Allegiances

LEAFCLAN

LEADER Spottedstar- light gray tom with darker flecks and fur that sticks out at all

angles, blue eyes

Apprentice, Brackenpaw

DEPUTY Nightclaw- jet black she-cat, amber eyes

MEDICINE CAT Rosefur- brown tabby she-cat, green eyes

WARRIORS (toms and she-cats without kits)

Rushfoot- sandy-gray tabby tom, yellow eyes

Birchclaw- golden-brown tom, amber eyes, father of Finchkit and Tumblekit

Foxtail- reddish tabby tom, amber eyes

Littlewing- small tortoiseshell she-cat, green eyes

Apprentice, Driftpaw

Thrushfeather- dark-brown-and-white she-cat, amber eyes

Mossfoot- gray-and-white she-cat, blue eyes

Silverwind- silver tabby tom, blue eyes

Hazelberry- pale ginger she-cat, green eyes

Apprentice, Dustpaw

Flamefoot- dark ginger tabby tom, green eyes

Apprentice, Graypaw

Darkfrost- black tom with a white tail-tip and ice-blue eyes, father of Frostkit and Sprucekit

Apprentice, Heatherpaw

Badgerpelt- large black-and-white tom, amber eyes

Apprentice, Pinepaw

Sunheart- bright ginger tabby she-cat, yellow eyes

Mothwhisker- mottled dark brown tabby she-cat, green eyes

Sandfur- orange tabby tom with a distinctive white chest and paws, green eyes

Appleflower- dark brown she-cat with a cream-colored underbelly and paws, pale gold eyes

Apprentice, Cloudpaw

APPRENTICES (more than six moons old, in training to

become warriors)

Brackenpaw- extemely dark brown tom with an almost black face and a white tail-tip, ice-blue eyes

Driftpaw- long-furred brown tabby she-cat with a white chest, blue eyes

Graypaw- gray-brown tom with one dark gray ear, amber eyes

Pinepaw- brown tom with large dark brown dapples and a distinctive spotted belly, dark green eyes

Heatherpaw- golden she-cat tinged with ginger, amber eyes

Dustpaw - light brown tabby tom, amber eyes

Cloudpaw- white she-cat with gray-tipped fur, pale green eyes

QUEENS (she-cats expecting or nursing kits)

Dawnfrost- long-haired, dark red she-cat with a long, plumy tail and green eyes, mother of Birchclaw's kits: Finchkit (tabby-and-white she-cat, blue eyes) and Tumblekit (black-and-brown tom, amber eyes)

Feathersong- pretty tortoiseshell she-cat with a dappled coat and a white chest, underbelly, and tail-tip, yellow eyes, mother of Darkfrost's kits: Frostkit (white tom, blue eyes) and Sprucekit (pale brown tabby tom, green eyes)

Honeyflower- beautiful golden tabby she-cat, expecting Rushfoot's kits

Cloverfrost- pale gray she-cat, amber eyes, mother of Spottedstar's kits: Smokykit (black and white tom with gray-tipped fur, amber eyes), Stormkit (flecked dark gray tom with spiky fur, amber eyes), and Cinderkit (dark gray she-cat with white flash on chest and one black paw, bright blue eyes)

E LDERS (former warriors and queens, now retired)

Rowantail- very old dark brown tom, green eyes

Russetcloud- pale ginger she-cat with darker stripes, yellow-orange, slightly amber, eyes

Thistlestripe- pale tabby she-cat with spiky fur, retired early due to becoming blind in battle, blue eyes (now completely clouded)

STREAMCLAN

LEADER Meadowstar- brown-and-tortoiseshell she-cat, deep amber eyes

DEPUTY Hawktalon- small brown tabby tom, green eyes

MEDICINE CAT Fuzzyfeather- long-haired pale gray tom, amber eyes

WARRIORS Voleclaw- dark brown tom with a white underbelly and paws, blue eyes

Apprentice, Swamppaw (mottled brown tabby tom, green eyes)

Snakestrike- silvery-gray tabby tom, blue eyes

Splashfoot- pitch-black tom with one white paw, amber eyes

Apprentice, Wetpaw (silver she-cat, blue eyes)

