Blurb:
RainClan is thrown into turmoil in the darkest time the Clan has ever seen. Their leader was found dead just outside the Twolegplace. Six warriors  have mysteriously disappeared. The Medicine Cat is sick, plagued by terrible visions and omens of horror.

For Scurrypaw and Beetlepaw, the death of their mother and sister has completely destroyed them.

And, languishing in the shadows, the hare and the frog watch, silent.

The fall of RainClan is here. The ancient prophecy recently received is coming true.

A storm lays on the horizon and when it strikes, rain will fall and turn dust to ash...

Allegiances:

RainClan

Leader:
Deputy: Halfwhisker- bulky white tom with light grey patches and amber eyes, Apprentice-Scurrypaw (temporarily- usually Brackenstripe)
Medicine Cat: Fawnfeather- beautiful pale golden-brown she-cat with leaf green eyes and a torn ear

Warriors:
Acornberry- brown tabby tom with long legs, white belly and amber eyes, Apprentice- Beetlepaw
Hawksplash- ginger and dark brown tom with a white muzzle, scarred right shoulder and green eyes
Mistlestrike- white she-cat with black patches and yellow eyes
Frostnose- fluffy light grey she-cat with light tabby markings on her face and yellow eyes
Nightfeather- sleek black she-cat with yellow eyes, Apprentice-Mottlepaw

Apprentices:
Scurrypaw- brown tabby tom with black paws and yellow eyes
Beetlepaw- lithe dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Mottlepaw- mottled brown she-cat with black stripes, green eyes and a creamy white chest and muzzle, former kittypet

Queens:
Lucy- grey tabby she-cat with amber eyes and a white belly and muzzle, former kittypet
Kits:
Whiskerkit- big light grey tabby tom with amber eyes and a white chest (son of Lucy and Storm)
Dovekit- grey tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes (daughter of Lucy and Storm)
Whitekit- white she-cat with grey tabby patches and amber eyes (daughter of Lucy and Storm)

Elders:
Hoppingstep- black tom with a white throat, chest, belly, tail tip and paws with a twisted hind paw and hazel eyes

Dead:

Oakstar- large dark brown tabby tom with fierce yellow eyes
Brightmist- brown tabby she-cat with a white belly and yellow eyes
Mothpaw- brown tabby she-cat with a white chest and green eyes

Missing:
Silverbreeze- silver-white she-cat with blue eyes and black paws
Ferretbreeze- long whiskered, thick-furred brown tom with thick black stripes and emerald green eyes
Brackenstripe- ginger tom with hazel eyes
Firepelt- ginger tabby she-cat with a white chest and light green eyes
Darkflower- broad-shouldered black she-cat with a white chest and tail tip with hazel eyes
Muddyheart- brown tabby tom with yellow eyes and a white paw

Prologue

The distant stars twinkled high above the picket fences, the moon faintly illuminating the twisting alleys of the Twolegplace. Monsters lay mute, lining the darkened streets. Pools of artificial light fought valiantly against the night, unable to completely vanquish it. The night was still. The air was heavy, suffocating. You could taste the almost unbearable expectation.

A dry bark sounded like a gunshot in the silence. It was quickly swallowed by the shadows. A passing figure crept through the night, steps quiet and careful. Their whiskers quivered and the shape paused. The tom raised his head, jaws agape. He turned, ears pinned back. The tom hesitantly crept forward, disappearing into a dark alley. He froze.

The overpowering stench of blood blocked out any other scent, the sticky maroon liquid leaving a trail across the stone. He continued forward, fear radiating from his lithe grey body. The starlight did not reach this place. A crumpled figure lay against the brick wall. The trail ended at the body. Swallowing, the grey tabby moved forward. The tom was a dark brown tabby, his shiny, sleek fur sticking up with dried blood. One ear was reduced to a stump, the other soaked in blood. A puddle of scarlet had pooled at the tom's neck; it had spread to cover almost half of the body. The grey stared in shock. His ears suddenly pricked. His body stiffened. The speedy grey bolted, terror lending him wings. Skidding across the corner, the unmistakable smell invaded his thoughts.

They had returned.

