AN: Here's the beginning of the next book, Storm! There are spoilers in the allegiance list just to warn you. Chapter one is down below in case you don't believe me!

Allegiances

ThunderClan

Leader: Stormstar- silver, black and gray she-cat with green eyes

Deputy: Brackenfur- golden brown tabby tom

Medicine Cat: Leafpelt- light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes
Apprentice: Cedarpaw

Warriors:

Mousefur- small dusky brown she-cat

Dustpelt- dark brown tabby tom
Apprentice: Flamepaw

Sandstorm- pale ginger she-cat with green eyes

Longtail- pale tabby tom with dark black stripes
Apprentice: Aspenpaw

Cloudtail- long-haired white tom with blue eyes

Brightheart- white she-cat with ginger patches

Ashfur- gray tom (with lighter flecks) with dark blue eyes

Brambleclaw- dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Rainstorm- dark gray tom with blue eyes
Apprentice: Honeypaw

Sootpelt- lighter gray tom with amber eyes

Sorreltail- tortoiseshell and white she-cat with amber eyes

Snowstorm- white she-cat with blue eyes

Larchwing- tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes

Birchnose- light brown tabby tom

Apprentices:

Flamepaw- dark ginger tom with amber eyes

Aspenpaw- tortoiseshell and ginger she-cat with amber eyes

Cedarpaw- pale ginger tom with green eyes

Honeypaw- golden tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Queens:

Ferncloud- speckled pale gray she-cat with green eyes

Squirreltail- dark ginger she-cat with green eyes, mother of Brambleclaw's kits; Shalekit, Emberkit and Leafkit; nursing Frozenkit, Echokit and Riverkit

Whiteleaf- white she-cat with green eyes, expecting

Elders:

Goldenflower- pale ginger she-cat

Frostfur- white she-cat with blue eyes

Kits:

Shalekit- dark ginger tom with green eyes

Emberkit- ginger-brown she-cat with amber eyes

Leafkit- pale ginger she-cat with green eyes

Frozenkit- dark gray she-cat with silver-tipped paws and yellow eyes

Echokit- lighter gray she-cat with yellow eyes

Riverkit- dark brown she-cat with black stripes along her back; has blue eyes

ShadowClan

Leader: Blackstar- large white tom with huge jet black paws

Deputy: Rowanclaw- ginger she-cat

Medicine Cat: Littlecloud- very small tabby tom
Apprentice: Rockfur

Warriors:

Oakfur- small brown tom
Apprentice: Stonepaw

Pinepelt- gray she-cat with green eyes

Smokefrost- gray and black tom with blue eyes
Apprentice: Olivepaw

Talonclaw- pale tabby tom with blue eyes
Apprentice: Branchpaw

Lilacpool- pale gray she-cat with green eyes

Flyheart- long-haired gray tom with amber eyes

Apprentices:

Rockfur- dark gray tom with yellow eyes

Olivepaw- light brown she-cat with amber eyes

Stonepaw- gray and brown tabby tom

Branchpaw- light brown tabby tom

Queens:

Tawnypelt- tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes, mother of Lizardkit, Shrewkit and Hollowkit

Kits:

Lizardkit- pale brown she-cat with amber eyes

Shrewkit- light brown tom with patches of ginger in his fur

Hollowkit- tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes

WindClan

Leader: Mudstar- mottled dark brown tom

Deputy: Tornear- tabby tom

Medicine Cat: Barkface- brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Apprentice: Galepaw

Warriors:

Onewhisker- brown tabby tom

Whitetail- small white she-cat

Milkfeather- creamy brown she-cat with blue eyes

Crowflight- dark gray tom with blue eyes

Harewhisker- brown and white tom

Swiftbreeze- tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes

Shadowpelt- badly scarred dark gray, almost black tom with amber eyes

Weaselfur- ginger and white tom

Deerleap- long-legged light brown tom

Lilytail- pale gray she-cat with amber eyes

Apprentices:

Galepaw- pale gray tabby tom with amber eyes

Queens:

Morningflower- tortoiseshell she-cat, mother of Wingkit, Amberkit and Dustkit

Tanglefur- long-haired tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Kits:

Wingkit- tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Amberkit- golden brown she-cat with amber eyes

Dustkit- light brown flecked tom with yellow eyes

RiverClan

Leader: Mistystar- gray she-cat with blue eyes

Deputy: Hawkfrost- dark brown tom with a white underbelly and blue eyes
Apprentice: Pebblepaw

Medicine Cat: Mudfur- long-haired light brown tom
Apprentice: Robinwing

Warriors:

Stormfur- dark gray tom with yellow eyes

Sasha- brown and white she-cat with blue eyes; former rogue

Mothpool- dappled golden she-cat with white paws, tail and muzzle with blue eyes

Hawkfrost- dark brown tom with a white underbelly and blue eyes

Frogpelt- black tom with amber eyes

Beaverclaw- huge tabby tom with amber eyes

Minnowtail- dark gray and white she-cat

Beechfur- light brown tabby tom

Robinwing- tan colored tom

Queens:

Feathertail- silver tabby she-cat with green eyes; mother of Frogpelt's kits; Silverkit and Badgerkit, nursing Ravenkit

Mosspelt- tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes, mother of Foxkit, Thornkit and Sandkit

Apprentices:

Pebblepaw- mottled tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Kits:

Ravenkit- black she-cat with splotches of brown in her fur; has green eyes

Silverkit- pale gray she-cat with black paws and green eyes

Badgerkit- black and white tom with amber eyes

Foxkit- ginger she-cat with blue eyes

Thornkit- dark brown tom with amber eyes

Sandkit- pale ginger tom with amber eyes

Elders:

Dawnflower- pale gray she-cat

Cats Outside Clans

Barely- black and white tom; a loner

Chapter 1

Stormstar woke with a start. Her claws were grinding against the cold stone, and she wanted to get out as quickly as possible. She had received her nine lives. But something felt off. She could see through the darkness and saw that Leafpelt was watching her curiously.

"Don't tell anyone what you saw," the medicine cat meowed as if she had read what Stormstar was about to do.

The black, silver and gray tabby stared at Leafpelt before nodding in agreement. That seemed fair. She allowed Leafpelt to take the lead and thought about what had happened during her leadership ceremony. She had seen Magnolia and Ravenheart. Both cats had gone to StarClan.

Why did my mother join StarClan? she wondered when they padded through the tunnels.

Silence passed between the two as Stormstar felt warm air greet her. Dawn was slowly approaching. She had to think of who would become her new deputy before moonhigh. She also had to give Larchpaw and Birchpaw their warrior ceremonies. They were long overdue. And Sorreltail's kits were ready to become apprentices.

Leafpelt's tail was constantly flicking as she led Stormstar back to camp. They had left Highstones behind back to the comfort of the forest. No WindClan cats had stopped them, much to Stormstar's surprise. They were left to journey through the forest in peace.

When they reached camp Stormstar was greeted with mews of excitement and sadness.

"You're back!" Larchpaw nearly tackled her to the ground. Stormstar purred in amusement and pushed her apprentice off. "My mentor is the leader now!"

"Shut up mousebrain," Birchpaw grumbled irritably. Stormstar cuffed him over the ears before she bounded over to the Highrock. Her movements however were stopped when Goldenflower approached her.

The pale ginger elder had never paid much attention to her during deputyship. Stormstar ducked her head just the same. Goldenflower was an elder and well respected within the Clan. Her son, Brambleclaw, was one of the Clan's strongest warriors.

"Speckletail and Dappletail passed away while you were gone," Goldenflower rasped. "They died in their sleep." She glanced at Leafpelt, as if begging the medicine cat to bring them back to life. Leafpelt looked just as shocked when she stared at her paws.

"I'm sorry. No herb can cure old age," she whispered.

Goldenflower nodded sadly. "They lived a long and prosperous life," she murmured. "They deserve to join StarClan in peace."

Stormstar glanced at the elder before jumping onto the Highrock. It felt strange standing up here. Just a couple of days ago Firestar had held a Clan meeting here. Now she was the one calling for a meeting, about to name her new deputy and a few other ceremonies.

