Fire (SF)

"Soon this whole, desolate place will be filled with [snowdrops]—little spots of pure white, like a sea of stars. [...] Renewal. Rebirth."

— Galestar's new sense of hope after the fire in StormClan's Folly, page 101

StormClan's fire
General information
Book	StormClan's Folly
Timeframe	Greenleaf
Place	The forest territories
Outcome	The ThunderClan camp is destroyed by the fire and StormClan moves to WindClan's old camp StormClan leaves the forest
Participants
Key characters	Galestar, Stripestar
Affiliations involved	ThunderClan WindClan
Chronology
Preceded by:	Destruction of the SkyClan forest territory
Followed by:	StormClan's journey

StormClan's fire took place in StormClan's Folly and destroyed StormClan's territory, which had previously been ThunderClan's territory. Following its failure to rebuild and the refusal of ShadowClan and RiverClan to help, StormClan leaves the forest.

Summary

Premise

"WindClan is no more. ThunderClan is no more. We have joined together. We are now one Clan. A new Clan. StormClan."

―Galestar announcing StormClan's formation at the Gathering ^{StormClan's Folly, page 79}

Thunderstar and the other founders disapprove of StormClan's formation. Despite this, Galestar and Stripestar proceed with their plan, moving into ThunderClan's territory

Following a battle between ThunderClan and WindClan, resulting in the death of Stripestar's mate, Fogdrift, he and Galestar ally their Clans to defeat RiverClan and take Sunningrocks. This alliance infuriates ShadowClan and RiverClan, who notice how close Stripestar and Galestar are becoming. Stripestar and Galestar meet in secrecy, and they end up becoming mates, with Galestar expecting kits. As a result, they join WindClan and ThunderClan together into one Clan, StormClan. Despite StarClan's disapproval and the loss of their nine lives, as well as the other Clans' upset, StormClan remains together and moves into ThunderClan's territory.

Overview

"I'm beginning to think we've made a mistake. When I saw the snowdrops blossoming here, I thought it might have been some kind of...message. But now... Now it seems like the camp is beyond salvaging. Perhaps we've come back too soon."

―Galestar to Stripestar about StormClan's struggles in rebuilding ^{StormClan's Folly, page 104}

While Galestar is resting in the nursery and Kestrelwing is tending to her, the two cats smell smoke. Finding out that a fire is raging in the forest, Galestar attempts to round up the terrified Clan to go to WindClan's old camp, but learns that Stripestar has ordered the Clan to go to the river. The Clan ends up heading to the moor, though on the way out of camp, Galestar is struck in the flank by a branch. She ends up falling into labor and giving birth, though her kittens are stillborn. StormClan moves to WindClan's old camp, where arguments fester. Visiting the ThunderClan territory, Galestar finds hope in the blooming of snowdrops.

The Clan attempts to rebuild in ThunderClan's territory again but finds it difficult, and they suffer from lack of prey due to the fire. Galestar and Stripestar visit Snakestar and Birchstar, respectively, to ask for help, but both leaders refuse. Disgruntled and worried for their Clan, Galestar and Stripestar make the decision to lead StormClan to a new home. While a few cats stay behind, many StormClan cats set off on a journey to find their new territory.

Description

Fleeing the fire

"I'm a leader of StormClan. And I intend to lead it. We'll head to the old WindClan camp. We'll be safe there, out of the forest."

―Galestar taking charge during the fire ^{StormClan's Folly, page 90}

Kestrelwing checks on Galestar in the nursery, giving her herbs and informing her of StormClan's condition, including the lack of prey and the potential for a retaliatory alliance between ShadowClan and RiverClan. As he is reassuring her about her pregnancy pains, the two cats suddenly smell smoke, and an apprentice rushes in to warn them that Twolegs have caused a fire in the forest. Despite her pregnancy and Kestrelwing's warnings, Galestar feels determined to lead her Clan, and she leaves the nursery to find StormClan in a panic and the fire nearby. She orders a couple of warriors to go to the moor, but they argue that Stripestar has told every cat to go to the river. Amidst the chaos, Galestar is unable to find her mate, until he suddenly bursts into the camp. He reports that the fire has spread beyond the river, and Galestar says that they should go to the moor instead.

