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Allegiances
ShadowClan
Leader: Oakstar- ginger tom
Deputy: Scorchtail- pale gray tom with burn scars on his tail (Quickpaw)
Medicine Cat: Poppyclaw- black she-cat
Warriors:
Redpelt- dark red tom
Toadleap- tortoiseshell she-cat
Raggedfur- white long-furred tom (Starlingpaw)
Lakemist- gray and white she-cat
Ratpelt- dark brown tabby tom (Birdpaw)
Pinefur- mottled black and brown she-cat
Shrewfoot- dark gray tom with amber eyes
Darkcloud- smoky black she-cat (Rockpaw)
Blizzardpelt- white and light gray tom (Fishpaw)
Jack- dark brown tom, former kittypet
Apprentices:
Quickpaw- pale tabby she-cat
Starlingpaw- white, brown, and gray she-cat
Birdpaw- white and brown she-cat
Rockpaw- dark gray tom
Fishpaw- silver tom
Queens:
Palestripe- pale gray tabby she-cat, mother to Scorchtail's kits: Marshkit (blue-gray tom), Goldenkit (golden she-kit with white paws, chest, and underbelly), Applekit (pale gray tabby she-kit), and Tigerkit (mottled orange, white, and black she-kit)
Duskpelt: dark gray she-cat, mother to Ratpelt's kits: Nightkit (dark gray tom) and Scarkit (dark brown she-kit with a ragged ear)
May: small cream and russet she-cat, former kittypet and mate to Jack
Elders:
Dawnheart: cream-furred she-cat
Juniperclaw: gray tom
Silvertuft- silver tabby tom
RiverClan
Leader: Petalstar- gray and white she-cat with amber eyes
Deputy: Rushtail- black tom
Medicine Cat: Reedfire- pale gray tom (Nettlepaw)
Warriors:
Stormclaw- ginger tom
Shimmermist- black she-cat
Mossflower- tortoiseshell she-cat (Pebblepaw)
Stonepelt- gray tom (Shadepaw)
Darkflower- dark brown she-cat (Hollowpaw)
Blackfur- black tom
Mallowleaf- pale tabby she-cat
Pounceclaw- black-and-white tom
Loudfoot- white she-cat (Streampaw)
Sunclaw- bright ginger tom
Mistypelt- dark gray she-cat
Grassfur- brown tom (Crookedpaw)
Beetleleg- black she-cat
Mothwhisker- dusky brown tom
Dawnfur- pale gray she-cat
Apprentices:
Nettlepaw- pale brown tom
Pebblepaw- gray tom
Shadepaw- smoky black, orange, and white she-cat
Hollowpaw- white she-cat
Streampaw- silver tom
Crookedpaw- brown tabby she-cat with a broken tail
Queens:
Leopardclaw- gray dappled she-cat, mother to Rushtail's kits: Breezekit (gray dappled she-cat) and Ashkit (dark gray tabby tom)
Clearstream- pale gray tabby she-cat, expecting Sunclaw's kits
Elders:
Boulderfall- gray tabby tom
Poolsplash- blue-gray and white she-cat
Frogleap- tortoiseshell she-cat
ThunderClan
Leader: Honeystar- white she-cat with yellow splotches
Deputy: Eagletalon- gray and black she-cat with yellow eyes
Medicine Cat: Silverfur- silver and white tom
Warriors:
Snowstorm- white tom
Amberdrop- ginger and white she-cat
Raintail- gray tom
Molenose- brown and cream tom
Cherryheart- tortoiseshell and white she-cat
Hawkfeather- black she-cat (Turtlepaw)
Brackenheart- golden tabby tom
Fernpelt- gray tabby she-cat
Cloudstorm- white tom (Shortpaw)
Thorncloud- light brown tom
Dustclaw- dusky brown she-cat
Tallear- black and brown tom with unusually big ears (Bluepaw)
Grayfur- gray she-cat
Frostspike- light gray and white tom
Jumpfoot- black tom
Apprentices:
Sandpaw- pale ginger tom
Turtlepaw- tortoiseshell she-cat
Shortpaw- brown short-furred tom
Bluepaw- bluish-gray tom
Volepaw- pale golden she-cat
Queens:
Foxpelt- russet she-cat, mother of Cloudstorm's kits: Squirrelkit (russet she-kit) and Sleetkit (white she-cat)
Daisyleaf- creamy white she-cat, mother to Jumpfoot's kits: Ravenkit (black she-cat), Patchkit (black and white tom), and Dovekit (creamy white tom)
Mouseclaw- brown she-cat, expecting Thorncloud's kits
Elders:
Fernsong- yellow tabby tom
Sparkfur- orange tabby she-cat
Larkwing- black tom
WindClan
Leader: Rabbitstar- brown and white tom
Deputy: Brackenfrond- golden brown tabby she-cat
Medicine Cat: Whitefur- white tom (Finchflight)
Warriors:
Webclaw- gray tom
Hareleap- dusky brown she-cat
Brightwhisker- ginger she-cat (Fernpaw)
Spidereye- black tom
Swiftfoot- pale yellow she-cat (Antpaw)
Dustfur- mottled gray tom
Heatherclaw- pale ginger she-cat
Weaselpelt- white and brown tom (Acornpaw)
Robinfeather- brown tabby she-cat with white splotches (Whiskerpaw)
Furzepelt- gray tom (Badgerpaw)
Hollowlog- white tom
Flyheart- pale gray tabby she-cat
Kestrelshell- brown tom (Flowerpaw)
Skyheart- brown she-cat
Apprentices:
Antpaw- gray and black tom
Whiskerpaw- brown she-cat
Badgerpaw- black and white tom
Flowerpaw- gray and white she-cat
Fernpaw- mottled gray she-cat
Acornpaw- brown tom
Herbleaf- mottled ginger she-cat
Queens:
Wingflight- gray she-cat, mother to Dustfur's kits: Graykit (gray she-cat) and Spottedkit (gray tom with darker gray spots)
Gorseclaw- pale ginger she-cat, mother to Spidereye's kits: Leafkit (brown tom), Swallowkit (dark gray she-cat), and Emberkit (gray tom with black paws)
Elders:
Sedgeleaf- light brown tom
Sunpelt- dark ginger she-cat
Brownfur- brown tom with darker flecks
Chapter One
"ShadowClan! Attack!"
