Cats of the Clans/Cliffnotes

These notes are brief, noting major events and minor events in Cats of the Clans that will be of consequence later. They are intended to be used as a reference for those looking for specific events for re-reading and the book discussions.


 * Three kits from StarClan, smelling of stars and night, have lost their way and end up at the underground tunnels.
 * A strange tom tells them he won't hurt them, and they can lay down. He will show them the way back to StarClan at daybreak.
 * Each kit is introduced as the tom identifies them:
 * Mosskit, Bluestar's kit and Stonefur and Mistyfoot's sister, who died while her mother was taking her to RiverClan.
 * Adderkit, a underfed WindClan tom-kit named for the snake that later killed him.
 * Blossomkit, a ShadowClan she-kit who was killed in training under Brokenstar's rule.
 * The tom promises to tell them about the cats they left behind if they will settle down.
 * He says that it would take a moon and more to hear off all the cats.
 * He introduces himself as Rock; the keeper of the world below the one the kits' Clanmates walk, the watcher for more moons than they can dream of, and the seer for all the moons to come.
 * He tells them to be still and listen as he begins.


 * Rock begins with ThunderClan, saying that to many it is the noblest Clan, and the Clan of heroes, but he takes no sides, and that all the Clans have their own strengths and weaknesses.
 * He explains that ThunderClan are skilled hunters, but he wouldn't want to live under trees his whole life.


 * He then tells of, the hunting crouch, where a cat gathers its strength into its hindquarters for the final leap. He also notes that is not used by another Clan
 * He also says that they have always been the fiercest guardians of the warrior code, and that to fight, they must feel it is justified, unlike other Clans.
 * Here, Blossomkit speaks up in defense of her Clan, but Rock shushes her and asks if he mentioned ShadowClan by name.
 * He speaks of their share of border trouble, of Sunningrocks in the old forest and ShadowClan's border in the new forest.


 * Rock tells Adderkit he realizes the ThunderClan leader was a kittypet, but that it makes no difference to him where a kit is first born.
 * He explains how Firestar has not given the Clans a chance to forget his origins, in the case of bringing Cloudtail and then Daisy into the Clan, and it is no wonder they are suspicious of him bringing loners and kittypets into his Clan.
 * He asks Mosskit what her mother was thinking, bringing the too-brave, too-curious kit into her Clan, and if she was blinded by the color of his pelt because of the prophecy. He says that StarClan wanted him as much as Bluestar did.
 * Rock then tells how Firestar scarcely can close his eyes without StarClan murmuring in his ear, and says he has lived up to this burden well.
 * He says that maybe it took more than a Clan cat to see Tigerstar's treachery or bring WindClan safetly home.
 * He says he wishes Firestar a long and peaceful life, then laughs at himself, saying those were empty words from he who knows how each one of his nine lives will end.


 * Rock tells Mosskit that her mother, Bluestar, was a great leader and never wanted to give up her kits.
 * He then explains to Mosskit that if Thistleclaw was made the deputy instead of Bluestar, there would've been great bloodshed, and she should be proud of Bluestar for saving her Clan.
 * Mosskit the asks if Firestar was a replacement for the kits that she didn't get to raise.


 * Rocks responds by saying that Bluestar truly loved Firestar.
 * Rock then concludes that Bluestar was loyal to her Clan to the very end by giving up her ninth life to save ThunderClan; he also says that she spent her last moment making peace with her kits, Mosskit's brother and sister.


 * The old cat wonders if Graystripe has any enemies


 * He then tells Blossomkit that not even ShadowClan is every cat's enemy


 * He explains to the kits how Graystripe fell in love with Silverstream, a she-cat from RiverClan, and fathered her kits.


 * After Silverstream dies, he takes the kits to RiverClan because that is the only place they would be truly welcomed. However, Rock tells them Graystripe felt torn, but returned when he realized that he truly belonged in ThunderClan.


 * Rock then talks about Graystripe's new mate Millie and that ThunderClan doesn't realize how much they owe her, it was her determination that got Graystripe out of Twolegplace. She also sacrificed everything she knew to be with him.