Whitecloud- long-furred white she-cat, green eyes

Willowtail- light brown she-cat, yellow eyes

Apprentice, Molepaw (dark gray, almost black, tom with a white underbelly, amber eyes)

Shadefur- beautiful smoky gray she-cat, amber eyes

Poppybrook- black tabby she-cat, yellow-orange eyes

Apprentice, Marshpaw (dark gray she-cat with a white tail-tip, green eyes)

Emberstep- red-brown tom with darker paws, amber eyes

Mudwhisker- mottled dark brown tom, hazel eyes

Nettleclaw- black she-cat, green eyes

Hailstorm- thick-furred dark gray tom with white tail-tip, blue eyes

QUEENS Icefoot- small, pure white she-cat, blue eyes, mother of Whitekit

Amberflight- long-legged orange tabby she-cat with startlingly large amber eyes

E LDERS Darkpearl- brown she-cat with white-tipped fur, amber eyes, former loner called Pearl

BREEZECLAN

LEADER Robinstar- light brown tom with a white chest and paws, green eyes

DEPUTY Windsong- blue-gray she-cat, amber eyes

MEDICINE CAT Brightleaf- very pale gray, almost white, she-cat with dark blue eyes

WARRIORS Birdfeather- small, gray tabby she-cat, blue eyes

Snowsky- very pale gray, almost white, she-cat with a lightly speckled face, pale blue eyes

Ravenpelt- black tom with a white chest and tail-tip, hazel eyes

Smokefur- long-haired gray tom, amber eyes

Brokenclaw- gray-brown tabby tom, no claws on front paws due to a fox trap, amber eyes

Dewflower- mottled silver tabby she-cat, blue eyes

Apprentice, Mosspaw (pale brown she-cat, green eyes)

Thornscar- heavily scarred golden-brown tom with a torn ear, green eyes

Apprentice, Gladepaw (large blue-gray tom, strikingly bright green eyes)

Starlingflight- red-brown tom, green eyes

Aspenheart- pale gray tabby she-cat, blue eyes

Apprentice, Rubblepaw (gray tom, amber eyes)

Sedgefur- dark brown tabby tom, gray-blue eyes

Fernwhisker- tabby-and-white she-cat, amber eyes

Sootclaw- dark gray tom, amber eyes

QUEENS Mousefoot- very pale gray she-cat, amber eyes, mother of Sagekit, Swiftkit, and Shrewkit

Patchtail- dark she-cat with a black-and-white tail, green eyes, mother of Beetlekit and Weedkit

STONECLAN

LEADER Duststar- elderly brown tabby tom, green eyes

Apprentice, Seedpaw (brown-and-gray she-cat with a dappled face, pale blue eyes)

DEPUTY Eagleclaw- pale gray tom with black stripes, amber eyes

Apprentice, Wolfpaw (mottled silvery-gray tabby she-cat with a white tail-tip, underbelly, and chest, pale blue eyes)

MEDICINE CAT Goldenfur- magnificent golden tabby tom, dark green eyes

Apprentice, Berrypaw (mottled pale ginger tabby tom, amber eyes)

WARRIORS Wildstripe- silver-and-black tabby tom with messy, matted fur, deep amber eyes

Apprentice, Redpaw (reddish tabby tom, pale yellow eyes)

Pebbletooth- gray tom with a darker chest and belly, blue eyes

Apprentice, Thunderpaw (large dark gray tom with a white streak on chest, yellow eyes)

Bluemask- large blue-gray mottled tabby tom with a darker face, extremely bright blue eyes

Apprentice, Fawnpaw (pretty soft brown tabby she-cat with a white tail-tip, amber eyes)

Puddlelizard- white she-cat with splotches of tan, cream, gray, and ginger, blue eyes

Runningbrook- pale gray she-cat with darker stripes, amber eyes

Scorcholive- gray tom with torn black ears, yellow eyes

Apprentice, Troutpaw (mottled gray tom, blue eyes)

Sparrowflight- light brown tom, hazel eyes

Apprentice, Oatpaw (dappled brown tom, orange eyes)

Mintfur- dark tortoiseshell she-cat, green eyes

Apprentice, Rainpaw (flecked silvery-gray she-cat, blue eyes)