Tigerkit rushed forward with her littermates in a surge toward the group elders who were lying in the gentle newleaf sun. She pounced eagerly on an unsuspecting Juniperclaw, digging her soft kit claws into his thick gray fur. He grunted, twisting to see Tigerkit pummel his spine with tiny paws while squealing, "We've almost got them!"
Her brother, Marshkit, was balancing on Silvertuft, his jaws twisted in a snarl.
"You'll never beat us, RiverClan!" He hooked his paws around Silvertuft's shoulders, trying desperately to stagger the old silver tabby. Silvertuft fell dramatically, swiping tiredly at Marshkit, who rolled away as the tom fell.
"Oh no! You're too strong," Silvertuft groaned, amusement lighting up his blue eyes. Marshkit stood as tall as he could on his short legs, head held high.
"ShadowClan is the strongest of all the clans!" He proclaimed. Suddenly, his paws were swept out from under him as Dawnheart, the third elder, reached out from where she was getting swarmed by Goldenkit and Applekit, unbalancing the now-surprised gray kit.
"Never turn your back on a RiverClan warrior!" Dawnheart said as Goldenkit batted her ears. Marshkit struggled into a standing position, hiding his embarrassment with a rally call to his littermates.
"We can't give up!" He mewed. He renewed his attacks on Silvertuft while Tigerkit gripped Juniperclaw's tail in her tiny teeth, shaking it back and forth like a mouse. Applekit and Goldenkit finally got Dawnheart to fall over, the kits falling off her back.
"ShadowClan is too strong," Dawnheart panted to her denmates. "We surrender."
Marshkit squealed in victory, rolling Goldenkit over playfully, their full melding into one gray and golden ball. Tigerkit let go of Juniperclaw, standing on the edge of the rocks that were embedded in the side of ShadowClan's camp. From there you could see the entire clearing. It was a common place for the elders and senior warriors to rest and share tongues, especially on a warm newleaf day like this.
As Applekit joined in on the tussle, making Marshkit retaliate with a few clumsy paw swipes, Tigerkit couldn't help but feel proud of her clan. She may only be two moons old, but she knew her clan was the best around the lake. Birds sung in the dark green pine trees that encircled the ShadowClan camp, the sun setting behind the trees and casting the surrounding wisps of clouds bright pink and orange. The warriors that came and went on patrols and various duties were illuminated by the setting sun, their fur glossy and sleek. Tigerkit puffed out her chest when she saw her father, Scorchtail, walk into camp loaded with prey along with the rest of his patrol. He deposited his prey on the pile, then glanced around the camp. His eyes lit up when he saw Tigerkit standing at the edge of the rock. He padded over, bounding up next to Tigerkit. Tigerkit clambered onto his wide shoulders, clinging to his gray fur. Marshkit, Goldenkit, and Applekit broke apart, racing up to their father and all clamoring at once about the activities of the morning so far. Scorchtail purred, nosing Marshkit away from the edge of the rock were he came close to falling.
"It sounds like the four of you had a busy day," he commented.
"We did!" Goldenkit piped up. Bits of pine needles and leaves were stuck in her fur from her wrestling match with Marshkit and Applekit. Applekit was sitting off to the side, carefully grooming every bit of debris from her pale tabby fur. She couldn't stand having a dirty pelt, though she still loved to wrestle with her littermates.
"Does your mother know you're bothering the elders?" Scorchtail asked, whisking his tail through the air.