 * Rock asks the kits if Sandstorm will only be remembered as Firestar's mate; he feels she deserves more respect than that.
 * He comments on how if it wasn't for her, Firestar wouldn't have led the Clans to fight Scourge and BloodClan.
 * The kits prick up their ears, and Rock nods and says that without Sandstorm there might have not been a battle against BloodClan.
 * He says that Firestar truly loved and trusted her, and he says that she knows him better than he and Spottedleaf do.
 * He says that Sandstorm's courage matched his when they were rebuilding SkyClan and fought just as hard as he did even though she only had one life to lose.
 * Rock says that he holds Sandstorm's esteem higher than most cats, and that he hopes Firestar will appreciate her as much as she deserves.


 * Rock tells the kits that Yellowfang walks the same skies as them, and if she becomes cranky it's their fault for disturbing her.
 * He describes Yellowfang as cranky, stubborn, impatient, and the most loyal cat you would ever meet.
 * He also says that her whole life was a quest for loyalty: to the kits she bore in secret, to ShadowClan, and to ThunderClan.
 * Yellowfang felt that it was her own fault for Brokenstar's murders, so she killed her own son, and avenged the death of Blossomkit and all of the kits forced to train too young.
 * Rock then says that Yellowfang fought enough battle for nine lifetimes.


 * Rock explains that StarClan did not mean for Cinderpelt to end up in Tigerstar's trap, and they were horrified when she did.
 * He says that StarClan did not whisper in her ear as close as they have with other medicine cats
 * He recalls the fire and tiger prohecy to which Cinderpelt was mistaken but StarClan forgave her
 * StarClan gave her one last test: they let her know she would die and let her live with knowledge that Leafpool was about to leave ThunderClan.
 * Rock says that Cinderpelt lived in the shadown with such dignity, resisting the temptation to beg Leafpool to stay that she porved herself worthy of a second life, as one of Sorreltail's kits, Cinderkit.


 * Rock tells the kits that Leafpool was never destined to be anything but a medicine cat.
 * He sees Blossomkit's prick up and asks her if that was the path she would have followed.
 * Rock explains that StarClan fostered a link between Squirrelflight and Leafpool, because they knew Squirrelflight would be traveling far away.
 * He says for a while Leafpool knew what was around every corner, by knowing where the Clans would settle, and she knew that blood would spill blood before the Clans could settle.
 * Rock explains that the one thing Leafpool did not forsee was falling in love with Crowfeather.
 * He says that all that path did was lead both of them to misery.


 * Rock describes Squirrelflight as fire, the exact opposite of her sister, Leafpool.
 * He admits he would trust Squirrelflight with his life because she is incapable of doing anything but what she believes is truly right.
 * Rock tells Blossomkit that this is not the same as telling the truth, even Squirrelflight has secrets.
 * Rock says it was bold of StarClan to let her go on the quest to the Sun-Drown-Place with Brambleclaw, though he remembers that Squirrelflight gave him little choice and would follow him anyway.


 * But, by going on the journey to the sun-drown-place she proved she had the courage and determination of her parents.


 * He thinks that if she would have stayed in the forest she would have always been the too feisty apprentice.
 * He explains how Stormfur and Ashfur both loved her but Brambleclaw was the only one that could match her fire, not contain it.
 * He concludes by saying that Squirrelflight has been a wonderful mother to Jaypaw, Hollypaw, and Lionpaw.


 * Rock explains that Brambleclaw has had to work extra hard to earn the trust of his Clanmates because his father was Tigerstar.
 * He says that Bluestar trusted him by picking him to go on the journey to the Sun-drown-place.


 * He says that not even Firestar could have led the cats on the journey, because his generousity would have distracted him.


 * Rock praised Brambleclaw for being such a great leader on the journey to the Sun-drown-place, and not stopping until he got to Midnight to hear the prophecy.
 * Rock also tells that Tigerstar visited Brambleclaw in his dreams but Brambleclaw eventually realized it wasn't the right thing to do.


