A/N: Guys, I KNOW Russetfur was a rogue and was not born in ShadowClan; this is my version, so deal. This is sort of a continuation of Cedarstar's Secret, which if you haven't read, you should, at least before you read this. Search it. This is the ShadowClan allegiances at the beginning of this story (And for those of you who have read Cedarstar's Secret, I fixed Hollywhisker/flower's name, Lizardfang's gender, Littlepaw's appearance, and Foxkit's gender in this story, okay? Yellowfang. whom I forgot about in the CS, will be explained in this story. And I will try to fit the actual events occurring in the books as best I can!), and the prologue is at the bottom! (Tee-hee, I said bottom!) Okay, enough immaturity on my part; and remember to R&R!
SHADOWCLAN
Leader: Raggedstar - large, dark brown tabby tom with ragged, patchy fur and yellow eyes
Apprentice, Blackpaw
Deputy: Lizardfang - light brown tabby she-cat with one hooked tooth
Medicine Cat: Runningnose - small gray-and-white tom with amber eyes and a constantly running nose
Apprentice, Littlepaw
Warriors: Hollyflower - dark gray and white she-cat
Poolcloud - gray and white she-cat
Featherstorm - brown tabby she-cat
Litttlebird - small, ginger tabby she-cat
Dawncloud - small tabby she-cat
Archeye - gray tabby tom with black stripes and a thick stripe over one eye
Yellowfang - battle-scarred, dark gray she-cat with a broad, flattened face, and orange eyes
Apprentices: Blackpaw - a large, white tom, with huge, jet-black paws black ears, and amber eyes.
Littlepaw - an undersized brown tabby tom with light blue eyes
Queens: Crowtail- skinny black tabby she-cat, mother of Cedarstar's kits
Kits: Russetkit - dark ginger she-cat with green eyes
Foxkit - bright ginger she-cat with pale green eyes
Rowankit - ginger tom
Cedarkit - dark gray tom with amber eyes
Oakkit - small brown tom with yellow eyes
Tallkit - long-legged light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes
Elders: Stonetooth - is a thin gray tabby tom with long teeth
Prologue:
The small ginger she-kit blinked open her pale green eyes and looked around her in wonder. She cuddled closer to Crowtail, her mother, for a minute before seeing her father, the leader of the Clan. Cedarstar. "Can I go out to explore?" she asked hopefully, wanting to see the rest of the camp. But her mother just chuckled and said, "Not just yet, little one. Wait for your litter-mates to be ready." Just then, Oakkit chirped, "I'm ready! I am!" Russetkit looked at Crowtail pleadingly. "Oh, alright, but stick together, you two!" Russetkit nudged her brother to his tiny paws, and they scampered out of the den, Crowtail's watchful gaze burning into their pelts as they ran off. Russetkit rolled her eyes as if to say, "We'll be fine!"
Russetkit looked around her in wonder. "Look at that, Oakkit!" she gasped as she stared at a hunting patrol coming through, with a huge warrior leading it. Oakkit leaned back slightly as the warrior walked toward them, but Russetkit, ever brave, asked, "What's your name?" The large, dark brown tabby tom smiled. "I am Raggedpelt, the deputy. And you are?" He replied with a question. "I'm Russetkit, daughter of Cedarstar." she said proudly, then added as an afterthought, "And this is my brother Oakkit, son of Cedarstar." she liked saying it formally, and wondered if she might possibly be Russetstar one day.
A large crash resounded outside of the camp, and Russetkit stood protectively over Oakkit, though she was trembling slightly. Cedarstar bounded out of the medicine den and shouted, "Tallkit! Oakkit! Foxkit! Russetkit! Back to the nursery!" Russetkit was only too happy to oblige, and she pressed on Oakkit's paws as they ran quickly to the den. She peeked out of the den fearfully, wondering what could be happening.
Crowtail stepped up beside her, her strong fear-scent less than comforting. Her father yowled, "A Twoleg! get back, everyone!" The young kit flattened her ears. Twoleg? Whatever it was, it didn't sound good. Russetkit's eyes widened in horror as a fleshy, pink, monstrously huge creature picked up Cedarstar in its paw. She met her father's terrified gaze for a brief moment before the Twoleg carried him off.
Crowtail looked down at her brother who didn't have a name, and said in a grief-filled voice, "Cedarkit." She knew that was her brother's new name, in honor of their father. Did Crowtail believe the Twoleg was going to kill Cedarstar? Russetkit shuddered, but brushed her pelt against Cedarkit's comfortingly. She put both of her tiny paws on Crowtail's fore-leg and looked into her eyes with what she hoped was a steely mask of determination, though the grief she felt from losing her father welled inside her like a roaring river. "It's okay. Don't cry. I'll be leader one day and take his place." Her black-furred mother burst into tears, but Russetkit's mind was elsewhere.
By the power in my heart and in my claws, by StarClan, I will take Cedarstar's place. His life ended far too early, but I will make sure his legacy is remembered. I, Russetkit of ShadowClan, daughter of Cedarstar and Crowtail, will be leader!