These notes reflect a bulleted list of major and minor events in A Dangerous Path that can be easily navigated. They are intended to serve as a reference for those looking for specific events in re-reading and book discussions and include links to the relevant chapter subpages further detailing each chapter's events.
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
Twolegs bring dogs to guard the Treecut Place after the fire.
They are unloaded from a vehicle and locked in a fenced area.
One night, the pack leader discovers a hole leading under the fence.
They dig a tunnel and escape.
They set out to hunt for prey in the forest .
The ThunderClan warriors return to the camp .
Fireheart tells the cats in the camp that Tigerclaw, now Tigerstar, has taken over ShadowClan.
Fireheart talks with Cinderpelt; she misses Yellowfang .
Fireheart tells Bluestar about what happened at the Gathering.
She is angry over this fact and appalled that ShadowClan accepted him after what he did.
Fireheart reminds her that no other Clan knows of his deeds.
Bluestar states that ThunderClan is doomed and asks Fireheart to double the patrols.
Several days have passed, but there is no sign of attack from ShadowClan.
The cats are busy rebuilding the camp.
Whitestorm reports that his patrol found scent of dogs near Snakerocks .
Fireheart dismisses the report, assuming that it was only a Twoleg walking a pet dog in the forest.
Prey is scarce after the fire, and several hunting patrols set out, doing border patrol duties as well.
Fireheart and Sandstorm head for Sunningrocks , where they meet Graystripe .
Graystripe says that RiverClan is worried about Tigerstar.
He also tells them that Crookedstar is very weak from old age, and Leopardfur is leading the Clan.
Cinderpelt tells Fireheart of a dream she had that night: animals roaming the forest, and strange voices chanting "pack, pack" and "kill, kill."
She does not know what the dream means, and Fireheart is not interested, as he already has enough on his mind.
ThunderClan is surviving, but all warriors are overstretched.
Fireheart assesses the fighting skills of Brightpaw , Cloudpaw , Thornpaw , and Swiftpaw .
He thinks they are ready to be made warriors.
Fireheart sees Bramblekit hurt Snowkit while they are trying to play.
Bramblekit accuses Snowkit of being unable to play properly.
Fireheart still feels hostile towards Bramblekit, due to his resemblance to his father, Tigerstar.
Goldenflower says that she wants her kits to grow up happy, not feeling guilty because of what Tigerstar did.
She also says that Fireheart should tell them about what their father did.
Brackenfur comments to Fireheart that something might be wrong with Snowkit; he is slow, unresponsive, and undeveloped.
Speckletail stands up for her kit and tells Fireheart that nothing is wrong with him.
Fireheart talks to Bluestar about making Brightpaw, Cloudpaw, Thornpaw, and Swiftpaw into warriors.
Bluestar refuses to make any but Cloudpaw, Fireheart's apprentice , into a warrior.
Fireheart asks Cinderpelt to casually look over Speckletail's kit .
The next day, Cinderpelt heads for Highstones for the medicine cat's meeting, her first time as a full medicine cat.
At Fourtrees, they meet up with Runningnose and Littlecloud .
Littlecloud is now Runningnose's apprentice.
Runningnose tells Fireheart about the rogues that came to ShadowClan; he says they act as loyal Clan cats.
He also reveals that Nightstar did not get nine lives from StarClan , possibly because Brokenstar was still alive.
Cinderpelt, Runningnose, and Littlecloud leave for Highstones , and say farewell to Fireheart.
Fireheart dreams of a dark forest.
He calls out for Spottedleaf , but she does not show up.
Fireheart wakes up and goes hunting with Sandstorm.
They meet Princess near Tallpines .
Sandstorm is initially hostile, but Fireheart reveals that she is his sister.
Princess is relieved that both he and Cloudpaw are all right after the fire.
A monster comes by, and three Twolegs get out of it, looking for the escaped dogs, but do not find them.
