Onestar's Confession

"Onestar, your biggest flaw was trying to cover up mistakes with lies. Do you realize that? [...] You wanted to solve problems yourself. And sometimes that was admirable. But the way you went about it, you often ended up creating bigger problems. And when they had to be dealt with...it left the other Clans wondering if they could trust you."

— Firestar to Onestar about his behavior in Onestar's Confession, comic

Onestar's Confession
General
Author:	Cherith Baldry
Cover artist:	Owen Richardson
Jacket designer:	Ellice M. Lee
Interior artist:	Owen Richardson
Audiobook narrator:	Lillie Ricciardi
Details
Publish date:	6 September 2022
Identification:	ISBN 9780063050488
Editions:	Hardcover, paperback, audiobook, e-book, audio CD
Summary
Onestar's secret is forced to come to fruition when his son seeks retribution on the Clans.
Resources
Chapter subpages
Chronology
Preceded by:	Redtail's Debt
Concurrent with:	The New Prophecy, Winds of Change, Crowfeather's Trial, The Apprentice's Quest, Thunder and Shadow, Shattered Sky
Followed by:	Darkest Night

Onestar's Confession is the fifteenth book in the Super Editions.

Dedication

Special thanks to Cherith Baldry

Blurb

An epic stand-alone adventure in Erin Hunter’s #1 nationally bestselling Warriors series!

In this Super Edition, follow the journey of WindClan’s Onestar, destined to lead his Clan through battle, hardship, and the long journey to the lake territories—and pay the price of the checkered legacy he left behind.

As a young WindClan warrior, Onewhisker never thought he would one day become Clan leader. But when he is unexpectedly chosen by Tallstar as his successor, Onestar must learn to guide his Clanmates through the hardships of forging a new life in unknown territory—and face the deadly consequences of a mistake he tried to bury in the past.

Join the legion of fans who have discovered the epic adventures, fierce warrior cats, and the thrilling fantasy world of the mega-bestselling Warriors series. This stand-alone entry is perfect for new readers and dedicated fans alike.

Onestar's Confession also includes an exclusive ten-page Warriors manga adventure!

Detailed plot description

Onestar kills his son Darktail and regrets that it came to this. Everything fades away, and both Onestar and Darktail wake up in a spiritual moorland. While Darktail disappears, Tallstar greets Onestar, explaining it is not clear yet if Onestar will go to StarClan, so he must wait until the decision is made. Onestar decides to think back over his life.

Onestar recalls back to his apprenticeship days when he trained under Deadfoot, the Clan deputy. Deadfoot, Mudclaw, Onepaw, and his mother Wrenflight encounter a kittypet named Bailey and her two kits Melody and Leo in their territory. After Bailey helps them defeat a badger, she asks if her kits can join WindClan. Tallstar agrees to test the idea and names the two young kittypets apprentices, Tansypaw and Brushpaw. While Tansypaw isn't too thrilled at being an apprentice, Brushpaw thoroughly enjoys it. Despite this, they miss the Twolegplace, and Brushpaw, Tansypaw, Onepaw and his littermates Morningpaw and Ashpaw repeatedly sneak there. Onepaw especially enjoys sharing his dramatized heroic tales to the eager kittypets, especially to the pretty gray she-cat Smoke.

During the apprentices' warrior assessments, Onepaw and his sisters pass, earning the names Onewhisker, Ashfoot, and Morningflower. Tallstar is prepared to dismiss Tansypaw and Brushpaw for failing their assessments when Brushpaw promises he'll pass next time. While Brushpaw and Bailey stay, Tansypaw is more than happy to return to her Twolegs. Later, while patrolling near Fourtrees, Mudclaw, Ashfoot, Onewhisker, and Brushpaw encounter a ShadowClan patrol feasting upon a rabbit on their territory. During the battle, Finchflight mortally wounds Brushpaw, who later dies from his wounds. Onewhisker accompanies Bailey back to her housefolk, and Smoke comforts Onewhisker.