"Let all cats old enough gather around the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" She felt strange once more announcing those words. Cats began to gather around her willingly this time. "I have thought long and hard about who will be my deputy. I say these words before the spirit of Firestar so that he hear and approve my choice. Brackenfur will be my deputy."

Brackenfur stared at Stormstar as if she had grown wings. His eyes were as wide as moons when Sorreltail pressed against him, and his kits bounced along his paws.

"I... I don't know what to say," he managed to sputter out. "But I do know that I will do my best as your deputy."

"Brackenfur! Brackenfur!" The Clan cheered his name, and Stormstar knew that she had made the right choice. Brackenfur was a popular cat with both apprentices and warriors. He would make a fine leader when the time came.

"And there are also a couple of more things I would like to do," Stormstar continued the meeting when the chanting died down. "Two apprentices are more than ready to become warriors, and there are four kits who are ready to become apprentices." Sorreltail's kits stared at her in disbelief before letting out mewls of excitement. "I, Stormstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors so that they may look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Birchpaw, Larchpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

Larchpaw's eyes glowed before she answered confidently, "I do."

"I do," Birchpaw mewed in a softer voice.

"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior names. Birchpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Birchnose. StarClan honors you for your courage and stamina, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan."

The light brown tabby's eyes glowed when she jumped down to press her nose against his forehead. Again she felt strange when he licked her shoulder out of respect.

"Larchpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Larchwing. StarClan honors you for your bravery and fighting skills, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan."

She could tell that Larchwing was trying out her new name. Amusement rose within Stormstar's chest when she touched her former apprentice's forehead. This was typical of Larchwing. The young cat was always trying to prove herself, and this was one of her moments.

"Birchnose! Larchwing! Birchnose! Larchwing!" Once again the Clan cheered their names like they had with Brackenfur.

Stormstar nodded in approval and returned to her post on the Highrock. "And finally, there are four kits who are ready to become apprentices. Come forward you four." She waved her tail like Firestar had done seasons before. All four of them stumbled forward, and she suppressed a purr of amusement. "By naming apprentices we show that our Clan will remain strong. Flamekit, until you have received your warrior name you will be known as Flamepaw. Dustpelt, you are ready for an apprentice. You trained both Ashfur and Squirreltail into fine warriors, and I expect you to continue this training with Flamepaw."

Dustpelt looked surprised when she chose him as a mentor. Flamepaw needed someone who was both patient and stern with apprentices. She knew that Dustpelt was the perfect choice.

"Aspenkit, until you have received your warrior name you will be known as Aspenpaw. Longtail, you are ready for an apprentice. You have not yet mentored an apprentice, but you have proven yourself time and time again. I expect you to pass on what you have learned to Aspenpaw."

The pale tabby dipped his head respectfully when he touched noses with Aspenpaw. Pride gleamed within his eyes when he led her back to the crowd. Of all the cats in the Clan Longtail deserved an apprentice the most.

"Cedarkit, is it your wish to train as a medicine cat, and take on the responsibilities of healing the Clan?" Stormstar knew that Cedarkit had wanted to become Leafpelt's apprentice for some time now. The medicine cat was staring at Cedarkit as if she expected him to protest.

"It is," Cedarkit mewed.

"Then I expect Leafpelt to take you to the Moonstone at the next half moon. Until than you will be known as Cedarpaw." Cedarpaw touched noses with Leafpelt, who looked more irritated than ever now.

"Honeykit, until you have received your warrior name you will be known as Honeypaw. Rainstorm, you are ready for your first apprentice. You have proven yourself many times over as well, and I expect you to pass on what you have learned to Honeypaw."

Rainstorm flicked his tail in happiness when he touched noses with Honeypaw. He was calm and patient like his father. Honeypaw needed someone who could control her quick bursts of speed. Stormstar thought that Rainstorm was the perfect choice.

Once the meeting was over Stormstar decided that tomorrow the Clan would take back sunningrocks. It was time to fight for what rightfully belonged to them. She wasn't going to let some flea-pelt like Hawkfrost ruin their territory.

And Firestar isn't here to stop me now, she thought determinedly.

AN: Yay for long chapters! And ceremonies... few, my fingers hurt after typing all of that. But this only the beginning, and there are plenty of exciting chapters ahead of us!