Fireheart and Sandstorm pass by RiverClan territory where Graystripe is waiting.
He mentions a possible allegiance between Tigerstar and Leopardfur.
Mistyfoot comes by and announces that Graypool , a RiverClan elder , is missing.
Fireheart notices Graypool climbing a slope towards Fourtrees where Tigerstar is waiting.
Fireheart finds Graypool talking to Tigerstar, thinking he is Oakheart .
Graypool reveals Bluestar's secret, that Mistyfoot and Stonefur are from ThunderClan.
She realizes Tigerstar isn't Oakheart and while backing away, rolls down a steep slope and dies.
Tigerstar leaves, and Mistyfoot and Graystripe arrive to see Graypool's dead body.
Fireheart does not tell about Graypool's discussion with Tigerstar.
Bramblekit catches his first prey, and Fireheart reluctantly praises him.
Cinderpelt tests Snowkit's hearing, and it is revealed he is deaf.
Bluestar declares that he will never become a warrior, and Speckletail takes it badly.
Fireheart leads a patrol near Snakerocks.
They smell strong dog scent and find scraps of prey and dog dirt, just like Whitestorm's patrol had some days before.
Fireheart concludes that these could not be Twoleg pets, and assumes that a dog is loose in the forest.
Whitestorm tells Fireheart that his patrol found traces of dog near the RiverClan border .
Speckletail is trying to teach Snowkit hunting techniques, but with no success.
Fireheart reports to Bluestar about the loose dog near the border.
Bluestar thinks that it is WindClan hunting on their territory and does not believe that there is a dog.
She gets angry and does not want to hear Fireheart's reasoning.
A hawk plunges into the camp, and the cats run for cover.
Snowkit is taken by the hawk because he does not hear the warnings others shout at him.
Speckletail and Fireheart try to save him, but fail.
Bluestar thinks that this is a sign from StarClan, and they are at war with ThunderClan.
The hawk's attack and Bluestar's claim make the Clan cats feel shocked and frightened.
Fireheart wants to speak with Bluestar, but she demands to be left alone.
Brackenfur and Swiftpaw chase the hawk, but cannot catch up with it and return soon.
Cloudpaw reveals that he does not believe in StarClan, and Brightpaw is shocked.
Fireheart and Cinderpelt try to convince the cats that StarClan did not abandon them, and the hawk had nothing to do with StarClan.
The panic gradually subsides.
Fireheart tells the Clan about the loose dog and that they should be careful.
Fireheart talks with Cinderpelt about Bluestar's condition.
Cinderpelt says that the Clan leader's opinions and judgment should be always respected, and they argue.
Bluestar leads ThunderClan to the Gathering herself.
Fireheart cannot decide whether this is a good thing or not, due to Bluestar's mental condition.
Onewhisker introduces Gorsepaw to Fireheart.
It is revealed that Crookedstar is dead, Leopardstar is the new RiverClan leader, and Stonefur is her deputy.
Graystripe tells Fireheart of Leopardstar's plans to take back Sunningrocks.
Fireheart says that Graystripe shouldn't tell him that and fears for his friend.
The Gathering starts.
Leopardstar announces the deaths of Crookedstar and Graypool.
Tigerstar announces new apprentices and kits in ShadowClan. He does not seem hostile to other Clans.
Bluestar accuses WindClan of stealing prey, and Tallstar accuses ThunderClan of the same thing.
Fireheart sees Darkstripe and Tigerstar talking about Tigerstar's kits.
Bluestar calls Fireheart to her den, telling him that she plans to attack WindClan.
Fireheart protests, saying that it was not WindClan stealing the prey and that ThunderClan is too weak for a fight.
Bluestar does not listen and asks Fireheart to choose warriors for the battle.
Fireheart hesitates, and Bluestar says that she will lead the attack herself.
Fireheart wants advice from Cinderpelt, but she is out collecting herbs .
He sleeps, hoping that StarClan will give him advice in his dreams.
