Warriors: The Next Generation:Book One: The First Apprentice

ALLEGIANCES

BrambleClan

Leader:Tomstar

Deputy:Skyheart

Medicine Cat:Mysticleaf

Warriors:Graystone

Apprentice, Grainpaw

Forestpelt

Apprentice, Specklepaw

Braveheart

Lionmane

Apprentice, Tigerpaw

Dawnsun

Redpelt

Apprentice, Foxpaw

Sunshine

Stormclaw

Owlfeather

Apprentice, Icepaw

Ravenwing

Apprentices:Grainpaw

Specklepaw

Tigerpaw

Foxpaw

Icepaw

Queens:Airpelt- Mother of:

Sparrowkit, Rainkit, Emeraldkit

Arrowstrike- Mother of:

Sweetkit, Lightkit

Spottedpelt- Mother of:

Treekit, Leafkit, Rootkit

Elders:Woodclaw

Brindleheart

Brightspirit

Squirreltail

AshClan

Leader:Sandstar

Deputy:Leafdapple

Medicine Cat:Poppyseed

Warriors:Shroudclaw

Apprentice, Stripepaw

Ranchleaf

Apprentice, Shadowpaw

Mousecloud

Apprentice, Birchpaw

Fernleaf

Apprentice, Snowpaw

Sunclaw

Coniferleaf

Apprentice, Dapplepaw

Apprentices:Stripepaw

Shadowpaw

Birchpaw

Snowpaw

Dapplepaw

Queens:Irontail- Mother of:

Crouchkit, Riverkit

Elders:Leafsheet

Streamleap

StrayClan

Leader:Skystar

Deputy:Russettail

Medicine Cat:Stareyes

Apprentice, Thrushleaf

Warriors:Whitebrush

Apprentice, Greatpaw

Milltail

Apprentice, Hollowpaw

Moorheart

Apprentice, Minepaw

Marshclaw

Apprentice, Windpaw

Highwing

Sycamorebranch

Apprentices:Thrushleaf

Greatpaw

Hollowpaw

Minepaw

Windpaw

Queens:Thunderheart- Mother of:

Snakekit, Pinekit

Rainstripe- Mother of:

Streamkit, Breezekit

Elders:Branchtail

Elmclaw

SkyClan

Leader:Brackenstar

Deputy:Duststripe

Medicine Cat:Pinetail

Apprentice, Nettlepaw

Warriors:Frostypelt

Apprentice, Cloudpaw

Tallclaw

Apprentice, Whitepaw

Ashstripe

Apprentice, Barkpaw

Mudtail

Runningleaf

Apprentice, Jaggedpaw

Raggedtail

Blackstripe

Apprentices:Cloudpaw

Whitepaw

Barkpaw

Jaggedpaw

Queens:Specklewhisker- Mother of:

Spearkit, Sandkit

Heavyclaw- Expecting kits

Featherwhisker- Mother of

Mistykit, Mosskit, Moonkit

Elders:Leopardstripe

Loudstorm

Swingcloud

PROLOGUE

StarClan gathered together in a grassy clearing to discuss important news. Great changes were coming to the Clans of cats below the stars. A silver tom stood up to begin the meeting. "Is a cat from every Clan present?" he asked. No cat replied so he figured the answer was yes. "Then let's start this meeting." He paused. "We all know the prophecy and I want to know when you all think we should tell the four kits of their destiny."

"The kits are too young to know of their true power, Streamstar." a brown tabby tom replied, standing up. "I believe the kits will use that information to make them popular and so the other cats will think they are the best warriors in the Clan."

A tabby she-cat stepped up. "Smokefur, don't you think they have the right to know?" the she-cat mewed. "They are a cat just like you and me and I think that many other people agree they should know.

"I see why you would think that, Browntail, but as I said before, they are kits. They would tell every cat in the Clan." Smokefur replied to Browntail's retort.

"And why is that such a bad thing?" Browntail asked.

