"You're the only cat who can help us. You must rebuild SkyClan before it is lost forever." |
— Cloudstar to Firestar in Firestar's Quest, page 85 |
The journey to find SkyClan took place in Firestar's Quest, when Firestar and Sandstorm travel away from ThunderClan to find and rebuild the fifth Clan, SkyClan.
Summary[]
Premise[]
- Once, during the founding of the Clans, there was another Clan called SkyClan. They lived on the territory where Tallpines is, bordering RiverClan and ThunderClan. Much like in the Great Journey, Twolegs destroyed that part of the forest to create a logging area, now known to cats as Tallpines.[2] The leader of SkyClan at the time, Cloudstar, brought his entire Clan to a Gathering and begged for the other Clans to show mercy and give a part of their territory to SkyClan, but all four Clans refused,[3] and even questioned if there is meant to be five Clans in the forest, as there are only four oaks at Fourtrees.[4] Cloudstar was left with no choice but to leave the forest and find his Clan a new home. This left Cloudstar in a bitter rage, blaming StarClan for not helping his Clan when they needed them.[5] The other four Clans quickly grew to regret driving SkyClan away, but were too proud to admit they had been wrong, and thus pretended SkyClan never existed.[6] As a result, all living memory of SkyClan was soon lost.
- SkyClan followed the river until they found the gorge, a place where they could make camp and a nearby forest where they could hunt.[7] SkyClan went through a few leaders before a huge colony of savage rats came to a portion of their territory and relentlessly terrorized them. They killed many cats of SkyClan, and Spiderstar made the decision to end his Clan.[8] Cloudstar, walking in the skies, watched as Firestar grew up in ThunderClan and saved all four Clans from BloodClan. He was convinced that Firestar was the only one that could bring his Clan back from the dead,[9] and he tried to reach out to the ThunderClan leader, in the end finally reaching him in a dream. He tells Firestar to rebuild his Clan at their old gorge home.[10]
Overview[]
- After Cloudstar tells Firestar to rebuild SkyClan in a dream, Firestar asks Sandstorm to go with him, and both decide to head upstream from the river.[11] During the journey, they are separated due to a storm but quickly reunite[12] and find the Gorge where SkyClan used to live in. They find out from a couple of kittypets that SkyClan went away long ago for some reason,[13] and managed to speak to Sky, the last cat that knows of SkyClan's true ways. He shows which den is which and explains other information needed.[14]
- Firestar finds out that the two kittypets that appeared before, Cherry and Boris, are curious about hunting, and he invites them to join the new SkyClan.[15] Firestar holds a meeting with many cats, from rogues to kittypets, to hear about SkyClan, and brings more cats to SkyClan's rank.[16] Soon after, rats attack their patrols, and Firestar and Sandstorm realize these rats are the ones that drove out SkyClan originally.[17] They bring the Clan to fight to them, and find the rats are led by one rat. They kill the rat, and Sandstorm and Firestar leave SkyClan, and head back to their own Clan.[18]
Description[]
The mystery cats[]
- The events start five moons after the battle against BloodClan, and Firestar is thinking of Whitestorm, his first deputy whom he lost in that battle,[19] when he realizes he could hear the faint sounds of paw steps. Firestar springs up but he can see nothing. He hardly has time to sit down when the sound comes again. He whips his head to see a glimpse of a cat. Firestar thinks this cat is Whitestorm, but the cat is smaller and gray patched with white.[20] The cat stares at Firestar as if trying to tell him something. Firestar wonders if it is a rogue, or BloodClan coming back. He springs to his paws but the cat vanishes. Firestar searches the rocks but there is no trace, only a faint, unfamiliar scent.[21] Firestar rests back on the rock where he first saw the cat and waits, but rain comes and sends him to his den.
- Firestar falls asleep in his den and dreams he is in a mist. He calls for Spottedleaf,[22] but she does not appear. Firestar hears a faint sound, he strains to listen but he is frightened by a savage wail, the sound of many terrified cats. The shrieks grow louder but Firestar can only see blurred shapes. They advance to Firestar but vanish before he can see them properly, and the ginger tom can only smell unfamiliar scents of cats. Firestar calls to them, but the shrill only goes silent, and he is woken by Sandstorm.[23]
- Later, right after Brambleclaw has his Warrior ceremony, Firestar's gaze drifts to a puddle,[24] and he first thinks it's an odd shaped cloud in the reflection, then realizes the puddle reflects a cat's face—the same gray cat with white patches.[25] The cat is staring at Firestar, and the same unfamiliar scent drifts around him. Firestar whispers questions, but Shrewkit playfully jumps in the puddle, and the face is gone. Firestar checks to see the sky and he discovers that is has no clouds.[26]
- Firestar falls back asleep but the dream of mist and wailing cats come back,[27] so he decides to go for a walk. He goes to Sunningrocks to try to relax, but he sees cats in the river, desperately trying to swim. Firestar blinks but they are gone instantly.[28] The next day, Firestar asks for the advice of Cinderpelt, ThunderClan's medicine cat, but she cannot give an explanation.[29] He dreams again of the mist and mystery cats, but it is the same as the last two times.
