Disclaimer: All cats are my own. The idea on the other hand...Erin Hunter came up with that...

These are my own Clans but they live in the forest (in my own world) that ThunderClan, RiverClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan used to live in. So everything's the same except for the Clans.RainClan-ThunderClanHailClan-WindClanSnowClan-RiverClanSunClan-ShadowClan

SunClan is snooty and untrustworthy (except for a couple!), SnowClan is proud and thoughtful, HailClan is speedy and needs to have an eye kept on them, and RainClan is brave and caring.

Updates might be spread out. School's finishing up and I'm swamped!

The full summary (that I worked on during Music!): Everything was fine...until hecame into the forest. The whole forest is plunged into darkness, the warriors and apprentices are turned into slaves, the kits taken away from there mothers to train too early, elders die, their age slowing them down, and medicine cats must watch their Clanmates fall ill, work themselves to death, powerless to stop it, under orders.The Clans have lost all hope, until a message from StarClan comes. Four cats must rise from the ashes to rid the Clans of the evil cat, and lead the forest back into the light...

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Maplepool sighed, glancing at her fellow queens, Spottedclaw, Seapelt, and Gingerfur, lounging and gossiping in the greenleaf sun. She sighed again, content. She should be returning to her warrior duties soon, but whenever she thought about leaving what had become known as her 'place', her heart panged with dread.

"I feel about ready to burst!" Spottedclaw yowled. And then suddenly, she did. Her kitting had begun. It took Maplepool and the other queens a moment to realize what was happening. The amber she-cat lept up, racing for Talltail's den, the old rabbit warren.

"Spottedclaw's kits are coming!" she meowed as soon as she saw the gray tom and her daughter, Marshpaw. "Oh come quickly! It's her first kitting!" She scrambled away, flying back over to her friend who was breathing harshly, straining to push as hard as she could, thanks to Seapelt. Gingerfur was already licking a kit, a tortoiseshell much like her mother. Another kit came out, a ginger tabby with odd eyes of green and blue. The tired mother began licking her last kit.

"What will you name them?" Gingerfur asked dreamily. She looked at her own slightly big stomach, looking forward to the day she got to see her new kits. Spottedclaw looked at each kit carefully before talking.

"I think the tortoiseshell will be Skykit, for her lovely blue eyes, and the ginger tabby will be Flamekit for his red coat," she meowed, looking at them fondly. I can't wait 'til they're warriors. Is this how every mother feels?" She looked up, staring directly at Maplepool.

"Uh, of course," Maplepool stuttered. "Every mother looks forward 'til the day her kits become most honorable of the Clan." Maplepool guided the kits to their mothers stomach, avoiding Spottedclaw's gaze. "I'm going to go speak with Oakstar." She padded away, looking around for Oakstar. Two suns (A.N: I don't quite remember the term for days in the Warriors series. If anyone remembers, send it in your review! Until then, I'm going to use suns or moons. XP) ago, when Crowstar and Moonstream came to visit HailClan about Shadowfur, Oakstar had ordered more patrols, also demanding to be in at least one a day. He was the middle leader now, his life and input much more important to the other leaders and her Clan. Lionstar was the eldest leader, and Dawnstar had been the middle leader, not old, not young. But Shadowfur had killed her, and now Jaystar was the youngest leader, Crowstar the young leader. It was confusing to her as well, but it helped keep track of who was close to the end of thier nine lives and who had a ways to go.

She couldn't find Oakstar. She plopped down at the edge of the clearing, deciding to take a long peaceful nap before telling Oakstar it was finally time to return to her warrior duties. Maplepool sighed again. She loved the Nursery. The milky smells, the gossiping queens. The feel of little claws on her swollen stomach. Maybe she could convince Bluefoot-no. It was time. She thought, at least. Maybe in a while. But for now, the life of a warrior was calling her. But maybe she should, instead of napping go hunting. See how Marshpaw was doing. Talltail had never been a good secret keeper and had told her Marshpaw's medicine cat name. It would be Marshfur. Maplepool didn't ask questions, she just...nodded, and went along with it. Talltail had mysterious ways, but he new best. And that's why he was medicine cat. She padded over and peeked inside. Marshpaw was not there.

