ALLIANCES

THUNDERCLAN

LEADER: Whitestar- large broad shouldered white tom with hard ice blue eyes

DEPUTY: Shadeheart- large dark grey tom with amber eyes

MEDICINE-CAT: Owlwing- friendly dark brown she cat with large golden eyes and a fluffy tail

(Apprentice- Goldenpaw- bright golden she-cat with amber eyes)

WARRIORS: Buzzardclaw- large grey tabby tom

Sageleaf- pretty white she-cat with black and grey dappled fur

Rosethorn- cream she-cat with pale amber eyes (Apprentice- Beepaw)

Wildblaze- Large fearless ginger tom with gentle green eyes

Frostfoot- light grey she-cat with one white forepaw and ice blue eyes (Apprentice-

Icepaw)

Rainstorm- dark grey tom with aqua blue eyes.

Silvertooth- silver tom with one jagged tooth

Lightfoot- small swift light brown she-cat

Skyfeather- white she-cat with green eyes

Crowfur- jet black tom with piercing yellow eyes

Hawkeye- brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Falconclaw- brown tom with black tabby stripes

APPRENTICES: Beepaw- grey tom with black tabby stripes

Icepaw- pure white she-cat with golden eyes

QUEENS: Robinsong- pretty light brown she-cat with blue eyes (Expecting Shadeheart's kits)

Fuzzpelt- long haired black she-cat (Mother of Silvertooth's kits: Blackkit- black tom,

Willowkit- pretty silver she-cat, and Sootkit- dark grey tom with golden eyes)

Ferretfur- pretty sand colored she-cat with amber eyes (Mother of Rainstorm's kit:

Onekit- pale brown tom with pale blue eyes.)

ELDERS: Whispersong- golden she-cat with pale blue eyes

Berrystem- brown she-cat, oldest cat in ThunderClan

Greywhisker- pale grey tom

SHADOWCLAN

LEADER: Ragestar- jet black tom with amber eyes

DEPUTY: Blackclaw- dark grey tom with one black foot and scar down his left shoulder

MEDICINE-CAT: Emberwing- dark ginger tom with pale yellow eyes

WARRIORS: Clawscar- ginger tom with three claw marks down his face

Shadewhisper- bad tempered dark grey she-cat (Scarpaw)

Leaffang- pale sand-colored she-cat with bright green eyes

Flamecloud- pretty ginger she-cat with white patches

Hawkfeather- dark brown tom with black tabby stripes and long tail (Yellowpaw)

Firefur- large ginger tom with enormous claws and menacing yellow eyes (Quickpaw)

Wolffang- large grey and light brown tom

Whitefoot- white she-cat with amber eyes and one black paw

Darkfur- dark brown tom (Tallpaw)

APPRENTICES: Scarpaw- large black tom with long scar over his right eye

Yellowpaw- dark grey she-cat with pale yellow eyes

Quickpaw- swift brown she-cat

Tallpaw- large pale grey tom with blazing amber eyes

QUEENS: Brownflower- dark brown she-cat (Expecting Clawscar's kits)

ELDERS: Cinderclaw- dark grey tom with pale amber eyes

Ratfang- pale brown tom

RIVERCLAN

LEADER: Rushstar- light brown tom with aqua blue eyes

DEPUTY: Berryclaw- pale brown she-cat with a bright pink nose

MEDICINE-CAT: Shimmerwing- young silver she-cat with golden eyes

WARRIORS: Runningstream- quick silver tom (Loudpaw)

Frogsplash- pale white tom with one silver paw

Waveclaw- bracken colored tom with blue eyes

Troutstripe- light brown she-cat with two dark brown stripes going down either side of

her body

Frostwater- pretty white she-cat with one blue eye and one green eye

Quickwave- silver-blue tom with blue eyes

Sharprush- large brown tom

Wetfur- sleek pale grey she-cat (Dewpaw)

Sagethron- light brown she-cat with green eyes

Oakfeather- large dark brown tom

APPRENTICES: Loudpaw- large golden tom with two dark brown fore paws

Dewpaw- pale grey she-cat

QUEENS: Fishleap- ginger she-cat (Expecting Frogsplash's kits)

Sweetflower- cream colored she-cat (Mother of Sharprush's kits- Rainkit- silver she-cat

with light blue eyes and Sunkit- ginger she-cat)

ELDERS: Greenleaf- pale brown she-cat with gentle green eyes

Goldwhisker- golden tom with amber eyes

WINDCLAN

LEADER: Runningstar- pretty swift brown tabby she-cat

DEPUTY: Thorntooth- light brown tom with thorn sharp teeth

MEDICINE-CAT: Barkwing- dark brown tom with one black foot (Sedgepaw)

WARRIORS: Brownclaw- light brown tom with green eyes

Prologue

The moon glistened through the tops of the trees as the cats gathered below. Three leaders stood upon the Great Rock waiting for the last to appear. The stars twinkled up above the trees as cats from ThunderClan, RiverClan, and ShadowClan mingled together. A jet black tom twitched his tail back and forth impatiently. A large white tom stared down at the clans and a light brown tom waited patiently.

