Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors because if I did, I probably wouldn't be on FanFiction.

ALLEGIANCES

THUNDERCLAN

Leader: Hazelstar (gray-and-white she-cat)

Deputy: Stormcloud (dark gray tom with amber eyes)

Medicine Cat: Ravenwing (small black she-cat)
Apprentice, Rosepaw (tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with amber eyes)

Warriors: Robinflight (reddish-brown she-cat)
Apprentice, Talonpaw (dark gray tom with brown splotches and blue eyes)

Thrushclaw (brownish-gray tom with blue eyes)

Swiftheart (black-and-white tom)
Apprentice, Duskpaw (sandy tabby tom)

Archfire (black-and-brown tabby tom)

Pouncefoot (brown tom with white patches)
Apprentice, Petalpaw (tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with amber eyes)

Dapplefrost (tortoiseshell she-cat with a white underbelly)

Heatherleaf (light brown she-cat)
Apprentice, Featherpaw (beautiful light gray she-cat)

Redstorm (ginger tom with white paws)

Iceflower (white she-cat with green eyes)

Flamebelly (white tom with a ginger underbelly)

Sparrowwing (dark brown tabby tom)

Queens: Mapleheart (dark brown she-cat, mother of Tinykit and Brackenkit)

Brightspots (white tabby she-cat, mother of Squirrelkit and Berrykit)

Dawnlight (golden-brown she-cat, currently expecting kits)

Elders: Shortfall (black tabby tom with white patches)

Shredtail (gray tom with a broken tail)

Willowthroat (white she-cat with a gray underbelly and neck)

WINDCLAN

Leader: Quickstar (large brown-and-black tom)

Deputy: Snowpelt (beautiful white she-cat)

Medicine Cat: Spottedtail (white-and-gray she-cat with a speckled tail)

Warriors: Otterwhisker (dark brown tabby tom)

Sootnose (dark gray tom)
Apprentice, Breezepaw (gray tabby tom with green eyes)

Bumbleclaw (black-and-gray tom)

Honeystripe (light brown she-cat)
Apprentice, Birchpaw (light gray tabby tom)

Toadheart (black-and-white tom)
Apprentice, Meadowpaw (black speckled she-cat)

Littlestream (small gray she-cat)

Larkwing (light brown she-cat)

Queens: Fawnbreeze (beautiful light brown she-cat, mother of Briarkit, Molekit, and Blossomkit)

Elders: Quailfeather (gray tom)

Oatwhisker (dark brown tabby tom)

SHADOWCLAN

Leader: Sedgestar (black-and-white she-cat)

Deputy: Tawnyface (tortoiseshell she-cat with white splotches)
Apprentice, Applepaw (dusk brown she-cat)

Medicine Cat: Tangletail (dark brown tabby tom)

Warriors: Leafshade (white-and-brown she-cat with ginger patches)

Deerleap (light brown tom)

Darkstorm (black tom)
Apprentice, Starlingpaw (gray tabby tom)

Snakeheart (brown-and-white tabby tom)

Queens: Goldenspring (golden-brown she-cat)

RIVERCLAN

Leader: Rainstar (dark gray she-cat with white ears)

Deputy: Shellfall (brown tom with gray stripes)

Medicine Cat: Beetleheart (small black tom)
Apprentice, Mosspaw (gray-and-brown she-cat)

Warriors: Troutfrost (dark gray tom)

Softmist (light brown she-cat)

Pebblespots (speckled brown tom)
Apprentice, Mistpaw (light gray she-cat)

Seedpelt (tortoiseshell tabby she-cat)

Russettail (ginger-and-brown tabby tom)

Queens: Whitestream (white she-cat with amber eyes)

Prologue

Petalkit draped her tail over her nose and wriggled around in her nest. She found it impossible to sleep. And it wasn't the first time that this was happening. Her mother Sweetfrost, along with her two other littermates, had died during her birth, and Petalkit longed for the warmth and comfort of them all beside her. Although Dapplefrost, who was the mother of Talonkit, had quickly taken her in, Petalkit struggled to feel as though Dapplefrost really wanted her. Petalkit knew it wasn't that Dapplefrost didn't care about her; it was just that she was a spitting image of Sweetfrost.

This time, it wasn't her desire of Sweetfrost that kept her awake, however; it was the sound of voices located right outside of the nursery. They were low and hushed, but Petalkit could just make out what they were saying if she strained her ears. She popped open one eye. Dapplefrost was curled up in the nest beside her, and Talonkit was bundled up against her. He was shaking in his sleep.

It was then that Petalkit realized she was shaking, too. She had thin fur that didn't protect her well from the leaf-bare chill. Petalkit opened both eyes as she heard one of the cats snap, "Keep your voice down!"

