This is my first story! I hope you like it :)

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Warriors! Just my characters!

CHAPTER ONE:

S T A R S

A B O V E

T H E stars twinkled silently in the sky. The moon seemed to be casting shadows instead of spilling moonlight over Thunderclan territory. Wingpaw observed the sky, eyes reflecting the bright stars. She was lying on her back, paws in the air, just looking. Nearby, Jaypaw, Wingpaw's best friend, gnawed on a mouse. Her eyes studied the bright stars and the moon.

"Will you stop that!" Wingpaw jerked to her paws, "That noise has been going on for ages!"

Jaypaw looked offended, "Sorry, I was just hungry."

Wingpaw snorted, "Good night," before stalking in the apprentices den. She could hear Jaypaw following her, but she had already closed her eyes. Wingpaw felt Jaypaw settle in next to her, but she ignored him. She tried letting the sleep come to her, but that did not work. Soon, the soft snores of the other apprentices nearly lulled her to sleep, but something kept her up. Wingpaw had wanted to look at the stars. She had done so, every night since her father had died. Wildtalon. Wingpaw sighed. It had been a moon ago since Wildtalon had died in a battle. Her heart thumped painfully, remembering Wildtalon's glazed eyes, staring at nothing.

Wingpaw closed her eyes, trying to block out the torrent of thoughts. She needed to get away from the terrifying memories. She sighed and got up, carefully picking her way through the cats. They were sprawled in a heap, snoring. Wingpaw softly padded through the entrance. She sniffed the air. She expected to smell the clean forest air and the fragrance of mice, but instead, the scent of cat burned through her nose. It was Brightpool.

"Hi Wingpaw! Shouldn't you be sleeping?" Brightpool's cheerful chirp brought Wingpaw to attention.

"Oh, hi Brightpool. I just wanted to go for a walk," Wingpaw sounded tired, maybe even a little sad.

Brightpool nodded, "If you need help, just call!" She gave Wingpaw a friendly flick with her tail.

Wingpaw slipped past her, giving a meow of thanks. Her paws led her to a river, close by Shadowclan's territory. She sat, head raised high, and eyes glued to the stars. Wingpaw gave a small tired sigh, and turned her head to the river. She padded over and gazed into the deep sapphire pools. Flicking her tail, Wingpaw leaned over to lap a few drops of water. After she was finished, Wingpaw gazed across the water, over to Shadowclan's territory. The air was mixed with a hint of Shadowclan scent as well as the familiar Thunderclan scent.

Wingpaw gave a small meow and sat by an oak tree, eyes scorching the river.

X X X

Wingpaw woke, jumping at a blackbird's call. Shaking her head clear, she checked the sky. It was light, the sun burning the darkness away. The sky was clear blue. Birds were chirping happily, mice were starting to come out, and Wingpaw could tell Thunderclan was stirring.

"I might as well hunt," She muttered, starting to groom her matted white fur. After grooming, Wingpaw sniffed. The fragrance of mice filled her lungs. She dropped to a crouch. The mouse was close by, Wingpaw could sense it. Then, she saw it. Mouse.

Wingpaw wriggled into position. Ears flat on her head, tail lifted and still, and belly barely skimming the ground, she took a silent step forward. A few more steps forward… Wingpaw was close enough to see the mouse's whiskers. *Leap!* Wingpaw landed squarely on the mouse. Biting its neck, she sat up, proudly displaying her prey.

"Thanks Starclan." She muttered, starting to pad back to camp. Wingpaw slipped through the entrance, immediately getting slammed by Whitepaw and Jaypaw. Whitepaw was Wingpaw's brother. He was training to be a medicine cat. Whitepaw was big and white, and he had the perfect build to be a warrior. On the other hand, Wingpaw was small, and capable of being a medicine cat. * Something must have happened in my birth* Wingpaw thought *Why does Whitepaw get all the strength?* Wingpaw shook her head to clear it. She should be proud of her brother, not jealous.

"Where have you been!" Jaypaw's meow broke through Wingpaw's train of thoughts.

