw tc - dark brown tom with stocky build and stubby tail
Pineclaw tc - dark rowan-colored tom with long claws and green eyes
Birchtail tc- dark gray tom with white patches on his tail
Apprentice: Aspenpaw tc - gray and black small tomcat with black eyes
Stormsong sc - silver she-cat with unique light-brown speckles on her ears
Queens-
Lilyfoot - beautiful light brown tabby with blue eyes (mate of Icewhisker and mother to Silverkit and Tigerkit)
Frostpool - white and silver speckled dark-gray she-cat with gray eyes (mate of Palemoon and expecting kits)
Graynose - black she-cat with gray face and hazel eyes (mate of Sandfall and expecting kits)
Mallowfur - cream and brown tabby with amber eyes (mate of Redwind and mother of Minnowkit, Pebblekit and Morningkit)
Elders-
Moss-eye sc - leopard-patterned brown she-cat with electrifying green eyes
Lionfur tc - huge golden tom with dull brown eyes
Maplefoot sc - tortoiseshell she-cat with extremely long tail
Prologue
The forest is no stranger to vengeance, betrayal, bloodshed. It is witness to every forbidden act. It is home to the black sheep of each Clan. StarClan sees it all and are powerless to stop it. Unless…
A cat crouched over the small pool. She strained to read the wisps of mist, catch a glimpse of a sign. She was bright white, blazing in the darkness of the shadowed grove. She was surrounded by trees, dense and full of soft rustlings. The air was warm and stars twinkled in the night sky. A second cat, a light metallic gray, shining in the light of the full moon pushed through fronds of fern and stepped into the clearing.
"What do you see?" she padded down the rise until she was standing directly across the pond from the other cat.
"It is hard to tell. I see… I see one raindrop about to fall. It will announce the coming of the storm."
"Only one?"
"A traitor. Their impact on the Clans is great. I see your beloved Clan behind them. If they succeed, the Clans shall suffer greatly."
"Then we must warn them. We cannot become vulnerable again… lest we follow the fate of WindClan, ThunderClan, ShadowClan and RiverClan."
"But there is more. It is only one piece of the puzzle… and the future ahead is one none of us can conceive…" The troubled waters swirled until they were pitch black except for one sliver of moonlight. There was but one hope and its light was about to be extinguished forever.
Chapter One: Ambition
"Sit still, Rainkit!" Stormsong crouched over the dark gray kit, her tongue busily rasping over her. They were in the nursery, a long-abandoned badger set under the roots of a gnarled oak.
"I can do it myself," Rainkit insisted, wriggling away from her mother.
"No you can't. If you could, you'd have done it already." Their argument was interrupted as a light-gray tabby tom poked his head in.
"Rainkit, it's your big day!" he purred. Stormsong looked up to greet her mate and Rainkit was liberated. Taking advantage of the distraction, she darted away quickly. He squeezed into the nursery. "Snowkit, are you ready, too?" The small white kit was nestled against Mallowfur's belly. Ever since her mother, Foxfang had disappeared she had been fussed over endlessly by Mallowfur and Stormsong.
"She will be." Stormsong turned to give Snowkit a thorough washing while Rainkit poked her head outside. The chilly air stung her eyes but she didn't retreat to the warmth of the nursery. She watched excitedly as cats flowed out of their dens endlessly all gathered around the pile of rocks where the deputies and Clan leaders stood. Rainkit ducked back inside.
"Mother, mother! The whole Clan is…" she broke off when she realized Stormsong was too busy fussing over Snowkit. A flicker of resentment flared in Rainkit's belly. She was Stormsong's daughter, not that mewling lump of fur. But Rainkit was too young to recognize the emotion and it died down as Stormsong turned to pick up Rainkit and carry her outside.
"Are they ready?" A massive black-and-white cat called. In the shadows of the rapidly descending evening, Rainkit could barely see his black-colored patches yet she recognized the strength in this cat's shoulders. Stormsong set her down on the grass, still damp from the morning rain.
"Yes, Hawkstar." Rainkit's head shot up. Hawkstar, the leader of NightClan himself! "Who have you chosen for their mentors?"
"You'll see," he assured them. He turned around and with one leap he landed on the top of the Rock-pile.
Suddenly, Rainkit longed to shrink back against Stormsong and curl up in the nursery. The air was too cold, every pair of eyes were eyeing her hungrily and the path to the top of the Rock-pile was long and difficult.
"We are gathered tonight for one of my favorite ceremonies. Stormsong's only kit, Rainkit and Foxfang's beloved daughter, Snowkit are ready to become apprentices. Snowkit, come here."
In the darkness, the little white shape of Snowkit bounded effortlessly up the rocks, a few pebbles crashing down in her wake. Even the other apprentices were surprised. Rainkit quickly planned her own entrance but was startled back into reality by a nudge from Birchtail.
"Pay attention, it'll be your turn next," he whispered. Rainkit felt a thrill run through her and she shivered with anticipation. She tilted her head up to watch the ceremony.
"From this day forward, until you become a warrior," Hawkstar was saying, "you will be known as Snowpaw." Snowpaw licked Hawkstar's shoulder respectfully and he rested his chin on her head. Her eyes were solemn and serious and her composure was perfectly calm and straight and she possessed none of Rainkit's boundless eagerness.
"Daisyheart," Hawkstar rang out. "This is your first apprentice. You are compassionate, caring and loyal. Pass on these virtues and your skills to Snowpaw." Daisyheart scrambled up the rocks to touch noses with her apprentice. Even in the dark, Rainkit could tell she was beautiful. She had light brown tabby fur and dark amber eyes. She lightly leapt to the top of the rocks in two strides.
"I will try my best," she replied, dipping her head to Hawkstar.
"I have no doubts," Hawkstar replied.
"Rainkit, come forward." Immediately, every eligible mentor turned to watch Rainkit, ambition vivid in their eyes. Rainkit quickly found an easy route and climbed up, barely grazing her paws on the stone. However, each boulder was a mountain for the little kit and she reached the top, almost breathless. It was as if it was an initiation to test each kits' determinedness. Impatiently, she bounced on her paws as she waited for Hawkstar to begin.
"Rainkit, from this day forward, until you become a warrior you shall be known as Rainpaw. Moonstripe, you will be mentor to Rainpaw." The evening air chilled Rainpaw's fur, still soft from the nursery and the excitement sent an extra shiver down Rainpaw's spine. Adrenaline pulsed in her paws and she felt like she could run forever.
She scanned the crowd for Moonstripe, spotting a cat with light gray fur sliced through with black stripes and piercing green eyes.
She gazed at the gray tom winding silently up to meet her. His eyes were full of determination and worry and her heart sunk. For the first time, she worried about what would happen if her mentor didn't like her.
"StarClan honors your… determination… struggle against hardship… pass on all you know…" Hawkstar's voice fuzzed behind her as Rainpaw's ears filled with the hum of panic and the bitter taste of anticipation on her tongue.
All her life, since she had opened her eyes, Rainkit thirsted for leadership. Her ambition pulsed in her chest and becoming an apprentice was the first step of her master plan. Her apprenticeship marked the beginning of her life's goal. And every day she would run faster, hunt more, fight harder, and think smarter than any other apprentice. Such was the necessities of being the best. Only the best are rewarded.
Moonstripe touched his nose to hers. "I will teach her all that I have learned," Moonstripe vowed. He led Rainpaw down the rocks as the crowd began to disperse at Hawkstar's dismissal and her misgivings drifted away as well. "Get some good sleep tonight. Tomorrow we start training right away."