StormClan leaves the camp, with Galestar supported by Pebblenose and Stripestar. Some cat calls a warning, and Galestar is unable to stop in time before a rotten branch falls, puncturing her flank. She feels dizzy as the Clan carries on, until agony strikes, and she realizes that she is kitting. StormClan stops while the medicine cats tend to her, trying to help her with her kitting. She overhears Kestrelwing telling Stripestar that the kits are coming too soon. Her pain causes her to pass out, and she wakes to Kestrelwing's voice. Stripestar tells her that their kits were stillborn, and once Galestar recovers from the birth, he guides her to see them. Galestar worries about how the kits had been the one thing to bring StormClan together. Some cat interprets the kits' deaths as a punishment from StarClan, and Galestar puts an end to a brewing argument.

Rebuilding and asking for help

"Forgive me, Stripestar. I was young once. I know what it is to love, and I wish no ill on you or on the cats who have followed you. But I can only tell you what I told you before, at the Gathering. You and Galestar are making a terrible mistake. I will not indulge your foolishness in forging a new Clan, and I will not go against the wishes of StarClan. [...] We warned you against taking this path, Stripestar. Now look what has happened! It is for you to face the consequences―you and Galestar. And this time, may StarClan guide your paws."

―Birchstar's warning to Stripestar ^{StormClan's Folly, page 109}

A quarter moon after the fire, StormClan has settled in the old WindClan camp, where arguments spring up as tension rises between the ThunderClan and WindClan cats. Frustrated with the neverending conflict, Galestar sneaks out of camp, reflecting on how well she has physically recovered from her kitting. She reaches the ThunderClan camp, and she is dismayed by the devastation that she sees. However, she gains a new sense of hope upon finding a snowdrop and noticing more blooming around the camp, and she heads back to StormClan with a fresh resolve to ensure that StormClan works together.

StormClan moves back to the ThunderClan camp and attempts to rebuild, but their efforts are useless, and arguments rage on. Galestar seems to feel hopeless that they can save the camp, and Stripestar realizes that, with the lack of prey as well, things will not work out as they are. He suggests that they ask Snakestar and Birchstar for help, though Galestar is doubtful that they will share prey. Galestar speaks with Snakestar while Stripestar travels to RiverClan to see Birchstar. The RiverClan patrol that he meets mocks him, but they take him to visit their leader. Birchstar, however, is unimpressed by Stripestar's gall to request help from her Clan, and she turns him away, warning him that he and Galestar have made a mistake and now must face the consequences.

Galestar and Stripestar's decision

«The dream is alive...»

—Stripestar's thoughts about leaving the forest ^{StormClan's Folly, page 113}

Galestar and Stripestar discuss ShadowClan and RiverClan's refusal to help them with prey, and Galestar mentions that she had threatened Snakestar that StormClan would leave the forest entirely. Stripestar is inspired by her idea, reminding her of when they had dreamed of leaving as apprentices. The two mates agree to lead StormClan away from the forest, deciding to present the idea to the Clan the next day. The day after Galestar and Stripestar tell StormClan their plan is the day that they intend to leave. Galestar is confronted by her sister, Crowflight, who is distraught by Galestar's plot to leave and wants to stay. She feels that Galestar is betraying the promise they had made to their mother, Ripplegrass, to always stick together, but Galestar insists that it is unsafe to stay after the fire. The two sisters each remain firm in their respective decisions. Soon after, StormClan prepares to leave, with some cats having chosen to stay behind. Both sides offer their final goodbyes, upset at having to divide. Galestar attempts to help Fawnpelt reassure her kits that they will be okay staying behind, but the kits resent her. With one last, sorrowful goodbye to Crowflight, Galestar leads StormClan on their journey to find a new home.

Deaths

• Galestar's stillborn kits

Aftermath

"Listen. I understand how difficult this journey has been. How painful. We feel that pain too, I promise you. But what you are suggesting...is it even possible? You know why we left the forest in the first place. You know how hard it was, after the fire, when they prey left."