Seasons later, Onewhisker helps look for Ashfoot's missing son Crowpaw, and after losing his scent by Highstones, Onewhisker decides to check the Twolegplace and he spends more time with Smoke. While hunting with his close friend and former apprentice Whitetail, Onewhisker wonders if she has feelings for him. Several of their Clanmates fall sick and die from poisoned rabbits, including Runningbrook and Whitetail's mother Sorrelshine. Whitetail confesses her feelings to Onewhisker and he realizes just how amazing she is and that she's the cat meant for him. Onewhisker visits Smoke to break ties with her, much to her anger. From now on, Onewhisker decides to focus on his Clan and decides to not visit the Twolegplace again. Onewhisker's father Stagleap later dies from an infected rat bite and Tallstar loses a life from hunger, insisting the rest of his Clan should eat first during the hard times.

Smoke tries to find him a couple times in WindClan territory, and when he finally meets with her, she reveals that she's expecting his kits. She wants them to be raised in WindClan, but he refuses—partly because of the danger in the forest with the Twolegs encroaching on their land, and partly because he doesn't want Whitetail and the rest of his Clan to learn his connection with her. Smoke and Onewhisker part ways and Smoke suddenly goes into labor, giving birth to their only surviving son. Onewhisker visits Smoke and meets his son. Desperate to find prey, the starving WindClan begins to hunt in the other Clans' territories, and they move camps when Twolegs dangerously approach theirs. Crowpaw returns to the forest, and after Tallstar goes to the Moonstone to share with StarClan, Crowpaw tells his story: he and the other journeying cats went to speak to a badger to learn that the forest is going to be destroyed, and they'll have to leave to find a new home.

Twoleg monsters destroy WindClan's new camp, and so WindClan goes to ThunderClan for help. While there, Tawnypelt of ShadowClan reports that their camp is about to be destroyed too, so the Clans rush to help ShadowClan. As they scramble to get all the cats out of the camp, Firestar knocks Onewhisker out of the way of a falling tree, losing a life himself. The Clans all know that they cannot stay in their home, so they agree to leave together at dawn. That night, Smoke brings their son—whom she reveals she's named Darkkit—to Onewhisker, begging him again to take in their kit, since her Twoleg has died and they'll likely be separated. Smoke sees Whitetail and threatens to tell the whole Clan, but Onewhisker makes a hasty promise that once the Clan finds their new home, he'll come back for Smoke and Darkkit. Smoke agrees, but warns that if he breaks his promise, she'll raise Darkkit to hate him and the Clans.

During the journey, Tallstar confides in Onewhisker that Mudclaw's leadership may not be what WindClan needs. The Tribe of Rushing Water welcomes the four Clans into their cavern to rest. Onewhisker suggests that Tallstar give Crowpaw his warrior name; Tallstar agrees and they hold the warrior ceremony, where the young cat chooses his own warrior name, Crowfeather in memory of Feathertail. Immediately after the ceremony, the Tribe's healer Stoneteller summons Onewhisker to his den, the Cave of Pointed Stones. He tells Onewhisker that the Tribe of Endless Hunting has said that there is something Onewhisker must do and he will know when it comes hunting him.

The Clans finally arrive at their new home around a lake. Tallstar is very weak, and Onewhisker is upset at how Mudclaw is acting like he's already Clan leader. That night, Barkface fetches Onewhisker; Tallstar is dying and has asked for him. To Onewhisker's shock, with his dying breaths, Tallstar renames him deputy of WindClan so that he will become leader instead of Mudclaw. After the announcement to the Clans, Mudclaw rejects the offer to remain deputy, so Onewhisker appoints his littermate Ashfoot. The Clan settles into their new camp and territory, but they still haven't found a replacement Moonstone for Onewhisker to receive his nine lives. The day after he gives some territory to ThunderClan, Mudclaw speaks to him in private, asking if he really thinks he'd be the better leader of the Clan, and when Onewhisker points out that it doesn't matter because Tallstar chose him, Mudclaw threatens to challenge him for leadership.

A few days later, Leafpaw of ThunderClan visits and reports that StarClan has guided her to the Moonpool, and they decide that Onewhisker will go there in a few days to receive his nine lives. Before this can happen, Mudclaw makes his move: he and several other cats attack the camp. A ThunderClan patrol arrives to help Onewhisker, and they successfully defeat the rebels, though Onewhisker is frustrated that he's too weak to chase after Mudclaw himself. They go after Mudclaw and Hawkfrost, and arrive in time to see lightning striking a tree, crushing Mudclaw. Onewhisker's leadership is now secure, and Onewhisker vows to be the leader his Clan needs. Onewhisker receives his nine lives at the Moonpool from Tallstar, his father Stagleap, his mother Wrenflight, Whitetail's mother Sorrelshine, Brushpaw, Windstar, Gorsestar, his former apprentice Gorsepaw, and Mudclaw.

