The Darkest Hour

FIRESTAR— handsome ginger tom

APPRENTICE, BRAMBLEPAW

WHITESTORM— big white tom

MEDICINE CAT

CINDERPELT— dark gray she-cat

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

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

WILLOWPELT— very pale gray she-cat, unusual blue eyes

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

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

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

RUNNINGNOSE— small gray-and-white tom

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

TALLPOPPY— long-legged light brown tabby she-cat

TALLSTAR— black-and-white tom, very long tail

DEADFOOT— black tom with a twisted paw

BARKFACE— short-tailed brown tom

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

ASHFOOT— gray she-cat

MORNINGFLOWER— tortoiseshell she-cat

WHITETAIL— small white she-cat

LEOPARDSTAR— unusually spotted golden tabby she-cat

STONEFUR— gray tom, battle-scarred ears

APPRENTICE, STORMPAW

MUDFUR— long-haired light brown tom

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

MOSSPELT— tortoiseshell she-cat

SCOURGE— small black tom with one white paw

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.