The prologue did take place in the past. Swiftclaw is the replacement for Oakheart in the original series - the RiverClan deputy before Leopardfur.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to leave Nightpelt's name that way. He is Nightstar just as he was in the original series - more or less a cosmetic title, since he doesn't have all nine of his lives. His role has not really changed, but I will be providing more details on it. The extra arc I mentioned is really just a small change to how Brackenfur's arc plays out, with a little more context and detail into why he makes the decision he (obviously) makes.

Graypool's dead kits are the same that died in canon. I like to think that she dotes on Goldenflower's litter and treats them like the ones she'd lost.

Chapter 1

The wind was cold and bitter, as if it were made of frost itself. Tinyclaw trudged through the snow, his short legs aching. The warmth of the mouse in his jaws kept him going, despite the aches and the pains of hunger in his own belly. He hadn't eaten since the day before – a grim sign of the season.

Yet the hunger did not bother him utterly. As Tinyclaw picked his way down the ravine and circled the thorn barrier to the entrance of the ThunderClan camp, he recalled fondly the battle just the other day – an epic fight with all four Clans struggling in WindClan's moorland camp, trying to drive the rabbit-chasers out of the forest once more. With ThunderClan's help, RiverClan and ShadowClan did not succeed – WindClan was here to stay, and all four Clans were back in the forest once more.

Tinyclaw pushed his way through the thorn tunnel and into the camp. The ravine sheltered the ThunderClan camp from the majority of the howling winds, but Tinyclaw could still feel it sheering off of his spine. His limbs shivered, and he wanted nothing more than to curl up in his own nest.

A muffled screech made his ear flick. Tinyclaw paused by the fresh-kill pile and looked to the nursery. Inside the bramble patch, Bluefur, the Clan deputy, was kitting – the pains had started early in the morning. From the sound of things, the kits would be coming soon themselves.

Tinyclaw set down his mouse with the meager, frozen, offerings on the fresh-kill pile. He flattened his ears with worry. Bluefur had been his mentor when Tinyclaw had come to the forest, but she was a dangerous cat. Ravenpaw, an old denmate, had witnessed her murdering the former deputy of ThunderClan, Redtail, in cold blood, in order to become deputy herself.

Ravenpaw was safe beyond the moors, but Bluefur was ThunderClan's deputy now. Tinyclaw knew she would be out of commission for a while thanks to her kits, but she would not be gone forever… and she had proven that she can do her vile work even while inside the nursery.

Those kits, he thought, hearing a squeal. Those poor kits. How can they grow up with a mother like her? Bluefur had been a vicious, cold, mentor – Tinyclaw didn't want to think of what kind of mother she would be. At least her mate, Oakheart, seemed to have a good head on his shoulders – Tinyclaw was sure he knew nothing about what Bluefur had done.

Tinyclaw glanced once more at the pile. Though his stomach was growling, he didn't dare take food – Bluefur was going to need all the nourishment she could get if her kits were going to survive this leaf-bare cold. ThunderClan had lost too many kits already.

He turned back towards the warrior's den. He would get warm for a little bit, then head out hunting again. Tinyclaw cast a stray glance at the apprentice's den and felt a pang. The hunting would go smoother if I had an apprentice… But Brackenpaw had been injured in an accident on the Thunderpath more than a moon ago and was crippled. There was little hope he could return to training.

The branches screening the warrior's den twitched as Tinyclaw approached. Darkstripe emerged just then, his yellow eyes narrowed at Tinyclaw, who stopped to avoid slamming into the dark-pelted warrior.

"Tinyclaw," he growled with an unfriendly tone. Tinyclaw twitched an ear – Darkstripe didn't even bother to try hiding his disdain.

"Just going to rest before heading out again," Tinyclaw replied evenly. He would not give Darkstripe the satisfaction of thinking he cared about a hair on Darkstripe's pelt.

"Don't bother," Darkstripe grunted. He looked utterly dissatisfied, and Tinyclaw suppressed the urge to look happy about it. "Tigerstar says you and Graystripe are to come to the Gathering tonight."

"And you?" Tinyclaw wondered.

Darkstripe's neck fur bristled, and the dark tabby didn't reply. He snorted and whipped away, stalking through the snow. Tinyclaw watched him go, amusement twitching through his whiskers. He was still sniggering softly when he entered the warrior's den and huddled up into his nest beside Graystripe, his best friend.

