Prologue

The Beginning

A thick darkness covered the vast forest, the sky only being lit up by tiny pinpricks of light. All of a sudden, a loud rustling sound cut through the silent midnight. One would be forgiven for thinking it to be a badger, or perhaps a twoleg, due to the intensity of the shaking leaves, but after a few moments, several cats slunk out of the bushes, all gathered in a shady clearing.

A small tom spoke. "So, what is the plan a-anyway, Rapidc-claw...?"

The dark gray tabby tom who appeared to be the leader of this group spoke. "We wait for Fennelstar and Lakefoot to arrive at our meeting place to discuss the "rogue issue," then, we take care of them. Then, we tell ThunderClan that in her dying breath, Fennelstar told me that I was the new deputy, and she was killed by the 'rogues.' Any questions?"

One of the cats padded over to him. "And what if they don't believe us? What then?"

"If that happens, then we need to... convince them."

The one small cat winced. "But what about my denmates? Oaknose, Hazelthrush, Needlebrush... What'll happen to the cats who can't be convinced?"

"Then they'll be punished. Remember, no holding back."

The cat who had voiced his concerns swallowed his emotions and said, "Yes, Rapidclaw..."

Rapidclaw uncurled his tail around his paws and stood up. "Alright, it's time to return. Remember, at sunhigh tomorrow is when we will strike. Are you clear on that?"

All of the other cats nodded, and set off, back to their camp. There, they would rest, and soon, their plan would be put into action...


Allegiances

ThunderClan

Leader: Fennelstar - tall white she-cat with green eyes and a scarred muzzle

Apprentice, Sunpaw

Deputy: Lakefoot - grey-blue tom with amber eyes and a white throat

Medicine Cat: Hollyrain - ginger she-cat with amber eyes and distinct dark ginger flecks

Warriors: Rapidclaw - muscular dark gray tabby tom with olive eyes and a notched ear

Treeshade - brown tabby tom with short whiskers and dark brown patches

Hazelthrush - dappled hazel she-cat with a white muzzle, underbelly, and blue eyes

Skyripple - grey-blue tom with white splotches, white paws, a white tailtip, and blue eyes

Apprentice, Moonpaw

Oaknose - large brown tabby tom with green eyes

Darkflame - dark brown tabby tom with ginger eyes

Rainsong - grey she-cat with hazel eyes and dark grey-blue speckles

Apprentice, Whitepaw

Palewhisker - tiny cream she-cat with white paws, a white underbelly and muzzle, and blue eyes

Squirreltail - brown she-cat with a fluffy tail and dark amber eyes

Thistleslash - gray tabby tom with olive eyes and scarred legs

Needlebrush - dull brown tom with matted fur and hazel eyes

Apprentices: Sunpaw - light yellowish ginger she-cat with a white underbelly and muzzle and green eyes

Moonpaw - dark silver tom with white tipped fur and blue eyes

Whitepaw - white tom with amber eyes and oversized paws

Queens and their Kits: Yellowwhisker - yellowish ginger she-cat with amber eyes

Kits, Dapplekit - light yellow dapple she-kit with olive eyes, Meadowkit - small calico she-kit with green eyes

Elders: Shadedheart - black tom with blue eyes and a jagged tooth

Pondheart - dark grey-blue she-cat with a notched ear, a scarred face, and amber eyes

Maroonfang - dark ginger she-cat with amber eyes