Disclaimer: As much as I wish I did, I do not own Warrior Cats.

Hello all! This is my first go at writing fanfiction so would be really interested to see what you guys think. Any constructive criticism to help me improve would be much appreciated!

I had a major deliberation on where to base my story, it was either going to be ThunderClan or ShadowClan but I eventually decided to set it in ShadowClan because I felt like they needed some sort of triumph and act of heroism after being stereotyped as the 'evil' Clan for so long. It is based approx. 6 moons after the Battle with the Dark Forest. (The Three have also revealed their powers to the Clans). Enjoy!

Series Blurb:

The war against the Dark Forest has been won and many moons of peace have followed. Border skirmishes are few and there has not been a full scale battle since. Tucked safely away in the pine forest are Emberkit and her littermates, young ShadowClan cats that dream of the day they will be made warriors. But Emberkit struggles to come to terms with the dark history of her Clan.

Yes, she has heard the stories of the great Firestar and the Three, the heroic ThunderClan warriors, but she has also heard the tales of Brokenstar and Tigerstar, terrible, power-hungry cats. In fact, all her Clan seems to be famous for are tyrants and villains and Emberkit is determined for this to change. But an old enemy is watching and waiting in the dark, preparing to strike whilst in the wake of tragedy, a daunting prophecy arises. The Clans will learn once again that the most heroic of cats can rise from even the most unexpected of places.

The roaring fire may have died but the embers burn on, to fight the final shard of darkness that

forever lurks within the shadows.


Allegiances

ShadowClan

Leader: Rowanstar (ginger tom)

Deputy: Tawnypelt (tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes)

Medicine Cat: Littlecloud (very small tabby tom)

Warriors:

Oakfur (small brown tom)

Smokefoot (black tom)

Toadfoot (dark brown tom)

Crowfrost (black and white tom)

Ratscar (brown tom with long scar across his back)

Snowbird (pure white she-cat)

Owlclaw (light brown tabby tom)

Shrewfoot (grey she-cat with black feet)

Kinkfur (tabby she-cat with long fur that sticks out at all angles)

Scorchfur (dark grey tom)

Tigerheart (dark brown tabby tom)

Pinenose (black she-cat)

Ferretclaw (cream and grey tom)

Apprentice: Fawnpaw

Dawnpelt (cream furred she-cat)

Apprentice: Nettlepaw

Apprentices:

Fawnpaw (light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes)

Nettlepaw (sturdy grey striped tom with green eyes)

Badgerpaw (black and white striped tom with amber eyes)

Honeypaw (dappled golden she-cat with green eyes)

Talonpaw (brown tom with sharp yellow eyes)

Queens:

Ivytail (black, white and tortoiseshell she-cat) mother to Frostkit (grey she-kit with frosty blue eyes and two white paws) and Vinekit (brown and grey tom with amber eyes).

Olivenose (tortoiseshell she-cat) mother to Emberkit (reddish brown she-cat with dark grey paws and tail tip), Adderkit (grey tabby tom with green eyes) and Birdkit (light brown dappled she-kit with blue eyes).

Applefur (mottled brown she-cat) expecting Tigerheart's kits.

Elders:

Cederheart (dark grey tom)

Tallpoppy (long-legged light brown she-cat)

Whitewater (white she-cat with long fur, blind in one eye)

ThunderClan

Leader: Bramblestar (dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes)

Deputy: Squirrelflight (dark ginger she-cat with green eyes)

Medicine Cat: Jayfeather (grey tabby tom with blind blue eyes)

Apprentice: Amberpaw

Warriors:

Brackenfur (golden brown tabby tom)

Cloudtail (long haired white tom with blue eyes)

Brightheart (white she-cat with ginger patches)

Millie (striped grey tabby she cat)

Thornclaw (golden brown tabby tom)

Sorreltail (tortoiseshell and white she-cat)

Leafpool (light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes)

Spiderleg (long-limbed black tom with a brown underbelly and amber eyes)

Birchfall (light brown tabby tom)

Whitewing (white she-cat with green eyes)

Berrynose (cream coloured tom )

Hazeltail (small grey and white she-cat)

Mousewhisker (grey and white tom)

Apprentice: Lilypaw

Lionblaze (golden tabby tom)

Poppyfrost (tortoiseshell she-cat)

Foxleap (dark red tom)

Toadstep (black and white tom)

Rosepetal (cream furred she-cat)