Chapter One

Sunlight filled the sandy clearing, warming Halfwhisker's messy white fur. His amber gaze was dull as he looked around the clearing. Cats were trickling into the hollow, as if drawn by an unseen force. He knew he would have to address them. They, like him, were in shock. Like him, they were scared, disoriented, unsure. They, unlike him, could show it. He was supposed to lead them. He could not show how afraid he was. Tomorrow he would go, alone, to the Moonpond. Fawnfeather was ill, in no state to travel. Despair weighed on his shoulders, a deep sense of confusion dragging him into insanity.

He rose to his paws.

Acornberry stood quickly, the energetic warrior nudging Hawksplash with his muzzle. The ginger and brown tom struggled to stand, leaning heavily on the older warrior. Lucy appeared in the nursery's entrance, frowning slightly. She disappeared into its depths, returning moments later with her kits. All four cats walked towards where he stood in the shade of the Brokenstone. Hoppingstep hobbled over, tail dragging. Mottlepaw and Scurrypaw approached him, followed by Beetlepaw, Mistlestrike and Darkflower. Fawnfeather pulled herself to the entrance of the Medicine den, Frostnose joining her.

Halfwhisker climbed heavily to the top of the Brokenstone.

"Cats of RainClan," he began, "the death of Oakstar has severely shaken us, but we must go on. Tomorrow I will go to the Moonpond to receive my nine lives. Today I will appoint the new deputy."

The unwavering gaze of the pitifully small amount of cats bore into his body and he swallowed thickly.

"I say these words before StarClan. May they hear and approve my choice. The next deputy of RainClan will be Hawksplash."

The ginger and brown tom raised his head, shocked. "Thank you, I promise to serve RainClan well."

"Hawksplash!" Nightfeather chanted, the rest of the Clan quickly following her lead. "Hawksplash! Hawksplash! Hawksplash!"

================================

"Mottlepaw and Nightfeather, go hunt by the Slippery Stones. Frostnose, you'll come with me to the Root Caverns. Acornberry and Beetlepaw, hunt by the park and for StarClan's sake, be careful." Hawksplash ordered the assembled cats.

Halfwhisker sat on the Brokenstone, amber eyes scanning the camp. He would set out for the Moonpond when he was sure the camp was taken care of. Sighing, the bulky tom rose to his paws and leapt off the Brokenstone. He padded through the entrance, doubts plaguing his thoughts.

Drooping leaves trailed across his spine, a soft breeze caressing his fur. The ground beneath his paws was a rich dark brown, moist and springy. Green shoots poked up from under leaves and bracken. Overall, the area surrounding the Moonpond was moist and refreshing. He pushed his way through overhanging branches, broad shoulders covered in dew. The water of the Moonpond was clear, reflecting the shining sun. It was just past sunhigh, leaving several hours before Halfwhisker could contact StarClan. He lay in the shade and began to groom his dirty pelt.

The moon shone brightly, turning the Moonpond to liquid silver. Halfwhisker cautiously approached the water, as if afraid. He was petrified. He couldn't do this, he wasn't fit to be leader. He stumbled back, eyes wide. He couldn't handle the pressure, the stress. RainClan would not survive under his leadership. He couldn't return to camp but could he really abandon his clanmates?

"StarClan help me..." He groaned, collapsing in a heap.

Come Halfwhisker, speak with us...

The white tom jolted to his paws, thoroughly surprised. Without thinking of anything, he roughly bumped his nose to the cool water, sending ripples across the surface. He fell into a deep sleep.

Stars sparkled like chips of ice in the night sky, comforting the distressed warrior below them. Tough moor grass pricked his pads, strong scents washing over him. He instantly felt calmer. A familiar figure walked into view, wind tugging their fur.

"Softheart!" Halfwhisker cried.

The grey and white tabby approached him, blue eyes bright.

"Halfwhisker, StarClan has heard your doubts and we can assure you they are baseless. RainClan needs a leader and you can be that leader. You were a wise, trusted deputy. You lead RainClan then, just under a different title. Now they need you more than ever."

Halfwhisker dipped his head, humbled.
"I've missed you." He said quietly.

"Come," she purred, "it is time for you to receive your lives."

Eight new figures appeared on the horizon. They moved gracefully, stars speckling their fur and glimmering brightly. Countless cats lined the moor, the ancestors of RainClan. A sturdy shape walked forwards. The ceremony was about to begin.

