The Struggle

ShadowClan
Leader: Ryestar – dark ginger tabby tom

Deputy: Sweetdapple – orange tabby she-cat with bright green eyes

Medicine Cat: Swanthorn – white tabby she-cat; extremely long claws

Warriors: Mistlebush – dark brown-and-black tortoiseshell tom; black eyes with brown flecks

Ivypelt – light gray she-cat with pine green eyes (Apprentice: Emberpaw)

Olivetooth – dark brownish-green tom; brown-green eyes

Splashfang – cream tom; fierce blue eyes; sharp fangs

Blackfur – black tom with stern green eyes (Apprentice: Vinepaw)

Dawnstripe – yellow tabby she-cat with orange eyes

Primrosefall – white she-cat with specks of light orange; yellowish orange eyes (Apprentice: Shortpaw)

Starlingfox – gray-and-red tortoiseshell she-cat with bushy tail; amber eyes

Timberclaw – light brown tabby she-cat with ginger eyes

Twistedfoot – ginger tom with a twisted foot; blazing blue eyes

Fawnheart – brown she-cat with white dots and pale brown eyes, formerly a kittypet

Apprentices: Emberpaw – dark ginger she-cat with yellow eyes; muscular and sleek

Vinepaw – dark gray tabby tom with green eyes; scrawny and weak

Shortpaw – tiny speckled tom with white tip and short legs; fierce orange eyes

Queens: Mintwhisker – smooth furred; silver; warm hazel eyes (mother to Brightkit, white she-cat with bright blue eyes; Frecklekit, golden spotted she-cat; Doekit, brown she-cat with white underside and tail tip; and Morningkit, cream, black spotted tom)

Dappleheart – dappled brown she-cat with flecks of white in silver eyes (mother to Rainkit, silver tabby tom with gray eyes)

Hopeshine – golden tabby; amber eyes (mother to Specklekit, speckled sandy tom and Sleekkit, sleek furred silver she-cat)

Elders: Hickoryleg – brown tom with stiff leg

Sneezenose – cream tabby she-cat; sneezes frequently

Softfur – white tom with soft fur

Misteyes – formerly Mistwish; dappled gray she-cat; blind misty eyes

Patchfur – patchy, ragged, brown furred she-cat; cranky and bad-tempered

ThunderClan
Leader: Longstar – light gray she-cat, long whiskers

Deputy: Chestnutpelt – dark ginger tom with brown eyes

Medicine Cat: Wildsong – kinky furred she-cat with beautiful blue eyes and a soothing purr (Apprentice: Sorrelpaw)

Warriors: Dewwhisker - dappled tom with wet whiskers

Kestrelsong - brown she-cat with patches of black and white; dark brown eyes

Nettlefrost - brown tom with patches of white; icy blue eyes

Sedgeburr - brown and green tortoiseshell she-cat, (Apprentice: Quailpaw)

Ashpelt - dark gray tom with darker gray eyes

Ebonyfall - dark ginger she-cat with amber eyes

Apprentice: Quailpaw - black tom with white on his toes, tail tip, face, and back

Sorrelpaw - brown-and-white she-cat

Queens: Nightfawn - brown-and-black she-cat

Birchwhisker – calico with startling green eyes

Elders: Rockpelt - dark gray she-cat

Maplesun - dark ginger she-cat with yellow eyes

Yellowclaw - long-furred brown tom with dirty teeth and claws

RiverClan
Leader: Duskstar – Silvery black she-cat with a white marking on her forehead

Deputy: Stormfang – Silver-gray tom with long sharp fangs

Medicine Cat: Songwhisper – Sandy colored she-cat with soft voice

Warriors: Foxwish - dark brown she-cat with white tail tip

(Apprentice: Thistlepaw)

Owldapple - brown speckled tom

Blossompool - tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat

(Apprentice: Mallowpaw)

Badgerscar – Black tom with white stripe along his face and back; scars along his flank