"What do you think you're doing, mouse-brain?" Graystripe hissed. The large gray tom pressed close, sensing his friend's chilly fur against his own. "Don't rile Darkstripe like that! You know that everything he hears goes right to Bluefur!"

"I can't help it," Tinyclaw mumbled back, trying to keep the laugh out of his voice. "Ever since he failed to kill me during the battle, he's been so angry… he's like a porcupine every time I see him! It's nice to know I've gotten under his fur." Tinyclaw stretched out a leg and began to wash.

"Yeah, well, don't let it get to your head," Graystripe warned. The hefty tom let out a sigh. "I'm sorry," he murmured.

"Oh?" Tinyclaw wondered between licks. "What for?"

Graystripe's eyes flickered to and fro, but the warrior's den was mostly empty. Only Runningwind lay in his nest, snoring – the night patrol had worn him out, and he'd sustained exhausting wounds from the battle.

"Darkstripe wouldn't be so angry with you if it weren't for me," Graystripe sighed. "Because of me and Silverstream…"

Tinyclaw laid his tail against Graystripe's flank. Graystripe's secret relationship with the RiverClan she-cat Silverstream had caused quite a lot of strain between the two of them since its beginning, and it had nearly driven them apart utterly. Now that they were friends again unconditionally, it was not as sensitive a topic as before. Tinyclaw still thought Graystripe was mouse-brained, but now he knew better than to try and get in the way and stop him.

"Want to get something to eat?" Tinyclaw suggested.

Graystripe shook his head. "Too cold," he sighed. "There's not much out there, and I'd feel guilty, what with Bluefur and all…"

Tinyclaw nodded in agreement.

"We can just wait until Mousefur's patrol comes back," Graystripe sighed, resting his head on his paws.

Tinyclaw added, "Sandstorm is with them – they'll bring back more than just a measly mouse!"

Graystripe smirked knowingly. "Sometimes I think you're moonier than me," he chuckled.

Tinyclaw gave him a playful shove. Amongst his friends it was no secret that he had feelings for the pale ginger she-cat – even though she didn't seem to care much for him in the beginning. Now that they were past that rocky stage, their friendship seemed to be flourishing. Tinyclaw was not going to force things, but inside he hoped Sandstorm might feel the same about him.

"Hey, hey," Graystripe hissed, "Runningwind's trying to sleep over there!"

Tinyclaw relented. The two friends huddled together in the warmth of the den and settled down.

"So, what do you think the Clans will talk about tonight?" Tinyclaw wondered.

"I don't know, but the battle will definitely come up," Graystripe sighed. "I doubt Tigerstar will be able to announce Bluefur's kits."

"Still, I hope RiverClan and ShadowClan have learned their lesson," Tinyclaw meowed. "WindClan won't be driven out of their territory again."

"It wasn't just about territory," Graystripe reminded him. "RiverClan has been going hungry all leaf-bare, thanks to Twolegs messing with their river. I don't know about ShadowClan's situation, but RiverClan's been going without food for so long… can you blame them?"

Tinyclaw narrowed his eyes.

Graystripe flicked an ear awkwardly. "Sorry."

"It's all right," Tinyclaw assured him. Graystripe's relationship with Silverstream gave him a difficult perspective on the situation.

The two hunkered down in their nest, but Tinyclaw kept his eyes on Darkstripe outside the den. The dark warrior was just leaving the nursery, probably after checking on Bluefur. Tinyclaw bristled at the thought of them conspiring, even while Bluefur was giving birth, for StarClan's sake. Graystripe shifted uncomfortably.

"Will you stop that?" Graystripe hissed.

"I don't trust them," Tinyclaw hissed back.

Graystripe rolled his eyes. "Darkstripe is my half-brother and I don't trust him either – but that doesn't mean you need to go spiking everyone with your fur every time you see him!"

"It's not just him," Tinyclaw insisted. "It's Bluefur, too. Darkstripe is just a lacky."

He looked back out, eyeing the nursery. "If only I could prove it, without a doubt," he sighed. "If only…" He closed his eyes. Then, like a blow to the head – it came to him. "Ravenpaw!"

Graystripe tilted his head. "What about him?"

"Ravenpaw knows what happened," Tinyclaw told him. "Tigerstar didn't believe me the first time because I didn't have all the details, but Ravenpaw… Ravenpaw knows! I need to see him again."

Graystripe narrowed his eyes and then he sighed. "Fine. If you insist on going all that way… I'm coming with you. When are we going?"

Tinyclaw flicked his tail.

"Tonight."