"Oh, they're not bothering anyone," Dawnheart spoke up, stretching her forepaws in front of her. "We love to have them around."
"Yeah. Who else would entertain us with stories about a wayward frog?" Juniperclaw said, amused. Marshkit huffed.
"I only fell in the pond! Besides, I did catch the frog," he retorted.
"Yeah, you wish. You got kicked in the nose," Goldenkit teased.
"Did not!" Marshkit protested. Tigerkit broke in from her perch on Scorchtail.
"You had a big bruise on your nose for days!"
"Did not!" Marshkit repeated desperately. He jumped forward, knocking Tigerkit off Scorchtail and tumbling her into the dirt. She pummeled him with her hind legs, trying desperately to get him off her. She landed a successful blow to his stomach, making him grunt and fall back. She rolled him onto his back, pressing her paws into his shoulders.
"Get off!" Marshkit hissed, sticking his hind legs into Tigerkit and forcing her back a few steps.
"I would just admit it, Marshkit," Applekit said solemnly. "Tigerkit won't back down from a fight."
"Because I'll be the best warrior in all of ShadowClan!" She mewed, bouncing up and down.
"Why don't we find your mother and leave these elders in peace?" Scorchtail suggested, herding the kits down the rocks. Their mother, Palestripe, emerged from the nursery as she heard her kits' squeals.
"What have you four gotten into now?" She asked, seeing the dirt clumped into their fur.
"We fought off RiverClan!" Tigerkit exclaimed.
"You did? Did you win?" Palestripe asked as she took the kits from Scorchtail.
"Of course," Applekit spoke up, bouncing along next to her mother. "ShadowClan always wins."
As they approached the nursery, Nightkit and Scarkit, two older kits who were about six moons old, were tossing a mossball back and forth. Nightkit greeted the kits as he snagged the mossball in a claw.
"Hey! Look what the owls dragged in," he sneered. Tigerkit shrunk back. These kits were almost three times her size, and much older. And Nightkit was just a plain bully.
"Stop it, Nightkit," Scarkit admonished.
"We were not dragged in by owls!" Marshkit protested, stopping in his tracks defiantly.
"Then why's your fur all dusty?" Nightkit prodded.
"We were fighting RiverClan!" Goldenkit spoke up bravely.
Nightkit snorted. "Right. You were fighting RiverClan."
"Nightkit stop it!" Scarkit cuffed his ears. The black kit grunted, picking up his mossball and carrying it away to play by himself. Scarkit turned to the younger kits and Palestripe.
"I'm sorry about my brother," she mewed. "He thinks just because we're becoming apprentices tomorrow he's better than everyone."
"You're becoming apprentices tomorrow?" Tigerpaw said in awe. Scarkit sat down with a thump, raising her paw to lick a tuft of fur down.
"Yep."
"That's awesome. I wish I could be an apprentice," Tigerpaw said sullenly.
"Your turn will come soon enough," Palestripe said from the entrance of the nursery. She looked back at her kits.
"Come on. It's almost bedtime."
"But the sun's not even down yet!" Applekit protested.
"Someday you'll be able to stay up later," Palestripe promised. "But for now, you need to go to sleep early to grow into strong warriors."
"Okay," Applekit admitted. Her response was cut off by a huge yawn, stretching her jaws wide.
The four kits followed Palestripe into the den, Scarkit calling a small good night. They found their nest near the center of the den, made of soft moss and heaped with downy feathers. In the back of the den, the newest ShadowClan warrior and former kittypet May slept, her belly swollen with unborn kits. Duskpelt, Nightkit and Scarkit's mother, was grooming her dark gray fur curled up in her nest. Palestripe slid into the nest, her four kits bundling in beside her. Tigerkit yawned, tucking her paws under her chest and curling into her mother's soft belly fur. She wanted to someday be the best warrior in ShadowClan, but even she had to admit that she was tired. She closed her eyes slowly, dropping off into a deep sleep alongside her littermates. But as she fell into a deep sleep, her peaceful dreams turned dark. She was standing in the middle of a wind-swept moor, the wind whistling in her ears and the waving grass smacking her in her eyes and legs. Clouds of mist surrounded her, making it impossible to see beyond a few tail lengths. She tried to hunker down into the grass, but her paws seemed frozen to the ground. Her heart beat faster and faster as a dark shape appeared in the distance. She twitched in her sleep as a dark gray tabby tom with stars glittering in his fur appeared to her out of the mist, his wide green eyes wild. He leaned in to hiss in her ear, "Beware the night brought on by the swiftness of eagle's wings."
Tigerkit jerked awake, trembling, not even sure what she had just dreamed. She glanced around the nursery, her heartbeat slowing as she saw the familiar shapes of May and Duskpelt in their nests, her three littermates sleeping soundly against Palestripe. Tigerkit burrowed back into her mother's side, her heartbeat slowing as she relaxed back into her mother's warmth. It was just a dream, wasn't it?