Hello! And welcome to my take on the 100 themes challenge. There are four main Clans, Mountainclan, Lakeclan, Moorclan, and Forestclan, and they each have their own stories. In this introductory chapter, all four will be shown. But this is going to be the only chapter that this happens in, so don't worry.

Strap in kids, this is gunna be a long one.

Mountainclan

Dawn poked through the canopy overhead, dappling the mountain's floor with sunlight. The sun took its time to crawl upwards in the sky. Greenleaf was bright and in full swing. Two toms padded up the slope leading to a large cave opening. "Do you think anyone will be awake?" The brown tom asked his companion.

The large, black and white tom pondered then said, "Besides the morning watch? Not that I can think of. It's too early for a morning patrol."

"I… guess I'm going to be the one appointing those from now on, aren't I?"

"It seems so, Hawkstar."

Hawkstar chuckled, feeling the anxiety rise in him. The young tom just became the leader of Mountainclan. The former leader, Sharpstar, switched out what cat was going to become his successor with his last breath. Hawkfeather was chosen over Lionstep. The news sent a wave of shock through the clan. Hawkfeather was only 14 moons old, Lionstep beating him in age and experience by six more moons. Badgerfoot, the medicine cat, was the only one who believed in him. "I wonder what they'll say," Hawkstar muttered.

"They will get over it. Like I said, Sharpstar knew what he was doing when he chose you," Badgerfoot replied. He looked Hawkstar deep in the eyes. Hawkstar glanced back in an attempt to search his medicine cat's gaze for an explanation. Badgerfoot had yet to tell Hawkstar what that reasoning was.

"Are you sad?" Hawkstar asked.

Badgerfoot looked up to the orange sky, in sudden and deep thought. "I suppose. But I also understand how Starclan operates. I find it hard to believe they'd let such a leader die before his time."

"How many lives did he have left?"

"Two. Only two," Badgerfoot sighed, "But the sickness took such a strong hold on him, there was nothing I could do. His body failed him." Sharpstar had battled Blackcough— a much more serious version of Greencough— for a long time.

Hawkstar's ears fell. "That's quite a morbid way for Starclan to summon him," He replied. A chill ran down his spine. Is that going to happen to me? He thought.

They approach the cave's large opening and the two cats sitting on either side. "Good morning, Badgerfoot, Hawkfea—" A blue tom cut himself off and puffed out his chest, "Hawkstar."

The leader dipped his head to them in response and passed by. Inside, the Clan was silent. All his clan mates were in their dens, fast asleep. Badgerfoot nodded to Hawkstar and headed towards his own den. Hawkstar's eyes flitted to the lifeless body of a grey tom lying within the medicine cat's den. He watched for a moment as Badgerfoot gathered some herbs to place over top of him. When the large tom went to grab for Sharpstar's tail with his jaw, Hawkstar looked away. He padded to the warriors' den to fetch Cardinalwing. He preferred not to watch the removal of the body.

Forestclan

A tortoiseshell she-cat bounded up the trunk of a tree and perched herself on a low hanging branch. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, please gather at High-Branch for a Clan meeting," She called out into the morning. A group of cats spilt out into the camp, chirping with curiosity to each other. Two kittens stumbled out of the nursery. The leader of Forestclan, Oakstar, looked down at them with warmth in her eyes. "Today, I am proud to announce that we have two new apprentices joining our ranks. Sunkit, Fawnkit," She said and flicked her tail towards them, "please come and stand before me."

Their eyes lit up as they give their fur a few extra licks before hopping forward. Their parents glowed with happiness, watching from the back of the crowd.

"From this day on, I pronounce you Sunpaw and Fawnpaw. Sunpaw," Oakstar nodded to the golden tabby she-cat with bright eyes, "your mentor will be Duskthroat." She signalled a dark furred tom to step forward. "Duskthroat, you have proven yourself to be very valuable to this Clan. I hope you will pass on all you know to this apprentice." The tom touched noses with his new apprentice. They whispered something to each other and move to the side.

"Fawnpaw, your mentor will be Squirrelfoot." The spotted she-cat looked to her side at a tawny pelted cat. "Squirrelfoot, you quickly adapted to becoming my deputy. I hope you can teach your skill on to this young cat," Oakstar purred. She signalled for Squirrelfoot to approach. Squirrelfoot twitched her tail and bent her head down for Fawnpaw. "I welcome you both as apprentices to Forestclan," Oakstar said, swaying her tail and dismissing her Clan.

Owlclaw watched from deep within the nursery, bitterness grumbling in her chest. The former deputy's tail lashed. At the opening, her two kits squabbled to each other.

"You won't feel any better forcing yourself to watch every little thing Squirrelfoot does," Said a white she-cat called Snowfall.

Owlclaw narrowed her eyes at her and hmphs. "Mama!" mewed her daughter, "Redkit says Papa won't be my mentor." The two warm-pelted kits stumbled over to Owlclaw.

Redkit cuffed his sister's ear. "Give it a rest, Flamekit! He can only have one apprentice at a time."

The pale tabby sighed and scooped her kits towards her, lapping at their heads a couple times. "He's right, Flamekit, your father will be very busy now," She explained.

Flamekit growled, "That's no fair! He's my father."

"I know but—"

Owlclaw was interrupted by the voice of Duskthroat. "Hello everyone," He said. Sunpaw peaked inside from behind him. The queens mumbled greetings and his kittens jumped up to rush to his paws. "Cloverheart, I brought Sunpaw to say hi. We're going out to check out the territory," He meowed to the yellow tabby behind Owlclaw. "I'll stay here with these two if you'd like to stretch your legs," The tom muttered into his 'mates' ear.