"I don't have time for this! Where is WindClan?" Roared the jet black tom.

"Calm yourself, Ragestar. They'll arrive soon enough." The light brown tabby replied casually swiping his large paw over his ear.

Ragestar showed his teeth to the light brown leader and before he could snap a RiverClan cat called," WindClan are here!"

Ragestar's fur flattened as the brown pelt of the WindClan leader jumped on the rock and sat beside the ThunderClan leader. "Let's begin before our fur freezes off."

Ragestar nodded and yowled," Let the gathering begin!" and in a softer tone he growled," Rushstar, you can begin."

The light brown tom bowed his head and said," RiverClan is thriving. The prey is becoming scarce as leaf bare continues. We will be stepping up our patrols to insure we have no trespassers." The brown tom threw aqua glare at Runningstar, the WindClan leader.

"Are you saying you've scented my warriors on your territory?" the brown she-cat hissed, extending her claws.

"No. I am just simply warning you. Any warrior from any clan will be shredded if even a whisker is detected on our territory." The light brown tom meowed cooly to the she-cat. "In addition, we have a new warrior, Oakfeather!"

ShadowClan and ThunderClan cheered the RiverClan warrior's name while the WindClan cats remained silent. "You may go, Whitestar."

The large white tom sat off to the side of the Great Rock and away from the other leaders. The old leader must have not been paying much attention, for he did not reply. He kept his silence and kept his gaze on Robinsong, his daughter, and his new deputy, Shadeheart.

"Whitestar?" Rushstar repeated," You may continue." He laid his tail across the old leader's shoulders. The leader jumped in surprise as it came in contact with him.

"Sorry, ThunderClan is good despite the cold weather, prey is plentiful in the woods. My deputy, Snowheart, was killed a few sunrises ago due to a fox attack. We chased the fox out and it header toward WindClan, so beware Runningstar. My new deputy is Shadeheart" The WindClan leader dipped her head in thanks to the ThunderClan leader as the clans cheered Shadeheart's name and he continued," We have two new apprentices training, they are Beepaw and Icepaw."

All clans cheered the two apprentices names this time. Whitestar flicked his tail toward Runningstar signaling the leader to go next. Whitestar's eyes retuned to Robinsong and her mate and his deputy, Shadeheart as Runningstar gave her report. Robinsong's belly was swollen with Shadeheart's kits, due any day now. The white leader tried to persuade his daughter to stay in the nursery but she refused to miss Shadeheart be formally announced as ThunderClan deputy. Whitestar feared for his daughter because several cats in his clan had white cough. Two caught green cough. His icy gaze slid to the spot where his medicine-cat would be sitting. Owlwing stayed back in the ThunderClan camp to watch over the sick cats in the clan.

"Ragestar, you may continue." Runningstar finished up as Whitestar snapped his thoughts back to the real world. The jet black leader stood and slammed his body into Whitestar's," Out of my way, old fool!" he hissed into Whitestar's ear.

Several cats gasped and yowled their protests when the ShadowClan leader knocked down the old respected Whitestar.

"Silence!" Ragestar yowled, many cats quieted down as the fierce leader continued," I have brought in two new warriors that were once rogues. Firefur and Clawscar!"

Whitestar watched in horror as the two new warriors jumped onto the Great Rock. Firefur had ginger fur, bright as a flame. His claws slid out and extended several mouse lengths away from his paws. His menacing yellow eyes flickered around the clans and his jaws parted to show stained yellow teeth. Clawscar was an enormous ginger tom with ragged fur and a chip missing from his ear. He had three nasty claw marks rank down his smug, broad face. They started just below his left ear and came all the way down to his chin. Whitestar's fur lifted in fear as Ragestar continued," ShadowClan starts as a new clan today, any fierce warrior willing to join us can, but if you are weak," he snarled as he lifted his large paw and scraped it down the side of the Great Rock as he jumped down to where the warrior stood, terrified," I will kill you. We will take what we want, when we want, and any warrior, kit, 'paw, leader, or medicine-cat that stands is our way will be punished. Severely."

"You can't do that!" Runningstream growled from on top of the great rock. Rushstar stood beside her, his neck fur bristling. Whitestar stood and padded to stand beside the other two leaders," Would your one clan try to take out three?" Whitestar snarled.

"Not yet, but one by one, you will die. Your warrior ancestors and your precious warrior code will die with you." Ragestar yowled. He ran toward the trees and his warriors followed him, back to ShadowClan.

"This gathering is over." Runningstar growled. She looked at the two other leaders and meowed," If anything happens to either of your clans, WindClan is by your side."