 * Rock asks the three kits if the StarClan elders fretted over where his past would lead since had lost Squirrelflight's affection.
 * He says that it's a shame that Ashfur is most famous for quarreling with Brambleclaw over Squirrelflight, saying that Ashfur tried to hard to protect her.
 * Rock says that he holds nothing against Ashfur, and would want him in battle on his side any day.
 * Rock says that no ThunderClan cat can argue that Ashfur hasn't turned Lionpaw into one of the best fighters in the Clan.
 * He tells the kits that Ashfur is a loyal ThunderClan warrior, and that is how he should be remembered.


 * Rock says he has something in common with Brightheart: cats shy away from both of them after they see their face.
 * He explains that it breaks Brightheart's heart everytime she sees her reflection, and asks why she hates going down to the lake.
 * He says that she is brave to her Clanmates, not flinching when a kit or a newcomer shrieks at the sight of her scars.
 * Rock also says that when Brightheart is alone she can hear her first warrior name, Lostface, rings in her ears.
 * Rock says that Cloudtail knows what it means to be different, because his mother was a kittypet.
 * He tells them that Cloudtail is loyal and protects his Clan everyday, even if he doesn't believe in StarClan, although the warrior code requires nothing more.


 * Rock tells of how Firestar waited in dread for these kits to be born as they will "have the power of the stars in their paws"
 * He describes Lionpaw as the fighter, or warrior
 * Rock decribes Hollypaw as the politician, or thinker
 * He reminds the kits that wits can be stronger than claws
 * Rock then decribes Jaypaw as the blind cat who can see in dreams and has powers unlike any medicine cat before him


 * Rock begins, saying that ShadowClan cats are evil. He quickly tells Blossomkit to put her claws away and tells her he is telling the same stories in nurseries
 * Rock says that their territory is the least rich in prey, and wouldn't decline any offer to have more, richer prey
 * ShadowClan cats are night hunters, since they don't have any ferns or brambles, so darkness is their only cover
 * Rock says that ShadowClan cats were the reason for blood-shed in the recent moons
 * He says that StarClan may share the other Clans' fear of ShadowClan when they refused to grant Nightstar his lives


 * Rock wonders if Tigerstar thinks of himself as ThunderClan or ShadowClan
 * Rock notices that the kit claws are scraping the floor at the sound of Tigerstar's name, ad he asks if Tigerstar is used to scare kits even in Starclan
 * Rock goes on to list the memorable dead: Redtail, Runningwind, Brindleface, Swiftpaw, Bluestar, Stonefur, and the cats that died in the battle with BloodClan, since he brought Scourge to the forest
 * Rock says that Tigerstar prowls the Dark Forest with Hawkfrost, and wonders if he remembers that Hawkfrost is one of the half-Clan cats
 * Rock states that Lionpaw shoud be careful, because these cats are not his allies


 * Rock assures Blossomkit that Brokenstar cannot hurt her in the cave
 * Yellowfang's first mistake was falling in love with Raggedstar
 * Yellowfang's second mistake was giving Brokenstar to Lizardstripe to raise, who constantly reminded him that he wasn't welcome in her den
 * Brokenstar believed that killing Raggedstar and taking over to become the "greatest leader" would be the only way that he could gain the clan's respect
 * Rock lists some of Brokenstar's crimes
 * Rock remarks that it is fitting he didn't die a warrior's death, but was forced to eat deathberries by his mother
 * Rock says that Yellowfang avenged Blossomkit's death


 * Rock declares that ShadowClan will have to go through many leaders before cats will see them redeemed
 * Rock states that Blackstar has done well, but he doesn't envy him
 * Blackstar never harks back to the days where ShadowClan won every battle
 * Blackstar has made his clanmates proud once more to be ShadowClan
 * Rock reprimands Mosskit for disliking Blackstar because he threatens the border with ThunderClan, then says that it is because ShadowClan has once more been given the land least rich in prey


 * Rock thinks that ThunderClan would be able to hate ShadowClan more if Tawnypelt hadn't joined them
 * Tawnypelt wanted to be judged by her own actions, instead of her father's
 * StarClan chose Tawnypelt to represent ShadowClan on the journey to find Midnight
 * Rock believes that Tawnypelt was chosen to show ThunderClan that she found her true home
 * She recognized Crowpaw's strengths before Feathertail did, and Feathertail would have fought much harder to keep from loving Crowfeather if Tawnypelt hadn't encouraged her
 * Tawnypelt refuses to listen to Tigerstar
 * Rock thinks that Tawnypelt and her kits could help salvage ShadowClan's reputation


