History

There have been wild cats in the territories since the early 1900s, first the home of loners and rogues but later a permanent home to the five Clans. In the early days, a few groups rose to power but they quickly grew extinct altogether, most being killed by diseases or predators in the area. However, it was one tom's thinking that made this massive territory home.

### DarkClan

#### Darkstar's Reign

In the beginning, Colt hadn't intended to make such a massive impact. In fact, he had just wanted a home for him and his mate in which they could start their family and live in peace. However, the territory deemed itself dangerous to live in.
Colt and Amelia established the Clan as a safe haven for all, especially upon the birth of the couples daughter, Ziv. However, Amelia's intentions for the Clan would soon be abolished upon the she-cat falling ill with greencough and passing away. This left Colt in an angry and maddened state, often blaming himself for her death. It grew to be too much for him and his personality shifted for the worse. It was during this time, he decided to make a name for himself and his Clan, reinstating the names of the *Old Ones* for him and his cats. He became known as Darkstar and soon renamed his clowder DarkClan.
Everything was different now. Darkstar began to teach his cats to fight while insisting that only the *best* would be able to succeed him as leader and thus the first DarkClan tradition was made. In some way, the next leader would have to prove his/her strength. It was evident he wanted that next leader to be his next of kin, Brightheart; the daughter he had bore with Amelia.
Darkstar personally taught Brightheart the ways of a leader, however she say differently than him especially resembling the bright and clever personality of her late mother. However, a new Clan had soon claimed the forest only a quarter mile from DarkClan. The she-cat that led this Clan would be a stubborn cat to move as he would find out.
With this new rivalry raging, Darkstar grew even more power-hungry for revenge. His reign soon proved to be a dangerous one, truly one of a mad man. Anna hadn't been ForestClan's leader for long when Darkstar called war upon the new Clan. Anna fearful that he would truly murder her cats stood against him, accepting his challenge for war.
In the end, a dark battle would ensue and Anna would not live long to see how her Clan would thrive. Darkstar's first deputy would soon prove herself and kill the ForestClan founder. Proud and under Brightheart's advisement the Clan head home victorious. Darkstar seems to reminisce about the battles with Amelia during this time.
Of course, his stability would only get worse when those he thought he could trust soon pleaded for peace. Mia being the first, his own deputy asking for him to call truce with the Clans and *share* the land. In rage, he ended up murdering the she-cat claiming that disloyalty would be allowed within his Clan. Now he had truly struck fear within the hearts of his Clanmates.
Later he would name a second deputy, Onyx, a she-cat with whom he had known since the dawn of his Clan's founding. She had been born in the forest and had soon joined his Clan upon its founding. Onyx and Darkstar were said to be close friends. This soon led to his next 'romance'. He was found to be smitten with Onyx's sister, Vega. Many assumed it was because she bore a resemblance to the mate he yearned for. Of course, not long after Vega bore a single son. It wasn't long after that he caught Vega's sister, Lyra, fraternizing with an outside tom. One she had planned to run away with and had let his anger get the best of him. He had murdered the she-cat in cold blood, perhaps a feeling of betrayal once more.
Onyx found out about this and urged Vega leave but the she-cat was hesitant and claimed that she wanted her son's father in his life and declined. However, Darkstar had overheard and later confronted Onyx who simply stated he was a mad man. The DarkClan leader then sentenced her to death before the Clan, effectively killing the she-cat.
Vega mourned her sister's death but not much could be done for the she-cat. Darkstar refused to name another deputy even upon him falling ill. He then named his successor as his daughter. He later passes leaving Brightheart the Clan's new leader.

#### Brightstar's Reign

Brightstar's ascension as DarkClan's leader led the Clan to a peaceful era. Despite that, she still tried to keep the Clan up to the views that her father and mother saw for it. A safe haven that gave protection. This was when she began the 'Clan for hire' bit of its history.
Upon reinstating DarkClan's former views, she names Crowpelt as her first deputy. Her reign was pretty short for a leader's especially considering that DarkClan did not use nine lives that the other Clan's did. From the moment she stepped in as leader, she showed signs of constantly sliding from healthy to sick. It wasn't long after she was leader that she bore a single son, Ivykit. She, much like her father, teaches the young tom the importance of leadership however, he never actually succeeds her as leader.
She keeps the peace through the rest of reign, however she witnesses the death of her deputy Crowpelt and much like her father chooses to remain deputy-less for the rest of her term. She later falls ill due to liver failure and soon passes away.