- Just as Firestar takes his Clan to a Gathering, he sees a Clan of cats rushing at him, but it goes away as quickly as it came, and leaves the same unfamiliar scent.[30] When the Gathering is over and Firestar is about to jump off the Great Rock, he sees that the Clans also contained more cats with starry pelts, and realizes the cats of the Clans cannot see them. He watches as the same gray-and-white patched tom stare at him, mouth open in a silent plea but Mudclaw, WindClan's deputy, passes through it and the cat vanishes. Firestar knows that these cats he dreams of are all the same cats.[31]
- Firestar decides to go to the Moonstone to ask about these strange cats. He stops by Barley's farm and confides in his best friend, Ravenpaw, about the dreams. They both conclude these cats are not their warrior ancestors.[32] He meets Bluestar, the leader before Firestar, and though Bluestar is hesitant to tell him, she reveals that the cats he is seeing are from SkyClan, and that they were the fifth Clan of the forest. She reveals that they used to live where Twolegplace is now, but the Twolegs came and destroyed the forest, making more Twoleg dens for them.[2] Firestar is angered that StarClan lied to him, and he flees from Bluestar, not wanting to hear any more of her words.[33]
- Firestar has another dream but this time, he can see the cats clearly. They are walking downstream, down the forest river Firestar knows. He calls to them, but they still ignore him. He watches as a kit tumbles into the river and is swept away, then an apprentice is caught and killed by a fox. An elder falls behind, and another cat dies of exhaustion. Firestar sees the gray-and-white patched cat,[34] and with the authority he has with the cats around him, Firestar guesses he is a Clan leader. Firestar wakes to see Spottedleaf beside him, and she tells him he must help SkyClan, and he will soon be showed how.[35]
- Firestar rescues his old kittypet friend Smudge from his own Clanmates, and finds out that Smudge is having the same dreams.[36] He goes with Smudge to the Twolegplace, and figures Smudge's place is where SkyClan's camp was. He spends the night there,[37] and dreams of the tom who finally talks to him. He reveals that SkyClan was driven out by the other Clans, because there was no place to live. He also tells that SkyClan has broken apart and scattered, and asks Firestar to rebuild SkyClan, upriver where the remnants of SkyClan is and a place to revive the Clan.[10]
Preparation[]
- Firestar tells Cinderpelt, Sandstorm and Graystripe what has been happening, and how he as to leave his Clan. Cinderpelt and Graystripe are hesitant, but promise to take care of the Clan.[38] Firestar asks Sandstorm to go with him, and she eventually agrees.[39] For two days, Sandstorm works with Cinderpelt to memorize medicine herbs and treatments. Firestar tells the Clan he has to leave, and they are angry that he is.[40] Firestar reassures that they have Cinderpelt and Graystripe to take care of them. Brightheart backs up Firestar, putting faith in StarClan, making Firestar uncomfortable, but letting his Clan's faith in StarClan let him go.[41] They all say their goodbyes and Graystripe and Cinderpelt say farewell privately. Graystripe says he will wait forever for Firestar to come back, and he will tell the other Clans that StarClan has sent Firestar on a journey and he will be back soon.[42]
To the gorge[]
- Firestar and Sandstorm head upriver, and into WindClan territory. They see WindClan warriors and hide. The hunting patrol formed of Mudclaw and Onewhisker scent them, but cannot see them.[43] Firestar and Sandstorm leave Clan territory behind and pass through farmland. They stop to eat mice since they haven't eaten since they left ThunderClan territory, and Firestar decided to rest, thinking there won't be so many Twolegs around after sunset.[44]
- The two cats are woken by two young Twolegs walking a dog. The dog scents them and chases Firestar and Sandstorm up a hedge. The two Twolegs take the dog away, leaving the two cats unhurt, but shaken.[45] They travel through the night and rested when they were too tired to go any further. The next two days they follow the river through fields of wheat that stretch as far as the eye can see.
