Trees shook their dark trunks as rain pelted to the ground, engulfing the forest to a drenched state. Lightning crackled as thunder boomed across the eerie night sky, clouds blocking any of the stars to be seen. The moon was thin as a claw, its light barely reaching the ground. From the shadows emerged a small ginger tom with tufted ears laying flat against his head. His silver gaze flashed as twotwo she-cats joined him, identical gray fur flattened by the rain.
"I don't know why Leaf has us meet here," the one with amber eyes whined. "Why couldn't she tell us at camp?"
"I don't know, Sky," the tom admitted. "But it seemed urgent. Like she doesn't want our boss to know."
"He hasn't been our leader as long as the one before him," Sky huffed. "He is just as bloodthirsty. Right, Rain?"
The other gray tabby nodded, blue eyes sharp compared to her twin's. "Honestly, he's more. All he cares about is death. But don't worry, Storm. One day you will become as violent as us."
"Of course, Rain," Storm shuffled his paws.
"You should be that way, already!"
They all turned to see the last cat they were waiting for, a sleek ginger she-cat with dark green eyes. They bowed their heads as soon as Leaf appeared before them.
"Yes!" Storm straightened up. "I'm getting stronger each day."
"Each day isn't good enough," Leaf huffed at him, claws threatening him silently. "If you aren't at your best, we will lose again. That goes to all of you."
"Agreed," Sky and Rain nodded in unison, looking concerned themselves.
"We will never run away like mice again!" Leaf shouted so that even the clouds could hear her. "We will ruin those who wrong us! It doesn't matter who we have to kill this time. Now, all of you go practice. I had brought you all here to discuss our next stategy, but not all of us are ready. But remember, my patience is thin."
"Yes," the others followed her orders, each going a different way. Leaf stayed back as her mind reminded her of their defeat. Each scar she had ached with revenge. She would turn all of their cats into killers. But what she didn't know was that her methods were watched by their leader, his blue gaze sharp as teeth. All it took was one mistake and she could be replaced.
ALLEGIANCES
ThunderClan
Leader: Bumblestar- Large pale ginger tom
Deputy: Ravenfeather- lithe black she-cat
Medicine Cat: Thornberry- white she-cat
Warriors:
Appletail- brown tabby she-cat with black stripes
Swiftfeather- scarred gray tom with black paws
Owlwing- brown tom with a white belly; Apprentice, Lilypaw
Snowpelt- beautiful white she-cat
Rainfall- small gray she-cat; Apprentice, Dewpaw
Smokefrost- big black tom
Redbreeze- ginger tom with tufted ears; Apprentice, Oatpaw
Whitefrost- white tom with black spots
Mousetail- brown tabby she-cat with black stripes
Sweetfang- white she-cat
Apprentices:
Lilypaw- tortoiseshell she-cat with tufted ears
Dewpaw- small white she-cat
Oatpaw- brown tabby she-cat with black stripes
Queens:
Willowleaf- brown spotted she-cat (Mother of Deerkit: light brown she-cat with a white-tipped tail, Spiderkit: ginger tom with a light brown belly, and Sootkit: thick-furred black tom)
Yellowflower- white she-cat
Elders:
Leopardclaw- golden tabby she-cat
Rabbitclaw- tortoiseshell she-cat
Brownfoot- heavily-scarred dark brown tom
ShadowClan
Leader: Foxstar- Ginger she-cat with a white-tipped tail; Apprentice, Hailpaw (ginger tabby she-cat)
Deputy: Frogleg- light brown tabby tom; Apprentice, Rockpaw (lithe black tom)
Medicine Cat: Smallwhisker- small brown tom
Warriors:
Poppyflower- dark ginger she-cat; Apprentice, Mosspaw (brown tabby she-cat with a white muzzle)
Softstripe- gray tabby she-cat
Blackpelt- black tom with white paws; Apprentice, Lizardpaw (brown tabby she-cat with usually long claws)
Cloudfur- soft white she-cat
Snakeheart- lithe white tom; Apprentice, Goosepaw (small gray tabby tom)
Tigertooth- ginger tom;
Nightfang- black tom
Featherfoot- gray she-cat
Queens:
Honeyfang- black she-cat with white spots
Elders:
Stormpool- gray tom with an unusually long tail
WindClan
Leader: Oakstar- brown tom with black ears
Deputy: Toadleap- huge dark brown tabby
Medicine Cat: Grassfrost- black she-cat; Apprentice, Petalfall (ginger she-cat)
Warriors:
Harewhisker- small brown she-cat
Breezefoot- lithe white tom; Apprentice, Littlepaw (small ginger she-cat with white spots)
Mistynose- light gray she-cat
Pineleaf- brown tabby tom
Milkflower- thick-furred white she-cat; Apprentice, Seedpaw (dark brown tabby tom with black paws)
Ashwhisker- light gray tom
Queens:
Daisytail- white she-cat
Elders:
Crowclaw- gray tabby tom
RiverClan
Leader: Otterstar- small white she-cat
Deputy: Robinfang- ginger she-cat with white paws; Apprentice, Lionpaw (golden tabby she-cat)
Medicine Cat: Fernleaf- black tom with a gray chest
Warriors:
Dawnheart- white tom
Trouttail- light brown tom
Thrushsong- black she-cat; Apprentice, Berrypaw (gray tom with white paws)
Duststorm- brown tabby tom with black stripes
Minnowclaw- tortoiseshell she-cat
Flamestripe- ginger tom; Apprentice, Russetpaw (dark ginger tom)
Queens:
Hazelpetal- thick-pelted white she-cat
Sunstorm- light ginger she-cat
Elders:
Antfur- white tom with gray ears