The flame coloured tom stood in front of him, green eyes burning. He wasted no time in starting the ceremony. Emberstrike had never been patient.

"With this life I give you certainty. Use it well to guide RainClan through every challenge." Emberstrike touched his nose to Halfwhisker's, shooting pain exploding throughout his body. Emberstrike took a step back, returning to his place among the life-givers. Halfwhisker watched the deputy before him, remembering the day he was ripped to shreds by a dog.

Another cat came forwards, her tortoiseshell patches coated with stars. Her white chest and belly were clean and fluffy, not covered with blood from her failed kitting like the last time he had seen her.

"Redblossom, I've missed you so much..." Halfwhisker murmured lovingly, pressing his nose to her head.

"I've missed you too, but now is not the time." She purred softly. Straightening, she spoke.

"With this life I give you happiness. Happiness can be found in all places, when an apprentice catches their first prey, when flowers start blooming after Leaf-bare. Guide your Clan with a happy heart, and care for your warriors." She touched noses with Halfwhisker, whispering to him, "Berrykit and Foxkit are happy, they're proud of you." Halfwhisker choked on emotion as his lost mate drew away.

Softheart was next, giving her brother a life for sympathy and compassion. There was no accompanying pain with her life, just a warm feeling that made him feel light as the clouds.

Brightmist gave his fourth life, to never give up and have courage to face each challenge in his path. Halfwhisker thought about Scurrypaw and Beetlepaw, the sons she had left behind when she died last moon with her daughter Mothpaw. If the brothers had enough courage to go on with their lives, then he had no excuse.

Mossbelly, his mentor, granted him a life for laughter, to appreciate every sunrise and every life, to enjoy the day and make the most of it. Mossbelly had been crushed by a tree when he had left camp as an apprentice, sneaking away when he had been forbidden to. She had come after him and died trying to find him. Halfwhisker blamed himself for her death.

A young white and black patched tom strode purposely, amber eyes narrow. Halfwhisker gulped at the sight of his former apprentice.

Patchpaw halted in front of him, rudely touching noses and drawing away quickly.
"I give you a life for strength- in battle, in mind and heart, strength to stand up for what you believe in, for others and strength to own up to your mistakes. Use it well."

Dull pain throbbed through Halfwhisker's tired body, flowing through his bones. Exhausted, his legs trembled and he struggled to stay upright. Patchpaw swiftly stalked back to the ranks of StarClan, not glancing back.

Shadowshell and Rowanbreeze gave him lives for sincerity, trust, honesty and integrity. Halfwhisker's close friends purred goodbye, sitting next to each other, eyes glittering.

Finally, it was Oakstar's turn. The dark tabby smiled kindly at his deputy. Taking a deep breath, Oakstar started to speak.

"When I chose you as my deputy, it was for your trustworthiness, wisdom and loyalty. Tonight, you will become RainClan's leader. This is a tough time for our Clan, it will be a difficult leadership. I have no doubt that you can handle the responsibility.

With this life I give you wisdom to make smart decisions, to know when to fight and when to retreat. I give you wisdom to lead RainClan through the coming difficulties. Use it well for a cat with wisdom is a cat you can trust."

Oakstar bent his head and looked Halfwhisker in the eye as he granted him his final life. Taking a step back, he announced the ceremonial words.

"I hail you by your new name, Halfstar. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of RainClan. Defend it well; care for young and old; honour your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity."

All nine cats as well as the rest of StarClan began to chant the new leader's name.

"Halfstar! Halfstar! Halfstar!"

Chapter Two

Beetlepaw stalked forward, crouched low to the ground. He slunk through the bracken, intent on his prey. The mouse was nibbling a seed, ears flicking. The tom sprang, paws thudding on the mouse's body, snapping its spine. Smiling at his accomplishment, he picked up the small rodent. With a swish of his tail, he slipped through the undergrowth.

The dark brown tabby forced his way through the thick undergrowth near the camp, wincing as a thorn dug into his shoulder. Upon entering the camp, he immediately noticed the tension that hung in the air. Dropping his prey on the fresh-kill pile, he padded over to the other apprentices who were sitting outside the nursery.
"What's going on?" He asked, sitting beside Mottlepaw.
Scurrypaw shrugged. "I dunno, I think Mistlestrike said something about Nightfeather and now Hawksplash's getting involved."