"RiverClan too." Rushstar growled.

"ThunderClan will fight to the death!" Whitestar yowled.

The nursery shook violently as a cough sounded. Shadeheart paced outside with Whitestar just beside him. The medicine-cat, Owlwing meowed," Goldenpaw, get me some wet moss and catmint."

Whitestar felt his heart plummet to the sandy ground as he heard Owlwing mention catmint, the only medicine to cure Greencough. "Calm down, Whitestar, she only has Whitecough. I'm giving her catmint to prevent her from getting Greencough." Owlwing meowed calmly as she entered the nursery again.

"Robinsong will be alright won't she, Fuzzpelt?" a tiny black tom kit asked his mother.

"I do not know, Blackkit. Go to the elders den with Onekit, Willowkit, and Sootkit, maybe they'll tell you the story of the ancient clans."

"Yes, I love that story!" Willowkit, the pretty silver kit squeaked, already bounding to the elders den with her littermates.

Time went on for what seemed like moons to Whitestar. The nursery shook as another agonizing cough sounded. Owlwing came out with Goldenpaw, but both of their tails were dragging on the sandy earth," Well? How is she?" Shadeheart whimpered as another cough sounded from the nursery.

"She has Greencough, Shadeheart, I cannot cure it. The catmint isn't going to help her now." Owlwing meowed softly, her large golden eyes showing nothing but sorrow and pain.

"I am going to get those kits out of her, but I cannot promise they will live. You and Whitestar may come in and be with her." Owlwing meowed, signaling Goldenpaw to go back to the nursery with her long fluffy tail.

Whitestar's heart ached as he entered the nursery with Shadeheart. Robinsong looked so tiny in her nest. Her eyes and nose were streaming and as she spoke, she wheezed terribly," My love." She raped to Shadeheart. Shadeheart was instantly at her side and Whitestar watched in pain as Owlwing entered and meowed," Robinsong, I need you to help me with all the strength you have, okay?"

Robinsong's head nodded faintly as she pushed as hard as she could," Good, Robinsong, once more." Owlwing meowed softly.

Robinsong winced in pain and a low moan escaped from her mouth as she pushed again, as hard as she could. A kit gently landed onto the ground and Goldenpaw lifted it and licked it fiercely until a tiny wail rose from its tiny pinky mouth. She placed it in the nest where Robinsong lied.

"You only have two more to go, Robinsong, hold on." Owlwing whispered.

"Please don't leave me, Robinson. I'm right her, Whitestar is too." Shadeheart whimpered to his mate. She looked at him feebly as another spasm shook her and another kit was born. It cried almost instantly, roaring like a lion.

Whitestar saw the two tiny kits nuzzle at their mothers body as another spasm came onto her and the last kit was born. "Two she-cats and a tom." Owlwing meowed briefly then licked Robinsong's ears.

"We have to raise these kits together, Robinsong. That was our plan. Don't leave us, my love." Shadeheart meowed, sorrow escaping from him.

"I will always be with you and our kits, Shadeheart. I will watch you all from StarClan. I love you, Shadeheart. Be the father of our kits that I would want you to be." And with one last look at Whitestar, she murmured with her last breath," Goodbye, Whitestar."

Whitestar rose to his paws and left Shadeheart there to mourn for his mate. Owlwing entered the den as Whitestar was leaving; her gaze was sympathetic and full of sorrow for his daughter.

Night entered the camp; Whitestar's warriors avoided his gaze as he moved onto the High Ledge. He gazed into the sky and at the stars for any sign of his daughter. "Whitestar, I am sure she is there, with her mother and littermates." Owlwing meowed softly to her heart broken leader, then continued," The kits were moved into Ferretfur's nest. She'll watch them. Onekit will become an apprentice in less than a moon."

Whitestar nodded, still looking at Silverpelt, he mewed," What did Shadeheart name them?"

"Leopardkit, Lionkit, and Tigerkit." Owlwing meowed," I suppose he named them after the ancient clans in hopes of them being strong. They're so weak, Whitestar."

Whitestar looked at her, astonished at the name of Shadeheart and his daughter's kits. Owlwing was looking toward the stars too, her large golden eyes glazed and her fur bristled. Her meow changed when she said," Darkness is rising. Watch for the stealth of the Leopard, for it can hide itself from your foe, the Tiger's fierceness will save you from the Darkness' ambition, and the Lion's roar will over power the Darkness' cry for power. The Warrior Code stands for what it always should."

Whitestar's fur stood on end when his medicine-cat looked at him," A prophecy? Could it be talking about Leopardkit, Lionkit, and Tigerkit?"

"I believe so, but what does it mean? Will they save us from this so called Darkness, or will the clans parish with the Warrior Code?" Owlwing asked, her eyes reveling she was terrified of what the future will hold for the young kits mewling in the nursery.

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