- On the third day, they leave the wheat fields and slip into a gap through the hedge onto a stretch of grass that slopes gently down to the river. Before they have gotten far onto the bank, they smell the tang of the Thunderpath, and know they have to cross. They find that the Thunderpath goes over a bridge,[46] and they both hesitantly rush under the bridge, when the echoing noise of a monster frightens them to run the rest of the way, and only exhaustion slows them to a stop.[47]
- Firestar feels as if he scraped all the skin off his pads, and Sandstorm goes and gets him some dock to rub his pads against. Firestar knows they're tired, but it's still light, and they have to go as far as they can.[48] They stop well into the night, and Sandstorm hunts for voles while Firestar makes a makeshift den. Sandstorm easily catches two voles, making Firestar think SkyClan do not hunt here, and there is still a long way to go. They both settle for the night.[49]
- They are woken up by fishing Twolegs, and quickly slip away.[50] Sandstorm notices a storm brewing and that it will break before nightfall. Firestar states they should get moving. The hot air makes traveling harder, but Sandstorm manages to surprise a vole and they both share it. Firestar thinks of the Clans back in the forest while they travel. They soon scent Twoleg and hear a dog, so they climb a tree until the danger passes.[51] They continue on their journey until they reach a Twoleg nest.
- The Twoleg nest is swarming with Twolegs, with adult Twolegs sitting around and eating while Twoleg kits throw stones in the river. Firestar and Sandstorm decide to avoid the nest, going through a parking lot and arriving back at the river.[52] It soon starts to rain, and Sandstorm asks to seek shelter. She convinces Firestar to rest in an abandoned Twoleg den, and they both rest and hunt.[53] Sandstorm suggests spending the night, but Firestar feels uncomfortable in the nest, and decides to journey on stubbornly through the breaking storm and flooding river.[54]
- They are almost washed away in the river, and Sandstorm confronts Firestar, sensing he does not want her with him. She almost decides to head back home alone, but they stop quarreling.[55] Firestar crosses the river over a fallen tree, but the river washes it away before Sandstorm can cross, and Firestar loses sight of his mate. Firestar desperately tries searching for her, but cannot find her. He eventually falls asleep under a jutting boulder.[56]
- In the morning, the weather clears but the river is too swollen to cross. Firestar travels and finally finds a bridge to cross.[57] He goes back to the old Twoleg nest, only to find it empty. He sleeps there.
- The next morning, Firestar is woken by a fox and he flees to the safety of the riverbank.[58] A dog scents him and Firestar climbs a fence to escape. He tries making his way when a monster chases him up a wall where he falls onto Twoleg rubbish, falling asleep from exhaustion.[59] He is woken by Cora and Stick, two rogues, who give him food and water. They show him to other cats living with them, with Firestar hoping they might know where Sandstorm is.[60]
- He hears a story involving a ginger cat, and Shorty agrees to take Firestar to the place where he saw the cat. Firestar falls asleep but doesn't see Shorty the next morning.[61] He eats than sleeps again, waking up at sunset, annoyed that Shorty didn't wake him during the day.[62] They go to the place, finding Sandstorm's fur on the fence. A bad-tempered tortoiseshell attacks Firestar when he trespasses in her yard,[63] and Sandstorm rescues him. She is still hostile, but eventually forgives Firestar. Shorty takes them back to the river so they can continue their journey.[64]
- They travel through the night, stopping at dawn to rest among some roots.[65] Firestar dreams of SkyClan, resting beside the river. His resolve of finding them hardens as he sees their suffering. He spots a hunting patrol, and finds out they have a great jumping ability.[66] Firestar and Sandstorm travel along the river for three days as it grows narrower, searching for any signs of SkyClan.[67] After crossing a Thunderpath, a Twoleg kit tries to grab them but they flee to a waterfall in the river. Sandstorm catches a fish and they climb up the cliff, and rest until the next day.[68]
- They journey onward, smelling cats, but not recognizing them as SkyClan cats. They find signs of cats marking their territory.[69] Firestar has another dream and sees SkyClan at their new camp, in a cave with many warriors.[70] He wakes Sandstorm, and they follow the edge of the cliff until they realize the river has vanished. They climb down and head back along the gorge.[71]
Discovering the new place and cats[]
- Firestar and Sandstorm find the river again, seeing it flows out of a hole into a pool. They spot the caves up the side of the gorge, with narrow trails leading to them, and Firestar knows they have found the place where SkyClan lived.[72] They explore the caves, finding small claw marks on a column of stone in one of them. Firestar wonders where these claw marks come from, as they are crosswise against cat scratches.[7] They conclude that cats were living in these caves, but disappeared a long time ago. Firestar is confident this is where SkyClan once lived, but wonders why they left and where they are now. They take shelter for the night.[73]