 * Boulder was born a BloodClan cat
 * Because he desired to impress Tigerstar, Boulder led him to meet Scourge
 * Rock states that Boulder was not an evil cat, just a cat who had too much faith in the warrior code
 * Boulder's memories of Blood Clan became his nightmares, and he paid a high price for misjudging Scourge


 * Rock tells Blossomkit that Runningnose tried so hard to save her life, and that she had been the third kit he had seen die that day
 * Runningnose regretted the day he became Yellowfang's apprentice
 * As Brokenstar's medicine cat, Runningnose had to interpret omens that promised nothing but victory
 * Runningnose also had to keep the secret of Nightstar not receiving his nine lives
 * Littlecloud was Runningnose's apprentice
 * Littlecloud was inspired and became a medicine cat because of Cinderpelt, because she saved his life when sickness spread through ShadowClan
 * Littlecloud never forgot his debt to ThunderClan


 * Adderkit stands a little straighter at the mention of his birth Clan
 * Rock explains the difference between weakness and vulnerability, WindClan being the latter
 * WindClan are closer to StarClan, which may explain the many times their Clan has been spared
 * WindClan has a reputation for being a peaceful Clan, bouncing from ally to ally
 * WindClan suffered the most when Twolegs expanded the Thunderpath


 * Tallstar killed the snake that bit Adderkit
 * Some cats thought that he was too quick to make alliances with other Clans
 * Tallstar fought as fiercely as a lion, but preferred not to watch his Clanmates die
 * Tallstar trusted Fireheart's warning that Bluestar was mistaken, and chose not to go into battle
 * Tallstar gave up his ninth life at the end of the Great Journey
 * In his last moments, Tallstar made Onewhisker his deputy
 * Rock believes that this was a foolish move, as Mudclaw will always have a grudge for Tallstar


 * Rock says that Onestar could tell about the loneliness of power
 * He and Fireheart were good friends from the moment that they met
 * It was partly thanks to Onewhisker that Tallstar did not fight ThunderClan in A Dangerous Path
 * Onestar couldn't lead his Clan and be Firestar's friend, too
 * Onestar needed to gain his own Clanmates respect, so he had to make WindClan independent
 * This was a hard lesson for Onestar, because when he needed his friend the most, he had to walk alone


 * Mudclaw was WindClan's most senior warrior, made deputy because Tallstar knew that he needed a deputy ready to fight since he was so peaceful
 * Mudclaw's only ambition was to become leader, and Tallstar replacing Mudclaw as deputy with Onewhisker was a betrayal of Mudclaw's loyalty
 * Mudclaw sought to take back power, with Hawkfrost as his ally
 * Mudclaw was killed by a falling tree
 * Rock wants to know if the tree falling was a sign, or just luck


 * Crowfeather was the only cat that was chosen by StarClan to journey to find Midnight that wasn't a warrior
 * He was the only cat without a friend on the journey
 * Crowfeather fought just as hard as the other five cats because he knew that he had the right to hear Midnight's message
 * Crowfeather loved Feathertail with a quiet fierceness that nearly split him in two when he saw her die
 * Crowfeather chose his warrior name in Feathertail's memory
 * When Crowfeather fell in love with Leafpool, Rock wondered if StarClan had forgotten about him or were punishing him for a deed not yet done
 * Crowfeather loved Leafpool too much to let her abandon her Clan


 * Rock claims that Nightcloud is not an easy cat to feel sorry for, even though Crowfeather only took her as his mate to prove his loyalty
 * Rock says that Nightcloud isn't just protective of her mate and kit, she is jealous and arrogant
 * Rock declares that she should remember that of all of Crowfeather's mates, she is the one spared to live by his side
 * Breezepaw shares his mother's arrogance
 * He has heard the whispers that his father is not loyal, but doesn't know what happened
 * Breezepaw is determined not to be disloyal
 * Breezepaw is the type of warrior that Onestar needs
 * Breezepaw must learn that a battle isn't fair if secrets are hidden in the shadows


