To a loner named Sun, life's been hard ever since her mother left her because of a power she didn't understand. On her own for just about three moons, she thinks she's hardened and strong enough to take on any cat who comes at her.
Oh, how was she wrong.
Soon, she runs into the four Clans: CloudClan, HollyClan, BreezeClan, and FlowerClan. She joins CloudClan, determined to start over and make a new life for herself. She doesn't need her mother. She doesn't need anyone but her new family, her Clanmates.
On the night of her official welcoming into the Clan, something changes her mind: a prophecy, from the ancestors of her Clanmates. The prophecy states that the "apple will rise." The daughter of the leader, Applefoot, was never friendly with her. Suddenly, a plot seems to be uncovering itself right in front of Sunpaw's eyes. And with her power, she's the perfect candidate to rise to the top and save everyone.
But something is stopping her. Something is tainting her soul, persuading her to use her powers for evil, and not good. Unless she can break free of what's binding her, she won't be able to use her powers for good. All she'll be able to do is cause pain, more pain, and even more pain.
But it's not so easy, especially when she's got herself tangled in the ropes of the darkness. Suddenly, she realizes that she's no better than Applefoot.
Paired with slowly falling hopelessly in love with a cat who never is clear with her, breaking free of her dark insides is seeming harder and harder.
If she can't do it, then she'll never be able to see the face of good again. She'll be another apprentice gone wrong, and all she'll be remembered for is darkness.
Sunpaw can't let that happen.
But unless she figures out how to cut herself free from the darkness, then it will happen. And there will be nothing she can do it about it.
The four Clans-GrassClan, OakClan, PineClan and WillowClan-have lived in relative balance since the Clans began. They kept separate, save for their Gathering every full moon. While they had their disagreements, they kept a relatively harmonious existence. They had always been four Clans and it was believed that they always would be. For as long as they kept the warrior code alive, the Clans would continue to thrive.
That's when the troubles began.
One long, hot, dry greenleaf, a fire swept through GrassClan. Some cats were lost but those that survived resumed life in their now scorched territory. They knew that life was going to be harder than ever, but they could not abandon the only home they had ever known. The next couple of seasons, GrassClan struggled to feed themselves with little prey to be found. Yet, they refused to give up.
Newleaf found GrassClan weak and starving but with hope on their horizon. Their oldest queen had moved into the nursery. Then, disaster struck a second time. Greencough swept through the Clan, snuffing out the new lives before they had even begun. The dreaded sickness left its mark, stealing the future of the Clan and all hope with it.
Life had taken its toll on GrassClan. All that remained were their young leader, their deputy, their elderly medicine cat, one warrior and three elders. They had no apprentices, no she-cats and no kits. The once vibrant Clan was on the brink of dying out. The four Clans would soon be no more.
Then, at the next Gathering, StarClan brought a message to the Clans: GrassClan must survive. There had always been four Clans and that could not change. They proposed that volunteers from the other three Clans should join GrassClan to help restore it. Cats were given one moon to consider the offer. Even with this last-ditch effort by StarClan, most cats don't believe it will be enough to save GrassClan.
Will GrassClan truly rise from the ashes?