Journey from the city

"I was alone when I left ShadowClan, but I will return with Clanmates, both new and old. And ShadowClan needs warriors more than ever." He felt the tug of home like a claw in his belly. I am coming, Rowanstar. His father needed him. [...] When he returned to ShadowClan, he would bring with him enough cats to make the Clan strong once more. He lifted his face to the rising sun. You'll be proud of me, Rowanstar, I promise. Just hold on until I reach you."

— Tigerheart's thoughts about his journey home in Tigerheart's Shadow, page 373

Journey from the city
General information
Book	Tigerheart's Shadow, River of Fire
Locations	The city to the lake territories
Duration	Leaf-bare; approximately two moons
Participants	Tigerheart's patrol; Tigerheart, Dovewing, Shadowkit, Lightkit, Pouncekit, Spire, Blaze, Cinnamon, Ant, Slatefur, Cloverfoot, Sparrowtail, Berryheart, Sunkit, Spirekit, & Hollowkit
Outcome	Spire is killed falling off a drawbridge Tigerheart is killed by an owl but is later revived and becomes Tigerstar Tigerheart's patrol joins ShadowClan ShadowClan is restored under Tigerstar
Chronology
Preceded by:	The Kin's campaign
Concurrent:	Watermint shortage, Fire, Fall of ShadowClan, Battle for the stolen kits
Followed by:	ShadowClan-SkyClan conflict

The journey from the city takes place in Tigerheart's Shadow and River of Fire, where Tigerheart, his family, and a few members of the guardian cats leave the city to return to the lake territories. They reunited with four lost members of ShadowClan, and eventually Tigerheart is revived by StarClan to restore ShadowClan from being lost.

Summary

Premise

«This was the only world his kits knew. They'd never seen forests and streams and real prey. He wondered how long it would before Dovewing agreed that they were old enough to make the journey home. By the time they reached the lake, would they be able to adjust to warrior life?»

—Tigerheart's thoughts about his kits ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 193}

Following Darktail's defeat, Dovewing, a ThunderClan warrior, reveals to her mate, Tigerheart, the ShadowClan deputy, that she is expecting kits and she has dreamed of shadows in the nursery and of a huge Twoleg nest with gorse spines stretching into the sky. Dovewing believes her dreams mean that their kits must be born in a faraway Twolegplace, and she asks Tigerheart to join her. However, Tigerheart struggles with keeping his Clan together following Darktail's reign. Tigerheart fails to meet up with her three days later, especially when Puddleshine dreams of Tigerheart's shadow keeping ShadowClan strong. However, Tigerheart decides to leave after Puddleshine receives another dream about Tigerheart's strong shadow, misinterpreting it that he's standing in the way of his father Rowanstar's leadership.

Tigerheart followed Dovewing's trail away from the lake territories and followed the path of a Thundersnake towards the large Twolegplace. After several days of travel, Tigerheart arrives in the big Twolegplace and eventually finds the gorse-spined Twoleg nest described by Dovewing's dreams. He meets the guardian cats, a group of healers living in the basement of the gathering place. Their kits are eventually born—Shadowkit, Lightkit, and Pouncekit, and Tigerheart and his family spend two moons living with the guardian cats, helping them defeat foxes and dealing with Fog's group. However, Tigerheart longs to return to the lake so his kits can grow up in the Clans, though he and Dovewing disagree which Clan they should return to.

Overview

"I was living in a huge Twolegplace with Tigerheart and our kits. That's where we met Ant, Cinnamon, and Blaze. But in the end, we knew we wanted to return. And on our way back we found Berryheart and the others."

―Dovewing to Violetshine about their journey ^{River of Fire, page 252}

While living with the guardian cats, Spire, one of the healers, interprets visions from StarClan about how Tigerheart should return to ShadowClan. When their kits are two moons old, Tigerheart convinces Dovewing that he needs to return to ShadowClan, and she agrees to go with him. Four guardian cats—Spire, his protégé Blaze, Cinnamon, and Ant—volunteer to go with them. Tigerheart leads them to the station, and the station cat Dash leads them through the Silverpath tunnel out of the city.