"Hunting," Wingpaw replied, edging to the fresh-kill pile. She dropped the plump mouse on the small pile and trotted back to Jaypaw, "Why do you care?" The words were harsher then she intended.

Jaypaw flinched, "Ok, see you later. Bye Whitepaw. Bye Wingpaw." Wingpaw watched him pad away to Darkwing.

"That's not very nice," Whitepaw gave Wingpaw a soft cuff around the ear.

"Who said I'm nice?" Wingpaw purred, giving her brother a swift lick, "I have training with Leopardfur. See you later!" She was about to pad off, but Whitepaw tugged her back.

"Be good! Dawnstar's going to choose who's going to the gathering.

"Right," Wingpaw had completely forgotten. The gathering was tonight! Out of her five moons of training, she had only attended three. Whitepaw had been unlucky. He'd only been to one, due to sicknesses, "I'll keep that in mind." Wingpaw bounded off, ready to start training.

"Leopardfur!" Wingpaw nearly bowled her over. She sprang back, "Sorry!"

Leoparfur purred and flicked her tail, "I'm coming. Just let me finish this." Leoparfur was eating a blackbird. Feathers were flying everywhere. Wingpaw scraped them together, unaware that she had not eaten yet.

"Can I give these to Waspsting?" The old elder was clearly spoiled. He was the deputy, before Leopardfur.

Leopardfur sighed, "Whatever makes your winged heart content."

Wingpaw took this as a yes and flew to the elder's den. The den was made up of flexible sticks weaved together. The top was coated with dry mud and waxy leaves to keep out the rain. Wingpaw was not sure if it actually did, but she decided not to question the structure.

She peeped inside, "Waspsting?" Wingpaw took a small step in. The yellow-golden tom was grooming, matted fur starting to tame, "I brought feathers," She padded in.

"Thanks Wingpaw," Waspsting's voice was strong. Wingpaw almost wondered why he retired, but then remembered that he was badly wounded and couldn't heal. It was also the battle where Wildtalon had died.

Wingpaw's breath caught as she laid the feathers down in his nest. She was thinking about him again, "There." She retreated as Waspsting tested it.

Waspsting gave a soft purr of thanks and Wingpaw bounded out of the den. She padded to Leopardfur, who was calmly talking to Tigershadow and Dawnstar.

Wingpaw admired Dawnstar. She looked a lot like Wingpaw, and Wingpaw wondered if they were related. Dawnstar had a determined face, a long fluffy tail, and she wasn't big. Like Wingpaw. They both had golden eyes, full of warmth and intelligence.

Leopardfur broke off, realizing Wingpaw had arrived, "There she is," Leopardfur gaze a look to Dawnstar that looked like: I'll talk to you later.

Wingpaw dipped her head politely at Dawnstar and Tigershadow. Dawnstar purred a warm greeting while Tigershadow narrowed his eyes and stalked away.

Wingpaw looked at Leopardfur, puzzled, "What did I do?"

She shook her head. "Let's go. We have battle training first!"

Wingpaw brightened and followed her.

It was just a normal day in Thunderclan. Maybe the last.

Alliances

Thunderclan

Leader: Dawnstar- white she-cat

Deputy: Leopardfur- A golden she-cat with black dots (Apprentice: Wingpaw)

Medicine cat: Tigershadow- A brown tabby tom with hard yellow eyes (Apprentice: Whitepaw)

Warriors (toms and she-cats without kits)

Mouseclaw- light brown tabby tom (Apprentice: Poppypaw)

Iceheart- white she-cat with small tufts of gray fur

Darkwing- black tabby tom (Apprentice: Jaypaw)

Brightpool- tortoiseshell she-cat

Nightfall- gray tabby tom (Apprentice: Frostpaw)

Rainpool- pale tabby tom with black stripes (Apprentice: Sandpaw)

Apprentices (more than six moons old in training to become warriors)

Wingpaw- small white she-cat (mentor: Leopardfur)

Poppypaw- long-haired brown she-cat (Mentor: Mouseclaw)

Jaypaw- Pale gray tom with dark flecks (Mentor: Darkwing)

Frostpaw- Long-haired gray she-cat (Mentor: Nightfall)

Sandpaw- ginger she-cat (Mentor: Rainpool)

Queens (She-cats expecting or nursing kits)

Sootcloud- dark gray she-cat. Mother of Mouseclaw's kits: Silverkit (silver she-cat), Riverkit (White she-cat), and Adderkit (Black tom).