Wishnight – Gray she-cat with black around her eyes and black ears

Apprentices: Thistlepaw - short-furred brown she-cat

Mallowpaw - gray tom

Queens: Cassidy - tortoiseshell she-cat with tabby markings

Runningbreeze - golden tabby queen

Elders: Willowwind - gray she-cat with black ears

Vixenleap - brown tom with white paws

WindClan
Leader: Tumblestar - old gray-and-white tom

Deputy: Lilyspots - mottled she-cat

Medicine Cat: Tawnywhisker - tawny she-cat

Warriors: Harestep - creamy-white tom

Pouncebreeze - tortoiseshell she-cat

Stepwind - brown tom

Owlwing - white she-cat with a graying muzzle

Queens: Tangleleap - black she-cat with ragged, knotted fur

Whisperbreeze - tiny silver she-cat with a long tail

Elders: Olivepelt - brown tom with dull green eyes and rheum on his eyes

Elderleaf - black-and-ginger she-cat with a twisted paw

Hareflight - light brown tom

CATS OUTSIDE CLANS: Rabbitpounce – former WindClan deputy, exiled for killing Gorsescar

Foxy – dark ginger tom, bushy tail with large white tip

Isabella – ferocious rogue, haunting blue eyes, raggedy brown fur

Rhea – silver tabby rogue, pricked ears

Prologue
Flightstar stepped forward. "A dark time is coming to ShadowClan." Next to her, a dark gray tom hissed. "A dark time is coming to all the Clans, not just ShadowClan." Flightstar sighed. "Okay. Whatever. But a dark time is coming, and the only one who can prevent it is this cat." She lightly touched the water's surface. A white she-kit appeared. The tom snorted. "That one? She's just a kit!" A cream she-cat glared at him. "Duststar, even you were once a kit! Or will you not admit it?"

Four shadowy figures appeared. One was a bright ginger tom with white paws. Another was a wiry brown she-cat with yellow eyes. The third was a silver furred tom, and the fourth was a thick-furred black she-cat with green eyes. "Hello. Sky could not join us today," meowed the brown she-cat. The cream she-cat dipped her head. "That is okay, Wind. Only four Clans are in danger.  Besides, Larkstar is in another world.  We cannot reach her.  And the current leader, Timberstar, is even more distant." Wind sighed. "Echostar, even the most powerful StarClan cats cannot control who believes and who doesn't. Besides, isn't the current news more urgent?" Duststar sprang to his paws. "Yes! A dark time is coming to all the Clans, and the only one who can stop it is," he turned to Flightstar, "this little mewling she-kit who hasn't even opened her eyes yet!" The silver tom snarled. "Duststar! What pride do you have as to not admit that even you were once a kit?" Duststar dipped his head, but his eyes were still gleaming.

"Enough. We must get the current leaders.  River, you get Duskstar.  Thunder, you get Longstar.  Wind, you get Tumblestar.  I'll get Ryestar," directed the black she-cat. "But Shadow," complained the orange tom. "Longstar is often lost in dreams about her siblings Honeykit and Tansykit. How will I ever get to her?" Shadow lashed her tail. "Find a way! The leaders of each Clan must hear this important message." Thunder dipped his head and ran off. Flightstar waited patiently, but still spoke. "Shadow, only three representatives are here. Specklestar is nowhere to be seen.  Surely he hasn't forgotten?" Shadow's gaze darkened. "Go get him. River must speak with him too." Flightstar dipped her head and headed off to find Specklestar.

"Specklestar, where are you?" She bumped into a pure white she-cat. "Half Moon?" she asked. The she-cat dipped her head. "It is I. I was the first Teller of the Pointed Stones, and many more came after me." Flightstar nodded. "Do you know where Specklestar is?" Half Moon shook her head. "No. Ask Lion's Roar.  He might know." But Lion's Roar didn't. And neither did Moon Shadow, or Bright Stream. At last Flightstar came upon the speckled tortoiseshell tom. "Specklestar! Where were you when needed? Come, you must speak with River and Duskstar." Specklestar scrambled to his paws and ran after Flightstar. "Where are we going?" he asked. "To speak with leaders from other Clans," she said. "Now hurry up!"