Half a moon later, Spire insists they must abandon the Silverpath to search for the orange sun. Spire's vision leads them to discover Cloverfoot, Slatefur, Sparrowtail, and Berryheart, who is expecting Sparrowtail's kits. The lost ShadowClan warriors agree to join Tigerheart's patrol to return to ShadowClan. While leading the group over a drawbridge, Spire falls to his death saving Pouncekit when the bridge separates. Tigerheart honors his spirit by naming him Spiresight. Berryheart gives birth to her kits—Hollowkit, Sunkit, and Spirekit—that night, and the patrol is forced to set up camp until the kits are strong enough to walk a moon later.

Shadowkit receives a dream of the two-day path to the lake territories, but the night before they are set to leave, an owl narrowly attacks Hollowkit when Tigerheart saves him. The owl drops Tigerheart from a great height, causing fatal internal injuries. The patrol carries him to the lake, but Tigerheart dies from his wounds. Undeterred by his death, the patrol carries his body all the way home and drop him at the Moonpool, where he is revived as Tigerstar with eight additional lives.

Description

Spire's dreams

Dovewing: "You saw the kits yesterday. They climbed a tree by themselves. No one taught them how to climb. They wanted to see more of the world than we have shown them. They are eager for adventure. I think they're ready to make the journey home."

Tigerheart: "Do you mean it?"

^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 294}

Tigerheart receives numerous warnings of Rowanstar's failing leadership during his time away

Shortly before Tigerheart and Dovewing's kits are born, Spire dreams of a tree falling through a shadow, leaving light behind. Tigerheart wonders if the tree was a rowan tree, but Spire doesn't have answers. Two moons later, Spire receives a message from StarClan for Tigerheart: "The shadows are fading. He can't keep them together." Tigerheart interprets it to mean that he must return to ShadowClan. He tells Dovewing that he must leave the following morning, and Dovewing decides that she and their kits will join him, though they still debate on which Clan they will join upon returning. Spire, Blaze, Ant, and Cinnamon decide to join them on their journey.

Traveling along the Silverpath

Dash: "Do you want me to show you which train to get on?"

Dovewing: "We're not taking our kits into the belly of a Thundersnake."

^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 307}

Dash, the station cat, guides Tigerheart and his patrol through the tunnels

Tigerheart leads the group where he originally arrived at the city: the station where the Thundersnakes gathered. He locates Dash, the station cat who helped him navigate the station when he first arrived. Albeit hesitant about the dangers, Dash helps them traverse the busy station until Tigerheart recalls which tunnel he arrived in. Dash guides them through the dark tunnel, and the group hides at the edge of the tunnel when Thundersnakes rush through. By nightfall, the group emerges from the tunnel to the countryside. Dash bids them farewell to return through the tunnel, and Tigerheart and Dovewing plan to resume their journey in the morning.

Finding the orange sun

"We need to leave the track. Here! We must leave it here. This is where we must find the orange sun."

―Spire ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 324}

Spire's vision guides the patrol to find Cloverfoot, Slatefur, Sparrowtail, and Berryheart

Half a moon later, the patrol resumes following the Silverpath when Spire abruptly announces they must leave the Silverpath to find the orange sun. While the others wish to continue following the Silverpath, Blaze advocates that they should listen to Spire. Tigerheart insists they can worry about it in the morning, but he's troubled by Spire's words. In the middle of the night, Spire disappears, and Blaze wakes up the rest of the group in panic. Tigerheart, Dovewing, and Blaze follow his tracks in the frozen ground until they find a large Twoleg nest with a painting of the city and a bright sun on its wall. The group locates Spire encouraging two cats to come with him, and Tigerheart is surprised to see Slatefur, Cloverfoot, Sparrowtail, and Berryheart, the latter of whom is expecting kits. Tigerheart is initially hostile since they betrayed their Clan by siding with Darktail, but they apologize for abandoning their Clan and agree to return to ShadowClan.

The drawbridge

"StarClan knew him. They will be watching. They will know, and once he has his warrior name, he'll be able to walk among them as the warrior he has always been, even though he never had the chance to live as one."

―Tigerheart about giving Spire a warrior name ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 368}

Two days later, Spire saves Lightkit from an incoming Thundersnake on the Silverpath, and he warns that there will be unnecessary death if they continue following it. The healer insists his dreams will show them the way to the lake, and Tigerheart agrees with his plan despite the others' worries. Spire sets a quick pace towards a river and leads the group to cross a Twoleg bridge. However, the bridge splits into two and rises while the group crosses. Pouncekit teeters on the top of the bridge's gap and nearly falls to the river below when Spire darts upward to catch her, dropping her to Dovewing safely below. However, Spire loses his grip and falls to his death. The group searches to no avail for Spire on the riverbank, but soon realize the healer is gone. Tigerheart decides to resume the direction Spire had led them in. That night, Tigerheart resolves to give him a warrior name so StarClan will welcome him, naming him Spiresight. Berryheart kits that same night, giving birth to Sunkit, Hollowkit, and Spirekit, named after Spiresight.