 * Rock tells the kits that Heatherpaw sat in the same cave, pretending that she was a part of DarkClan with Lionpaw
 * Rock wonders if Heatherpaw believed that the warrior code didn't apply to her, because she met Lionpaw in the tunnels
 * Rock says that Heatherpaw is guilty of nothing but selfishness
 * Some say that she showed courage going into the tunnels to save the WindClan kits, but Rock points out that the kits would never have found the tunnels if she hadn't accidently led them there
 * Rock says that the reason they survived was because the river spared them


 * Crookedstar was born when RiverClan was fighting with ThunderClan over Sunningrocks. When he was a kit, he was playing on the rocks with his littermates, but they played too roughly and he broke his jaw when he fell, earning his warrior name
 * Rock tells the kits that he knew Mistykit and Stonekit were kits to Bluestar because of their scent, and knew Oakheart was lying with the story about how he found them
 * Rock also says that it would be a weakness to ThunderClan if RiverClan launched an attack on them, so he chose to ignore that they were half-Clan
 * Rock says that Crookedstar's cunning and not wanting RiverClan to be pure-Clan made him one of the strongest leaders


 * Leopardstar was Crookedstar's deputy
 * She shared Crookedstar's pride and ambition, but didn't like half Clan cats
 * Leopardstar allied herself with Tigerstar, forming TigerClan
 * When she saw Tigerstar's policies, pride kept her from speaking out
 * She couldn't admit to her clanmates that she had been wrong
 * Leopardstar saved her clanmates by joining LionClan
 * If Leopardstar is hostile to the other Clans, it is because she no longer trusts her own judgment


 * Rock tells Mosskit that she should be proud of her littermates
 * Oakheart knew that Graypool would keep quiet about where the kits came from
 * Mistyfoot and Stonefur never questioned that Graypool was their mother because they all had similar colored fur
 * Leopardstar made Mistyfoot her deputy
 * Mistyfoot and Stonefur mentored Stormfur and Feathertail
 * When Tigerstar took control of TigerClan, Mistyfoot fled across the river to ThunderClan, but Stonefur was killed by Blackfoot and Darkstripe
 * Mistyfoot will succeed Leopardstar, making a half-Clan cat a leader


 * Silverstream was Crookedstar's only daughter
 * Being the daughter of the leader, Silverstream had the respect of the clan before she ever caught a fish
 * She was dismayed when she fell in love with Graystripe
 * She saved Graystripe because RiverClan cats didn't like dead cats polluting the River
 * In the end, Silverstream payed the highest price for letting herself fall in love; she died giving birth to Feathertail and Stormfur


 * Feathertail was imprisoned in the abandoned fox den when Tigerstar took over
 * Feathertail went with Mistyfoot to ThunderClan when Tigerstar took over, but returned to RiverClan after the battle with BloodClan
 * Starclan chose Feathertail to go on the quest to find Midnight
 * Feathertail was the subject of the Tribe's prophecy as well, and died fullfilling it


 * Stormfur wasn't going to let Feathertail go on the quest to find Midnight when he almost lost her to Tigerstar, so he went with her
 * He saw Feathertail die in the mountains, saving the tribe
 * He became Brook's mate, and joined the Tribe of Rushing Water
 * Stormfur could not forgive his clanmates for giving him up to Tigerstar
 * He was more loyal to the warrior code than to his clanmates, so he was driven out of Riverclan and taken in by ThunderClan
 * Soon the mountains called him back


 * The son of Tigerstar and Sasha
 * Sasha brought her kits to RiverClan because she thought they would be safer there than in the wild
 * She returned to Hawkfrost and Mothwing when the Twolegs destroyed the forest, but Hawkfrost and Mothwing refused to abandon their clan
 * Hawkfrost had always wanted to be leader
 * He trained harder than any apprentice
 * He knew that being Leopardstar's favorite didn't give him his Clanmates' respect
 * He knew that he needed a medicine cat sister to get his Clanmates' respect, so he made the moth's wing sign
 * Hawkfrost listened to Tigerstar, and plotted with Mudclaw, as well as a Thunderclan cat to kill Firestar
 * He was killed by Brambleclaw, fullfilling the prophecy "Before there is peace, blood will spill blood and the lake will run red"


