Hi, all! This is my first story, and I hope you like it, because I may parlay it into a four-part series. There aren't a lot of characters listed for the other Clans, and that's on purpose. This story will focus primarily on WindClan.
WindClan
Leader: Ruddystar-red-brown tom
Deputy: Raggedfur-thick-furred brown tom with a scar across his throat
Medicine Cat: Cloudfur-scruffy, long-legged white tom
Warriors
Antclaw-dark brown tabby tom
Spiderpelt-black tom
Apprentice, Runningpaw
Fennelfur-wiry gray she-cat
Apprentice, Pollenpaw
Batwing-lithe black tom
Apprentice, Hailpaw
Addertail-pale ginger tom
Apprentice, Frostpaw
Amberspots-tortoiseshell she-cat
Doveflight-light gray she-cat with a white chest
Sageheart-dark gray tabby she-cat
Apprentice, Rufflepaw
Eaglewing-dark brown tabby tom
Cricketleap-thin brown tom with a white streak down his face and neck
Apprentices
Runningpaw-dark brown tom with long legs
Pollenpaw-pale ginger she-cat
Hailpaw-gray tabby tom
Frostpaw-very light gray tom
Rufflepaw-fluffy brown tabby she-cat
Queens
Breezeflower-gray tabby she-cat with white front paws
Lichenfur-white she-cat with gray tabby splotches, Batwing's mate (Kits: Pricklekit-black tom, Briarkit-gray tabby she-cat, Badgerkit-black-and-white tom, Owlkit-black tom)
Elders
Sheepfur-white tom with a curly pelt
Rabbitfoot-skinny brown she-cat
Fluffytail-gray she-cat with a thick tail
Icewind-gray-and-white she-cat
RiverClan
Leader: Otterstar-pretty brown tabby she-cat
Deputy: Thornwhisker-large ginger tom
Medicine Cat: Lilypool-white she-cat with dark ginger splotches
Apprentice, Flamepaw
Warriors
Blackmask-gray tabby tom with thick stripes
Heronflight-blue-gray she-cat
Apprentice, Swanpaw
Queens
Brushfire-calico she-cat with green eyes
ShadowClan
Leader: Snakestar-long-haired gray tom
Deputy: Teakfur-dark brown tabby tom
Medicine Cat: Onespot-light brown tabby tom with one white spot on his side
ThunderClan
Leader: Whitestar-small white tom
Deputy: Foxjaw-dark ginger she-cat
Medicine Cat: Moleclaw-light brown tom
Rogues
Ashstar-long-haired dark gray tabby tom, formerly the leader of WindClan
Stormfeather-gray tabby tom with a white underbelly
Marshfoot-dark brown tom, formerly the deputy of WindClan
Tangleclaw-dark ginger tom
Rosethorn-dark ginger she-cat
Prologue: Many Moons Ago
The thick layer of ash gave way under Galestar's paw. He carefully picked his way through the charred underbrush, his eyes wide as he took in the damage. He could still feel a lingering heat prickling at his skin even through his thick fur. The air was heavy with the scent of smoke, and tendrils of it still rose lazily from the plants that once guarded the WindClan camp.
Galestar slipped between the smoldering branches and into the small dip in the earth where his Clan lived. The clearing was a stranger—the grass had been burnt away, the plants at the edge of the slope were blackened, and the Tallrock, where Galestar addressed his Clan, was streaked with soot. Galestar could only be thankful that the fire hadn't destroyed much of their hunting grounds and that the Clan was safely tucked away, anxiously waiting to hear news of their home.
As his gaze swept over the camp, he spotted two figures sitting at the base of the Tallrock, their eyes trained on what remained of the nursery. Galestar called out a soft greeting, and the two toms turned. In the dim light of the moon, their gray pelts were nearly the same shade, and they turned identical pairs of bright blue eyes on their leader. They were Smokefur and Brackenclaw, his medicine cat and deputy but also his sons.
Smokefur, a tom whose pelt was just slightly darker than his kin's, spoke up first. "Is the Clan alright?" he asked.
Galestar nodded. "Yes, thank StarClan," he said. "They're waiting by the stream for the all clear." Galestar paused, sighing as he drank in more of their scorched camp. "Were there any casualties?"
Smokefur's ears flattened against his neck. "Yes," he said, his gaze trailing to the nursery. "Some of the kits didn't get out in time."
Galestar gasped. There were only two queens nursing kits in the Clan, and he had already seen Tawnyleaf herding her sons into their makeshift shelter. He looked to Brackenclaw, and the deputy hung his head.
"They were mine," Brackenclaw choked out. "They're… they're all dead."
Galestar's heart sank. From the minute they were born, Brackenclaw had loved his kits. He spent what little free time he had crowding his poor mate or standing guard outside the nursery wall. Galestar stepped forward to touch his nose to his son's shoulder. He understood the grief after losing a kit. Smokefur and Brackenclaw were the only two of his six kits to survive the cruelty of the forest.
A shrill cry split the smoke-latent air. There was a crash in the underbrush, and two cats appeared, one silky black and the other light brown. They were both queens and both had just come a long way, judging by their heavy breathing and soot-covered paws. The black she-cat sprinted right over and skidded to a halt beside Galestar. Out of the corner of his eye, Galestar caught Brackenclaw looking away in shame. The she-cat was Crowpelt, Brackenclaw's mate.
"Did you find them?" she demanded. "Are they alright?"
The other queen brushed against her shoulder. "Hush," she murmured. "There's no reason to—
Crowpelt's lips curled back in a snarl. "Leave me alone, Tawnyleaf!" she snapped. "You know your kits are safe! Now let me find mine!"