The final stretch

"Stay awake, Tigerheart. We're going to save you. I can't lose you. Not after all we've been through. There's so much left for us to do together. Our future is beside the lake. We always knew that. I won't let that future be snatched away from us now."

―Dovewing to Tigerheart ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 390}

Tigerheart's patrol stays in the area for one moon while Sparrowtail and Berryheart's kits grow. Shadowkit dreams of a way to the lake with only a day or two of travel. Tigerheart brings this news to the rest of the group, and Berryheart agrees to leave in a quarter-moon until her kits are strong enough. However, Shadowkit presses they must leave sooner, but his insistence is brushed to the side. The night before they leave, an owl swoops into their temporary camp to carry off Hollowkit, but Tigerheart shoves the kit to the side and the owl carries him off instead. He slices the owl's belly, and the large bird of prey drops him. Tigerheart wakes up in agony, and Cinnamon concludes he has internal bleeding. He's dying. Dovewing insists he's not dying when they're so close to home, and she and the rest of the patrol carry him until they stop to rest just before the moorland. Tigerheart dreams of his father Rowanstar, now Rowanclaw, in StarClan. He wakes up in a panic and soon dies, his family surrounding him, and he asks Dovewing to take their kits to ThunderClan.

Aftermath

"I left you. But now I've returned. I bring with me cats who will make our Clan strong again. Accept them as I accept you. Give them your loyalty as I give you mine. I am ready to lead you."

―Tigerstar to his Clanmates ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 410}

Undeterred by his death, Dovewing and the rest of the patrol carry his body back to the lake. They reunite with ShadowClan, now part of SkyClan with Rowanclaw's demise, and take Tigerheart's body to the Moonpool per Puddleshine's suggestion. Strikestone and Grassheart hurry to ThunderClan to fetch Hawkwing with news of Tigerheart's death and the others' return. Alderheart, Violetshine, and Hawkwing hurry to meet them, with Leafstar, Frecklewish, and the former ShadowClan cats joining them by waiting below the Moonpool.

In StarClan, Tigerheart reunites with Spiresight, who shows the tabby tom Dovewing, Slatefur, and Sparrowtail carrying his corpse back to the Clans. Spiresight insists it's not Tigerheart's time to die and he can go back. Tigerheart realizes he's right, and his vision morphs to a craggy outcrop . His ancestors grant him nine lives, though his death takes away one. At sunset, Tigerstar wakes up by the Moonpool to Puddleshine's glee. With his revival, Tigerstar claims leadership of ShadowClan and its separation from SkyClan, and he gathers his cats to return home. However, Tigerstar's determination to restore his Clan causes violent conflict with their neighbor SkyClan for the moons to come.

Characters

Tigerheart

Tigerheart: "I thought I had nothing to learn from the guardian cats. But they've learned to live with change. It might be easier to live life the way it is now than to try to keep it the way it was."

Dovewing: "You're starting to sound like a leader."

^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 343}

Tigerheart felt divided by calls for leadership and appeasing his father. His time away matured him into a strong leader for ShadowClan

Tigerheart is the deputy of ShadowClan under his father, Rowanstar. Tigerheart is hesitant to leave his Clan when Dovewing urges him that their kits must be born in a faraway Twolegplace, especially since Puddleshine interprets dreams signifying that ShadowClan needs strong leadership to survive, and that leader is not Rowanstar. Conflicted with calls of leadership from his Clanmates and his father's reminder to keep his place, Tigerheart eventually leaves to follow after Dovewing when he misinterprets another dream from Puddleshine. After finding Dovewing and their kits are born, Tigerheart longs to return to the forest, especially when he interprets dreams from Spire signifying trouble for ShadowClan after his disappearance.

