If Darkness Falls

by Icebreathstar

When branch is born of leaf and wood, he'll fall into darkness, and unless light prevails, the Clans will be lost. All Branchkit wants to be is a warrior, but life takes a turn when his leader names him after his newly shredded tail. With a new name, he feels lost and alone, and even his mother won't say his name! Soon he begins his training- unaware he's falling into darkness.

1. Allegiances and Prologue

Allegiances

ThunderClan

Leader: Stonestar- dark gray tom

Medicine Cat: Mallowpelt- white tom with brown spots

Deputy: Leaftail- pale brown tabby she-cat

Warriors: Woodpelt- dark brown tabby tom, apprentice: Smallpaw

Drizzlebird- a blueish gray she-cat with black flecks

Snowheart- white she-cat with gray paws, apprentice: Palepaw

Knotfur- a black tom with always tangled fur

Vineflower- tortoiseshell she-cat, apprentice: Petalpaw

Ferntail- a calico she-cat

Greatfoot- pale ginger tom with dark stripes

Twistclaw- black and white tom with a twisted claw, apprentice: Spotpaw

Lionface- pale yellowish ginger tom, apprentice: Shredpaw

Rainheart- pale grey she-cat

Queens: Softwater- tortoiseshell she-cat

Leaftail- deputy, see above

Cloudfur- white with black patches

Kits:

Leaftail's litter-

Branchkit, dark brown tabby tom.

Spotkit, black tom with one white spot on his shoulder.

Petalkit, tortoiseshell she-cat

Softwater's litter-

Lightkit, pale grey tabby she-cat

Mosskit, tortoiseshell she-cat

Cloudfur's litter- still expecting

Apprentices:

Thrushpaw- dark brown tabby tom

Palepaw- white she-cat

Smallpaw- dark grey she-cat

Elders:

Featherfur- silver tabby she-cat

Brownfoot- light brown tom

Darkpelt- very dark brown tom with gray flecks

WindClan

Leader: Galestar- tom

Medicine Cat: Sagefoot she-cat

Deputy: Gorsethorn- tom

Warriors: Highear- tom. Rabbitstride- tom.

Pounceleaf- she-cat

Apprentices:

Swiftpaw- she-cat

Dawnpaw- she-cat

Elders:

Skytail- tom

Smoothsand- tom

Littleleaf- she-cat

RiverClan

Leader: Troutstar- tom

Medicine Cat: Reedfur- tom

Deputy: Frostheart- she-cat

Warriors: Icetail- she-cat Pebbleclaw-tom

Streamshine- she-cat

Apprentices: Minnowpaw- she-cat

Clearpaw- tom

Brookpaw- she-cat

Elders: Flashnose- tom Smalltail- tom

Slipperystone- she-cat

ShadowClan

Leader: Ravenstar- tom

Medicine Cat: Froghop- tom

Deputy: Mudstep- tom

Warriors: Pinetail- tom. Poppyheart- she-cat.

Rowanfoot- tom. Blackfur- tom.

Apprentices: Silkpaw- she-cat. Darkpaw- tom. Snakepaw- tom.

Elders: Shadestripe- tom.

Manefur- she-cat.

Tigerpelt- tom.

Prologue

A silent mist crept over the hills, and cats came with it. A pale she-cat stepped forward. "Well, what do you think, Blacktail?" "I don't know, Mistheart. Should we keep silent, or tell them and possibly risk the kit going into darkness?" Blacktail, a brown tabby with a blackened tail, mewed. "We can't risk saying anything! If they assume the worst, they will do all they can to prevent it. Nothing must harm this kit!" A tortoiseshell snapped. "What then, if he is hurt?" "Would you have us do nothing, Littlespot? One thing is certain- we must send a message to somecat. If we refuse to speak, they will find out by themselves." Mistheart decided. "However, you have a point. The message must not give away too much. Blacktail, I think you should deliver it, unless Thornstar disagrees. I know this was once your Clan as well." Thornstar, a black tom, mewed assent from the edge of the crowd. "Then it's settled." Blacktail meowed. "I'll go when the kit is made an apprentice, in four moons. StarClan, don't forget the prophecy, or the kit. 'When branch is born of leaf and wood, he will fall into darkness, and unless light prevails, the Clans will be lost.' " He turned and padded away. After a slight pause, StarClan followed. They wouldn't forget. And neither would he.