At last they reached the meeting spot. Everyone else was already there, even Longstar. "Why have you brought us here?" asked Ryestar. Thunder stood. "We must go now. Leaders, share with your Clanmates what you have heard." Then he walked away, followed by Wind, then Shadow, then River." Flightstar turned toward the former leaders.  "Shall we tell them?" Echostar nodded.  "A dark time is coming to all the Clans. And your fate hangs in the balance of one she-cat. Listen carefully: Bright skies will turn into sounding thunder, and the only one who shall save from the silver menace is the bright-eyed." Tumblestar nodded.  "We shall pass this on to our medicine cats."  Echostar shook her head.  "That isn't enough. All of you must protect the cat from the prophecy. You will swear by StarClan and by your nine lives that you will protect this cat." Duskstar began to protest, but then held her tongue.  "I swear by StarClan and by my nine lives that I will protect this sacred cat," swore Ryestar.  Then he looked expectantly at the others.  "I swear by StarClan and by my nine lives that I will protect this sacred cat," said Longstar.  The others followed, and soon Flightstar nodded.  "We will help you watch over her. But listen: if you fail to protect her, you will be stripped of your lives immediately. And you will cease to rule over your Clan. You will join the elders, and there is no going back." Duskstar looked horrified; she must've been shocked by the conditions.  Flightstar looked at all of them.  "Go. And do not forget your oath."

Chapter 1
Brightkit toddled out of the nursery. Her mother, Mintwhisker watched her. “Don’t go too far,” she meowed as Brightkit, her sisters Frecklekit and Doekit, and her brother Morningkit tumbled in a bundle of fur and feet in the camp. Their father, Mistlebush padded up to them.

“Having fun?” he purred as he brought Mintwhisker a mouse. “Those kits of yours sure are feisty.” Ryestar and Sweetdapple were watching them from afar.

“Sweetdapple, don’t you think they’re cute?” asked Ryestar. Sweetdapple seemed to grow fatter everyday because of her kits, yet she wouldn’t go to the nursery.

“Of course I think they’re cute,” Sweetdapple purred. She rubbed her head affectionately against Ryestar’s flank. She padded up to Brightkit. “And what’s your name, little one?”

Brightkit puffed out her chest and said proudly, “I’m Brightkit!” Mintwhisker watched with pride as Brightkit started prancing around exclaiming that she was a warrior. “She’ll be a fine warrior,” she meowed to Mistlebush. A sunrise later, Frecklekit was prodding Brightkit. “Come on, wake up!” she squealed. “I want to go play with Rainkit!”

“But he’s so snobby. He thinks he’s so great cause he’s older.” Rainkit was born five moons earlier, which made him all the more snobby and pompous.

“Hey kits,” someone meowed. It was Sweetdapple, finally convinced to move to the nursery. “Hopefully it won’t be long now—did you see Hopeshine? Her belly is really big now, can’t be long until she starts kitting!” Brightkit looked at Frecklekit, who looked at Doekit. They jumped on their brother, yelling “Wake up!” He leapt in the air, his fur bristling, until he saw his sisters glancing at him. “What was that for? I was having a good dream about chasing a mouse!” Doekit pretended to look innocent. “Sorry,” she meowed. “We were just playing.”

“Play somewhere else; I’m sleeping,” he growled, then laid his head down to sleep.

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan Meeting!” Ryestar’s voice boomed throughout the camp. “Today we are gathered here to welcome a new apprentice! Rainkit!” Rainkit startled, and cautiously padded up the Highrock. Ryestar wrapped his tail around the wary cat briefly, then continued, “This kit has reached his sixth moon. Rainkit, from this day on, you shall be known as Rainpaw. Your mentor shall be Splashfang. Splashfang, you are a brave and noble warrior. I expect you to pass all your courage, wisdom, and bravery onto this young apprentice.” Rainpaw leapt down from the Highrock, and Splashfang met him. They touched noses, and Rainpaw looked at Brightkit with a smug look in her eyes. Brightkit arched her back and hissed at him. Only five more moons and she’d be an apprentice too!