When the kits are two moons old, Tigerheart and Dovewing agree they should return to the Clans, though they are unsure which Clan to return to. He acts as a leader for the patrol, agreeing to follow Spire's visions and allowing Berryheart, Slatefur, Cloverfoot, and Sparrowtail to join their patrol. After Spire's death, Tigerheart names him a warrior with the name Spiresight. When Berryheart soon gives birth to her kits, Tigerheart relents that the group will have to wait until the kits are old enough, though he knows he'll return soon with cats worthy of being ShadowClan warriors. Tigerheart receives a fatal injury saving Hollowkit from an owl, but the rest of the patrol carries him back to the lake territories to the Moonpool. He is revived as Tigerstar and assumes leadership of ShadowClan.

Spire and Blaze

"Take care of Blaze. I will not live beside the widewater. But Blaze will."

―Spire to Tigerheart ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 245}

Spire was a member of the guardian cats who guided the group during their journey

Spire and Blaze are members of the guardian cats. Prior to Tigerheart and Dovewing's arrival, Spire receives dreams from StarClan urging him to help strangers who will arrive soon. Though the other guardian cats interpret Spire's dreams as nonsense, Blaze and Tigerheart believe them, especially when Tigerheart interprets Spire's messages of trouble in ShadowClan. Spire also ominiously tells Tigerheart that he himself will not live besides the the lake, but Blaze will. Blaze, a young kit who Spire cares for, is eager to learn from Tigerheart, especially when they train against the foxes.

Blaze was a young tom who advocated for Spire's visions

When Tigerheart and Dovewing decide to return to the Clans, Spire and Blaze deice to join them, especially since Blaze wishes to train as a warrior. He acts as a healer for the group during their journey. Half a moon later, Spire abruptly announces they must leave the Silverpath to find the orange sun. Only Blaze strongly advocates for the others to believe him. Spire runs off, with Blaze, Tigerheart, and Dovewing following his scent trail, and Spire discovers Slatefur, Cloverfoot, Berryheart, and Sparrowtail in hiding. Spire saves Lightkit from an incoming Thundersnake, and he urges Tigerheart that they must leave the Silverpath. Blaze stands up for Spire's dreams, and Tigerheart eventually agrees. Spire sets a quick pace forward, urging by something upahead. When the group crosses a drawbridge, Spire saves Pouncekit's life before falling to his death in the river.

After Spire's death, Blaze attempts to recall Spire's directions after the river, and he defends his friend's honor from Slatefur. Tigerheart names Spire a warrior by granting him a warrior name: Spiresight. Blaze sits vigil for him. When Berryheart gives birth to her kits, she names one after Spiresight. In StarClan, Spiresight urges Tigerheart that he must return to the living world. Upon their arrival at the lake, Blaze joins ShadowClan as an apprentice under Tigerstar's leadership.

Slatefur, Cloverfoot, Berryheart, Sparrowtail, and their kits

"We made a terrible decision. We didn't realize that Darktail was a liar and a bully. We truly through he could make ShadowClan stronger and safer. We were wrong. And we will spend our lives making it up to ShadowClan, if they agree to take us back."

―Slatefur to Tigerheart ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 340}

Berryheart and her family fled ShadowClan and were later found by Tigerheart's patrol

Slatefur, Cloverfoot, Berryheart, and Sparrowtail are ShadowClan warriors. They join Darktail after believing he can restore ShadowClan to greatness, but soon flea with threats of death during his tyranny. Berryheart nearly drowns trying to escape Darktail, and she fleas Clan territory to escape him. She runs into her mate Sparrowtail and sister Cloverfoot, and Berryheart resolves to have faith until they could return home. After meeting with Slatefur, the four cats seek shelter in an abandoned Twoleg nest. Berryheart soon expects another litter with Sparrowtail.

Spire discovers the four cats in hiding, and they join Tigerheart's patrol. Tigerheart initially has doubts since they betrayed ShadowClan, but the four warriors strongly wish to redeem themselves. Sparrowtail and Slatefur begin to doubt Spire's dreams, especially when the group decides to leave the Silverpath and follow him. After Spire's death, Cloverfoot agrees that he should have a warrior name. Berryheart gives birth to her kits—Sunkit, Hollowkit, and Spirekit—with Spirekit named after Spiresight. The patrol stays in the area for one moon until the kits are strong enough to walk. The night before the patrol is prepared to leave for the lake, an owl strikes for Hollowkit but Tigerheart saves his life. Upon arriving at the lake, Slatefur, Cloverfoot, Sparrowtail, Berryheart, and her kits join ShadowClan under Tigerstar's leadership.