#### Smallstar's Reign

The Clan seems to remain together despite a leader having not been named, many suggested that Brightstar's son, Ivypelt, become leader however he declines and gives it to someone he believes would make a better leader than him. Here, Smallstep is given the position through Ivypelt.
Smallstar is said to be a pretty decent although, many have forgotten about him due to his leadership being so minor compared to all the others. This might be because of his infertility and inability to create a legacy or bloodline for himself.
He names Longclaw as his deputy, the two being rather close friends prior to it. Smallstar is said to be the one of the few reasons that the peace in DarkClan ends for they receive an offer from NightClan, thus they enter their contract of protecting the Clan from ForestClan's assault on them. Of course with NightClan being a newer Clan, Smallstar obliges however he doesn't seem to know that this would be his downfall. A short reign seeming to match his predecessor's.
However, prior to the battle that ends the leader's life he names his successor Bearclaw. The young tom seems surprised and accepts before they enter battle. Smallstar faces off with Foxstar, ForestClan's current leader who claims that NightClan fear them for they cannot face them then the two lock claws. It is seemingly a long fight before Foxstar emerges victorious and claims the life of NightClan's current leader Ratstar.

#### Bearstar's Reign

Witnessing the death of Smallstar seemed to show the tom how much his Clan would be used, he abolishes the Clan's 'for hire' status claiming that it was just a danger to him and his Clanmates. He leaves the battle with his predecessor's body and prays that he could live up to all of those before him.
Bearstar however, does something different from all the other leaders before him. He keeps Longclaw as his deputy, up until the tom passed away from heart failure before he named his mate Guppysplash as his next deputy. Of course, they both knew the risk of this and kept their relationship professional before the Clan however, behind closed doors they were raising a litter of kits that would soon later give the Clan some honor.
Bearstar remains the leader for quite a while, even through some great events he leads his Clan to. The first being the start of the Clan's meetings at *Stone Bear Ridge* as the Clans called it. There, a new tradition would begin. On this night, the Clan's would all call truce and discuss politics and problems that they were having and offer help to one another so that they could live in harmony.
It was often said that Bearstar was one of the wisest know leaders of DarkClan. However, little did they know that the hardships during his reign would begin. While his mate was out on a hunt, she was murdered by a ForestClan warrior. Here, he grew furious and demanded justice. He wanted that warrior's death or he would rain hell upon the Clan.
ForestClan refuse to hand over the warrior, claiming that he was only defending himself. Furiously, Bearstar leads an attack on ForestClan's camp and kills several of their cats including Larkstar and the killer of his mate. He retreats giving the deputy a warning before he recedes back to camp where he immediately holds a funeral for his mate. It isn't until a few weeks later that he names his next deputy. He names his own daughter Mintnose as his deputy.
However, Bearstar would later fall to a sickness he was unaware of - diabetes. He seems to pass away during a rough season for the Clan leaving his daughter to name his successor. Mintnose takes a while to choose but in the end chooses the newcomer King as her father's successor.

#### King's Reign

Now him gaining leadership of DarkClan only seemed to happen by luck when Bearstar suddenly passes away and leaves his daughter to choose the Clan's next leader. Of course, she chooses her mate's brother. King promises to make the Clan honorable once more but refuses to take a Clan. This seems to throw the Clan aback and they quietly voice their opinion that he quiets down quickly.
He names his brother his deputy almost right off, apologizing to Mintnose for displacing her. However, the queen just agrees and quietly steps down letting her mate take place as deputy. However, during this time she is pregnant with Chief's kits. Which are later born a couple months later.
King remains a respected leader and one of the more honorable ones. Despite not being Clanborn, he understands the ache for peace and once again chooses to let his Clan rest during his reign. He strikes an alliance with the NightClan leader Creekstar and the two agree to meet outside of the Clan gatherings so as to keep the peace.
During this time, a small group from each Clan is sent to the other. Here, they watched over one another as promised. King remained a respectable leader living into elder-ship even. However, DarkClan remain in the dark when a new she-cat enters camp and claims to have killed King single-handedly and claims leadership. Howver, surprisingly King's son supports the new leader seeming to set Risingstar's plan into action.
#### Risingstar's Reign

*For information on Risingstar's Reign, See here.*