―Galestar arguing against returning to the forest ^{StormClan's Folly, page 287}

The fierce storm at the sun-drown-place forces StormClan to escape, losing Galestar and her kits

After saying its goodbyes, StormClan heads out on its journey. Despite Galestar's and Stripestar's excitement and enthusiasm for a new start, their decision proves perilous, as they lose Kestrelwing to a Thunderpath, Rosebush to the mountains, Mudsplash to a mink, and Huntheart and Fernwhisper's young daughter, Rainkit, to a hawk. These brutal losses prove too much for many cats, such as Petalstep, who leaves to become a kittypet after Kestrelwing's death, Pebblenose and Thrushcall, who choose to stay with the Tribe of Rushing Water, and Fernwhisper and Huntheart, who abandon StormClan with their remaining kits after losing Rainkit. StormClan struggles to find a new home, with each new camp proving to be dangerous or too difficult to survive in.

Desperate to keep StormClan together and to help their dream stay alive, Galestar and Stripestar encourage their cats to stay with them. The fire in ThunderClan's territory is used to do this, with Galestar trying to discourage Petalstep from leaving by reminding her that there had been no prey due to the fire in the forest, to which Petalstep points out that WindClan territory had been fine. Some cats' faith in the idea of StormClan wavers as a result of the fire and the succeeding tragedies. When StormClan decides that it has had enough and wants to go back home, Galestar and Stripestar again use the fire to justify continuing onward, but are unsuccessful in persuading their Clanmates. After StormClan's final hope at the sun-drown-place fails and Galestar and her kits are lost, ThunderClan and WindClan return home at last, where the forest has recovered, claimed by RiverClan. ThunderClan reclaims and rebuilds its former territory with Whitestar in the lead.

Characters

Galestar

"[Snakestar] told me that we must be too busy gazing into each other's eyes to lead the Clan properly. So I told him we were done with him, and ShadowClan, and RiverClan...all of them. I told him if they weren't going to help us, we'd leave the forest for good."

―Galestar's threat toward Snakestar ^{StormClan's Folly, page 110}

Galestar determinedly leads her Clan to safety during the fire

Galestar is the leader of WindClan and one of the leaders of StormClan alongside her mate, Stripestar. Despite the disapproval of StarClan, ShadowClan, and RiverClan, she and Stripestar combine WindClan and ThunderClan into one Clan, StormClan, though Galestar feels some doubt and distress in the face of the other Clans' hostility. She is hopeful for the arrival of her kits, plagued by stabbing pains in her flank throughout her pregnancy, but frustrated that she cannot help StormClan settle into ThunderClan's territory. Her resentment toward ShadowClan and RiverClan is empowered by Kestrelwing's suggestion that Birchstar and Snakestar may ally their Clans to protect themselves against StormClan, and she worries about the lack of prey.

When she and Kestrelwing find that a fire is raging through the territory, Galestar takes her position as leader seriously and works hard to save her Clan, despite Kestrelwing's and Pebblenose's warnings about her health. She sends the Clan to the moor, but along the way, she is struck in the flank by a rotten branch. Shortly after, she falls into labor and ends up giving birth to stillborn kits, and the loss crushes her. She feels further agitated by the constant arguments in the WindClan camp, and only finds solace and hope when she finds snowdrops blossoming in the scorched ThunderClan camp.

When StormClan returns to the ThunderClan camp, spurned by Galestar's newfound determination, they fail to rebuild as the territory is severely damaged, and the arguments continue. Noting that there is not enough food, Galestar and Stripestar appeal to Snakestar and Birchstar for help, but find no sympathy from them. Galestar tells Stripestar that she had snapped at Snakestar that StormClan would leave the forest, inspiring her mate to make their dream a reality. Determined to protect and save her Clan, even when confronted with her sister's feelings of betrayal, Galestar joins Stripestar in leading StormClan to a new home.

Stripestar

"This isn't working. We have to try something different. [...] You won't like it. I don't either. But I think it's time we...asked for help. [...] The Clan needs to eat. [...] Still, we have a Clan to feed—a huge Clan. There's no getting around it, Galestar. We have to swallow our pride. We have to do what's best for StormClan."