Briarlight (dark brown she-cat)

Bumblestripe (pale grey tom with black stripes)

Ivypool (silver and white tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes)

Apprentice: Seedpaw

Cherrythorn (ginger she-cat with amber eyes)

Apprentice: Dewpaw

Moletooth (brown and cream tom)

Apprentice: Snowpaw

Apprentices:

Lilypaw (dark tabby she-cat with white patches)

Seedpaw (very pale ginger she-cat)

Snowpaw (white tom with amber eyes)

Amberpaw (pale grey she-cat with amber eyes, apprentice Medicine cat)

Dewpaw (grey tom with amber eyes)

Queens:

Dovewing (pale grey she-cat with blue eyes) mother to Bumblestripe's kits.

Blossomfall (tortoiseshell and white she-cat) mother to Thornclaw's kits.

Cinderheart (grey tabby she-cat) expecting Lionblaze's kits.

Daisy (cream furred she-cat)

Elders:

Sandstorm (light ginger she-cat with green eyes)

Greystripe (grey tabby tom with amber eyes)

Dustpelt (dark brown tabby tom)

RiverClan

Leader: Mistystar (grey she-cat with blue eyes)

Deputy: Reedwhisker (black tom)

Medicine Cat: Mothwing (dappled golden she-cat)

Apprentice: Willowshine

Warriors:

Greymist (pale grey tabby she-cat)

Mintfur (light grey tabby tom)

Icewing (white she-cat with blue eyes)

Pebblefoot (mottled grey tom)

Mosspelt (tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes)

Hollowflight (dark brown tabby tom)

Apprentice: Darkpaw

Mallownose (light brown tabby tom)

Troutstream (pale grey tabby she-cat)

Apprentice: Marshpaw

Robinwing (tortoiseshell and white tom)

Duskfur (brown tabby she-cat)

Grasspelt (light brown tom)

Mossyfoot (brown and white she-cat)

Apprentice: Stonepaw

Rushtail (light brown tabby she-cat)

Apprentices:

Darkpaw (black she-cat with amber eyes)

Marshpaw (mottled brown tom with green eyes)

Stonepaw (black and grey tabby tom with blue eyes)

Queens:

Minnowtail (dark grey she-cat)

Petalfur (grey and white she-cat)

Elders:

Dapplenose (mottled grey she-cat)

Pouncetail (ginger and white tom)

WindClan

Leader: Onestar (brown tabby tom)

Deputy: Crowfeather (dark grey tom)

Medicine Cat: Kestrelflight (mottled grey tom)

Warriors:

Owlwhisker (light brown tabby tom)

Whitetail (small white she-cat)

Gorsetail (very pale grey and white tom with blue eyes)

Weaselfur (ginger tom with white paws)

Harespring (brown and white tom)

Apprentice: Rainpaw

Leaftail (dark tabby tom with amber eyes)

Heathertail (light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes)

Swallowtail (dark grey she-cat)

Whiskernose (light brown tom)

Apprentice: Eaglepaw

Furzepelt (grey and white she-cat)

Apprentice: Pricklepaw

Boulderfur (large pale grey tom)

Apprentice: Finchpaw

Apprentices:

Finchpaw (light brown tabby she-cat)

Eaglepaw (golden brown tabby tom)

Pricklepaw (dark brown tom with green eyes)

Rainpaw (dark grey-blue tabby she-cat)

Queens:

Sunstrike (tortoiseshell she-cat with large white mark on her forehead)

Sedgewhisker (light brown tabby she-cat)

Elders:

Webfoot (dark grey tabby tom)

Tornear (tabby tom)

Cats/Animals outside of Clans…

Smoky (muscular grey-and-white tom who lives in a barn at the horseplace)

Floss (small grey-and-white she-cat who lives at the horseplace)

Breezepelt (dark grey tom, former WindClan warrior)

Nightcloud (black she-cat, former WindClan warrior)

Sol (patchy tortoiseshell and white tom with yellow eyes)

Midnight (a stargazing badger that lives by the sea)


Prologue

A light breeze whistled through the tree tops, causing the trees to sway gently in the darkness. A handful of stars glinted in the night sky above and the moon bathed the sandy floor in a silver glow.

Ferns rustled on one side of the clearing. Slowly, a dark shape slunk from the shadows, pausing now and again to taste the air. It circled the open ground a few times before perching itself upon a smooth boulder in the centre of the glade. The moon illuminated its lean shape and piercing yellow eyes as the cat calmly curled its tail around its paws and waited.