"Because Tomstar would treat them differently then the other cats and so the Clan would go into turmoil." Streamstar replied instead of Smokefur. "We already have one Clan hopelessly in danger, we don't need two."

"AshClan will be just as well off as BrambleClan in the end, you wait and see, Streamstar." an old cat stepped forward. "I remember a time when AshClan fought against all three of the other Clans yet they still prevailed."

"Yes, Cloudfire, because your Clan used devilish tactics!" growled another old cat, this time from StrayClan. "The rest of the Clans had no choice but retreat so we didn't suffer any deaths."

"Enough of this!" Streamstar mewed. "This is not the topic we came here to discuss. What was done was done and I'm sure no one is proud of that day. But an even greater battle is going to come to the Clans and each of the Clans will have to work together to stop it or they will crumble and fall."

Silence crept into the clearing. Then Browntail broke the silence. "Then we have to find a way to unite the Clans?"

"Not yet." Streamstar replied. "First we have to settle AshClan's problem. Sandstar is in great trouble. We all know that Shroudclaw is recruiting warriors against her. He's going to take over sooner or later."

"But if he kills Sandstar, won't Leafdapple be leader, not Shroudclaw?" Smokefur brought up.

"Not if they kill Leafdapple and Sandstar." Streamstar mewed. "And I say that Brightstar go to Sandstar and warn her of the danger stirring in her Clan."

Brightstar, who hadn't said a word the whole meeting, took a step forward. "I would be honored to, Streamstar. As a former leader of AshClan I need to do the best I can for it. Shall I go into her dreams now?"

"Yes," Streamstar replied without hesitation. "The sooner the better."

Brightstar nodded. "You can count on me." She turned and headed away from the clearing. As she left a new cat approached. It was a young black tom. In fact, it was a kit.

"What are you doing here, kit?" Streamstar asked the kit.

"I'm Strongkit and I'm from AshClan." the kit mewed. "I don't know why I'm here. Where am I and where's Irontail?"

"You're in StarClan now, Strongkit. What is the last thing you remember?" Streamstar asked Strongkit.

"I remember Shroudclaw taking me for a walk and telling me that he was going to teach me to fish. Then he threw me in and then I was here." Strongkit told the rest of the cats. Streamstar was shocked. He knew Shroudclaw was evil but killing a kit was too much. He had to be stopped.

"Well that's quite a story." Streamstar meowed. "And I think you deserve to live the rest of your life in StarClan with a warrior name."

"Really?" Strongkit asked. "Can you do that?"

"Of course I can." Streamstar replied. He thought for a second and then knew the perfect name. "Strongkit, you were murdered unfairly by an evil cat and now deserve a warrior name. I now name you, Strongheart."

Sandstar fell into deep sleep. She was in a field and a cat was walking toward her. "Hello, Sandstar." the white she-cat greeted her. "I am Brightstar. I used to be the leader of AshClan, just like you are."

"Nice to meet you, Brightstar." Sandstar dipped her head to the former leader. "What message do you have for me?"

"I warn you of an evil rising in your Clan. Keep your eyes, ears, and mind open for there are cats within your Clan that are going to kill you when the time is right. They will first try to weaken you by making your faith in StarClan weak. They will kill off their Clanmates and eventually they will lead. Pay attention of this is what lays in your future." Brightstar mewed.

"Thank you, Brightstar. This is horrible news but now that I know about I can put an end to it before any cats are killed." Sandstar mewed. Suddenly, she was awakened by Irontail.

"Sandstar! Sandstar!" the queen whispered when she knew Sandstar was awake. "Strongkit is missing! He's nowhere in camp or the nursery."

"Did you check the rest of the other dens?" Sandstar asked. The leader was wide awake now. Could this be the beginnings of what Brightstar had warned her of?

"Shroudclaw said he'd do it for me." Irontail replied.

"Shroudclaw was awake?" Sandstar asked.

"He still is." Irontail replied.

"Then we'll let him know that tomorrow we'll have to search the whole entire forest for him. We will not rest until we find him." Sandstar promised. Or we find his remains...