Two Gatherings later, Ashfoot advises Onestar that he may still need to prove to some of their Clanmates that their Clan matters more than his friendship with Firestar. He gets annoyed at the Gathering that RiverClan and ShadowClan are thanking Firestar for ThunderClan's help, and he starts to challenge how the Clans should be separate. Firestar speaks to him, hoping they can still be friends, but Onestar's priority is to keep his Clan safe. Seasons later, Whitetail gives birth to their kits, Galekit and Heatherkit, though Galekit is stillborn. Their birth, along with a conversation with Crowfeather who was thinking about Leafpool and had tried to visit her, make Onestar think of Smoke and Darkkit. Firestar visits to congratulate him and bring herbs for Whitetail, though Onestar dismisses him. At the next Gathering, Firestar is unhappy that Onestar doesn't punish Crowfeather for trespassing; Onestar insists that WindClan is his own business and that he doesn't need ThunderClan's help.

Many seasons later, a moon after the Great Battle, the Clan's been having trouble with stoats living in the tunnels, and Onestar's new deputy Harespring suggests asking for ThunderClan's help since their new leader Bramblestar had offered, but Onestar refuses to accept ThunderClan meddling in his Clan's business. A comment about being a father reminds him of Smoke and Darkkit, and he has a nightmare about a full-grown Darkkit before being awakened by stoats attacking the camp. He loses a life during the battle, and Tallstar warns him that the dream he was having is a taste of what's to come.

A moon later after defeating the stoats with ThunderClan's help, Onestar decides that it's time to face his past. Telling his Clan that he's going to the Moonpool, he heads back toward the old forest. In the mountains, he is found by the Tribe's new Stoneteller, the cave-guard formerly known as Crag. Stoneteller warns him that a darkness is approaching the Clans, and that Onestar is pulling that darkness to them. He can stop it, but it will cost him dearly. Onestar finally reaches the old territories and the Twolegplace he used to visit. From a local kittypet named Snowflake, he learns that Darkkit is now called Darktail and he killed another kittypet named Dudley. Melody tells Onestar that Smoke and Darktail lived with another Twoleg, but Darktail developed a cruel streak as he grew up. After he killed another kittypet and attacked their Twoleg's kit, Smoke knew he'd be in trouble and they left. While living as strays, Smoke was killed by a Twoleg monster. Melody doesn't know where Darktail is now, and Onestar knows he'll never forgive himself for breaking his promise with Smoke and Darktail.

Seasons later, Onestar assumes Darktail is long gone and will never find the Clans. Onestar's granddaughter—coincidentally named Smokekit—goes missing, but they quickly locate her. Smokekit explains something with white fur had attacked her, and Onestar suspects it was Darktail, though insists to his Clanmates that it was the stoats again. When a branch nearly falls on him, with a flash of white up in the tree, he's even more certain. He visits the Moonpool for advice, only to get a cryptic response from Tallstar. When Onestar returns to camp, he learns Fernpaw had been attacked and Onestar suspects Darktail is toying with him and resolves to meet him head-on. The next day, Onestar and his patrol encounter Darktail and his rogues by the ThunderClan border. Onestar brings him aside, and Darktail reveals that he blames Onestar for Smoke's death and intends to hurt every cat Onestar loves in revenge. Furzepelt attacks Darktail when she hears him threaten her leader's life. Darktail and his rogues flee when ThunderClan arrives to help, but Onestar loses this second-to-last life and Furzepelt dies. Fearful of Darktail taking his last life, Onestar steps up his Clan's patrols and camp guard duties.

At the next Gathering, Rowanstar reports that the rogues have settled near his territory and several ShadowClan cats joined them. Onestar is furious at this, even more so when the other Clans refuse to immediately drive out the rogues. About a half moon later, a few ShadowClan cats come to ask for herbs since their Clanmates are sick with yellowcough, but Onestar refuses to help while the threat of Darktail is not dealt with. Not even when the entire Gathering is furious at him for his inaction, not even when his own Clanmates, including Heathertail and Kestrelflight his medicine cat, begin to lose respect for him. ShadowClan eventually recovers, but only because Harespring and Kestrelflight went behind Onestar's back and provided the herbs ShadowClan needed. Rowanstar reports that Darktail has completely taken over ShadowClan, and the four Clans decide to fight.