She swallowed hard and stood. Her pelt felt hot as she escaped from the cramped nursery and towards the medicine cat den. "Can't sleep… I've been…" Owlclaw mumbled to herself.

Her relationship with Duskthroat had been a mistake. They were best friends during their apprenticeship and got a bit too close as warriors. A few days later, Owlclaw found out she was expecting his kits. Duskthroat was ecstatic, but Owlclaw felt nothing but disappointment in herself. Her deputy status was stripped from her— something she had been clawing her way toward her whole life.

Approaching the den, her ears swivelled forward to pick up voices already inside. "...but that's all I can make of it. I think it has something to do with that new apprentice."

"That much is obvious… can't Starclan just be coherent for once?"

How immature! Owlclaw gritted her teeth, standing outside the den. Squirrelfoot's voice sent a wave of frustration throughout her. How could she be any use as a deputy?

"In time, we will understand," Oakstar said, much calmer than the deputy. "I just hope that this doesn't mean any in-fighting…" Suddenly, the tortoiseshell appeared at the entrance to the den. The leader and former deputy locked eyes for a heartbeat. Owlclaw felt her pelt growing hot once again. "She's all yours," Oakstar said, strolling past. Squirrelfoot followed.

Owlclaw shuffled into the herb filled den. She stared blankly at Honeypool, the medicine cat, then stutters out, "Poppy seeds… I can't sleep."

Lakeclan

Ripplestream blinked slowly. Her apprentice did as well. Her tail swayed. He mirrored. She lifted up her left paw out of curiosity, but he didn't. "Hmm," She observed, "I guess mimicry isn't your chosen way of learning." He stared back at her with blank, blue eyes. Icepaw didn't respond. He couldn't respond to what he couldn't hear. "Perhaps if it was, this would go a bit smoother…" The silver tabby sighed.

"Swanheart, please!" A male voice cut through the camp's clearing, dragging Ripplestream's attention away from her apprentice. A slim white she-cat stalked across the damp ground. Behind her, a brown tom with wide eyes called out to her.

Swanheart turned sharply. "No, Rushingstar, I am retiring from my warrior duties. I cannot serve my clan with this stress on my shoulders," She hissed with a curled lip.

Ripplestream watched, weary of the growing crowd giving their attention to the screeching she-cat. Icepaw sat beside her, ears straightforward and watching his mother as well. His eyes held no readable emotion.

"Your son has been made an apprentice! A medicine cat apprentice. Are you not proud of him?" Rushingstar pleaded.

The white molly lashed her tail. "He can't hear," She spat, "there is nothing she can teach him." Swanheart jabbed her tail towards the medicine cat. Ripplestream's heart lurched in her chest.

Her brother paused briefly and then dipped his head in defeat. "As you wish, Swanheart," He said, bounding up a large, shiny stone. "All cats old enough to swim, I ask you to gather at the Shining Stone for a brief meeting."

A small group gathered below their leader. Swanheart sat and impatiently tapped her tail.

"Swanheart," Rushingstar began, "is it truly your wish to leave the life of a warrior and join the elders?"

"It is," The she-cat affirmed.

"Then I call upon Starclan to grant you many moons of rest and relief. Thank you for your service." With a wave of his tail, Rushingstar swiftly cut the meeting to an end. He disappeared behind the stone and into his den before the Clan could begin to weakly call out Swanheart's name.

Ripplestream did not join in. She beckoned her new apprentice to follow her into the den and whispered, "I'm so sorry."

Moorclan

"Juniperleaf, what is this?" A spiky tom said to a black she-cat holding a small kitten in her jaw.

"It's a kitten. I found her by the border near Twolegplace, no other feline scent to be found," Juniperleaf replies, muffled by the fur in her mouth.

He narrowed his eyes. "So you brought her back here? Another mouth to feed in these conditions," He retorted.

"Don't be so heartless!"

"Don't be such a fool," The tom snapped, "It's probably a kittypet's kit. Soon, the mother will come looking and lead its Twoleg into our Clan as well."

"Alright, Alright. Let's stop this fighting. Let me see her." A tall she-cat interrupted, stepping between the two. She squinted to examine the kit. "She looks strong. Strong but young— definitely not old enough to survive on her own."

Juniperleaf suggested, "We should bring her to Larkwing. Perhaps it will soothe her pain from losing Dustkit."

"Maybe…" Swiftstar, the tall cat, pondered this. The kitten squirmed around in

Juniperleaf's grasp, batting at the air with her tiny paws.

"I think it'll just be another hassle," The grey tom mumbled, turning away from the two.

"You think everything is a hassle, Thistlefur," Juniperleaf called out to him as he padded away. He responded with a lash of his tail.

"We're taking her back to Larkwing. It'll be up to her to decide whether to accept or deny the kit," Swiftstar stated, nodding to the black she-cat.

She nodded back and followed her leader back to camp.

In the nursery, Larkwing laid in the back with her son, absentmindedly lapping at her paws. Juniperleaf pushed her way in through the dry grass and plopped the kitten down gently. The queen looked at the kit, up at the warrior, and then blinked. "What is this? Prey?" She croaked.

The black kit was pushed forward a bit. "I've brought you a daughter," Juniperleaf purred.

Larkwing, with a steady gaze on the bundle of black fluff, rose and crept over to it. She gave it a few sniffs, and then tenderly lapped the cheek. It mewled out and fell over. The queen suppressed a chuckle. "She's tiny," Larkwing breathed.

Juniperleaf nodded.

"She was…?"

"Left all alone," The warrior answered.

Larkwing echoed, "Alone. Poor thing. She'll stay with me." She grabbed the kit by her scruff and carried her over to a moss nest. Juniperleaf padded after her.

"What will you name her?"

The brown tabby contemplated this, and then responded, "Her name will be Rookkit."