―Stripestar suggesting that he and Galestar get help from Snakestar and Birchstar ^{StormClan's Folly, pages 105-106}

With ThunderClan's territory destroyed by the fire, Stripestar finds a chance to satisfy his hunger for adventure by leading StormClan to a new home

Stripestar is the leader of ThunderClan who, along with his mate, Galestar, forms StormClan. In the face of anger from StarClan, ShadowClan, and RiverClan, Stripestar remains steadfast in his and Galestar's decision to establish StormClan, standing up to the other leaders and reassuring his distraught mate. He and Galestar choose to settle StormClan in ThunderClan's territory, but before they can become comfortable, a fire savages the land. During the fire, Galestar struggles to find Stripestar, feeling agitated that he has given the order to go to the river. When he returns to camp, he reports that the fire has already reached beyond the river. He agrees with Galestar's plan to go to the moor, and he supports her as StormClan flees. When Galestar abruptly begins kitting, Stripestar gathers the medicine cats to help her, and after Galestar wakes, they mourn the loss of their kits together. Stripestar tends to Galestar, seeming relieved when she appears more hopeful following her discovery of snowdrops in ThunderClan's old camp.

In ThunderClan's camp, Stripestar tries to help StormClan rebuild, encouraging them, but their efforts prove fruitless. Realizing the grim situation StormClan has found itself in, with a destroyed territory, endless infighting, and little prey, Stripestar suggests that he and Galestar turn to the other Clans for help. Stripestar travels to visit Birchstar, but she meets him with scorn; though she soon displays understanding, she refuses to help StormClan, believing that Stripestar and Galestar have made their choice and now must face the consequences themselves. Upon his return home, Galestar tells Stripestar that she had threatened Snakestar, telling him that StormClan would leave the forest. Stripestar is delighted by the idea, relishing the opportunity to make their dream as apprentices come true, and he and Galestar decide to leave. With a final goodbye to their siblings and those who choose to stay behind, Stripestar and Galestar lead StormClan on their journey to their new home.

Quotes

"Fire! Twolegs were burning something, and the trees caught fire! It's spreading, getting closer! We have to escape!"

―The apprentice warning Galestar about the approaching fire ^{StormClan's Folly, page 89}

Pebblenose: "Galestar, please... Think of your kits! We can handle this. You mustn't push yourself too hard, or—"

Galestar: "Mustn't push myself? Our camp is about to burn to the ground! And where in all of Silverpelt is Stripestar?"

^{StormClan's Folly, page 91}

«Have to be...strong... [...] This is it. This is where my kits will be born. [...] Is it really supposed to hurt this much? [...] I have to show courage. I have to show them how their leader gives birth.»

—Galestar's thoughts about her kitting ^{StormClan's Folly, pages 94-95}

«[Galestar] crept down the slope into the hollow, without quite knowing why. It was a dreadful place. Everything here was blackened and burned and dead. Except... Galestar squinted, crawling closer as she spotted something amid the destruction. There! Poking up from among the ashes was a single white-petaled flower. A snowdrop, hanging its head. And once she had noticed it, Galestar spotted other little green shoots here and there, peeking up amid the destruction, still yet to bloom. She stood there, quivering, overcome with emotion. Soon this whole, desolate place will be filled with them—little spots of pure white, like a sea of stars. It made her think of the long, glorious evenings she had spent with Stripestar in the early days, sharing prey and gazing up at the night sky in wonder. And, like the snowdrop, hope flowered suddenly in the charred remains on her heart. Renewal. Rebirth. Perhaps this wasn't the end. Perhaps it wasn't too late for StormClan. Perhaps they could start again.»

—Galestar's newfound hope ^{StormClan's Folly, page 101}

Birchstar: "[...] StormClan needs no help from any cat, surely. You've already turned your backs on StarClan, so what use could RiverClan be to you? Unless...have you come to return our rightful territory to us—Sunningrocks?"

Stripestar: "As it happens, StormClan does need the help of RiverClan. The fire that Twolegs set, that swept through the forest...it destroyed our camp. It drove all our prey away. We are certain the prey will return. StormClan will recover. But until that happens..."

^{StormClan's Folly, pages 108-109}

Stripestar: "But this is a real crisis! That's the whole point. And here we are, trying to face it on our own, while [Snakestar and Birchstar] refuse to give us any help at all!"

Galestar: "That's what I thought too. But I didn't say anything to Pinebrush, because...well, I've been thinking about it ever since. And even if I didn't mean it at the time, I'm starting to wonder if..."

^{StormClan's Folly, page 111}

See also

• StormClan's Folly
• StormClan's Folly Cliffnotes