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T H EN E WP RO P H E C Y

Special thanks to Kate Cary

ContentsAllegiancesviMapxiiPrologueStars glittered coldly on a forest stripped bare by a.1Chapter 1It was Crowpaw who scented the moorland first as the 5Chapter 2“Spottedleaf!” Leafpaw called desperately into the forest.There was no 19Chapter 3Squirrelpaw raced ahead of Brambleclaw and Stormfur toward theravine 33Chapter 4“Sunningrocks was the safest place to hide,” Cinderpelt told them 43Chapter 5“Sasha!” Mistyfoot called again. “Is that you?”63Chapter 6The waning moon cast just enough light through the leafless 73Chapter 7Squirrelpaw curled up beside Shrewpaw and tried not to think 91Chapter 8Leafpaw watched the monster pull away and opened her mouth 113Chapter 9A mournful yowl echoed around the rocky cleft, jolting Leafpaw 125

Chapter 10Firestar led the patrol upriver, keeping close to the border 142Chapter 11The rain grew heavier as Firestar led the patrol back 148Chapter 12Leafpaw raked through the fur at the base of her 158Chapter 13Squirrelpaw dropped the mouse onto the fresh-kill pile. It did 171Chapter 14Brambleclaw leaned down and snarled into Crowpaw’s face.“You would 181Chapter 15Leafpaw burst out of the tunnel that led under the 196Chapter 16Clouds obscured the night sky as Leafpaw padded down the 208Chapter 17“How will I manage without him?” gasped Mothwing, her eyes 225Chapter 18“Look!” Rainwhisker yowled, making the cats jump. At the top 232Chapter 19Like cloud shadows drifting over the ground, the Clans trekked 244Chapter 20Leafpaw pushed closer against Cinderpelt as the chill of dawn 256Chapter 21A bitter wind blew down from the mountains as the 274

Chapter 22Squirrelpaw glimpsed movement on the ledge above. Shestopped, her 290Chapter 23Leafpaw padded into the cave, blinking at the gloom. The 300Chapter 24Squirrelpaw hurried after Stormfur along a rocky trail that only 319Chapter 25Leafpaw shook the drizzle from her whiskers and padded after 328About the AuthorOther Books by Erin HunterCoverCopyrightAbout the Publisher

ALLEGIANCESthunderclanLEADERfirestar— ginger tom with a flame-colored peltDEPUTYgraystripe— long-haired gray tomM E D I C I N E C AT cinderpelt— dark gray she-catapprentice, leafpawWARRIORS(toms, and she-cats without kits)mousefur— small, dusky brown she-catapprentice, spiderpawdustpelt— dark brown tabby tomapprentice, squirrelpawsandstorm— pale ginger she-catcloudtail— long-haired white tombrackenfur— golden brown tabby tomapprentice, whitepawthornclaw— golden brown tabby tomapprentice, shrewpawbrightheart— white she-cat with gingerpatchesbrambleclaw— dark brown tabby tomwith amber eyesashfur— pale gray (with darker flecks)tom, dark blue eyesrainwhisker— dark gray tom with blueeyes

sootfur— lighter gray tom with amber eyessorreltail— tortoiseshell and white she-cat with amber eyesAPPRENTICES(more than six moons old, in training tobecome warriors)squirrelpaw— dark ginger she-cat withgreen eyesleafpaw— light brown tabby she-cat withamber eyesspiderpaw— long-limbed black tom withbrown underbelly and amber eyesshrewpaw— small, dark brown tom withamber eyeswhitepaw— white she-cat with green eyesQUEENS(she-cats expecting or nursing kits)goldenflower— pale ginger coat, theoldest nursery queenferncloud— pale gray (with darkerflecks) she-cat, green eyes, mother ofDustpelt’s kitsELDERS(former warriors and queens, now retired)frostfur— beautiful white she-cat withblue eyesspeckletail— pale tabby she-catlongtail— pale tabby tom with dark blackstripes, retired early due to failing sight

shadowclanLEADERblackstar— large white tom with hugejet-black pawsDEPUTYrussetfur— dark ginger she-catM E D I C I N E C AT littlecloud— very small tabby tomWARRIORSoakfur— small brown tomapprentice, smokepawcedarheart— dark gray tomrowanclaw— ginger she-catapprentice, talonpawnightwing— black she-cattawnypelt— tortoiseshell she-cat withgreen eyesQUEENStallpoppy— long-legged light browntabby she-catELDERSrunningnose— small gray and white tom,formerly the medicine catboulder— skinny gray tomwindclanLEADERtallstar— elderly black and white tomwith a very long tailDEPUTYmudclaw— mottled dark brown tomapprentice, crowpaw— dark smokygray, almost black tom with blue eyesM E D I C I N E C AT barkface— short-tailed brown tomWARRIORStornear— tabby tom

webfoot— dark gray tabby tomapprentice, weaselpawonewhisker— brown tabby tomrobinwing— light brown she-cat withblue eyesapprentice, thistlepawQUEENSashfoot— gray queenwhitetail— small white she-catELDERSmorningflower— tortoiseshell she-catoatwhisker— creamy brown tabby tomriverclanLEADERleopardstar— unusually spotted goldentabby she-catDEPUTYmistyfoot— gray she-cat with blue eyesM E D I C I N E C AT mudfur— long-haired light brown tomapprentice, mothwing— dappled goldenshe-catWARRIORSblackclaw— smoky black tomapprentice, volepawheavystep— thickset tabby tomapprentice, stonepawstormfur—dark gray tom with amber eyeshawkfrost— dark brown tom with awhite underbelly and ice blue eyesswallowtail— dark brown tabby she-catwith green eyesapprentice, splashpaw