Crownest- black tom with a white underbelly, yellow eyes

Rippleheart- pale silver she-cat with black flecks, blue eyes

Apprentice, Quickpaw (bright ginger tabby she-cat, dark green eyes)

Sheepthroat- tabby tom with fluffy white fur on throat, amber eyes

Apprentice, Logpaw (dark brown tom, green eyes)

Smallfoot- small tabby tom, green eyes

Apprentice, Brownpaw (brown tabby tom, amber eyes)

Ratnose- black tom with a scarred face, amber eyes

Apprentice, Fogpaw (pale gray she-cat with darker stripes, amber eyes)

Ivybuzzard- tawny colored she-cat, green eyes

Apprentice, Lakepaw (dark gray, almost black, tom with a white chest, underbelly, and tail-tip, bright blue-green eyes)

Daisycloud- pretty golden tabby she-cat, amber eyes

Apprentice, Larchpaw (small black she-cat with one lighter ear, green eyes)

Twigpelt- lanky brown tom with very short fur, yellow eyes

Apprentice, Tinypaw (undersized pale gray tabby she-cat, blue eyes)

QUEENS Lightflower- snow-white she-cat, blue eyes, mother of Petalkit and Grasskit

Dapplefire- speckled brown she-cat, amber eyes, mother of Rockkit, Shadowkit, and Acornkit

Brightdawn- pale ginger she-cat with white splotches, blue eyes

E LDERS Stonewater- battle-scarred tabby tom, green eyes

Whitepool- very old white she-cat, green eyes

**PROLOGUE**

A light snow fell from the sky. It is was unusual, for it was almost newleaf, and the flecked gray tom sitting in the clearing was worried. If newleaf began with snow, would greenleaf ever come? He sighed; as if he didn't have enough worries, what with a quarter of the Clan ill with whitecough or colds. Although he was young, the leader of LeafClan couldn't help but feel as if a mountainous burden had fallen upon his broad shoulders.

As he stared up at the sky, an older brown she-cat padded toward him from a wide tunnel that was set into the gentle slope of the camp. Her paw steps were quick and soundless on the frosty ground.

"You are worried," she grunted, sweeping away the thin covering of snow on the ground and settling beside the tom.

The leader glanced at her. How could she know what he was feeling? But she was a medicine cat; she was blessed with these kinds of things. "Yes, Rosefur," he said quietly. There was no point in hiding his feelings. "It is almost newleaf; the leaves on the trees should be growing back, yet snow is piling up on the branches instead. At this rate, greenleaf will never arrive. I feel so lost, without Graystar to guide me. And the battles with StreamClan over Willowcreek," he added. "When will they stop? Ashclaw and Oakpaw died of their injuries, and my own sister had to join the elders because a StreamClan warrior blinded her with his claws!" As he spoke, the breeze picked up and blew heavy snow right into the two cats' faces. Rosefur spat with disgust and drew a paw over her wet face, but the tom simply sat there and allowed the snow to blow across his muzzle and his ears. It was if he was oblivious to the white droplets that clung to his fur.

Rosefur moved closer to him and began to lick his pelt. She felt him relax under her touch. She sighed inwardly; Spottedstar was so young, he shouldn't have to deal with such things. Her heart clenched with sorrow as she clearly saw, almost like it had been that day, Spottedstar's deputy naming ceremony.

Old Graystar had looked down at the Clan cats gathered around the Crookedtree, the thin, spindly, but strong little tree that leaders perched on to share news with the Clan. Graystar had just gotten back from the Silverfall, where he had received his nine lives.

"LeafClan," he had boomed in his authoritative voice. "I say these words so that our former leader, Morningstar, and the rest of StarClan may hear and approve my choice. The cat that I have chosen has constantly shown unwavering loyalty to LeafClan and great intelligence. My former apprentice, Spottedfeather, will be the next deputy of LeafClan."

Young Spottedfeather had padded forward, his ever-spiky fur sticking out at all angles as usual. "Thank you for this honor." His mew had been quiet but filled with confidence, his eyes gleaming with surprise and joy at being chosen as deputy. "I will always try my hardest to defend this Clan and help make the best choices I can."

