Warriors:War in the Hills

Allegiances

HillClan

Leader

Redstar-dark ginger tom

Deputy

Brightfeather-pale ginger she-cat with amber eyes

Medicine Cat

Darkpool-black tabby tom with blue eyes

Warriors

Blossomwhisker-tortoiseshell she-cat

Ravenflight-black tom

Apprentice, Foxpaw

Kestrelwing-brown tabby tom

Loudwater-dark brown tom

Wildstream-red tabby she-cat with blue eyes

Apprentice, Specklepaw

Brownpelt-brown tom

Owlheart-brown tabby/white tom

Featherwing-silver tabby she-cat

Apprentice, Cloudpaw

Roseheart-cream she-cat

Brackenclaw-golden tabby tom

Dawnblossom-calico she-cat with amber eyes

Gorsefoot-brown tabby tom with solid paws

Stonepuddle-gray tom with blue eyes

Apprentice, Birchpaw

Grayfur-gray tabby tom

Moonleap-silver tabby/white she-cat

Apprentice, Sunpaw

Bumblewind-gray tom with black stripes

Breezeshine-black/white she-cat

Echoheart-black she-cat

Firestep-white she-cat with ginger paws

Thistlefoot-gray tabby tom with white paws

Nightwatcher-black tabby tom

Apprentices

Cloudpaw-silvery white she-cat

Foxpaw-ginger tom

Sunpaw-golden tabby she-cat

Birchpaw-pale brown tabby tom

Specklepaw-tortoiseshell she-cat

Queens

Littlepool-golden tabby blue eyes-mother of Browpelt’s kits-

Leafkit-brown tabby she-kit with green eyes

Bramblekit-brown tom

Mistbrook-gray blue eyes-mother of Bumblewind’s kits-

Squirrelkit-ginger she-kit

Timberkit-pale ginger tom

Swallowkit-black she-kit

Elders

Lionspring-golden-brown tabby tom

Tigerleap-dark brown tabby/white tom

Leopardfern-leopard-patterned she-cat with green eyes

 

GrassClan

Leader

Smokestar-mottled gray tom

Deputy

Heronskip-white she-cat with a brown underbelly and paws

Medicine Cat

Ivygrass-brown tabby she-cat with solid paws and green eyes

Apprentice, Brindlepaw

Warriors

Sedgenose-brown she-cat

Eaglefeather-dark gray tom

Apprentice, Ashpaw

Runningshadow-black/white tom

Mottlespots-tortoiseshell/white she-cat

Bumbleflight-gray tabby tom

Apprentice, Oakpaw

Lilypelt-blue she-cat

Scorchstep-brown tom with ginger paws

Spottedfur-calico she-cat

Apprentice, Mousepaw

Dawnsnow-ginger/white she-cat

Tornclaw-gray tabby tom missing a claw

Apprentice, Brownpaw

Whitemist-white she-cat

Antrain-black tabby tom

Apprentices

Ashpaw-gray tom

Brindlepaw-calico she-cat

Mousepaw-brown tabby she-cat

Oakpaw-ginger tom

Brownpaw-brown tom

Queens

Sandrain-ginger/white-mother of Scorchstep’s kits-

Maplekit-black she-kit with amber eyes

Larchkit-brown tabby/white tom

Poppyspots-mottled dark ginger-expecting Runningshadow’s kits

Elders

Barkpelt-dark brown tom with green eyes

Dovebright-gray/white she-cat

 

FieldClan

Leader

Briarstar-brown tabby she-cat

Deputy

Frostsong-white she-cat with blue eyes

Medicine Cat

Tallfang-gray tom with an odd, crooked tooth

Warriors

Flamedust-ginger tom with a brown paw

Yellowgaze-gray tabby she-cat with yellow eyes

Hawkflight-brown tabby tom

Heavyfoot-big gray tom

Specklefeather-tortoiseshell she-cat

Wetgaze-gray tabby tom with blue eyes

Stormbreeze-gray she-cat

Apprentice, Bluepaw

Whiskerface-brown tabby tom

Webwhisker-brown tom with tangled whiskers

Roseberry-ginger/cream she-cat with blue eyes

Finchflight-pale gray tom

Emberfall-black she-cat with amber eyes

Apprentice, Furzepaw

Dustblaze-dusky brown tom

Swiftrunner-black tabby tom

Russetmist-ginger she-cat with grayish eyes

Ferretstep-cream tom

Gorsenose-brown/white tom

Apprentices

Bluepaw-blue she-cat

Furzepaw-black/white she-cat

Queens

Morningbrook-cream she-cat-mother of Webwhisker’s kits-

Treekit-brown tom with green eyes

Brackenkit-pale ginger tom

Goldenbird-golden tabby-mother of Finchflight’s kits-

Hailkit-white tabby she-kit

Mudkit-brown tabby tom with white paws

Silverkit-silver tabby she-kit

Shadefern-black she-cat with green eyes-expecting Heavyfoot’s kits

Elders

Blossomdew-calico she-cat

Longleap-white tom

Falconshade-black tom

 