He sees Spottedleaf and Yellowfang, who tell him that the battle must be prevented.
Fireheart decides that he will prevent the battle, even if that means disobeying his leader.
Fireheart slips out of camp, planning to arrange a meeting between Bluestar and Tallstar to discuss the loss of prey.
He arrives at Fourtrees and smells ThunderClan scent.
He sees Darkstripe taking Bramblekit and Tawnykit toward the ShadowClan border.
He sees them meet Tigerstar, who reveals to the kits that he is their father.
Bramblekit asks his father why he is the ShadowClan leader when their mother is a ThunderClan cat.
Fireheart reveals himself and asks Tigerstar and Darkstripe what they are doing.
Tigerstar says he just wanted to see his kits, and that he hopes they are in good care.
Fireheart orders Darkstripe to take the kits back to the ThunderClan camp.
He continues towards WindClan territory.
Fireheart reaches WindClan territory by dusk.
He sees Mudclaw , Gorsepaw, and Onewhisker, but they do not detect him.
He calls out to Gorsepaw and asks him to tell Onewhisker that he is there.
Onewhisker is hostile, but agrees to take him to the WindClan camp, to meet Tallstar.
Fireheart tells Tallstar and Deadfoot about Bluestar's plan to attack them.
He suggests a meeting between Tallstar and Bluestar at dawn at Fourtrees, and Tallstar accepts.
He asks Tallstar to send Bluestar a message through Ravenpaw about the meeting.
Fireheart returns to the ThunderClan camp and tells Whitestorm what he has done.
They tell all the warriors about the plan of a peaceful meeting instead of a battle.
The warriors are reluctant to go behind their leader's back, but finally accept the deputy's plan.
Sandstorm is hostile towards Fireheart; their friendship suffers.
Fireheart arranges a party of warriors and apprentices to escort Bluestar to Fourtrees.
Fireheart asks Cinderpelt whether he did the right thing, but she says that it is his decision.
Ravenpaw arrives, and Fireheart takes him to Bluestar.
Ravenpaw says that Tallstar wants to talk with Bluestar.
Bluestar eventually agrees to talk with Tallstar.
The ThunderClan cats arrive at Fourtrees.
Tallstar also brings warriors with him.
The leaders talk, Bluestar is finally convinced that WindClan did not steal prey, and the battle is avoided.
The cats head back to the camp.
Bluestar accuses Fireheart of treachery and says that all ThunderClan cats are traitors.
Longtail tells Fireheart that Swiftpaw should be made a warrior.
Cinderpelt tells Fireheart that she cannot find Bluestar anywhere.
Cinderpelt says she looked everywhere, but Bluestar is not in the camp.
Fireheart wants to assemble a search party, but Whitestorm says that Bluestar can look after herself.
Sandstorm, Brindleface , and Cloudpaw go looking for Bluestar, but cannot find her.
Bluestar returns to the camp the next day.
She went to Highstones on her own, to challenge StarClan.
StarClan told her that there was evil loose in the forest, a pack that would bring destruction.
Fireheart wonders what they meant and thinks that the "pack" might mean ShadowClan.
Fireheart remembers Cinderpelt's dream in which she heard the words "pack, pack" and "kill, kill."
Fireheart sets up more patrols, so the Clan could be warned in time in case of danger.
The forest has recovered after the fire, but autumn comes, the days grow colder, and prey is scarce.
One morning, Bluestar decides to lead a patrol.
They meet RiverClan cats at Sunningrocks, including Leopardstar.
Leopardstar states that Sunningrocks belongs to RiverClan.
The two Clans fight, but ThunderClan are hopelessly outnumbered.
Fireheart sends Swiftpaw for reinforcements, and a hunting patrol arrives soon to help them.
Mistyfoot and Stonefur are about to kill Bluestar, who refuses to fight them.
Fireheart reveals that Bluestar is their mother.
Fireheart tells them about how Bluestar gave them to RiverClan.