The sky was clear and the snow had stopped by the time Tigerstar and the Gathering party were making their way to Fourtrees. Tinyclaw kept close to this leader, with Graystripe beside him. The gray warrior was doing his best to keep himself from charging ahead.

Tinyclaw sighed. "If you're going to see her," he hissed, quietly, "at least try not to let Longtail see you." Darkstripe, thankfully, had not come to this Gathering tonight. Longtail, however, could be just as bad and had been proven to be quite the lackey.

"I know, I know," Graystripe insisted. "It'll be fine."

They arrived at the edge of the hollow and stopped by Tigerstar's order. Down below the other three Clans were already mingling, and Tinyclaw spotted Silverstream – the young pale tabby was with other RiverClan cats. Tinyclaw turned his head to warn Graystripe further, but the gray warrior's eyes were too far gone.

Whitestorm approached, picking his way through the crowd and up to Tigerstar's side. The white warrior had taken over deputy duties for Bluefur alongside Oakheart – but Oakheart insisted in remaining in the camp tonight for the sake of his kits. "Tigerstar, what are we going to say about Brokentail?"

The whole group tensed, waiting for Tigerstar's answer. Brokentail had been once known as Brokenstar – ShadowClan's cruel former leader, driven out of power by ThunderClan. During a scuffle with his rogues, Brokentail had been blinded and wounded greatly. ThunderClan kept him now as a guarded prisoner.

"We say nothing," Tigerstar decided, his amber eyes emotionless.

"Nothing?" hissed Dustpelt. "Are we ashamed to admit what we've done?"

"Not at all," Tigerstar assured the young warrior. "But we don't want to go about causing unnecessary trouble." He raised his voice and commanded, "Hear me – no cat is to mention anything about Brokentail tonight. Is that understood?"

The Clan murmured their agreement.

Tigerstar nodded in satisfaction. "Very well," he meowed. "Let's head down."

He raised his tail, and the Gathering party surged forward. Tinyclaw tried to keep an eye on Graystripe through their descent into the hollow, but somehow the gray warrior got lost in the crowd. Tinyclaw sighed, slowing as he neared a group of elders with Patchpelt.

I'll catch up with him later, he thought. But he'd better be careful!

Tinyclaw followed Patchpelt into the group of elders – cats Tinyclaw didn't know. He kept a little out of their way, not wanting to intrude and feeling a little uncomfortable around the other Clans – how Patchpelt managed it, Tinyclaw didn't know.

He's an elder, Tinyclaw thought. He looked over the old cats and saw no hostility in their eyes when they looked at each other. Just white muzzles. They all are. I guess they're too old for Clan rivalries.

"This leaf-bare is nothing," a grizzled gray tom hissed. His muzzle was silver with age and he carried the scent of WindClan on his scarred, patchy pelt. "I remember one far worse – the river was frozen for moons, even in the gorge!"

"Yes, Crowfur," an old tabby queen agreed. "Prey was scarce, even for RiverClan."

Crowfur threw a glance at Tinyclaw. "Young cats today," he hissed. "No perspective or respect. Always complaining about how bad things are!"

Tinyclaw shuffled his paws awkwardly. Patchpelt twitched his whiskers.

"I know the leaf-bare you speak of," he sighed. "It was a bad one. Many kits were lost. And the thaw…"

"Yes, the thaw!" the queen lamented. "The gorge rose so high… and RiverClan nearly lost their camp to the floods!"

"Dreadful, it was," Crowfur grunted. "Young cats… they don't know just how lucky they are! If they went through another leaf-bare like that, they'd snap like a twig!"

Tinyclaw flattened his eyes and opened his jaws, but Patchpelt shook his head. Tinyclaw closed his mouth, leering at Crowfur. Patchpelt pressed against Tinyclaw and guided the small warrior away from the elders and into the crowd.

"Don't mind Crowfur," Patchpelt offered. "He'd find fault with StarClan."

"I'm sure," Tinyclaw grumbled.

Patchpelt rolled his eyes. "Youngsters," he sighed. He nudged Tinyclaw. "Go find a spot for the meeting. It'll start soon."

Tinyclaw nodded and said a brief good-bye to the elder. He pushed his way through the crowd and found Graystripe sitting with Sandstorm. Tinyclaw settled between them and asked, "Did I miss anything?"

"Nothing important," Sandstorm sighed. "ShadowClan and RiverClan are being prickly."