SandClan

Leader

Thistlestar-gray tabby she-cat with white paws and green eyes

Deputy

Harestreak-gray tabby tom

Medicine Cat

Wildbreeze-white tabby with ever messy fur

Warriors

Hollypuddle-black she-cat with blue eyes

Mossfoot-tortoiseshell she-cat

Apprentice, Mintpaw

Troutleap-brown tabby tom

Reedtail-ginger tom with a long tail

Hollowclaw-black tom

Toadfrost-black/white tom

Ripplepool-red tabby tom

Pouncestep-gray tom

Apprentice, Grasspaw

Mallowfur-cream she-cat

Minnowriver-silver tabby she-cat

Mudstorm-dark brown tom with one white paw/ear

Beetlestep-gray tom with black paws

Shellpool-mottled blue/cream she-cat with amber eyes

Volenose-brown tom

Molewhisker-brown tabby tom

Apprentices

Mintpaw-gray tabby she-cat with green eyes

Grasspaw-gray tom with green eyes

CHAPTER ONE

 

“Cloudpaw!” Lifting her head, Cloudpaw looked out of the apprentice’s den. She saw her mentor, Featherwing, calling her. Featherwing beckoned with her tail.

“Come on! We’re on hunting patrol with Brackenclaw and Bumblewind!” Cloudpaw bounded towards her mentor, tail held high.

“I’m ready!” She declared, skidding to a stop beside her mentor. Featherwing looked down on her.

“Full of excitement, as usual.” She purred, pride warming her voice. Cloudpaw beamed. She liked Featherwing.

“Come on, we’re going!” Brackenclaw called. Brackenclaw spoke with authority, but not like he owned the place. He would be a good choice for a deputy one day, perhaps.

As the patrol entered the fields, beautifully spotted with trees, prey rich wind blew their way. Cloudpaw sighed in happiness. She loved greenleaf.

Greenleaf was when all of the problems of the Clans seemed to melt away, though sometimes the melting was literally and it was a problem. There was peace between all of the Clans during greenleaf, even though HillClan was called ‘the most peaceful Clan in the grasslands’.

The other Clans, SandClan, GrassClan, and FieldClan told were humble enough to the point to admit that HillClan was peaceful enough to give a starving Clan some prey. Perhaps it was true. There’d never been a starving Clan, though.

As the patrol pressed on, the prey practically lept out of their burrows. Cloudpaw managed to catch a rabbit and two mice. Bumblewind had he most impressive catch, with two rabbits, a mouse, and a rare squirrel.

As Cloudpaw dropped her catch on the fresh-kill pile, Featherwing approached her. “You can eat now.” She purred. “You’ve done well today.” Cloudpaw beamed.

“Thank you Featherwing!” Cloudpaw picked up her rabbit and sat down next to Sunpaw, her best friend who was finishing a mouse.

“How was hunting patrol?” Sunpaw asked through a mouthful of mouse.

“It was good. Caught this rabbit, and two mice.” Cloudpaw told her. Sunpaw’s eyes widened.

“Really!” She exclaimed. “I won’t be able to say that anytime soon!” Sunpaw was a moon younger than Cloudpaw and her brother, Foxpaw. Sunpaw also had a brother, Birchpaw.

As Cloudpaw stood up, Featherwing came towards her. “Cloudpaw,” She called. “Redstar and I need to talk to you.” Cloudpaw’s ears pricked up. Why would Redstar want her?

As she climbed the series of ledges that eventually reached Highslate, the calling place for the Clan and the leader’s den, Cloudpaw wondered if she was going to have her warrior assessment anytime soon. She and Foxpaw were the oldest apprentices, and couldn’t stay that way forever.

When Cloudpaw entered the den, Redstar, Featherwing, Foxpaw and his mentor, Ravenflight were already there. The deputy, Brightfeather, sat in the corner. Redstar nodded to Cloudpaw to sit.

“Foxpaw, Cloudpaw, Featherwing and Ravenflight have told me that you have been performing well in your duties.” Redstar paused. “Your warrior assessments will be tomorrow.” Cloudpaw beamed and Foxpaw’s jaws dropped.

Ravenflight nodded. “You both deserve it.” He told the two apprentices. “You can go. Get some rest:you’ll need it for tomorrow.”