Then, only two moons later, sickness had struck Graystar. A strange lump had begun to form at the base of his throat, growing and growing. The leader had been quite old when he had received his nine lives, and did not have enough strength to beat the illness. Rosefur had no cure, and soon the poor tomcat had been flailing his paws and thrashing wildly in pain, no longer able to breathe. The Clan could only wait, every single cats' eyes filled with horror, as their leader lost a life every day until he died. Spottedstar had been only been deputy for about three moons, and he had been grief-stricken by his former mentor's and leader's death.

Now, Rosefur saw no trace of the young tom's confidence that she had seen on the day he had become deputy. He has only been leader for two moons, and he is already feeling the stress of a very old one, she thought sympathetically.

Suddenly, Spottedstar shook himself, as if jolting himself out of thoughts. "Look at me, feeling pity for myself," he mewed, trying to sound lighthearted but failing miserably. "Graystar would not be proud of me," he murmured, his voice filled with sorrow.

Rosefur pulled away and rose to her paws, shaking out her fur. "Spottedstar," she said sternly. "Graystar will always be proud of you. It is not your fault that it's snowing in newleaf! And StreamClan is to blame for the battles, not you. They are the ones who are constantly crossing our border, hunting there and stealing herbs." Rosefur hesitated. "Spottedstar, I do not wish to make you more upset, but Mossfoot and Sandfur have greencough."

The tom turned to stare at her, his eyes wide. "What?" he whispered in disbelief. "Even though it's snowing, they should almost be better by now."

Rosefur shook her head slowly. "The cold weather pushed them past the symptoms of whitecough. The snow and wind aren't helping, either. And we have few herbs."

Spottedstar sighed, but it could not be heard over the wind that was quickly picking up speed. "I can only hope that StarClan will hear our prayers," he meowed. "Rosefur, if it comes to it, then you may ask BreezeClan for catmint. Our Clanmates' health is more important than our pride. Goodnight." With that, he rose to his paws and walked back toward his den, disappearing inside with a flick of his tail. Rosefur trotted back through the tunnel that led down into the medicine den; she had sick cats to care for.

Far off, not a single cat in the camp heard the loud rustling of undergrowth in the forest as a small group of cats struggled through LeafClan's territory in the quickly forming blizzard.

"This is ridiculous," a black tom spat, shaking the snow off one paw. "It should be newleaf. Why are we going to LeafClan anyway?"

"Because," groaned a she-cat, her belly round and swollen with kits. "You know, Crownest, that they are the only Clan that will take us in. BreezeClan despises StoneClan, as does StreamClan. We haven't had any issues with LeafClan for many moons. They are our only hope." She struggled through the snow that was almost up to her belly now, plunging into the fluffy whiteness with each step she took.

Crownest's eyes softened. "I know, darling," he meowed, swiping his tongue over her ear. "Don't worry, we'll get there soon enough. Then you can rest."

Beside them, a tawny she-cat, a calico she-cat, and a brown speckled she-cat waded over the ground, each one with a tiny kit gripped in their jaws. The kits hung as limp as fresh-kill, occasionally whimpering pitifully as snow and ice blew across their faces.

A dark tom, smaller than the others, appeared beside the rest. An even smaller she-cat with pale tabby markings was leaning on his shoulder, her flanks heaving in exhaustion and her eyes half-closed as she sank into the snow chest-deep with each step. "Please," begged the dark tom. "Tinypaw is so tired, and her paws are raw from the snow. Can't we find a place to stay for the night?"

Crownest grunted. "There is no place to rest in this StarClan forsaken forest." But the warrior stopped for a moment, as did the others, and squinted as he tried to look through the snow. The other cats could only wait, shivering, as Crownest swept his sharp, narrowed gaze around their surroundings, which were blanketed with snow. The tiniest light of hope entered Crownest's gaze, and he set off at a faster pace. "I think there's a hollow tree over here!" he called over his shoulder.