"You're too late," Smokefur said bluntly. Crowpelt's eyes widened. "They were lost in the fire. Brackenclaw and I were just about to bury them."
The black queen began to tremble. Her eyes flickered from Smokefur to Brackenclaw and back again. "N-No," she stammered. "They can't—I won't—I won't believe it!"
Brackenclaw stepped towards her. He gently pressed his nose to her shoulder, but Crowpelt stared forward as though she couldn't feel it. "I'm sorry, Crowpelt," he murmured into her fur. "I'm so sorry."
The queen shut her eyes. "This is your fault," she growled, every hair on her pelt standing on end. "You told me to leave them. You told me you would go back for them." She pulled away from him and stared Brackenclaw dead in the eyes. "I would've rather died with them."
Brackenclaw recoiled. "I was only trying to protect you," he said quietly. "I—"
"Be quiet," Crowpelt snarled. Her whole body was shaking.
"I—"
"I said quiet!" Every cat in camp flinched as Crowpelt struck Brackenclaw's face. Blood dripped from her needle-like claws. Brackenclaw's eyes were wide as he stared down at the camp floor. "I hate you," Crowpelt snarled, her voice thin from grief. "Don't ever speak to me again!"
Brackenclaw said nothing as she shoved past him towards the nursery. When he raised his head, Galestar saw the beginnings of new scars on his muzzle and across the fragile skin of his eyes. He was lucky she didn't blind him. Silently, Brackenclaw got to his feet and followed after her, leaving droplets of blood in the blackened earth. Galestar, Smokefur, and Tawnyleaf followed at a distance.
A low wail rose up from the nursery. Crowpelt had found her kits at last.
They watched wordlessly as she emerged from the wreckage with a tiny gray body dangling from her jaws. The fire had lapped at its hind legs, and its face was contorted with fear. Crowpelt knelt beside the Tallrock and laid her kit to rest at its base. Tawnyleaf had to look away.
"It's not fair," she murmured as Crowpelt went back in. "No queen deserves this."
Galestar silently added his agreement. Crowpelt returned with a little black body this time, a kit whose fur was beginning to shimmer like hers. Moments later, she appeared a third time with another gray kit. Brackenclaw left the group to crouch beside the bodies of his kits.
"We hadn't even named them," he murmured. "They had only just opened their eyes." He squeezed his eyes shut from the grief and rocked forward, his forehead pressed against the gray kit's fur. "Why? Why did StarClan take them from us?"
Crowpelt went back into the nursery a fourth time, but she came out empty with a confused look on her face. She went over to the bodies of her kits and shooed Brackenclaw with a soft hiss and an outstretched paw. She bent down and counted them before straightening up, her tail lashing behind her.
"What's wrong?" Smokefur asked.
"I had four kits," Crowpelt replied. "There are only three here!"
Brackenclaw brightened as though someone had breathed new life into him. "Maybe he escaped into the heather!" he said excitedly. "They're our kits. They have to be clever!"
Crowpelt narrowed her eyes at him and looked to Smokefur. Smokefur shrugged. "It's certainly possible," he said, though he didn't appear convinced.
"We'll search the area around the camp," Galestar offered. "Smokefur, Brackenclaw, come with me."
Eyes shining, Crowpelt dipped her head. "Thank you," she breathed. "Thank you so much."
As the three toms began to leave, Brackenclaw tried to brush his tail along Crowpelt's flank to comfort her. She turned away from him and walked into the nursery without looking back. Brackenclaw's jaw dropped, and he solemnly trailed after his kin with his ears pressed against his neck.
When they had gone, Tawnyleaf got up and followed her friend into the burnt nursery. It was dark, but she could see the outline of Crowpelt sifting through the branches and ash.
"Do you really think the kit survived?" she asked quietly.
Crowpelt froze for a moment. She looked to her friend, her green eyes bright in the darkness. "I have to," she said, her voice trembling. "They couldn't have all been taken. I'd never believe in StarClan again."
Tawnyleaf nodded in understanding. She had two sons, two happy, healthy sons, but she had nearly lost them to whitecough two moons ago. She had laid awake with them every night in Smokefur's den, helplessly looking to Silverpelt and pleading with StarClan to spare them. Tawnyleaf got to her feet and began sorting through the wreckage as well.
It they were my kits, Crowpelt would do anything to find them, Tawnyleaf thought. It's only fair that I return the favor.
They searched in silence for several minutes before Crowpelt came across a rather large chunk of woven heather. She ducked down and used her shoulder to overturn it. There, cowering in the shadows, was a tiny, gray kit. She yowled in surprise and almost leapt back.
"What is it?" Tawnyleaf asked as she rushed over. "What—" She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the little kit. "I don't believe it," she murmured. "He's alive!"
The kit raised its head. He opened milky blue eyes and looked up at Crowpelt. Recognizing his mother, he let out a mew and threw himself at her, burying his face into her fur. Crowpelt felt relief wash over her, and for a moment, she could do nothing but stare up at Silverpelt in gratitude. Then her kit mewed again, and she bent down and began washing the ash from his fur with long, soothing licks. A purr rumbled in her throat.
"It's a miracle," Tawnyleaf said. She sat and curled her tail around her paws. "StarClan must have big plans for the little kit that hid in the ashes."
Crowpelt stopped her grooming mid-lick. She raised her head, and Tawnyleaf saw the warriors of Silverpelt reflecting in her gaze. "That's it," she said. "Ashkit." She looked down at her son with a swell of pride. "I'll name him Ashkit."
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