Cloudpaw ran down the ledges, as fast as she could without falling down them. She burst into the apprentice den.

“Sunpaw!” She called. “Sunpaw, I’m having my warrior assessment tomorrow!” Cloudpaw’s golden tabby friend lifted her head from talking with Specklepaw about which elder’s story was best.

“That’s great!” She purred. “I hope you won’t miss me too much in the warrior’s den.” Cloudpaw looked at Sunpaw with mischief in her eyes.

“I’ll be just fine. It’ll be nice to have some time without you snoring all night!” She joked.

“Hey!” Sunpaw screeched, throwing herself on Cloudpaw. They tumbled in their mock-fight around the den, until Foxpaw snapped playfully:

“I’m actually getting some rest.” He said. “I guess you don’t care that you’ll be too tired to lift a paw during your assessment tomorrow, and I’ll become a warrior while you snooze in your nest.” Cloudpaw stopped and looked at Sunpaw.

“My brother’s right.” She told Sunpaw apologetically. “I should get some rest.” Sunpaw nodded.

“It’s alright. I have evening patrol with Wildstream anyway.” With that, Sunpaw bounded out of the den, followed by Specklepaw, who was also on the evening patrol. Birchpaw was out hunting, so it left just Foxpaw and Cloudpaw.

Without a word, Cloudpaw curled her fluffy silvery tail around her nose and drifted off to sleep.

 

Cloudpaw stepped lightly, avoiding all twigs that could possibly be on the ground or brushing against the grass. This was one mouse she couldn’t miss.

Sure, she’d already caught a rabbit, but this was her warrior assessment. StarClan knew how much she needed to catch!

Somewhere in the long grass, Ravenflight watched her. Redstar wouldn’t let Featherwing and Ravenflight judge their own apprentices, for fear of them being too soft. So they were watching each other’s apprentice.

With a pounce, Cloudpaw pinned the mouse down and snapped it’s neck soundlessly. She turned back and hid it with her rabbit.

Looking around and pricking her ears, Cloudpaw saw a squirrel. A squirrel! The rare piece of juicy meat would be great for her during her assessment. She’d only caught one before.

Struggling to soften her ragged breathing, Cloudpaw stalked the squirrel through the grass. It was heading to a tree about two fox-lengths away. Cloudpaw leaped.

The squirrel ran when Cloudpaw missed, but she was determined to not let it get away. She closed in on it and caught it. It had been a messy kill, but it was better than nothing. A squirrel! Cloudpaw walked back to the rest of her stash with pride, where she was met by Ravenflight.

“You’ve done well.” He told her. “But it’s time to head back to camp.” Juggling her rabbit, mouse, and squirrel, Cloudpaw followed Ravenflight to the HillClan camp.

“Cloudpaw!” Foxpaw and Sunpaw called, running towards her. Foxpaw skidded to a halt. “How’d you do?” He asked.

“I caught a rabbit, a mouse, and a squirrel.” Cloudpaw told him, a touch of pride warming her voice at the mention of her squirrel.

“A squirrel!” Sunpaw exclaimed. “Good for you!”

“I caught two rabbits and a shrew.” Foxpaw said. “Not a squirrel, but I still did pretty well!”

“May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather at the Highslate for a Clan meeting!” Redstar called. Cloudpaw gulped and went forward.

“Foxpaw and Cloudpaw had their warrior assessment today. Ravenflight and Featherwing have informed me of their progress and performance, and I have decided that they are both ready to become warriors.” A huge breath that Cloudpaw didn’t know she had been holding escaped her. Redstar beckoned them forward.

“I, Redstar, leader of HillClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have worked hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend them as warriors to you in their turn.” Redstar performed the ancient words to the warrior ceremony. “Foxpaw, Cloudpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, even at the cost of your life?”

“I do!” Cloudpaw called, along with her brother. Redstar nodded.

“Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names.” Cloudpaw held her breath as Redstar turned to her. “Cloudpaw, from this moment, you shall be known as Cloudflight. StarClan honors your spirit and warmth, and we welcome you as a full warrior of HillClan.” Cloudflight licked his shoulder as he lay his muzzle on her head. Redstar turned to Foxpaw.

“Foxpaw, from this moment you shall be known as Foxrunner. StarClan honors your loyalty and speed, and we welcome you as a full warrior of HillClan.” Foxrunner and Redstar exchanged the same polite gesture. Redstar lifted his head.

“Foxrunner, Cloudflight!” He called.

“Foxrunner, Cloudflight!” The rest of the Clan echoed. Cloudflight beamed as she saw Sunpaw cheering loudly.

Tonight she would sit vigil. But it was worth being a warrior.