The cats stumbled even faster through the snow, and before long the small opening at the base of a large pine tree appeared. Crownest waited at the entrance and nudged the pregnant she-cat inside. Then he entered, with the other three she-cats gripping kits following. The dark tom also squeezed inside. The hollow was actually very spacious inside, and extremely warm compared to outside; Crownest must not have seen how large the base of the tree was through the blinding force of the blizzard. Already, Crownest was curling up around his mate, softly swiping his black tail across her swollen stomach. The three she-cats huddled around the three kits, licking them to warm them up. Then the dark tom turned, waiting for his sister, Tinypaw, to enter as well. But she didn't appear, and the tom crept toward the entrance, unable to see her. His heart clenched with fear. He should have let Tinypaw go first rather than abandoning her.

As he peered through the driving snow and hail, he just made out a pale tabby tuft of fur sticking above a snowdrift easily taller than he was. She must have fallen into the drift and been unable to get out. He gasped, and bunched his muscles, ready to leap out and save his sister, only to feel a tail on his flank. He blinked with surprise to see Crownest beside him. "What's wrong, Lakepaw?" he meowed frowning. "And where's Tinypaw?"

Lakepaw could only stare outside, and understanding dawned on Crownest's face. He immediately flew back into the storm and struggled toward the snowdrift, and Lakepaw scrambled to join him.

When they reached the snowdrift, the tuft of fur was gone. The two toms plunged their paws into the frozen snow, not bothering to wince as hard hail pounded down on their pelts. Finally, Lakepaw felt cold fur beneath his paws, and he dug more furiously. Tinypaw's body began to appear, and Crownest reached down, gripping the scruff of her neck in his mouth. He grunted with the effort of heaving her out of the snow, and Lakepaw helped to support her small body as they slowly made their way back toward the tree. Her raw, bloody paws left a scarlet trail as they dragged her into the tree hollow.

Crownest gently set her down on her paws, and Lakepaw was surprised to see that she was conscious. She staggered to the side a bit and Lakepaw supported her. The small apprentice looked at Crownest and her brother with bleary eyes, and suddenly she opened her mouth as if to cough only for nothing to come out. A horrible choking noise erupted from her abruptly, and her eyes rolled back. She slumped to the ground, so motionless she could have been dead.

Lakepaw could only stare in horror at his sister's limp body as Crownest pressed down on her chest firmly with one paw and rubbed her back with the other. Water trickled from her slightly parted jaws, but she remained still. Lakepaw realized that she must have been choked by snow when she had been buried in the drift and entered her lungs somehow.

She's drowning from the inside, he thought frantically.

As Crownest continued to work, Lakepaw thought he saw Tinypaw's eyes flutter gently. Suddenly, she rolled onto her stomach and vomited up huge amounts of water. The flow of water petered out, and Tinypaw let out a quiet sigh before she went limp again, her head rolling to the side. Lakepaw sighed with relief as he saw her flanks rising and falling a bit unsteadily, but she was breathing nonetheless.

"She'll be fine," Crownest murmured, picking her up again and settling her beside his mate. The pregnant she-cat looked at the apprentice with worried eyes before pressing herself against Tinypaw. Lakepaw and Crownest did the same.

As Lakepaw drifted into sleep, he felt the rest of their group crowding around Tinypaw in an attempt to keep the wet apprentice warm. He felt touched by their loyalty to his sister, and it was the last thing he thought about before drifting into sleep.

Outside, the snow continued to fall, and the wind howled like countless wolves.

Sorry, I know this wasn't the most exciting beginning to a story. But it will get more exciting. I hope.

Wow, wind howling like countless wolves….yes, there are wolves in this story. So the Clan cats do know what wolves are.

If you didn't really understand the second part, basically some StoneClan cats are traveling to LeafClan because they think it is the only Clan where they can seek refuge. You will find out why they are leaving later in the story. Why spoil it for you guys?

And thanks a bunch to Vidi0Vidi0Vici and forever banishing sorrow for letting me know that list format chapters aren't allowed, and for being my first reviewers! That is why the Allegiances and Prologue are joined. Hopefully Chapter 1 will be here this week sometime :)

And see that pretty REVIEW button down there? Please click it. I would like your critique; it lets me know if I'm doing anything right or if I'm doing everything wrong (which I probably would). You didn't think that that button was there for fun, did you? :D