The voices became lower than before, and this time, Petalkit couldn't make out what they were saying. She waited for a moment, trying to listen, waiting for their voices to get louder, but their words remained muffled. Her paws were itching to find out more.

Careful to make sure that everyone else in the nursery was sleep, Petalkit stealthily slipped out of her nest and pattered over to the bramble thicket that covered the entrance to the nursery, which she hid behind. When Petalkit was sure she wouldn't be caught, she adjusted her vision so she could peek through the brambles. As she did, she could make out the shapes of two cats. Petalkit gasped as she recognized them.

The first cat was Stormcloud, the Clan deputy and her father. He'd barely cast a glance at her since she was born, evidently trying to put the image of his dead mate out of his head, which was impossible with Petalkit around. The other cat was Thrushclaw, Dapplefrost's mate and Talonkit's father. Petalkit could sense Thrushclaw's fear, but she quickly put it out of her mind, intent on what they were saying. She shivered as a gust of wind brushed past her.

"I just don't think trying to force Petalkit into mating Talonkit will work," Thrushclaw mewed, choosing his words carefully.

Become Talonkit's mate! The thought shocked Petalkit. She could never imagine that happening. Talonkit was her good friend, and he treated her like she was his littermate. Wouldn't that be like mating her own brother?

"I need a cat to succeed me once I become leader," Stormcloud snapped back, keeping his voice hushed, "and I can't think of someone better than Petalkit."

"Better than Petalkit?" Thrushclaw retorted. The brownish-gray tom was bristling. "You barely even look at her."

"It's because all I see in her is that weakling of a mother," Stormcloud answered promptly. "I can tell that Talonkit has the makings of a fantastic warrior. He can transform Petalkit into the fine warrior that her mother should have been with a bit of gentle coaxing. And then, if they mate like I hope, they'll raise the most powerful kits. She can become one of the most powerful leaders that ThunderClan has ever seen with some of the most powerful cats to succeed her. She can erase her mother's sore legacy."

Petalkit shrank back. Her father didn't care about her mother. He barely even cared about her. All he wanted was for her to become powerful and then lead a most powerful Clan.

"And who says that she'll qualify for deputy once you become leader? She may not have had an apprentice yet. In fact, she could still be an apprentice." Thrushclaw assessed the situation carefully.

"You, Thrushclaw." Stormcloud hung over every word as though he was trying to make them all sit with Thrushclaw. "You will be my deputy if she is not."

This seemed to spark Thrushclaw's attention. Petalkit wanted to cry out to him to not listen to her father. He was fooling him. Even though Petalkit believed Stormcloud would make Thrushclaw deputy if she couldn't be, Petalkit knew what would come once she qualified. Her father would try to kill Thrushclaw to get her to replace him.

"I don't like this, Stormcloud," Thrushclaw finally mewed reluctantly. "But I'll help you. Not because of this sick ambition that you seem to have, but as your friend. And because I hope that Petalkit can become a fantastic warrior if Talonkit is around to influence her. They're good friends already."

"Good," Stormcloud replied, not even uttering a word of thanks. "You won't be sorry."

Another gust of wind blew, shaking Petalkit. It was as though it was answering to Stormcloud and Thrushclaw, approving of their decision. Petalkit wanted to cry. She didn't want to spend her entire life having her father try to make her into a cat that she wasn't. She didn't want to have to live by his every word. She didn't want to have her entire life seemingly laid out for her already.

Petalkit jolted to attention as she heard the sound of pawsteps. She relaxed as she realized it was just Stormcloud and Thrushclaw heading back to the warrior's den. Petalkit then scurried back into her nest, but deliberately turned herself away from Talonkit. She loved Talonkit as a friend, but to someday be his mate was unthinkable. Petalkit shut her eyes, trying to fall back asleep, but she couldn't.

"Petalkit, settle down." Dapplefrost's voice murmured in her ear, sounding exhausted. Petalkit winced, realizing that she'd woken her up. She wrapped her tail around herself to keep warm, eventually stilling, but unable to fall asleep.

And when the first rays of light finally started to shine into the camp that morning, Petalkit was still wide awake in her nest, unable to put the image of Stormcloud and Thrushclaw out of her head.

A/N: This is my first FanFiction, so I appreciate you taking the time to read this! Reviews, especially those including constructive criticism, are highly appreciated.

As the school year is starting soon, please expect weekly updates for now. I'll see how I'm feeling/how this is working out as the story progresses, and I'll evaluate from there.

Also, although this is far in advance, you can start suggesting warrior names for any kits and apprentices located in the allegiances. It will be greatly appreciated in several chapters to come. :)

Xo, Fi