Mistyfoot and Stonefur are reluctant to believe him.
Graystripe warns Fireheart in time for him to dodge Leopardstar's attack.
Graystripe pulls Leopardstar off Fireheart.
She exiles him from RiverClan for this.
More ThunderClan reinforcements arrive, and RiverClan is driven away.
Bluestar invites Mistyfoot and Stonefur to join ThunderClan, but they refuse and are hostile toward her.
Bluestar allows Graystripe to rejoin ThunderClan, saying that one more traitor in the Clan will not make any difference.
The cats return to the ThunderClan camp.
Tawnykit asks who Graystripe is, and Darkstripe replies that he is a traitor.
Graystripe and Fireheart visit Cinderpelt to get their wounds treated.
The Clan is reluctant to accept Graystripe and are suspicious of him.
Bluestar decides to make Cloudpaw a warrior.
She refuses to promote the other apprentices, disapproving of their belief in StarClan.
Longtail is angry that Swiftpaw does not become a warrior.
Bluestar calls a Clan meeting for Cloudpaw's warrior naming ceremony , naming him Cloudtail.
Only a few cats welcome him; the other apprentices are offended.
Cloudtail finishes his vigil , and Fireheart plans to take him on a hunting patrol.
Fernpaw tells Fireheart that Swiftpaw and Brightpaw have gone to Snakerocks.
They were planning to find out who or what was stealing prey, hoping that they would become warriors for their brave actions.
Fireheart, Sandstorm, Graystripe, and Cloudtail go searching for the missing apprentices.
They pick up a trail leading to Snakerocks.
They find the apprentices; Swiftpaw is dead, ripped apart by enormous teeth, while Brightpaw is seriously injured.
The cats fear that whatever creature did this might return, but nothing moves.
Sandstorm dashes off to fetch Cinderpelt.
Brightpaw says that the pack did this to them.
Cinderpelt tends to Brightpaw, then takes her back to the camp.
She was unable to save Brightpaw's eye or ear and is unsure whether she will survive.
Cloudtail is protective of Brightpaw and blames Fireheart for her injury.
Fireheart agrees and tells him that he tried his best.
Bluestar gives her the warrior name of Lostface in a rarely used ceremony for a dying apprentice who is ready to be a warrior.
Lostface mutters again about the pack, and Bluestar believes that it is the same thing StarClan warned her about.
Bluestar believes that the pack was sent by StarClan to punish her.
Fireheart decides to take Bramblekit as his apprentice, as he still does not trust him and wants to keep an eye on him.
Graystripe suggests that Sandstorm should mentor Tawnykit, but Fireheart declines, afraid of what Tigerstar might do to her.
Sandstorm is angry at this and turns her back on Fireheart.
Lostface wakes up, but is still very weak and has nightmares about the pack.
Bluestar holds a Clan meeting where Bramblekit and Tawnykit are apprenticed.
Fireheart and Brackenfur take Bramblepaw and Tawnypaw to show them the ThunderClan territory.
Bramblepaw is brave, curious, and eager to learn.
They came upon the Thunderpath and see monsters passing by.
Bramblepaw asks whether he can visit his father in ShadowClan.
He asks why Tigerstar left ThunderClan, and Fireheart tells him about Tigerstar's past.
Fireheart tells him that no cat will blame Bramblepaw and Tawnypaw for what their father did.
Bramblepaw does not believe this, sensing Fireheart's mistrust of him.
Lostface gets better, and her wounds are healing.
Cloudtail suggests that she should live with the elders, and Lostface agrees.
She cannot recall anything about the dog attack.
There is a Gathering, and Bluestar leads ThunderClan, despite her condition.
Tigerstar and Leopardstar are very friendly towards each other.
Mosspelt tells Graystripe that his kits are apprentices now: Featherpaw and Stormpaw .
The Gathering starts.
Tallstar makes a report on WindClan.
Tigerstar asks for his kits back, saying that they belong with him.