"Talltail, where's Marshpaw?" she asked, cocking her head to the side. Talltail looked up from sorting, disoriented.

"Oh," he said, shaking his head to get his brain flowing, "I sent her out to collect some herbs. Why?" Maplepool's blood ran cold. Had Talltail sent a warrior with her?

"Did she take a warrior with her?" the amber she-cat asked frantically. Talltail thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Talltail! Oakstar ordered everyone not to leave the camp without a warrior! What if she gets hurt?"

"I told her to bring a warrior, but she insisted on going alone. She said she was only going a short distance away, near that barn on her way to Highstones." Maplepool shook her head.

"I don't have time for this. If Oakstar comes, tell him I went out. I'll bring a warrior," she turned tail and raced away, the air whipping her face. She came to a halt near Bluefoot. He looked at her startled. He was near the freshkill pile, dropping a rabbit on the pile. She realized how hungry she was but she was wasting time. He was with his friend, Yellowfur, and Yellowfur's apprentice, Treepaw.

"Bluefoot, Talltail let Marshpaw leave alone. We have to go look for her," she said desperately. Bluefoot looked at her, but he didn't seem all that much worried.

"Maplepool, Marshpaw can take care of herself. I'm sure she's not going far!" he said, trying to lighten the mood. Yellowfur looked more worried than her mate, Marshpaw's father. Maplepool's anger bubbled, threatening to burst.

"Bluefoot, this is our daughter we're talking about!" she meowed. "Did Oakstar not order everyone to bring a warrior with them out of camp? That includes Marshpaw. She could be injured. Dead, even! Shadowfur is back for revenge. Look what he did to rogues and kittypets and loners and kits. He's changed. But you obviously don't care about your family, and it's obvious you don't care about me." She spat the last part, turning on her heels, hearing Bluefoot apologize behind her but not caring, and bounded over to her friend, Fireclaw.

Fireclaw stepped back, almost getting bowled over by the frantic queen. "Maplepool, what's-"

"Marshpaw went out alone," she mewed. "Come with me to find her." Fireclaw looked hesitant, glancing at her apprentice, Shellpaw, before turning back to Maplepool.

"Of course I will," Fireclaw said, getting up and racing out of the camp with her. They ran for what seemed like hours, but moments as well. The reached the barn where Laine lived. Laine would always share the barn with cats on their way to Highstones, sharing the mice that infested it as well.

"She's got to be around here somewhere," Maplepool whispered, stepping lightly. She sniffed the air, searching for a whiff of her daughter. It was there. She turned in the direction of the barn. She barreled over there to find a strange tabby lying near a motionless lump of gray tabby fur. The tabby looked up, his eyes glazed.

"You a Clan cat?" he asked. Fireclaw nodded for them. Maplepool was staring past him to the pile of fur beyond them. It was Marshpaw. "I tried to save the young'un, but the cat was too strong. I sorry." He shook slightly as he attempted to get up. Fireclaw gently nudged him down.

"It's obvious you tried your best," Fireclaw whispered. The tabby shook his head sorrowfully.

"If I tried best, the little munchkin would still be stickin' her nose in the clumps of grasses," he muttered. "The name's Tim and I sorry for yer loss." Fireclaw lended a shoulder to Tim, helping him heave him up. "I was on my way to 'da Clan's. The Clan of Stars tol' me 'bout a new prophecy that couldn't wait. I had to warn Clans as soon as possible. But warning was too late. The bad cat they talk'd 'bout is already here."

Maplepool could finally move her legs, inching her way over to the lifeless gray tabby that was her daughter. She stuck her muzzle into her fluffy fur. She had always been small, the runt of both litters, and Maplepool picked up Marshpaw.