Time passed, but still the creature sat, washing its paws patiently. Suddenly, it froze mid-lick. The cat instinctively raised its hackles. On the opposite side of the clearing, deep in the bushes, it could just distinguish the faint gleam of hostile eyes. The cat on the boulder raised its head and invited the stranger forward with a flick of its tail. Wearily, the eyes obeyed and padded forward into the moonlight revealing a broad-shouldered tom. As if on cue, it was followed by another cat, this time a small tabby, and the bushes rustled as yet more cats prowled into the clearing in a steady stream.

Their ragged coats clung to their lean muscles and many pelts were laced with scars. A few of them were glancing nervously from side to side as if suspecting an attack. Tails twitching restlessly, they gathered around the boulder, casting untrusting glares at the cat stood upon it. Tension began to build as it waited for the newcomers to settle. Keen to break the uneasy silence, the cat cleared its throat and began to speak.

"Greetings," it began in a soft tone, "I'm glad you decided to come."

"We're here," the broad-shouldered tom said harshly from the foot of the boulder, "but that doesn't mean we'll stay."

The boulder cat dipped his head. "Of course, Barrel, but I have a feeling you'll want to stick around after you hear what I have to say."

A curious muttering broke out among the cats, broken only by a single yowl.

"Well, say it!" Someone demanded from the crowd.

"Very well," the yellow-eyed cat replied, not losing calm for a second. "I take it that you know of the group of cats that recently moved to the lake; the 'Clan' cats." The muttering quickly escalated into angry hisses and snarls at the mention of their hated enemy. "I thought as much," he said and continued. "I know of the bitter injustice that has been cast upon you all, of the way the Clans practically forced you away from your lakeside homes. How they threw you into almost prey-less territories where badgers and foxes roam, prowling for easy meals." The rogues narrowed their eyes; some bowed their heads in shame. "I feel your pain as I received exactly the same treatment; I offered my help, but their pride and scorn clouded their judgement. They chased me away and I was left to fend for myself; utterly alone. They will rue that day. I have made it my mission to regain my pride that was stolen by the Clans, giving you back your territories in the process." A few yowls of approval escaped from the crowd and the eyes of the cats began to glint with sly approval. Barrel spoke out again.

"And what, you'll become our leader to bring us home to victory? The rogues take orders from no cat!" he said defiantly. His words were followed with a wake of muttering.

"I have no intention of leading you!" The mysterious, yellow-eyed cat explained, his voice much firmer now and growing in volume. "I only want what is the best for all of us, we can work together to regain what was once ours. We can train and fight to annihilate our greatest foes and go on to live long prey-rich lives."

"And just how do you plan on doing that?" a she-cat challenged from the crowd.

"Ah," the tom replied, "Do not fear my allies, for I have a plan that will teach them a lesson that will scar their lives for all eternity. A plan so full of skill and cunning, it has no other option than to succeed. A plan in which we, united together, can bring an end to the Clans!"

His final yowl was lost amidst the sudden roars of the rogue cats. They were no longer scared, no longer nervous, their pelts radiated with fierce joy and their eyes were mad with the hunger for revenge.

"We'll flail them!" Some cat shouted.

"Let's burn their camps!"

"Death to the Clans!" A ragged she-cat screeched. "Death to the Clans!"

"Death to the Clans! Death to the Clans! Death to the Clans!" the rogues chanted triumphantly to the watching night sky. The cat upon the boulder gazed upon the ensuing chaos, a barely suppressed smile playing on his lips.

"Then let us go and prepare!" he meowed, landing neatly at the foot of his rock and starting out across the clearing.

"Wait!" Heads turned to face the thin tortoiseshell that had spoken. "How do we know to trust you? For all we know, you could be a Clan spy! We don't even know your name!"

"Ah, you can trust me alright," the mysterious cat mewed softly, "We all want the same things don't we? Revenge? Besides, I don't think the Clans even know you exist." The cat had now reached the edge of the bushes but did not break stride.

"Oh, and as for my name," he said without looking back. "You can call me Sol."


*insert dramatic music here*

So yeah, you can kinda guess who the main villain is going to be! Chapter 1 will be uploaded ASAP, I'm not really that busy so should be able to update fairly frequently feel free to review and give me pointers/tips etc.

Thanks for reading, sorry for any mistakes made!

-plugmonkey