Chapter 1

A full moon shone down on four huge oak trees that stood in a ring, surrounded by bushes and different kinds of shrubberies. In the clearing spaced in the middle of the four trees, dozens of cats milled about, talking quietly to each other, others staring up at the silhouettes of four cats sitting on a large gray boulder. Suddenly, one stepped forward, a large fiery orange tom with sparkling green eyes.

“I will start off tonight’s gathering with a word of warning to Tallstar and the warriors of Windclan.” Firestar meowed, nodding respectively at the older leader. “One of Thunderclan’s newest warriors has seen a couple of foxes heading off towards the moors. Other than that, Thunderclan is healthy and thriving.” The younger leader stepped back, allowing Tallstar to take his place.

“Thank you Firestar, we will keep a close watch for those foxes. I too have nothing to report other than Windclan is also thriving.” Tallstar meowed, then stepped back as well.

The two other leaders, Leopardstar and Blackstar only had news of good hunting and healthy clans, so Blackstar was about to break up the meeting, until a high pitched yowl broke the chatter that had built up in the throng of cats sitting below the giant rock. Four cats pushed their way through the bushes until they came face to face with the four leaders. The red one, the obvious leader by the way he held head and tail high, stepped forward.

“Greetings. My name is Flare. May I ask what you all are doing here?”

The four leaders looked at each other, then back at the red cat. “We are gathered here for a meeting held once a moon. We exchange information on our enemies; mainly foxes and two-legs, and we also recognize our newest clan warriors.” Firestar meowed finally.

“Clan? You are all in a clan?” Flare asked, eagerness shining in his eyes.

“Great Starclan, no!” Leopardstar meowed, sounding faintly amused. “There are four clans living in the forest and surrounding territories. I am the leader of Riverclan, who holds claim to the great river. Firestar is the leader of Thunderclan, who reside in the thick forest, Tallstar is the leader of Windclan, who live on the open moors, and Blackstar is the leader of Shadowclan, who live in a swamp.”

“That’s quite an arrangement, and so organized!” Flare muttered to himself. More clearly, he meowed, “May we stay with you for a while? My friends and I have been traveling for some time now, and we would like to have a permanent home, at least for a while.”

“Well…” Leopardstar looked around at the cats below here. “I suppose-”

“Wait!” Firestar interrupted. “Thunderclan will take you all in, so you won’t have to be separated.” His warriors all nodded and meowed their agreements.

“My deepest thanks, Firestar.” Flare meowed respectively, the three cats behind him nodded and smiled at the cats.

“So this meeting is over?” Blackstar meowed impatiently. The other leaders nodded, and all the cats began to break off into their respective clans for the return trip.

Firestar gathered up his warriors. “Who are your friends, Flare?” The leader asked.

“This is Tempest,” Flare meowed, indicating the white cat, “This is Shadow,” he pointed to the black cat, “And this is Reaper.” The pale cat grinned, showing off sharp, pure white teeth. Firestar nodded, and Thunderclan began to head back to their camp in the forest.

Flare looked back at Tempest, Reaper and Shadow with teeth bared, eyes burning with evilness. Their plan was in motion, falling into place exactly as they hoped it would. Soon, the downfall of the warrior clans would begin.