The three children of Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw, grandchildren of the great leader Firestar, have thrived in their apprenticeships: Lionpaw's strength and energy serve him well as a warrior in training, Hollypaw hones her understanding of the warrior code, and Jaypaw explores his mysterious powers and connection to StarClan as the medicine cat apprentice.With more experience comes both power and danger: Lionpaw makes a friendship—and a discovery—that must be kept hidden; Jaypaw learns a secret that could benefit ThunderClan by damaging others; and Hollypaw knows something that could avert a battle, if she could convince the rest of her Clan.The three are torn apart as each discovers darkness: in themselves, in the Clans, and in the past. And, as conflict begins over what it means to be a warrior, rising tensions threaten to overflow, washing away the peace that has existed for many moons.
For Geof
Special thanks to Kate Cary
FIRESTAR—ginger tom with a flame-colored pelt
BRAMBLECLAW—dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes
APPRENTICE, BERRYPAW
LEAFPOOL—light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes
APPRENTICE, JAYPAW
SQUIRRELFLIGHT—dark ginger she-cat with green eyes
DUSTPELT—dark brown tabby tom
APPRENTICE, HAZELPAW
SANDSTORM—pale ginger she-cat
APPRENTICE, HONEYPAW
CLOUDTAIL—long-haired white tom
APPRENTICE, CINDERPAW
BRACKENFUR—golden brown tabby tom
APPRENTICE, HOLLYPAW
SORRELTAIL—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with amber eyes
THORNCLAW—golden brown tabby tom
APPRENTICE, POPPYPAW
BRIGHTHEART—white she-cat with ginger patches
ASHFUR—pale gray (with darker flecks) tom, dark blue eyes
APPRENTICE, LIONPAW
SPIDERLEG—long-limbed black tom with brown underbelly and amber eyes
APPRENTICE, MOUSEPAW
BROOK WHERE SMALL FISH SWIM (BROOK)—brown tabby she-cat, formerly of the Tribe of Rushing Water
STORMFUR—dark gray tom with amber eyes, formerly of RiverClan
WHITEWING—white she-cat with green eyes
BIRCHFALL—light brown tabby tom
GRAYSTRIPE—long-haired gray tom
MILLIE—silver tabby she-cat, former kittypet, blue eyes
BERRYPAW—cream-colored tom
HAZELPAW—small gray-and-white she-cat
MOUSEPAW—gray-and-white tom
CINDERPAW—gray tabby she-cat
HONEYPAW—light brown tabby she-cat
POPPYPAW—tortoiseshell she-cat
LIONPAW—golden tabby tom with amber eyes
HOLLYPAW—black she-cat with green eyes
JAYPAW—gray tabby tom with blue eyes
FERNCLOUD—pale gray (with darker flecks) she-cat, green eyes, mother of Dustpelt’s kits: Icekit (white she-cat) and Foxkit (reddish tabby tom)
DAISY—cream long-furred cat from the horseplace
LONGTAIL—pale tabby tom with dark black stripes, retired early due to failing sight
MOUSEFUR—small dusky brown she-cat
BLACKSTAR—large white tom with huge jet-black paws
RUSSETFUR—dark ginger she-cat
LITTLECLOUD—very small tabby tom
OAKFUR—small brown tom
ROWANCLAW—ginger tom
APPRENTICE, IVYPAW
SMOKEFOOT—black tom
APPRENTICE, OWLPAW
SNOWBIRD—pure-white she-cat
TAWNYPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes, mother of Tigerkit, Flamekit, and Dawnkit
CEDARHEART—dark gray tom
TALLPOPPY—long-legged light brown tabby she-cat
ONESTAR—brown tabby tom
ASHFOOT—gray she-cat
BARKFACE—short-tailed brown tom
APPRENTICE, KESTRELPAW
TORNEAR—tabby tom
APPRENTICE, HAREPAW
CROWFEATHER—dark gray tom
APPRENTICE, HEATHERPAW
OWLWHISKER—light brown tabby tom
WHITETAIL—small white she-cat
APPRENTICE, BREEZEPAW
NIGHTCLOUD—black she-cat
WEASELFUR—ginger tom with white paws
GORSETAIL—very pale gray-and-white cat with blue eyes, mother of Thistlekit, Sedgekit, and Swallowkit
MORNINGFLOWER—very old tortoiseshell queen
WEBFOOT—dark gray tabby tom
LEOPARDSTAR—unusually spotted golden tabby she-cat
MISTYFOOT—gray she-cat with blue eyes
APPRENTICE, DAPPLEPAW
MOTHWING—dappled golden she-cat
APPRENTICE, WILLOWPAW
BLACKCLAW—smoky black tom
VOLETOOTH—small brown tabby tom
APPRENTICE, MINNOWPAW
REEDWHISKER—black tom
APPRENTICE, POUNCEPAW
MOSSPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes
APPRENTICE, PEBBLEPAW
BEECHFUR—light brown tom
RIPPLETAIL—dark gray tabby tom
DAWNFLOWER—pale gray she-cat
GRAYMIST—pale gray tabby, mother of Sneezekit and Mallowkit
ICEWING—heavily pregnant white cat with blue eyes
HEAVYSTEP—thickset tabby tom
SWALLOWTAIL—dark tabby she-cat
STONESTREAM—gray tom
PIP—black-and-white terrier who lives with Twolegs near the horseplace
© 2008 Gary Chalke
Wind stirred the heather and set the hillside rippling.
Between the low bushes, feline shapes, their fur slicked flat by the breeze, streamed down the slope.
Among them, a tabby queen kept pace with a young tom.
“Are you sure you are ready for this?”
“I’m ready,” the tom answered, his green eyes flashing in the moonlight.
“You’re my eldest, Fallen Leaves,” the queen whispered.
“The first of mine to face the ordeal.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“He was trained well!” a low voice called from behind.
“Even trainin’ can’t prepare a softpaw for rain!” growled another.
Fallen Leaves glanced up. “But the sky’s clear.”
“I smell rain on the wind, I tell you.”
Murmurs of alarm spread among the other cats.
