ThunderClan

Leader:

Silverstar-big silver tom

apprentice, Owlpaw

Deputy:

Morningwhisker-white tom with tabby patches

Medicine Cat:

Pearblossom-thin-furred tabby with a pink tint

Warriors:

Dustclaw-pale gray-brown tom

Birdfeather-cream tabby she-cat with tabby spots

Pineheart-reddish-brown tom

apprentice, Leafpaw

Stormshade-black she-cat

Featherfall-silver she-cat with fluffy fur

apprentice, Beechpaw

Ashtalon-dark silver tabby tom

Apprentices:

Beechpaw-silver tom

Leafpaw-flame-colored she-cat

Owlpaw-gray-brown she-cat

Queens:

Lilyspot-calico with green eyes

Snowkit-white tom with blue-green eyes

Cloudkit-gray-and-white she-kit

Elders:

Mothpelt-tattered gray tom

Spottedfur-dappled golden she-cat, youngest elder


"Snowkit! Stop smelling those daisies and come play moss-ball."

Sighing, the little gray kit looked at his sister. Her blue-green eyes were narrowed. Muttering, he walked over to kit. "Why should I need to play? You're the one that likes that stuff. Warriors don't play games."

"That is right, Snowkit," a voice said, "I can see that you are going to be an amazing warrior, just like your father." It was Lilyspot, his mother.

Across the camp floor, Ashtalon turned. "Thanks, Lil. And you're the best queen in the forest."

Raising her brows at Ashtalon, Lilyspot went on. "You should know better than to insult your brother, Cloudkit. I expect better behavior from you." Sneering at his sister, Snowkit turned.

"Why are you so mean to your sister?" The young white tom gasped, his tail shooting straight up in the air.

A slim black tom was standing before him, his dark fur and amber eyes strangely. He didn't look like any cat in ThunderClan.

"Who are you? You don't belong to ThunderClan!" Snowkit tried, and failed heartily, to act brave. "I'll tell someone!"

The sparkly tomcat chuckled. "I am a part of ThunderClan-your mother is very close to me."

Snowkit gave a confused look.

"However, that's not what's important. You need to know something."

Snowkit gazed at him hungrily.

"It's at the stream." The tom looked over Snowkit's shoulder. Curious, the tomkit turned but saw nothing. He was met with the same sight when he looked back at the sparkly tom.

Huh. Well, that's odd. What happened to him? He was right there, in front of the fallen tree. There is no place he could have hidden.

Hearing muttering at the front of the camp, Snowkit went to investigate. Pineheart and Featherfall were talking in hushed voices to Morningwhisker, the clan deputy. He quickly carried over the message to Silverstar, whose eyes widened, prompting him to jump up to the Highrock.

"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather to hear what I have to say."

Curious, Snowkit gathered among them, though he was not nearly as old as the others.

Taking a deep breath, Silverstar began. "Leafpaw is missing." A gasp ran through the assembly. "She was out hunting with Birdfeather and Pineheart. They say that she went off towards camp, but never came home. Does anyone have any idea where she is?"

Snowkit's mind reeled. Leafpaw had only been apprenticed one moon ago; she wasn't much older than Cloudkit and Snowkit. If Leafpaw had been hurt, she, like the kits, wouldn't know what to do. Where could she be?

Then, as if a cloud had uncovered the sun, Snowkit knew where Leafpaw was.

It's at the stream.

The black cat had told him where Leafpaw was. But how? He shook the thought off. It doesn't matter.

"She's at the stream!"

All of the cats turned to Snowkit.

"How could you possibly know that?" Beechpaw was staring at him.

"The cat told me."

A murmur of confusion rippled through the crowd.

"Hold on." The cats twisted around to see a cat with thin tabby fur standing in front of them. It was the medicine cat, Pearblossom. She was looking thoughtfully at Snowkit, tilting her tabby head slightly to the left. "Do as he says."

"Pearblossom," Silverstar began, "he is a kit." Several cats, including Featherfall, Beechpaw, and Stormshade, seemed to agree.

"So? That doesn't change anything," Pineheart retorted, "whoever says we should listen, come to me."

Snowkit held his breath.

Morningwhisker, Birdfeather, Pearblossom, Mothpelt and Spottedfur, and his parents walked beside Pineheart.

"Fine. Birdfeather and Pineheart may take Owlpaw and Pearblossom to the stream."

The wait was agonizing. Snowkit wondered if the cat was right. Finally, the patrol returned with Leafpaw, whose bright fur was covered in water. Pearblossom immediately dashed over to Snowkit.

"May I speak to you?" The thin-furred tabby looked slightly excited.

It must be something important! "Yeah, sure."

"I think that you met the spirit of ThunderClan's last deputy, Lightningfoot. I think StarClan wants you to be my apprentice."