Erin Hunter - The Darkest Hour

LEADER

FIRESTAR handsome ginger tom

APPRENTICE, BRAMBLEPAW

DEPUTY

WHITESTORM big white tom

MEDICINE CAT

CINDERPELT dark gray she-cat

WARRIORS (toms, and she-cats without kits)

DARKSTRIPE sleek black-and-gray tabby tom

APPRENTICE, FERNPAW

LONGTAIL pale tabby tom, dark black stripes

MOUSEFUR small dusky-brown she-cat

APPRENTICE, THORNPAW

BRACKENFUR golden-brown tabby tom

APPRENTICE, TAWNYPAW

DUSTPELT dark brown tabby tom

APPRENTICE, ASHPAW

SANDSTORM pale ginger she-cat

GRAYSTRIPE long-haired gray tom

FROSTFUR beautiful white she-cat, blue eyes

GOLDENFLOWER pale ginger she-cat

CLOUDTAIL long-haired white tom

APPRENTICES (more than six moons old, in training to become warriors)

THORNPAW golden-brown tabby tom

FERNPAW pale gray with darker flecks, she-cat, pale green eyes

ASHPAW pale gray with darker flecks, tom, dark blue eyes

BRAMBLEPAW dark brown tabby tom, amber eyes

TAWNYPAW tortoiseshell she-cat, green eyes

LOSTFACE white she-cat, ginger splotches

QUEENS (she-cats expecting or nursing kits)

WILLOWPELT very pale gray she-cat, unusual blue eyes

ELDERS (former warriors and queens, now retired)

ONE-EYE pale gray she-cat, the oldest cat in ThunderClan, virtually blind and deaf

SMALLEAR gray tom with very small ears, the oldest tom in ThunderClan

DAPPLETAIL once-pretty tortoiseshell she-cat, lovely dappled coat

SPECKLETAIL pale tabby, and the oldest nursery queen

LEADER

TIGERSTAR big dark brown tabby tom, unusually long front claws, formerly of ThunderClan

DEPUTY

BLACKFOOT large white tom, huge jet-black paws, formerly a rogue cat

MEDICINE CAT

RUNNINGNOSE small gray-and-white tom

WARRIORS

OAKFUR small brown tom

LITTLECLOUD very small tabby tom

BOULDER skinny gray tom, formerly a rogue cat

RUSSETFUR dark ginger she-cat, formerly a rogue cat

APPRENTICE, CEDARPAW

JAGGEDTOOTH huge tabby tom, formerly a rogue cat

APPRENTICE, ROWANPAW

QUEENS

TALLPOPPY long-legged light brown tabby she-cat

LEADER

TALLSTAR black-and-white tom, very long tail

DEPUTY

DEADFOOT black tom with a twisted paw

MEDICINE CAT

BARKFACE short-tailed brown tom

WARRIORS

MUDCLAW mottled dark brown tom

WEBFOOT dark gray tabby tom

TORNEAR tabby tom

ONEWHISKER brown tabby tom

APPRENTICE, GORSEPAW

RUNNINGBROOK light gray tabby she-cat

QUEENS

ASHFOOT gray she-cat

MORNINGFLOWER tortoiseshell she-cat

WHITETAIL small white she-cat

LEADER

LEOPARDSTAR unusually spotted golden tabby she-cat

DEPUTY

STONEFUR gray tom, battle-scarred ears

APPRENTICE, STORMPAW

MEDICINE CAT

MUDFUR long-haired light brown tom

WARRIORS

BLACKCLAW smoky black tom

HEAVYSTEP thickset tabby tom

APPRENTICE, DAWNPAW

SHADEPELT very dark gray she-cat

MISTYFOOT dark gray she-cat, blue eyes

APPRENTICE, FEATHERPAW

LOUDBELLY dark brown tom

QUEENS

MOSSPELT tortoiseshell she-cat

LEADER

SCOURGE small black tom with one white paw

DEPUTY

BONE massive black-and-white tom

BARLEY black-and-white tom that lives on a farm close to the forest

RAVENPAW sleek black cat that lives on the farm with Barley

PRINCESS light brown tabby, distinctive white chest and paws, a kittypet

SMUDGE plump, friendly black-and-white kittypet that lives in a house at the edge of the forest

Rain fell steadily, drumming on the hard black Thunderpath that led between unending rows of stone Twoleg nests. From time to time a monster snarled past, its eyes glaring, and a single Twoleg scurried along, huddled into its shiny pelt.

Two cats slipped silently around the corner, keeping close to the walls where the shadows were deepest. A skinny gray tom with a ragged ear and bright, watchful eyes went first, every hair on his body slicked dark with the wet.

Behind him prowled a huge tabby with massive shoulders and muscles that slid smoothly under his rain-soaked pelt. His amber eyes glowed in the harsh light, and his gaze shifted back and forth as if he expected an attack.

He paused where the dark entrance to a Twoleg nest offered a little shelter and growled, How much farther? This place stinks.

The gray tom glanced back. Not far now.

It had better not be. Grimacing, the dark brown tabby padded on, ears twitching irritably to flick away the raindrops. Harsh yellow light angled across him, and he flinched as a monster roared around the corner, throwing up a wave of filthy water that reeked of Twoleg rubbish. The cat let out a snarl as the water slopped around his paws and the spray drizzled down on his fur.

Everything about the Twolegplace disgusted him: the hard surface under his paws, the stench of monsters and the Twolegs they carried in their bellies, the unfamiliar noises, and most of all, the way that he could not survive here without a guide. The tabby was not used to depending on another cat for anything. In the forest he knew every tree, every stream, every rabbit hole. He was considered the strongest and most dangerous warrior in all the Clans. Now his sharpened skills and senses were useless. He felt as if he were deaf, blind, and lame, reduced to following his companion like a kit trailing helplessly after its mother.

But it would be worth it. The tabbys whiskers twitched in anticipation. He had already launched a plan that would turn his most hated enemies into helpless prey in their own territory. When the dogs attacked, no cat would suspect that they had been lured and guided every step of the way. And then, if things went according to plan, this expedition into Twolegplace would give him all he had ever wanted.