To truely know your clan, it's good to be up to date on the recent history of the clan. The following comes up through the leader before last. Although not absolutely neccessary to read, this thread does list the previously ranked cats, something you might need to know if you're applying for a ranking position.

His name was Birchstar. He was an elderly leader, having led WoodClan for as long as most cats could remember. He was just and fair, even if his memory did faulter every now and then. Since he'd spent much of his younger days struggling up the ranks of the clan (he'd been Head Mentor before Deputy), Birchstar didn't take a mate until he was on the older side. His mate was a much-younger she-cat named Dawnblossom. She was beautiful and motherly, perfect to raise a leader's kits. While their first two litters never lived more than a few moons, their third litter was finally a success. Birchstar named his son Cedarkit and his daughter Ashkit.

After his deputy died, Birchstar named a respected, powerful young warrior named Hauntmask as his deputy. Only two moons before Dawnblossom had her third litter, Hauntmask's mate Shadowflower gave birth to a litter. Both litters ended up dwindling down to a single kit after Dawnblossom's Ashkit and Shadowflower's Skykit both died. Hauntmask didn't show much emotion after his only son's death, instead showing further interest in his remaining kit: a daughter named Shatteredkit.

After two failed littesr, Cedarkit was the apple of his father's eye. The old leader could see no fault in the young tom. He voiced openly that he wanted his son to take control of the clan someday. Hauntmask didn't agree outright, merely nodding at the old leader's words.

In early Newleaf, Greencough struck the clan, and Birchstar was among the first to fall ill. Once more, Hauntmask showed little emotion as he took over more and more of the leader's duties. When the sickness finally claimed the aged tabby, his dark deputy had already taken over full responsibilities as WoodClan's leader. The night after, Hauntmask traveled to the Highflowers and became Hauntstar.

Little happened for several seasons. There were the occasional issues, such as a lost kit or an elder's death, but little more. Shatterpaw and Cedarpaw were coming along well with their training. Hauntstar himself mentored his daughter. Partially through her training, the apprentice's mother died giving birth to her second litter of a single son. He was named Adderkit. Hauntstar shocked the entire clan with his reaction: less than a moon later, he took a new mate. Even more surprising was his choice. Mate to the previous leader as well, Dawnblossom concieved her fourth litter. Born when Adderkit was only two moons old was Hauntstar's second daughter: Yewkit.

When the time came, the two children of two different leaders were warriored together, despite their minor age difference. Cedarpaw became Cedarleaf (the same warrior suffix his father had once had) and Shatteredpaw became Shatterednight.

For several moons, all was well. In early Leaf-fall, Hauntstar's deputy retired. To the clan's surprise and pleasure, the dark leader chose Cedarleaf as his deputy. Although many expected it, Hauntstar's daughter showed no signs of envy.

Only three seasons later, Hauntstar died unexpectedly in a fox attack. The blow shook the clan roughly. Hauntstar had been a very commanding leader, but an excellent one. Cedarleaf was still very young to recieve nine lives. When he returned from the Highflowers, the young leader announced StarClan had given him an altogether new name: Twilightstar. Not to anyone's surprise, he chose Shatterednight to be his deputy.

Only a moon has passed since Hauntstar's sudden death. While the clan is recovering, Twilightstar seems to be taking more time to adjust...