"We'll take you back to the Clans, Tim," Fireclaw said as the limped along. "But unfortunately StarClan was late. Shadowfur has already killed three cats, one in SunClan, two in SnowClan." Tim nodded mournfully. Maplepool couldn't speak. Marshpaw was supposed to be safe. The one she knew wouldn't be injured by warrior claws. But Shadowfur had torn that away from her.

Tim was still looking at his paws as they made their slow journey to the HailClan camp. "Clan of Stars told me cat was from Clan of Sun. I always had a special connection with Clan of Stars. They says that my mother was a leader of Clan of Rain a while ago. I thinks they said somethin' of the sort like 'Birdstar'. They tol' me to be proud o' my heritage. I always have." They reached the camp at sundown. When they got there, Leafspot tackled Maplepool, but spotted Marshpaw and stopped. As the tiny patrol padded through the camp, the amber queen felt every pair of eyes follow them. She laid her daughter in the middle of the camp and lay down beside her. Oakstar broke through.

"What's happened?" he asked, calmly. Maplepool had always admired his calmness in these situations, but not now. She whipped around and snarled.

"Shadowfur's killed her, that's what's happened!" she hissed. "Isn't it obvious? The Clans are going to die, one by one and there's nothing we can do to stop it!" Oakstar stepped back. He turned to Fireclaw, who was holding Tim up.

"What happened?" he directed his question at the red-brown she-cat, but she motioned for Tim to speak. He did.

"I was on my ways here to warn Clans. Clan of Stars tol' me about a bad cat and the Clans needed to be warned. So I came as soon as poss'ble, but not soon 'nough, I afraid. I came 'cross a strong Clan cat 'tacking this young'un. I tried real hard to protect 'er, but cat was too strong. I lucky to be here at all. But poor Clan cat o'er dere not so lucky. Cat had no mercy." Oakstar nodded.

"Tim did a brave thing today. I brought him back to get treatment for his wounds for defending Marshpaw," Fireclaw added. Oakstar nodded solemnly. He turned back to Maplepool who was curled around her daughter licking her. Leafspot was licking her mother, who looked disheveled from carrying such a burden all the way back. Sparrowpaw and Swallowpaw lay next to their older sister comfortingly, but Bluefoot just watched. He didn't make a move to comfort the family, just watched as the Clan paid their respects to Marshpaw.

Talltail padded over to Tim. "Come with me." He didn't say anything else, just lead the tom to his supplies. Oakstar padded over to the heap of cats carefully and lay down, tucking his paws underneath him. Maplepool stopped her licking to see who it was, but continued licking her dead kit. When she was finished making her daughter shine for StarClan she just sat. Unknown to her she drifted off to sleep.

Maplepool was lying down in a clearing, one she had never seen before, in some other forest. She looked around, anything familiar would be nice. She saw a cat coming toward her. It was her Marshpaw. She bounded over to her daughter, covering her with licks.

"Oh, Marshpaw! I'm so sorry! You didn't deserve this," she cried, looking at the gray tabby mournfully. Marshpaw looked at her paws, not meeting her mother's eyes. She glanced up again.

"It was my destiny. I was supposed to be killed. But mother, I must tell you something. Moon, Tree, Water, and Bird will come together...and lead the forest back into the light. But the shadow is already upon you! You must hurry. At the quarter moon you need to go to FourTrees and meet with three other cats." Her eyes were wide, with fear and worry crinkling her lovely eyes. "I must go." Marshpaw started walking away. She turned around, looking at her mother and coming to give her a quick lick. "One more thing. Tell Tim thank you." She streaked away into the sheltering forest.

Maplepool jumped awake, the sun clearing the horizon. She shoved her nose one last time into her daughter's fur, letting the cold seep into her soul. The elders got up stiffly, making there way over to Marshpaw slowly. She sighed, tearing her eyes away from Marshpaw. The elders decided that Icefur, Brokenear, and Snowstripe would bury the medicine cat apprentice and Longpelt and Tantail would keep watch for Brownpelt. They nodded their condolences to Maplepool, lifted the broken she-cat onto their backs and disappeared out of the camp. Maplepool felt like a rough piece of freshkill was lodged in her throat as she slumped, tail dragging, over to Oakstar. He looked up startled.

