Chapter One: EmberClan

Smolderstripe yawned as the first pale light of dawn streaked across a watery sky. He had been up all night, keeping a silent vigil after his warrior ceremony. His eyelids drooped over his amber eyes, momentarily obscuring his vision before he blinked them back into place.

As he sat there Blazetail padded out of the cave that was used as the warrior den. The golden tom stretched, flexing his muscles in the sun that was beginning to lighten the sky. After giving his ear a good scratch he gave a mighty bound and landed on one of the ledges that was jutting out of the cliff face.

Smolderstripe watched his white tail disappear into the shadows of the tunnel and sighed in relief. It was the only tunnel that led to the top of the mountain. Blazetail must be coming to relieve me, Smolderstripe thought. He glanced at the gap in between two boulders where the tunnel let out.

As he suspected the golden deputy strolled out of the entrance. He walked up to Smolderstripe and dipped his head. "You can go now Smolderstripe. You're vigil is over," he mewed.

"Finally," Smolderstripe snapped, now that he could speak. "I thought you were going to sleep forever." A hard glint came into Blazetail's eyes, but he didn't say anything. Smolderstripe smirked and stalked past him, making sure his tail hit him.

"Oh and Smolderstripe," Blazetail began.

"What?" Smolderstripe whipped around to face him.

"Blackbriar is leading a hunting patrol with Hawkpaw and Eaglefeather. You need to go with them," he grinned. Smolderstripe lashed his tail.

"I'm going to sleep," Smolderstripe growled. "I've been up all night." Blazetail shrugged.

"Should have thought of that before." Smolderstripe bristled and turned his back on his deputy.

"Who does he think he is to order me around?" he muttered under his breath as he stalked down the tunnel. He could barely make out the light from the other end of the tunnel, but as he rounded a turn he caught sight of the outside world. Picking up his pace he trotted into the morning light.

Below him Whitepool was sunning herself outside the nursery while her two kits play fought on the wide ledge that jutted out from the cave. She waved her tail in greeting to him and Smolderstripe flicked his ear in return. Still below him, but higher up than the nursery was the warriors den. Blackbriar and Eaglefeather were washing themselves by the entrance. Smolderstripe dropped down next to them.

"Good morning Smolderstripe," Blackbriar purred. "How's it feel to be a warrior?"

"Great," Smolderstripe grinned. He pushed by them and into the tunnel that lead into the warriors den. Juniperflower, Brambletail, and Lostflower were gone. Dawn patrol, he thought absentmindedly. Picking his way over to an unoccupied nest he curled up in the moss and bracken and drifted to sleep.

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Bluepaw blinked open her eyes and found herself still tucked into her nest in the apprentices den. Sharppaw was snoring loudly next to her and Hawkpaw's nest was empty. Smolderpaw's nest was empty too.

"He never goes on the dawn patrol," she muttered. Then she remembered he had been made a warrior last night. "Smolderstripe now," she purred.

"What about him?" Sharppaw grumbled groggily from his nest. Bluepaw rolled her eyes.

"Nothing fur-ball," she poked the grey tom with her paw. He grunted and rolled over in his nest.

"Leave me alone. I'm sleeping," he mewed. His voice was muffled from the moss and bracken.

"You're the one who butted into the conversation," Bluepaw retorted.

"The conversation with yourself," Sharppaw responded. Bluepaw felt the heat in her cheeks and was glad Sharppaw had his back to her. She cuffed his ears before giving herself a quick grooming. Finished with her blue-grey fur, Bluepaw scampered out of the den.

She blinked as sunlight flooded her vision. After she got used to it she scrambled down from the ledge outside the apprentices den and landed at the stream that ran next to the camp. Bending down she lapped up the mountain chilled water. Sitting by the edge she surveyed the camp as it rose.

The EmberClan camp was safely nestled in a valley between two mountains. The camps were caves and tunnels in the side of the mountain. The warriors den, the nursery, and the elders den were on one side while the apprentices den, the leader's den, and the medicine cat den were on the other.

The nursery lay almost directly at the stream, as did the apprentices den. The warriors den was above it and to the side. The elders den was next to the warriors den. On the other side of the stream the apprentices den was the lowest, the medicine cat den was diagonal from it and then the leader's den was at the top.

Whitepool was lying on the ledge outside the nursery while Russetkit and Pebblekit wrestled next to her. Ashstep was washing herself in the shadows of the cave. Cavernrose and Tunnelfoot, two of the clan elders, were dozing in the morning light outside their den.

Icestorm was eating outside the warriors den with Grayfeather. Bluepaw glanced around for her mentor, but he was nowhere to be seen. She shrugged and headed for the freshkill pile next to the stream.

Grabbing a plump mouse she settled down to eat outside the apprentices den. She pricked her ears as Sharppaw stumbled out of the den. "Decide to get up?" she glanced at him. His grey-and-white fur was ruffled from sleep.

"I couldn't fall back to sleep after you woke me up," he snapped. Bluepaw shrugged.

