The moon was a thin crescent glimmering in the sky. A blue-gray she-cat stood on the edge of a boulder, her silvery muzzle washed in blood. Next to her stood a tortoiseshell she-cat.

"So many deaths! Our Clan is running short on warriors, all because of this battle on Sunningrocks. What to do?" she exclaimed.

"I do not know," responded the tortoiseshell.

"You mean StarClan has not told you anything, Spottedleaf?"

The tortoiseshell she-cat dipped her head. "I'm afraid I have not."

"But then—"

All of a sudden, lightning struck the ground in front of them, setting ablaze to dried bush. Thunder rumbled over them. Just as it happened, the fire was washed out by the rain.

Spottedleaf gasped. "It was a sign!"

"Really? What does StarClan say?"

"Fire alone may save the ThunderClan of today, but what happens when rain threatens to wash fire away?"

"Is that what they say?" the blue-gray cat asked. Then she dipped her head. "You have never been wrong before. If StarClan says that, then that is what will be. Fire alone will save our Clan."


ALLEGIANCES

ThunderClan

Leader: Bluestar- blue-gray she-cat, tinged with silver around her muzzle

Deputy: Redtail- small tortoiseshell tom with a distinctive ginger tail

Apprentice, Dustpaw

Medicine cat: Spottedleaf- beautiful dark tortoiseshell she-cat with a distinctive dappled coat

Warriors

Lionheart- magnificent golden tabby tom with thick fur like a lion's mane

Apprentice, Graypaw

Tigerclaw- large dark brown tabby tom with unusually long front claws

Apprentice, Ravenpaw

Whitestorm- large white tom

Apprentice, Sandpaw

Darkstripe- sleek black-and-gray tom

Longtail- pale tabby tom with dark black stripes

Runningwind- swift tabby tom

Willowpelt- very pale gray she-cat with unusual blue eyes.

Mousefur- small dusky brown she-cat

Apprentices

Dustpaw- dark brown tabby tom

Graypaw- long-haired solid gray tom.

Ravenpaw- small, skinny black tom with a tiny white dash on his chest, and white-tipped tail

Sandpaw- pale ginger she-cat

Queens

Frostfur- beautiful white coat and blue eyes

Brindleface- pretty tabby

Goldenflower- pale ginger coat

Speckletail- pale tabby; oldest nursery queen

Elders

Halftail- large dark brown tabby tom with part of his tail missing.

Smallear- gray tom with very small ears. The oldest tom in ThunderClan.

Patchpelt- small black-and-white tom.

One-eye- pale gray she-cat, the oldest cat in ThunderClan. Virtually blind and deaf.

Dappletail- once-pretty tortoiseshell she-cat with a dappled coat

ShadowClan

Leader: Brokenstar- long-haired dark brown tabby.

Deputy: Blackfoot- large white tom with huge jet-black paws

Medicine cat: Runningnose- small gray-and-white tom

Warriors

Stumpytail- brown tabby tom

Apprentice, Brownpaw

Boulder- silver tabby tom

Apprentice, Wetpaw

Clawface- battle-scarred brown tom

Apprentice, Littlepaw

Nightpelt- black tom

Queens

Dawncloud- small tabby

Brightflower- black-and-white she-cat

Elders

Ashfur- thin gray tom

WindClan

Leader: Tallstar- a black-and-white tom with a very long tail

RiverClan

Leader: Crookedstar- huge light-colored tabby with a twisted jaw

Deputy: Oakheart- reddish brown tom

Cats living in Twolegplace

Rusty- handsome ginger tom, kittypet

Smudge- plump, friendly black-and-white kitten, kittypet

Princess- light brown tabby, distinctive white chest and paws, kittypet

Raindrop- blue-gray tom with yellow eyes and a white splash on his forehead. Twolegplace rouge.