 * Mothwing is a medicine cat who doesn't believe in StarClan
 * She is allowed to stay because she cares so much about helping her Clanmates
 * Hawkfrost threatened to reveal Mothwing's secret unless she made false prophecies
 * Mothwing could not receive signs from StarClan, so Leafpool was given them for her
 * Willowpaw was the solution to the problem; StarClan could speak through her instead
 * She became Mothwing's apprentice because she had an interest in medicine as a kit
 * Willowpaw respects her mentor's lack of belief in StarClan


 * Ravenpaw's mentor, Tigerclaw, would never respect Ravenpaw's love of peace and sympathy to both sides of an argument
 * After Ravenpaw saw Tigerclaw kill Redtail, he was in danger from Tigerclaw
 * Firepaw took him away to safety, telling him to go live with Barley
 * Barley was a loner with a good life on a farm, and Ravenpaw found peace here
 * Barley was born in BloodClan
 * When Barley was found living with his sister - which was against BloodClan's rules - he had to watch Violet being beaten up by their other two littermates, Snake and Ice
 * Violet survived and became a kittypet, while Barley fled to the farm


 * Blossomkit doesn't think that the kits need to hear about kittypets, but Rock tells about them anyway
 * Rock wanted to know if kittypets really were so bad, simply because they have food, shelter, and let Twolegs pet them
 * Smudge was Rusty's nearest neighboor, and came into the forest when he had dreams about SkyClan
 * Smudge never understood why Firestar wanted to live in the forest
 * Princess is Firestar's littermate, and Cloudtail's mother
 * She gave Fireheart Cloudkit to be a warrior, because she thought it was a nobler lifestyle
 * Princess was a good friend to Firestar, and still stares out into the forest, wondering if her brother and son are safe


 * Tribe cats are named after the first thing their mother sees when they are born
 * Brook met the Clan cats on their journey to sun-drown-place
 * She believed that Stormfur was the chosen cat that would save the tribe from Sharptooth, and fell in love with him
 * She grieved for Feathertail when she died
 * Talon is Brook's brother
 * Talon accepted Stormfur because Brook loved him


 * Also called Stoneteller, he is the leader, deputy, and medicine cat of the tribe
 * The Healer is always called Stoneteller, because that is what their job is - to interpret the stones
 * Stoneteller was a proud cat, desperate to save his Tribe when Sharptooth prowled the mountain that the Tribe had such difficulty living on
 * Stoneteller was grateful to Feathertail
 * He buried Feathertail above the Waterfall, an honor bestowed on the noblest cave-guard and/or prey-hunter


 * Cloudstar was the leader when SkyClan was driven out of the forest
 * Cloudstar lost everything when he left the forest, including his mate and kits
 * Cloudstar came to Firestar, asking him to rebuild the lost SkyClan
 * Sky was the only cat who knew about SkyClan, and held his own Gathering every full moon
 * Sky was thought to be mad, but then SkyClan arose again, and his dreams were fulfilled


 * Leafdapple became Leafstar, the current leader of SkyClan
 * She was originally a rogue, called Leaf, with the talent for jumping, just like SkyClan cats
 * She was wise enough to realize that kittypets were needed to make SkyClan grow
 * Echosong was a kittypet who dreamt of Firestar and Sandstorm before they arrived
 * She became Skyclan's new medicine cat
 * She is a fast learner when it comes to herbs
 * Sharpclaw was a rogue named Scratch
 * He had the SkyClan ability to jump, and the courage of a warrior
 * He is deputy, but he needs to learn peace from Leafstar before becoming leader


 * Rock tells this story just before dawn
 * Scourge was the self appointed leader of BloodClan
 * There was no warrior code in BloodClan, and they were bound together through fear
 * Scourge's greatest strength was his greatest weakness; he didn't believe in the warrior code or in honour
 * He had only one life, and took Firestar's first life before Firestar killed him
 * Bone was deputy of BloodClan
 * He was killed by a swarm of apprentices after killing Whitestorm
 * Rock ends his tales by saying that he liked to remember all of the cats, because they deserved to be remembered