Dovewing, Lightkit, Pouncekit, and Shadowkit

"I once told you that I would love you whatever choice you made. I won't make you choose between your Clan and me this time."

―Dovewing to Tigerheart ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 293}

Shadowkit was prophesized to see into the shadows by Spire

Dovewing is a ThunderClan warrior. She and Tigerheart rekindle their love when he, Rowanstar, and Tawnypelt spend time in ThunderClan following their exile. The pair continues to meet after Tigerheart returned to his Clan, and she soon reveals she is expecting their kits. Dovewing receives dreams warning that their kits won't be safe in ThunderClan and instead must be born in a faraway Twolegplace. She leaves without him three days later for the large city and is taken in by the guardian cats living underneath the gathering place.

Dovewing soon gives birth to three kits: Pouncekit, Lightkit, and Shadowkit. Spire warns that Shadowkit will see into the shadows shortly after his birth. Unlike Tigerheart, Dovewing is not in a rush to return to the Clans, though she grows unsettled when Shadowkit dreams of a cat resembling her sister, Ivypool, in the nursery with her own kits. When the kits are two moons old, their parents agree that they should return to the Clans. The kits are eager to decide which Clan they'll join once they arrive at the lake, but the patrol walks slow during the journey because of the young kits. Spire saves Lightkit from a Thundersnake on the Silverpath, and he later gives his life to save Pouncekit on the drawbridge. A moon after the birth of Berryheart's kits, Shadowkit dreams of a way home to the lake, though he urges the patrol that they must leave soon. When her mate is fatally injured saving Hollowkit from an owl, Dovewing urges him to keep living. After his revival, Dovewing and her kits join ShadowClan.

Cinnamon and Ant

«[Tigerheart] blinked at [Cinnamon] gratefully. He'd been surprised at how hard she and Ant worked to distract the kits. Yesterday, Ant had persuaded Pouncekit, Lightkit, and Shadowkit to race him as they traveled; he had pointed out trees along the way and challenged them to reach them before he did. The guardian cats had also turned out to be useful hunters. Tigerheart had wondered how they'd manage without scrapcans to scavenge from, but they'd adapted easily to chasing prey, and their pelts grew glossier, their eyes brighter, and their muscles tighter each day.»

—Tigerheart's thoughts about the guardian cats ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 322}

Cinnamon (pictured) and Ant decide to leave the guardian cats and join ShadowClan.

Cinnamon and Ant are members of the guardian cats. When Tigerheart and Dovewing decide to return to the Clans, Ant and Cinnamon ask to join them. Dovewing reasons that it's better to have more protection for their young kits during the journey. Tigerheart initially has worries about the guardian cats during the start of their journey, but they quickly adapt to life outside the city. Cinnamon and Ant help distract the kits with games during the long journey. The two guardian cats are not inclined to believe Spire's dreams and visions during the journey, accustomed to his mumblings that usually lead to nothing. Following Spire's death, Cinnamon cares for the patrol's wounds with her limited herb knowledge. Upon their arrival at the lake, Cinnamon and Ant join ShadowClan as apprentices under Tigerstar's leadership.

Trivia

Mistakes

• There is a major inconsistency with Rippletail's appearance on the patrol. In Tigerheart's Shadow he escapes the Kin and is one of the cats that return to ShadowClan, while in River of Fire, he is a kittypet, and Slatefur takes his place in the patrol back to ShadowClan. Kate later confirmed he had become a kittypet, as in River of Fire, and Slatefur is the one who is actually meant to be on the patrol.

Quotes

Dovewing: "I know you're used to being Clan deputy and believing that one day you'll be leader. But you're not in the forest now, and you won't be for a while. So you might as well get used to living like a city cat."

Tigerheart: "How long are you planning to stay here?"

^{Tigerheart's Shadow, pages 209-210}

"It's not important that I belong. It is only important that I make the journey."

―Spire to Tigerheart about the journey ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 300}

Slatefur: "How are we going to find our way now that Spire is gone?"

Blaze: "Oh, now you believe him? Spire died trying to help you. Are you only bothered that we don't have a guide anymore?"

^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 364}

"I dreamed it. I dreamed about the Twolegplace Spiresight said was at the end of the Thunderpath, and then I saw beyond. There was a valley with birch trees edging a small stretch of water and then a hill rising to the moorland."

―Shadowkit describing his dream ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 378}

Notes and references

Author references