Flowerberry- Ginger she-cat. Expecting Darkwing's kits.

Elders (former warriors and queens, now retired)

Waspsting- Yellow tabby tom

Shadowclan

Leader: Ashstar- gray and white tom (Apprentice: Beetlepaw)

Deputy: Starfall- golden she-cat

Medicine cat: Russetheart- ginger she-cat

Warriors

Reedsong- black tabby tom (Apprentice: Viperpaw)

Lilypetal- cream long-furred she-cat

Hawkswoop- gray tom with black stripes (Apprentice: Thistlepaw)

Amberfang- amber colored she-cat

Jayflight- long-haired gray tom (Apprentice: Shadowpaw)

Eagletalon- brown tabby tom (Apprentice: Graypaw)

Apprentices

Beetlepaw- black tabby tom (mentor: Ashstar)

Viperpaw- long-furred brown, black, and white she-cat (mentor: Reedsong)

Thistlepaw- Gray and white tom with fur always sticking up (mentor: Hawkswoop)

Shadowpaw- Black she-cat (mentor: Jayflight)

Graypaw- light gray tom (mentor: Eagletalon)

Queens

Sweetsong- light brown she-cat. Expecting Reedsong's kits.

Elders

Tanglewish- black tom

Dreamcatcher- white she-cat with brown stripes

Windclan

Leader: Cedarstar- dark gray tom

Deputy: Tawnyleap- brown she-cat (Apprentice: Swiftpaw)

Medicine cat: Cloudfoot- white, black and brown she-cat

Warriors

Milkystripe- light gray she-cat

Dovestrike- dark gray tom (Apprentice: Ivypaw)

Waterleap- light gray she-cat (Apprentice: Rockpaw)

Bluestripe- Blue-gray tom (Apprentice: Mistpaw)

Moonshine- silver she-cat (Apprentice: Twistpaw)

Apprentices

Swiftpaw- light brown tom (mentor: Tawnyleap)

Ivypaw- dark brown she-cat (mentor: Dovestrike)

Rockpaw- dark gray tom (mentor: Waterleap)

Mistpaw- light gray she-cat (mentor: Bluestripe)

Twistpaw- dark brown tom (mentor: Moonshine)

Queens

Firemist- pale ginger she-cat. Mother of Dovestrike's kits: Windkit (brown tom), Volekit (light brown she-cat), and Seedkit (gray she-cat).

Elders

Birdsong- once pretty gray she-cat

Riverclan

Leader: Poolstar- gray and white she-cat

Deputy: Fearstrike- black tabby tom (Apprentice: Flickpaw)

Medicine cat: Shadowflight- black she-cat

Warriors

Robinwing- ginger she-cat (apprentice: Dodgepaw)

Sunstrike- golden tabby tom

Hollyblaze- brown she-cat (apprentice: Leafpaw)

Wingedheart- white she-cat (apprentice: Lilypaw)

Darkpool- black tabby tom

Apprentices

Flickpaw- ginger tom (mentor: Fearstrike)

Dodgepaw- black tom (mentor: Robinwing)

Leafpaw- brown and white she-cat (mentor: Hollyblaze)

Lilypaw- white she-cat (mentor: Wingedheart)

Queens

Weedclaw- Dark ginger she-cat. Expecting Darkpool's kits.

Elders

Clawstalker- light gray tom

Grayleaf- dark gray she-cat

A/N: I hope you like my first story! I don't know if I did good on it, so please R&R! If you do, please be nice.