Special thanks to thesaltybobcat, previously known as GoDownWithYourShip on deviantart for the new cover art for this story.

The original version of this story(which I have since taken down) was started in 2011 after Erin Hunter announced that The Last Hope would be the end of the original story arc. I thought it would be cool to keep my favorite character's story going since he was done in the cannon. I hadn't known at the time that Erin would make another series... Nowadays, I come to this story to reminisce the glory days of Warriors back when the plots weren't just rehashes of older plots. For anybody seeing this story for the first time, it does not follow the cannon storyline through Bramblestar's Storm and beyond. In my eyes, the cannon ended at The Last Hope.

PROLOGUE

It was a cold night. Pale slivers of moonlight poked through the clouds, dotting the cliff-side with small pools of white amidst the dark stones. A wide cave opening was carved into the side of the precipice, its gaping mouth chiseled with huge tooth-like boulders. Black waves rose and fell below the lip of the cave, casting spray high into the air. The salty froth made the cave opening look like the maw of a giant rabid beast.

A strong wind tore through the mist revealing a patch of sky. The rocks sparkled as drops of water gathered on their faces and a few twinkling stars shone through the clouds. Standing at the edge of the cave and staring down at the water was a coarse-furred badger. Her gaze was dull and emotionless and her hunched shoulders were hardened and strong from many seasons of living with the wind and weather. The spray washed over her fur but her dark eyes were unblinking as she waited and watched- standing so still she could have been made of stone herself.

"Three have become four, four have become three, and Clans are safe," the badger rumbled distantly as if speaking to someone only she could see. "But I fear their journey far from over. There is still darkness lurking beyond horizon that could bring ruin to all cats." She shivered as if the cold wind was finally breaching her thick ragged pelt and seeping into her bones.

"Stars show me one last sign of destruction- a horrible thing that threatens life of all we hold sacred." The badger took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly in a long sigh. "Never an end to plight of cats."

"Or to you," came a soft voice from the shadows. "You have seen many horrible things, but this darkness will affect us all, Midnight."

The badger rumbled in amusement, her large claws scraping the rocks as she pulled her paws closer to her chest. "Ah, old friend. Long time since you visited me in my home. Too busy watching over lost cats that don't see the way."

"Yes, I see the darkness too," the voice whispered, and a flurry of white flower petals swirled upon the breeze beside the badger. "But it's not only the cats that I fear for."

"You fear for my sake? Nonsense! Old badger not afraid of path that lay before her. My task is only to help one more cat before I return to sky." Midnight lifted her gaze upwards to where the small bundle of stars poked through the clouds. "Many lives this darkness will change and take."

"You have to escape," the voice called more urgently. "The Clans- the Tribe need you!"

The badger shook her fur, shaking off the salty residue from the mist-filled air. With a deep breath, she dipped her head and trod back into her cave embedded in the cliff wall. The wet jagged rocks glistened like fangs in the moonlight but the badger passed undaunted. "So much fear my friend has, but it is misplaced. Visions of time to come have faded from my sight as prophecies end and peace has come. My final journey awaits."

"You are going to warn the Clans about the danger?" the voice asked hopefully, barely loud enough to be heard as a huge wave crashed against the cliff-side below.

The badger padded deeper into the cave, her long claws dragging against the rock with each step, to where a bed of stones and old wet moss lay waiting. "No, Stoneteller, not what I plan to do. But young cats still have many questions and I must answer."

"Why not warn them," the voice growled hotly, the dancing white petals shaking and falling to the cave floor. "If you won't, I will."

"Dear Stoneteller, you care so deeply for these living cats as do we all, but home for you in sky and memory. The moment small kit is born, their destiny stretches far across stars. Is not our place to change, they must discover path alone."

A pair of green eyes lit from the shadows and a ghostly white she-cat padded towards the badger. Her fur was long and soft, covering her small lithe frame and delicate paws. She was barely visible as time had all but forgotten her and it looked as if her image could shatter with a simple gust of wind. "So you would see all the Clans be wiped out and not lift a claw to help?" The white cat fluffed out her glimmering fur in anger. "This new darkness is like nothing they have ever seen before!"

The badger turned to the bristling she-cat, her old black eyes warm and wise. "I know you speak harsh words only from concern. Do you think Clans will fail against new threat? Must put more faith in brave cats by lake, noble Half Moon. Much they have endured already."

Half Moon's eyes dimmed and she bowed her head, ashamed for erupting on her friend. "Sorry. I suppose you're right. The Clans have fought hard for their place by the lake and with Jayfeather and the other two guiding them, they will remain by the lake for many more moons. But what about you, Midnight? Were will you go?"

Midnight blinked slowly, shifting the boulders of her nest into a more comfortable position. "I will be in time and memory as I always have, Half Moon. That is where I will forever stay."