During the battle a moon later, Onestar confronts Darktail, but then Darktail whispers that he'd likely end up in the Dark Forest for rejecting and then killing his son. Onestar panics at this and frantically calls for his Clan to retreat. Harespring questions him for abandoning the other Clans, though Onestar insists as leader he has to make difficult decisions. While the Clan leaders argue with Onestar at the Gathering, StarClan sends clouds to cover the moon. Onestar, growing more furious and paranoid about Darktail, decides to close his borders. Despite this, Bramblestar brings a patrol to Onestar to tell him that there was a fifth Clan called SkyClan that Firestar had long ago rebuilt, and that Darktail had driven them out of their home. Despite Onestar feeling guilty that his son had harmed even more cats, Onestar angrily sends Bramblestar away.

Onestar dreams of Smoke and apologizes for what he'd done to her and Darktail. Later that day, Curlfeather and her mother Duskfur arrive wounded with news of Darktail and his Kin taking over RiverClan. Onestar feels compelled by their conviction to help defeat Darktail. Darktail and his Kin later attack WindClan's camp at dawn but they are saved by the arrival of ThunderClan and SkyClan. Darktail leaves, but not before revealing to WindClan that he has a history with Onestar. Onestar finally decides that it's time to tell the Clans the truth. He tells his story to the other leaders and vows that he and WindClan will help drive off Darktail once and for all.

Whitetail and Heathertail speak to Onestar afterward, and he tells them he's at peace with the possibility that he may die the following day. The Clans confront Darktail and his Kin in battle, each one using their special skills. As the storm breaks, Onestar and Darktail fight once more, and their fight takes them into the lake. Onestar originally regrets that he has to kill Darktail and lose his own life in the process, but he knows he must be the one to defeat Darktail and save the Clans. As Onestar drags Darktail down into the depths, he recalls his life and has glimpses of WindClan's future. Back in StarClan, Tallstar returns and asks Onestar if he's reflected on his life. Onestar says he has, and that although he's made mistakes, he's tried to atone for them. Tallstar tells him that because of this, he has earned his place in StarClan where he belongs.

The next day after joining StarClan, Firestar comes to visit Onestar. Onestar confesses that he still doesn't know if he should be there. Firestar agrees that Onestar made mistakes, but reassures him that he did good too. As they walk, Firestar tells Onestar he's had a vision of a thick mist falling over the territories with a faint light peering through. There'll be trouble coming, and the Clans need strong leadership for that, so it's time for Onestar to give Harespring one of his nine lives. Onestar grants Harespring a life for honesty to always speak the truth, reminding Harestar to always put his Clan first.

Trivia

Interesting facts

• Fans were able to vote on the color choice for the cover on the Warrior Cats website. The blue cover ultimately won the vote. Fans were also able to vote on the audiobook narrator, with Lillie Ricciardi as the winner. MacLeod Andrews is not the audiobook narrator due to scheduling conflicts.

Mistakes

• In the original preview hosted on the Warrior Cats website, Rabbitear's description contained a hyperlink to her wiki page.
• A compiled list of the errors present in Onestar's Confession can be found here.

Publication history

• Onestar's Confession (EN), HarperCollins (hardcover), 6 September 2022
• Onestar's Confession (EN), HarperCollins (e-book), 6 September 2022
• Onestar's Confession (EN), HarperCollins (library), 6 September 2022
• Onestar's Confession (EN), HarperAudio (audiobook), 6 September 2022
• Onestar's Confession (EN), HarperCollins B and Blackstone Publishing (audio cd), 6 September 2022
• Onestar's Confession (EN), HarperCollins (paperback), 5 September 2023

Gallery

US covers

English Language Edition
Released in North America & United Kingdom

English Language Edition
Textless Cover

English Language Edition
Front Flap

English Language Edition
Back Flap

Alternate English Language Edition
Was never released

English Audiobook Edition
Released in North America & United Kingdom

Foreign covers

German Language Edition
Released in Germany & Austria

External links

• Choose a cover - Super Edition 2022 on the Warriors official website (screenshot)
• Fan vote! Choose a narrator for Onestar's Confession audiobook on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• Exclusive! Onestar's Confession: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• New Release: Onestar's Confession on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• Onestar's Confession on the Warriors official website (backup link)