"Sharppaw," Grayfeather called to his apprentice. Sharppaw glanced at his mentor. "How about we go do some battle practice after breakfast?" he suggested. Sharppaw smiled and nodded excitedly. He trotted away from Bluepaw to grab some freshkill.

Finishing her mouse Bluepaw looked around for her mentor again. He was just stepping out of his den when she saw him. His grey-and-ginger coat was sleek and thick. Smokestar glanced around the camp before jumping from ledge to ledge until he reached Bluepaw's side by the stream.

"Good morning Smokestar," Bluepaw dipped her head. "What are we doing today?" she asked, hoping they could do some battle practice just like Sharppaw.

"Is Smolderstripe in the warriors den?" he asked, completely ignoring Bluepaw's question. She wasn't surprised or offended by Smokestar choosing his son over her. She knew the story behind them, every cat in the clan did! Smokestar's mate was Cloudspark, the prettiest warrior in the clans.

When they found out they were expecting kits both parents were overjoyed. Cloudspark got every luxury a queen could have. Unfortunately the kits were born premature and Cloudspark died in the kitting. Two of the kits died too. Smolderstripe was the only one to survive.

Smokestar adored his son. He treated him better than any cat and always doted on him and gave him extra freshkill. Ever since birth Smolderstripe was told he was the best cat and he owned the world. Apparently he was pretty much destined to be the next leader.

"I think so," Bluepaw finally answered her leader. He nodded then bounded to the dark cave. Bluepaw sighed.

"Hey Bluepaw," Grayfeather called. Bluepaw glanced at the tom. He was standing on the trail that led out of camp and into the mountains. Sharppaw was next to him, his claws gripping the rocky path so he wouldn't tumble down the mountain. "Want to train with us?" he asked.

"Sure," Bluepaw grinned. She raced over the hard terrain and up the trail to reach them.

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Lostflower bounded down the rocky trail without wincing as the hot stones hit her pads. The sun shone brightly and warmed her fluffy grey fur. She increased her pace until she was practically flying down the mountain side.

She skidded to a halt at the bottom of the mountain. The scent markers were in front of her, warning she was next to DuskClan territory. Lostflower glanced behind her at the rest of the patrol. Juniperflower and Brambletail were following her much more slowly.

They picked their way over the rocks and avoided the more sharp stones. Lostflower sighed and sat down to wait. She neatly wrapped her tail around her paws and gazed over the border.

DuskClan territory was a dense forest. The undergrowth was thick and it always seemed to be dark. Lostflower guessed it must get lighter in some parts of their territory. It was wrong for cats to have to live in the shadows instead of in the sun.

"Was that necessary?" Brambletail asked when they reached her. Lostflower turned from DuskClan territory. His voice was firm, but his brown eyes were alight with amusement. Lostflower just shrugged.

"Let her be young," Juniperflower smiled and nudged the older tom. Brambletail fluffed up his golden fur and shoved her back.

"Have you two forgotten we're on a patrol?" Lostflower stood up straight and puffed up her chest, using her grown-up voice. Juniperflower laughed and Brambletail rolled his eyes.

"Yes Lostflower," he smiled. Juniperflower took the lead as they padded along the border. Brambletail stopped to remark the border before the DuskClan trees slowly melted into the dead hollow trees of the swamp.

The scent drifting across the border changed too, signaling they were standing next to SwampClan territory now. Juniperflower stopped to mark the border while Brambletail and Lostflower continued on.

"I wonder how SwampClan cats stand it," Lostflower gazed across the border. "I'd hate to live in the mud all the time." Brambletail nodded his head in agreement.

"No wonder they try to take our territory," he mewed. Just then Juniperflower arrived.

"But we don't let them have it," Juniperflower growled, lashing her tail with satisfaction. "The last time they tried we sent them right back over the border with their tails between their legs." Brambletail and Lostflower grinned.

"They won't be so eager to try that again," Lostflower purred.

"But the clans are at peace now so they shouldn't be trying it anyways," Brambletail mentioned.

"Times of peace don't last forever," Juniperflower pointed out. "And when it's over we'll be ready," she slashed her claws over the dusty path in front of her. Lostflower felt a rush of pride for her clan. She hadn't been born there, but she was glad she lived there now. As a kit she'd been found in one of the tunnels. She couldn't imagine a life outside of EmberClan.

"Let's get on with the patrol," Brambletail waved his tail and took the lead. Juniperflower let him take over. She fell back and walked with Lostflower.

A/N:

So here's the first chapter. It was mainly so you could meet some of the main characters. Smolderstripe is mine and I absolutely love him. He's so snobby and arrogant I just adore him lol. The next chapter will be from the pov of probably my favorite rouge. She's legit lol. Now I'd like to take the time to thank Lazerkat for reviewing. You are awesome my new friend(: I'm sorry about the switching povs being confusing. The page break I used didn't carry over onto fanfic so I'm trying this one now. I hope it helped in this chapter. Okay now the first person to review on this chapter gets a *drum roll* Smolderstripe plushie! Cause he's a pretty kitty :D

-Animaneya