“You’ll be Longstar, and I’ll be Ryestar,” declared Doekit.

“I don’t want to be Longstar!” wailed Morningkit. “I was Longstar yesterday! You can be Longstar!”

“I’ll be Sweetdapple!” announced Brightkit. “And you can be Chestnutpelt!”

Frecklekit arched her back and hissed. “Get off our land, you mange-pelts!”

“Never!” Claws sheathed, Brightkit leapt out at Frecklekit. They battered each other with tiny paws, while Doekit and Morningkit play fought. Tumbling around, they swiped and swiped until a wail rose from Morningkit. “Ow!” Morningkit raced over to Mintwhisker. “Doekit hit me! Doekit hit me!” Immediately Mintwhisker ran over, and Brightkit stopped fighting. She padded over to see Morningkit. A tiny claw mark ran along his flank, where Doekit had hit him with claws unsheathed. He was wailing at the top of his lungs, and already other cats were racing over to help.

“What’s wrong?” Rainpaw padded over and glanced at Morningkit. “Why does he have a scratch on his flank?” Doekit looked at him with a guilty look, and Rainpaw rolled his eyes. “I should’ve known!” he grumbled. “Kits play fighting!” Swanthorn walked up to Morningkit. “Where is the scratch?” she asked. Brightkit toddled up to her brother. Pointing to his flank, she looked at Swanthorn.

“How did he--” Swanthorn was abruptly cut off by Doekit, who was crying. “It’s all my fault! We were playing, and I accidently unsheathed my claws! I’m so sorry! Do I have to search the elders for ticks?” Ryestar looked at her with confusion, and then started laughing. “No, Doekit. Searching for ticks is the apprentices’ job. In fact. . .” He turned to Rainpaw. “Rainpaw, would you go and get some mouse bile from Swanthorn’s supply? You are now an apprentice, therefore, you now take on apprentice duties.” Rainpaw arched his back and hissed, but thought better of leaping at his leader. He stalked off towards the medicine den, muttering under his breath along the way. Brightkit stared at the den in wonder. Could there be something in there that she could play with maybe? ~*~

Her mother stared down at her in shock. "Honestly! You'd think this would happen less!"

"Sorry," she murmured. Brightkit had accidently eaten a poppy seed and was starting to feel sleepy. "Swanthorn, where were you?"

The she-cat hissed at her. "I was collecting some more coltsfoot and catmint, Mintwhisker! I didn't think a kit would get into my supplies."

Mintwhisker stared at her daughter sternly. "No more games for you, Brightkit. Back to the nursery." The snowy-white she-cat glared at her mother but did as she was told, and fell asleep almost instantly.

Rainpaw shook her awake. "Come on!" he said. "I heard something about Fawnheart telling us a story!" Brightkit yawned. "Couldn't you wait?"

"Nope! Let's go!" was his only reply.

Fawnheart didn't look that excited to be shaken awake either. "What do you want?" she grumbled. Looking at the tiny she-kit, she sighed. "Of course. The story. As you all know, I was born outside of the Clans. Then when a dog thought it could mess up our Twoleg's yard, we tried to defend it. The yard, not the dog. It all went wrong and I ended up being treated by Icestorm, a kind tom. And as always, we ended up staying." She sighed. "You kits don't realize how short life is, do you?"

Rainpaw shook his head. "But I can run so much faster than Brightkit!" Brightkit rolled his eyes. Rainpaw always thinks so highly of himself just because he's older. ''But I don't like it! How can he think that?'' Her thoughts were interrupted by the tsking of the warrior.

"She's younger than you, of course she's bound to run slower. Kits can't get around easily on short stubby legs."

The tom bared his teeth at her and snarled. "Whatever you say. I still think I can run faster than her."

Fawnheart sighed. "Remember this, Rainpaw. Your pride could be your downfall."