"Yes, Maplepool?" he asked. Maplepool looked at her paws awkwardly. It was time, she thought.

"I think it's time that I return to my warrior duties," she sighed. Oakstar twitched his whiskers in amusement at her lack of enthusiasm. "I'm not bearing kits and Sparrowpaw and Swallowpaw have become apprentices."

"Yes. You can go on the dawn patrol tomorrow. But now I think you should either rest or go-"

"Oakstar, what can I do?" Swallowpaw asked eagerly. "Can we go battle training, hunting?" Maplepool gave her a hard stare.

"Swallowpaw, who's the mentor? He'll tell you what to do, not let you tell him what you'd like to do," she said sternly. Oakstar looked them, amused. "And you interrupted a conversation I was having with Oakstar. Did I teach you no manners?"

"Sorry, mother. Sorry Oakstar," she said feebly, taking a step back.

Oakstar laughed. "As I was saying, either rest or go hunting. But you had a hard and tiring day yesterday. I think you should rest." She was in no mood to rest. She needed to think things through. Moon, Tree, Water, and Bird. She was obviously the 'Tree' part of the prophecy. She was no medicine cat, though. But who were Moon, Water, and Bird?

"I think I'll go hunting. Let me find someone to go with me," she said, excusing herself. She padded around the camp. It was a hard blow, Marshpaw dying. She had been a wonderful cat, caring for everyone. A perfect medicine cat. It hurt the Clan almost as much as it hurt Maplepool. She went over to Leafspot, who was helping Talltail tend to Tim. She waited until Leafspot was free.

"Leafspot, would you like to go hunting with me?" she asked. Leafspot nodded, dipping her head to the gray tom. Maplepool did the same and they padded out of camp.

"It's strange, Marshpaw being gone. I never imagined it this way," Leafspot said, as they walked along the moor, breeze ruffling their fur. Maplepool stopped, scenting the air. There was a strong scent of rabbit.

"I know, Leafspot. It is. I keep expecting her to walk into camp. But she came to me. In a dream and told me it was her fate and not to mourn too much," Maplepool said, halting her daughter as she spotted a rabbit snuffling among the grasses. She raced over to it silently. The rabbit spotted her and the chase was on. They loped over a dip in the ground. Leafspot came in from the side, leaping onto the rabbit's back, and with one swift blow, the rabbit went limp. Maplepool stopped beside her.

"Nice kill," she commented. "I'm so proud of you, Leafspot. I hope you know that." Leafspot looked at her paws, embarressed. The amber warrior nodded. "Let's find another rabbit or two before we head back. Her daughter nodded again. She found a secluded slant in the ground and covered the rabbit with some grass. They spotted another rabbit and Maplepool snatched it up quickly, biting its neck. They took their prey back to camp, dropping it on the mingling freshkill pile. Maplepool decided to visit Spottedclaw and her kits. She slipped inside her favorite place in the whole world. The Nursery.

"Maplepool! Oh StarClan, I'm so sorry," Spottedclaw whispered. "How are you?" The amber tabby she-cat shrugged her shoulder, coming closer.

"How are the kits? They look wonderful," she said. The tortoiseshell brightened visibly at the mention of her kits. Maplepool plopped down beside her, looking at them longingly. She remembered when Marshpaw and Leafspot were that small like it was yesterday. She remembered Sparrowpaw and Swallowpaw that small even better.

"Their lovely. I can't believe I'm a mother," she whispered, nudging Skykit closer to her stomach. Their eyes were still shut tight, their fur still downy and soft. Maplepool looked fondly at them before getting up.

Spottedclaw looked up with her. "I'll get you something to eat." She wiggled her way out over to the freshkill pile, taking the rabbit she had just dropped on recently off.

Could Shadowfur possibly be the mysterious shadow? Or can it be someone else? Someone closer?