He says that ThunderClan have a poor record in looking after their young cats, and Fireheart realizes it must have been Darkstripe who told him about Snowkit, Swiftpaw, and Brightpaw.
He also says that this would not be the first time when ThunderClan gave up kits, referring to Mistyfoot and Stonefur.
Bluestar promises an answer at the next Gathering.
Fireheart, Graystripe, Cloudtail, and Lostface go on a patrol towards Tallpines.
They visit Twolegplace , where they meet Princess.
Fireheart introduces Graystripe and Lostface to Princess, and tells her that Cloudtail is now a warrior.
He asks her whether she heard about a loose dog in the forest, but Princess says she did not.
She is uneasy when she sees Lostface's injury, and Lostface takes it badly.
Lostface asks to see her face in a puddle and is horrified by what she sees.
She is comforted by Cloudtail.
Fireheart dreams of Spottedleaf, who repeats her earlier warning about an enemy that never sleeps.
Sandstorm is still hostile towards Fireheart and spends time with Dustpelt .
Longtail reports that he scented Tigerstar near Snakerocks, and Fireheart should come to see.
Fireheart thinks that Longtail wants to lure him in a trap, but Cinderpelt tells him to go.
Longtail says that several enormous dogs are living in a cave at Snakerocks, and Tigerstar is feeding them with rabbits.
They wonder why Tigerstar is doing this.
Fireheart and Sandstorm admit their love for each other.
Cinderpelt tells Fireheart that the forest is dark with evil, but the Clan stands beside him.
At dawn, Fireheart takes a patrol to investigate Snakerocks.
They find Tigerstar's scent on dead rabbits.
They see that Tigerstar has laid a trail of rabbits to the ThunderClan camp.
Fireheart plans to dump the rabbits in the river, but knows that the scent would still lead the dogs to the camp.
They race back to the camp to warn the others.
Cloudtail finds Brindleface's dead body at the end of the trail.
Brindleface is carried back to the camp and buried.
Fireheart tells the Clan about the pack and about Tigerstar's plan to lure them to the camp.
He says that all cats should leave the camp at once.
Fireheart forms a plan to take the dogs to the gorge , and lure them over the edge.
He chooses some warriors and apprentices to lure the dogs away; the rest of the Clan go to Sunningrocks.
Darkstripe tries to take Bramblepaw and Tawnypaw out of camp, but is stopped by Fireheart.
Fireheart asks Brackenfur and Whitestorm to watch over Bramblepaw, Tawnypaw, and Darkstripe.
He tells Bluestar about the pack, and she agrees to lead the fleeing cats to Sunningrocks.
Fireheart stations the warriors and apprentices at different positions.
The first in the line are Ashpaw and Fernpaw; next are Sandstorm, Longtail, Dustpelt, Mousefur, and Graystripe.
Fireheart goes to the steepest part of the gorge himself, taking over the final stretch.
The dogs do not come, and Fireheart wonders why it is taking so long.
Eventually, he hears barking, and Graystripe appears, chased by the pack leader.
He runs toward the gorge in his turn, but Tigerstar appears and leaps on him.
Tigerstar holds down Fireheart until the pack leader catches up, then flees.
The pack leader grabs Fireheart by his scruff and shakes him.
Bluestar comes out of nowhere and drives the leader down the gorge, but she falls over as well.
The pack leader and two other dogs drown, while the rest of the pack scatters.
Fireheart jumps down to save Bluestar, but cannot drag her out of the water.
Mistyfoot and Stonefur save Fireheart and Bluestar.
Graystripe and Tigerstar show up as well.
Mistyfoot and Stonefur recognize Bluestar as their mother and forgive her.
Bluestar reconciles with StarClan.
She names Fireheart as her successor, revealing the meaning of the prophecy , "fire will save the Clan."
Bluestar dies, and Fireheart now has leadership rights over ThunderClan.
End of spoiler warning