Ch. 1:
Ghost slunk around the clearing, watching the other cats as they hissed and purred, not quite daring to fight each other right now. Few cats stood out to her, as they were all so different. And so many differences could be boring, the dusk-gray tabby thought as she paused to lick the pad of her paw.
After a while, one cat stood up and yowled for attention. His white-tipped paws shone brightly in the moonlight as he yowled out, claiming attention. "I am Thunder. I believe there has been too much bloodshed in this forest, and I wish to put a stop to it." As he spoke, mist gathered around the rest of the cats, seeming to take shapes. They looked like cats! At the edge of the clearing herself, Ghost had a first-hand view of one creature.
It was a tomcat, apparently, for he cast his gaze her way and she felt warm blue eyes on her. There was no color visible in the mist-cat's eyes, but she knew that was what they were, somehow. It felt good to have the comforting presence at her shoulder, and she looked back to the speaking tom.
No other cat seemed to have noticed the ghostly figures around them-how strange. Was she hallucinating? But there were four others, at least four that she could pick out, that were looking around in the same way Ghost was. "I propose Clans, so that we might have identities." The reddish tom was saying. What were Clans?
Some cat voiced her thought, and Thunder replied, "Clans are groups of cats with different talents, abilities, and territories."
A second cat stood, and called out, "I am Shadow. I agree with this cat; there should be Clans such as these. Clans will give us a purpose!" Her name was apt, Ghost thought. The she-cat's sleek black coat nearly completely blended in with the forest.
Now, a third cat materialized out of the crowd. She was small and slight, and looked as if she would outlast and outdistance any cat in a race. "I am Wind. I agree on this course of action. Too many cats have died in meaningless squabbles. These Clans will allow us to live more freely!
The spirit cats were nodding, and they were growing brighter and more real by the second.
Suddenly a fourth cat, another tom, bounded up to the other standing cats. He seemed to be bursting with energy as he yowled, "I am River! These cats are right. There should be Clans, because we will all live better lives!"
Many cats burst with agreement, though there were mutters of mutiny.
From right in front of her, a cat with a fluffy white pelt got to his paws and spoke with a carrying voice that hushed all the others. "I am Sky. Clans are logical, and will give us the ability to live more safely."
More yowls broke out, cheering for the five cats. Even Ghost found herself cheering. Thunder leapt onto a high rock to be heard, followed quickly by Shadow, Wind, River and Cloud. "I claim the authority of ThunderClan! ThunderClan cats must be brave and loyal. Who shall join me?"
Before there were any replies, Shadow stepped forward. "I claim the authority of ShadowClan! ShadowClan cats must be clever and willful. Who shall join me?"
This time, Wind came to the tip of the rock. "I claim the authority of WindClan! WindClan cats must be agile and swift. Who shall join me?"
Now River spoke. "I claim the authority of RiverClan! RiverClan cats must be strong and proud. Who shall join me?"
Finally it was Sky's turn. "I claim the authority of SkyClan! SkyClan cats must be spirited and logical. Who shall join me?"
The Clans were created.