ALLEGIANCES

ThunderClan

LEADER

Bramblestar- big dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

DEPUTY

Squirrelflight- dark ginger tabby she-cat with green eyes

MEDICINE CAT

Jayfeather- gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes

WARRIORS

Graystripe- long haired gray tom

Sandstorm- pale ginger she-cat with green eyes

Millie- striped gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes

Brackenfur- golden brown tabby tom

Cloudtail- long haired white tom with blue eyes

Thornclaw- golden brown tabby tom

Leafpool- light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes (former medicine cat)

Spiderleg- long-legged black tom with brown underbelly and amber eyes

Birchfall- light brown tabby tom

Whitewing- white she-cat with green eyes

Berrynose- cream colored tom

Hazeltail- small gray and white she-cat

Mousewhisker- gray and white tom

Cinderheart- gray tabby she-cat

Poppyfrost- tortoiseshell she-cat

Apprentice, Lillypaw

Lionblaze- golden tabby tom with amber eyes

Foxleap- reddish tabby tom

Apprentice, Cherrypaw

Icecloud- white she-cat

Toadstep- black and white tom

Rosepetal- dark cream she-cat

Apprentice, Molepaw

Briarlight- dark brown she-cat

Blossomfall- tortoiseshell and white she-cat

Bumblestripe- very pale gray tom with black stripes

Dovewing- pale gray she-cat with blue eyes

Ivypool- silver and white tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes

APPRENTICES

Lillypaw- small dark tabby she-cat with white patches

Molepaw- brown and cream tom

Cherrypaw- ginger she-cat

QUEENS

Brightheart- white she-cat with ginger patches and a scarred face (mother to Snowkit, Dewkit and Amberkit)

Daisy- cream long furred she-cat from the horseplace

ELDERS

Purdy- plump tabby tom with a gray muzzle (former loner)


ShadowClan

LEADER

Blackstar- large white tom with huge jet black paws

DEPUTY

Rowanclaw- ginger tom

MEDICINE CAT

Littlecloud- very small tabby tom

WARRIORS

Tawnypelt- tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes

Oakfur- small brown tom

Smokefoot- black tom

Apprentice, Mistpaw (spiky furred pale gray she-cat)

Kinkfur- tabby she-cat with long fur that sticks out at all angles

Toadfoot- dark brown tom

Applefur- mottled brown she-cat

Crowfrost- black and white tom

Apprentice, Dewpaw (gray she-cat)

Ratscar- brown tom with long scar across his back

Apprentice, Sparrowpaw (big tabby tom)

Snowbird- pure white she-cat

Olivenose- tortoiseshell she-cat

Owlclaw- light brown tabby tom

Scorchfur- dark gray tom

Tigerheart- dark brown tabby tom

Dawnpelt- cream furred tom

Pinenose- black she-cat

Ferretclaw- cream and gray tom

Starlingwing- ginger tom

QUEENS

Ivytail- black, white, and tortoiseshell she-cat (mother to Ravenkit and Hawkkit)

Shrewfoot- gray she-cat with black feet

ELDERS

Tallpoppy- long-legged light brown tabby she-cat

Snaketail- dark brown tabby tom with tabby striped tail

Whitewater- white she-cat with long fur, blind in one eye


WindClan

LEADER

Onestar- brown tabby tom

DEPUTY

Ashfoot- gray she-cat

MEDICINE CAT

Kestrelflight- mottled gray tom

WARRIORS

Crowfeather- dark gray tom

Owlwhisker- light brown tabby tom

Apprentice, Whiskerpaw (light brown tom)

Whitetail- small white she-cat

Nightcloud- black she-cat

Gorsetail- very pale gray and white tom with blue eyes

Weaselfur- ginger tom with white paws

Harespring- brown and white tom

Leaftail- dark tabby tom with amber eyes

Emberfoot- gray tom with two dark paws

Heathertail- light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes

Breezepelt- black tom with amber eyes

Sedgewhisker- light brown tabby she-cat

Swallowtail- dark gray she-cat

QUEENS

Furzepelt- gray and white she-cat (mother to Cricketkit and Sagekit)

ELDERS

Tornear- tabby tom


RiverClan

LEADER

Mistystar- gray she-cat with blue eyes

DEPUTY

Reedwhisker- black tom

MEDICINE CAT

Willowshine- gray tabby she-cat

WARRIORS

Graymist- pale gray tabby she-cat

Mintfur- light gray tabby tom

Apprentice, Whitepaw (white tom)

Icewing- white she-cat with blue eyes

Minnowtail- dark gray she-cat

Pebblefoot- mottled gray tom

Apprentice, Redpaw (white she-cat with ginger paws)

Mallownose- light brown tabby tom

Robinwing- tortoiseshell and white tom

Mosspelt- tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes

Beetlewhisker- brown and white tabby tom

Petalfur- gray and white she-cat

Grasspelt- light brown tabby she-cat

Hollowflight- dark brown tabby tom

Heronflight- brown tabby tom

QUEENS

Duskfur- brown tabby she-cat

Rushtail- small light brown tabby she-cat (mother to Shadekit)

