Prologue
Rainkit batted a moss ball across the clearing, feeling lonely. Her brother Stonekit was visiting LightClan with their father, and her sister Wildkit and other brother Beechkit were in the nursery taking a nap with their mother. The camp was quiet. Sunlight dappled the ground, and when Rainkit looked up, she could see the green leaves that covered the clearing rustling in the light breeze.
As she looked around the camp, her gaze found the Elder's den. Of course! They always had a story to tell. She bounced over to the bush, scuttling under the low spreading branches. A light brown tabby she-cat glanced up. "Hello, Rainkit. Come for a story?" Rainkit dipped her head. "Yes please, Hazelcloud," she meowed. Hazelcloud gave a rusty purr. "So polite." She turned and nudged the black tom dozing beside her. "Wake up, Shadowpelt." Shadowpelt woke with a start. "Wha?" He muttered, still groggy. Hazelcloud sighed impatiently. "Rainkit is here and she would like to hear a story," the tabby meowed. Shadowpelt shook himself and sat up. "Hello, young 'un," he greeted Rainkit. Rainkit mewed a shy hello before settling down in the moss.
"What would you like to hear about, Rainkit?" Hazelcloud asked. Rainkit thought for a moment. "I don't know," she mewed slowly. "How about something from the beginning of our Clans?" Hazelcloud and Shadowpelt exchanged a glance, and Shadowpelt nodded for Hazelcloud to go first. She began.
"Rainkit, I am going to tell you about how our Clans came to be. Listen closely.
"A long, long time ago, DarkClan and LightClan were one. This Clan was called DuskClan, named for its founder Duskheart. Duskheart became Duskstar, and she reigned wisely for seasons. But her deputy, Blackjaw, became tired of waiting for her to die. Times were very peaceful back then-still are- the nearest Clans aren't for miles…" The Elder trailed off, staring at nothing in particular. Rainkit couldn't help but burst out, "What other Clans?" "That's a story for another time, youngster," Shadowpelt said hurriedly. With a glance at his denmate, he continued.
"Well, Blackjaw grew tired of waiting for Duskstar to die, so he killed her. He then claimed his nine lives and became Blackstar. "Blackstar was a tyrant. He cared little for the welfare of his Clan. Instead of living in one camp, like we do now, he led the Clan from place to place, fighting and killing wherever they went.
"His deputies were evil like him. When Blackstar came across a rogue that impressed him, he would usually invite that cat to join the Clan and become his deputy. If there was already a deputy, Blackstar would have the two fight to the death for the position. But one day Blackstar's current deputy died after a battle. Blackstar had no choice but to appoint a cat from his own Clan. He chose Featherflight. Featherflight worked hard to get Blackstar to trust her- but at the same time she was planning a rebellion."
Shadowpelt paused, and Rainkit leaned forward eagerly. "What? What happens?" She demanded. Shadowpelt purred. "Alright, alright.
"Blackstar led the Clan into yet another battle. But just as the battle ended, Featherflight confronted Blackstar and told him to step down. However, Blackstar refused, and the two fought. In the end, Featherflight killed him." Shadowpelt glanced over at Hazelcloud. "Would you like to finish?"
Hazelcloud jumped. "What?"
Shadowpelt sighed. "I said, do you want to finish? I was at the part when Featherflight kills Blackstar."
"Oh. Of course," Hazelcloud meowed. "Let's see… After Featherflight killed Blackstar, she led the Clan here and gained her nine lives. Then she made a decision… a decision that would change the Clan forever."
Rainkit leaned forward. "What decision?"
Hazelcloud opened her mouth, but before she could answer, a shadow fell on the ground beside Rainkit. A deep voice meowed "I trust that you aren't feeding this kit lies, Hazelcloud, Shadowpelt." Rainkit glanced up. Beside her stood Rowantooth, a big, dark tabby with one blue and one amber eye. He was the newest warrior, but he already had a reputation for being a fearsome cat. Rainkit shivered.
Hazelcloud glared at him. "Of course, Rowantooth," she growled. "Nothing but the truth from my mouth." The two stared each other down, while Shadowpelt shuffled his paws uncomfortably. Finally Rowantooth turned away. "Come Rainkit. The group from LightClan has arrived." Rainkit cast one last glance at the elders behind her, and then she followed Rowantooth, her tail dragging in the dust behind her.
What was Hazelcloud going to say?
And how did we become two clans?