"Well, WindClan's elders aren't exactly friendly, if Crowfur is any indication," Tinyclaw assured her. He glanced at Graystripe, whose eyes were shining. So he had been able to talk to Silverstream after all! Tinyclaw hoped no cat had seen him.

The chatter in the clearing ended when Tallstar yowled for silence. The black-and-white WindClan leader began the meeting by reporting how his Clan was doing after the battle: "We have lost an elder," Tallstar reported, "but WindClan will not budge. We live on to fight another day."

Nightstar narrowed his eyes, and Crookedstar's fur bristled. Tinyclaw tensed – would they start a fight at a Gathering?

Tigerstar stepped forward, pushing between Nightstar and Crookedstar with his great broad shoulders. "This is good news, Tallstar," he rumbled. "We should all be glad that WindClan grows strong again."

Crookedstar said nothing, but Nightstar's eyes blazed. Tinyclaw glared up at the ShadowClan leader. Under Brokentail's rule, ShadowClan had driven WindClan from their hunting grounds utterly, to live beneath Thunderpath tunnels like rats. Tigerstar had asked Oakheart, Graystripe, and Tinyclaw to go and rescue the missing Clan – and Tinyclaw was not about to let Nightstar do the same cruel thing again.

Life in the forest depends on all four Clans, Tinyclaw thought. There is a balance. The thought reminded him of Bluefur – what would she do if she became leader? Would she drive out the other Clans? Tinyclaw fidgeted on his paws, wishing the Gathering would get itself over with so he could see Ravenpaw and get what information he needed to expose Bluefur.

"ThunderClan is also recovering well," Tigerstar went on. "Since the last Gathering, two of our apprentices have become warriors – they are now known as Dustpelt and Sandstorm."

The Clans erupted in cheers for the new warriors, but Tinyclaw noticed that WindClan and ThunderClan were calling their names louder than the others.

When the noise died down, Tigerstar went on, "Bluefur is back at camp this moon giving birth to her kits – soon ThunderClan will have new faces, and Bluefur will be back into her deputy position when the kits are weaned."

There was more cheering, but not so boisterous as for the new warriors. Tinyclaw cheered out of obligation and tried to make it seem like it wasn't forced. The cheering ended quickly, and the meeting progressed.

Nightstar's and Crookedstar's announcements were mostly having to do with their recovery from the battle. No Clan had lost warriors, but some were badly wounded. Their announcements were terse and uncomfortable, as if reporting their status to the victors was something of a weakness. No cat mentioned anything about accusing others of hunting in their territory – the real cause of the disparity had been Brokentail and his rogues.

The meeting was done quickly, and the Clans began to break apart to head home. Tinyclaw stood and stretched.

"Ready?" Graystripe wondered.

"Yep," Tinyclaw replied.

"Ready for what?"

Tinyclaw flinched. He had almost forgotten that Sandstorm had been sitting beside him – his mind had been so occupied; he was usually very conscious of her presence. He stared at her, dumbstruck. "Uh…"

Sandstorm tipped her head. "Uh what?" she wondered, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "What are you two up to?"

Tinyclaw looked frantically at Graystripe. The gray tom rolled his eyes and replied, "We're going hunting."

"Oh?" Sandstorm replied. "Can I come?"

"Nah," Graystripe replied. "Mudclaw said there's a warren of rabbits just inside our territory, on a narrow strip near RiverClan territory. Too many cats might risk crossing the border. Tell Tigerstar for us, will you?"

Sandstorm narrowed her eyes skeptically. But, she flicked her tail and meowed, "Sure." She leered at Tinyclaw. "Next time, though, don't leave me out. You know how much I love hunting rabbits!" She turned away and trotted after the rest of the ThunderClan group.

"S-Sorry!" Tinyclaw called after her. Tinyclaw sighed and turned to Graystripe. "Thanks," he offered. "She caught me off guard."

"Yeah, yeah," Graystripe groaned, rolling his eyes. "Save it. You couldn't lie to Sandstorm if your life depended on it."

Tinyclaw butted him in the shoulder gratefully. He was more than thankful that they were friends again – what would he do without that big furball? "Let's get going, then," Tinyclaw offered.

"Yeah," Graystripe agreed. He heaved a sigh. "I'm not looking forward to it, just so you know."

Tinyclaw nodded knowingly. "Thank you."

"No need." Graystripe flicked his tail dismissively. "Friends do this sort of risky stuff for their friends. Lead the way."

Tinyclaw brushed against his friend as he headed up the opposite slope. Graystripe followed, and together they trotted out onto WindClan territory.