ELDERS

Dapplenose- mottled gray she-cat

Pouncetail- ginger and white tom


Tribe of Rushing Water

HEALER

Teller of the Pointed Stone (Stoneteller)- dark gray tom (formerly Crag where Eagles Nest)

PREY HUNTERS

Gray Sky Before Dawn (Gray)- pale gray tabby tom

Wing Shadow over Water (Wing)- gray and white she-cat

Brook where Small Fish Swim (Brook)- brown tabby she-cat

Storm Gust that Ruffles Fur (Storm)- dark gray tom with amber eyes (formerly Stormfur of RiverClan)

Flight of Startled Heron (Flight)- brown tabby she-cat

Screech of Angry Owl (Screech)- black tom

Splash when Fish Leaps (Splash)- light brown tabby she-cat

Dark Shadow on Water (Dark)- black tom

CAVE GUARDS

Sheer Path Beside Waterfall (Sheer)- dark brown tabby tom

Scree Beneath Winter Sky (Scree)- huge mottled brown tabby tom

Moss that Grows by River (Moss)- light brown she-cat

Pebble that Rolls Down Mountain (Pebble)- gray she-cat

Snow Falling on Stones (Snow)- white she-cat

Rain that Passes Quickly (Rain)- gray speckled she-cat

KIT-MOTHERS

Night of No Stars (Night) black she-cat, mother of Feather Falling from Sky (Feather)- gray tabby she-kit with amber eyes, and Leaf that Blows on Breeze (Leaf)- light brown she-kit with green eyes

TO-BES

Lark that Sings at Dawn (Lark)- pale tabby she-cat- cave guard

Pine that Clings to Rock (Pine)- light brown tom- prey hunter

ELDERS

Talon of Swooping Eagle (Talon)- big dark brown tabby tom

Bird that Rides the Wind (Bird)- gray-brown she-cat

Cloud with Star in Belly (Cloud)- pale gray she-cat


The Mountain Pack

Leader

Flora- dark brown and white she-cat with green eyes

Hunters

Stripes- large pale silver tabby tom with amber eyes

Twist- tortoiseshell she-cat with white stripes on her face

Nettle- pale brown furred she-cat with a scarred muzzle

Boulder- large brown tabby tom

Edge- scarred ginger tom with green eyes

Twitch- long-legged white tom with green eyes

Silver- silver tabby she-cat with green eyes

Sparrow- gray tabby tom

Dusty- sandy-furred and white tom with blue eyes

Snake- white she-cat with brown speckles

Shred- large brown tabby and white tom

Dodger- thin black and white tom with amber eyes

Beetle- small black she-cat with a silver muzzle

Young Hunters

Asphalt- black she-cat

Gravel- solid gray tom

Haze- gray tabby and white tom

Blue- gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes

Rose- ginger and white she-cat with amber eyes

Bearing Mothers

Petal- tortoiseshell and gray she-cat (mother to Slate- gray tabby tom)


SkyClan

LEADER

Cherrystar- tortoiseshell and white she-cat

DEPUTY

Bouncefire- rugged ginger tom

MEDICINE CAT

Frecklewish- mottled, light brown tabby she-cat

Apprentice, Firebright (ginger tabby she-cat)

WARRIORS

Rockshade- black scarred tom

Tinycloud- small white she-cat with a torn ear

Sparrowpelt- dark gray tabby tom

Apprentice, Bonepaw (deaf white tom)

Stormwind- gray and ginger she-cat

Hardstone- stout gray tom

Sagefur- small pale gray tabby tom

Apprentice, Hollowpaw (tortoiseshell she-cat)

Mintnose- gray tabby she-cat

Rabbitleap- brown tom

Creekfeather- gray tabby tom

Plumwillow- dark gray she-cat

Whitetoe- ginger tabby she-cat with white paws

Streamwhisper- black and white-striped silver she-cat with one blind white eye

Smokebreath- black tom with a white muzzle

Murkypool- black she-cat

Brighttail- large black tom with white tail and paws

Queens

Birdglide- black she-cat with lighter muzzle

Sandypelt- pale ginger tom with darker tail and paws

Elders

Shrewtooth- skinny black tom

Leafdapple- brown and cream tabby she-cat with amber eyes (former leader)

Billowstorm- ginger and white tom


Cats Outside the Clan

Sol- tortoiseshell tom with pale yellow eyes

Jayjay- light brown tabby tom with white spot on face and blue eyes

Cash- light brown tabby tom with green eyes

Felix- black and white tom with amber eyes

Felicity- black queen with green eyes

Ravenpaw- black tom with a white spot on his chest

Koda- enormous pale ginger tom with black spots

Sentinel- skinny sandy-furred tom with amber eyes

Alicia- long-furred gray and white she-cat with green eyes


Other Animals

Midnight- star-gazing badger who lives by the sea

Drool- large gray dog

Snow- blue-eyed white fox


HEY, IF YOU HAVEN'T TAKEN THE SURVEY ON MY PROFILE PAGE, YOU NEED TO DO THAT RIGHT MEOW!