QUEENSmosspelt— tortoiseshell she-catdawnflower— pale gray she-catELDERSshadepelt— very dark gray she-catloudbelly— dark brown tomthe tribe ofrushing waterT R I B E - H E A L E R teller of the pointed stones(stoneteller)— brown tabby tom withamber eyesP R E Y - H U N T E R S (toms and she-cats responsible for providingfood)gray sky before dawn (gray)—pale gray tabby tombrook where small fish swim(brook)— brown tabby she-catC A V E - G U A R D S (toms and she-cats responsible for guardingthe cave)talon of swooping eagle(talon)— dark brown tabby tom (formerlyleader of the outcasts)jagged rock where heron sits(jag)— dark gray tom (former outcast)rock beneath still water(rock)— brown tom (former outcast)bird that sings at dusk (bird)—gray tabby she-cat (former outcast)crag where eagles nest (crag)—dark gray tom

sheer path beside waterfall(sheer)— dark brown tabby tomnight of no stars (night)— blackshe-catK I T- M O T H E R S(she-cats expecting or nursing kits)wing shadow over water (wing)—gray and white she-catflight of startled heron(flight)— brown tabby she-catcats outside clansbarley— black and white tom that lives ona farm close to the forestravenpaw— sleek black cat that lives onthe farm with Barleycody— a tabby kittypet with blue eyessasha— a tawny-colored rogue she-catother animalsmidnight— a star-gazing badger who livesby the sea

MAP

P R O L O G U E;Stars glittered coldly on a forest stripped bare by a bitter leaf-fall.Shadows moved through the undergrowth—thin shapes, furflattened by the chilly evening dew, slipping between thestems like water through reeds. The cats’ pelts did not ripplewith muscle as they once had; instead, their fur clung to thebones beneath their thin frames.The flame-colored tom leading the silent procession liftedhis head and tasted the air. Even though nightfall had silencedthe Twoleg monsters, their stench clung to every dying leafand branch.The cat took comfort from the scent of his mate besidehim; her familiar scent mingled with the hateful Twoleg odorand softened its cruel tang. She matched his pace stubbornly,even though her faltering stride betrayed her long-emptybelly and wakeful nights.“Firestar,” she panted as they padded onward. “Do youthink our daughters will find us when they come home?”The flame-colored cat flinched as though he had troddenon a thorn. “We can only pray that they will, Sandstorm,” hesaid softly.1

WA R R I O R S : T H E N E W P R O P H E C Y : D AW N2“But how will they know where to look?” Sandstorm glancedback at a broad-shouldered gray tom. “Graystripe, do youthink they’ll know where we’ve gone?”“Oh, they’ll find us,” Graystripe promised.“How can you be so sure?” growled Firestar. “We shouldhave sent another patrol to search for Leafpaw.”“And risk losing more cats?” Graystripe meowed.Firestar’s eyes clouded with pain and he hurried aheadalong the shadowy path.Sandstorm twitched her tail. “This was the hardest decision he’s ever had to make,” she whispered to Graystripe.“He had to put the Clan first,” Graystripe hissed back.Sandstorm closed her eyes for a moment. “We have lost somany cats this past moon,” she mewed.The wind must have carried her voice, because Firestarturned his head, his gaze hardening. “Then perhaps, at thisGathering, the other Clans will finally agree that we mustjoin together to face this threat,” he growled.“Join together?” A defiant mew sounded from a tabbytom. “Have you forgotten how the Clans reacted last timeyou said that? WindClan was half-starved, but you might aswell have suggested they eat their kits. They are too proud toadmit they need help from any cat.”“Things are even worse now, Dustpelt,” Sandstorm argued.“How can any Clan stay strong when its kits are dying?” Hervoice trailed away as she realized what she had said. “Dustpelt,I’m sorry,” she murmured.“Larchkit may be dead,” snarled Dustpelt. “But that doesn’t

WA R R I O R S : T H E N E W P R O P H E C Y : D AW N3mean I will let ThunderClan be ordered around by anotherClan!”“No Clan is going to give us orders,” Firestar insisted. “ButI still believe we can help each other. Leaf-bare is almosthere. The Twolegs and their monsters have driven most ofour prey farther and farther away, and they have poisonedwhat remains so that it’s not safe to eat. We cannot fightalone.”Suddenly the whispering of the wind through thebranches grew to a roar, and Firestar slowed his step, prickinghis ears.“What is it?” Sandstorm whispered, her eyes stretched wide.“Something’s happening at Fourtrees!” Graystripe yowled.He broke into a run, and Firestar rushed after him, closelyfollowed by their Clanmates. All the cats skidded to a halt atthe top of a slope, looking down into a steep-sided hollow.Bright, unnatural lights, sharper than moonshine, blazedagainst the trunks of the four giant oaks that had guarded thissacred place since the time of the Great Clans. More lightsshone from the eyes of huge monsters squatting at the edgeof the clearing. The Great Rock—the vast, smooth gray stonewhere Clan leaders stood to address the Gathering each fullmoon—looked small and exposed, like a kit crouched on aThunderpath.Twolegs scurried around the hollow, shouting at oneanother. A new sound sliced through the air, a screeching,high-pitched whine, and one Twoleg raised a massive shinyforepaw that flashed in the brilliant lights. The Twoleg pressed