- They are awakened by two rude kittypets calling insults and throwing stones in the cave. Firestar is angered, but they escape punishment.[74] From the insults, it is concluded they they thought they knew a cat in the cave, so there must be another cat around.[75] They explore the gorge, noting the different prey-scents and cat-scents.[76] They venture up a trail and discover a large rock, where it could be used to watch if anything was coming.[77] Firestar and Sandstorm think that SkyClan could live well in the gorge with their jumping ability, and go to sleep for the night.[78]
- The next day, Firestar gets into an argument with a brown rogue after scaring off a bird, and the rogue leaves angrily. Sandstorm tells Firestar that they cannot expect cats that live here to know the warrior code.[79] They catch some mice, and Firestar soon sees the two kittypets from the previous morning traveling back from the gorge, as if they had to come to the gorge. When they reach the cave, they that find the kittypets left a rotting dead mouse in the cave. Sandstorm and Firestar talk about how the cats here do not know the warrior code, meaning SkyClan has scattered moons ago.[80]
- They trick the kittypets into coming down to the cave, trapping them at the edge of the cliff.[81] They introduce themselves as Boris and Cherry, and Firestar asks them about SkyClan cats. Cherry tells him they heard of fierce cats that used to live in the gorge long ago. The also talk about Moony, a cat who goes onto a large rock in the gorge and stare at the full moon, talking of cats in the stars. Firestar lets them leave, and both he and Sandstorm decide to search for Moony.[82]
- They make their way along the gorge and find a gnarled tree on the cliff, with the same scenting cat as in the cave. They go near but Moony comes out, spitting to leave him alone.[83] They try talking, but eventually leave, hoping to see Moony at the full moon.[84] They return to the gorge to make nests, and look for moss downstream, but don't find any, and wonder how a Clan can survive without moss.[85] They see a dark brown rogue, but he disappears before they can talk to him. The two warriors share a thrush together.[86]
- On the night of the full moon, Sandstorm and Firestar hide as Moony begins his silent vigil on the large rock. He tells Sandstorm and Firestar to come out, and introduces himself as Sky.[87] He explains his mother's mother was Clanborn, but by the time he was born, the Clan has already scattered, and his mother told him the ways of a warrior. Firestar tells he is on a quest to rebuild SkyClan, but Sky is angry, pointing out that the other Clans drove SkyClan out of the forest. He also thinks that Boris and Cherry are descendants of SkyClan, and refuses to tell why SkyClan scattered.[88] All three cats sleep in the den in the gorge.
- In the morning, Firestar and Sandstorm hunt but when they return, Sky is gone,[89] but he returns with moss, and lines it in their nests. Sky then shows them the gorge, pointing out the dens, Skyrock, Rockpile, the Shining Cave and borders.[14] He shows the territory, but still refuses to tell why SkyClan scattered. Firestar decides to give up trying to rebuild SkyClan, but Sky tells him he must continue to right the wrongs his Clan ancestors did.[90] Firestar goes hunting and spots the dark ginger tom again, but he disappears.[91] He is then stalked by Cherry and Boris, and teaches them how to hunt. They appear the next day, begging for another hunting lesson.[92]
- Sandstorm takes Boris and Firestar takes Cherry, and Firestar tells of SkyClan and StarClan. Firestar offers a place in the new Clan and finally decides to stay and help rebuild the Clan.[93]
Rebuilding SkyClan[]
- At the gorge, Boris and Cherry promise to join the Clan, even leaving their housefolk.[94] In the evening, Firestar and Sandstorm decide to explore the boundary opposite of the river. They fight of a fox, protecting a she-cat and her kits, with the help of a ginger rogue.[95] They all introduce themselves, the she-cat as Clover and her kits as Bounce, Rock, and Tiny. The tom is called Scratch, and both agree to join the new Clan.[96] When they return to their den, Sky has a bad opinion of the new cats, but is glad Firestar is keeping his promise.[97]
- Firestar explains about patrols to the new Clan cats, and leads SkyClan's first hunting patrol.[98] They explore the territory around the Twolegplace, and bring back lots of prey for the new Clan. At the gorge, Sandstorm has been trying to teach Clover some battle moves, but the queen refuses to learn, and seemingly only joined for her kits' protection.[99] Later, Cherry and Boris suggest holding a meeting, inviting all cats that live nearby to join SkyClan. Firestar goes to Twolegplace and the forest to invite both kittypets and rogues to the meeting.[100]
- Sky is first to come to the meeting, then followed by both rogues and kittypets, arriving one by one.[101] Firestar holds the meeting, telling of the Clans lifestyle and traditions. New cats join SkyClan, but Firestar feels a hostile presence he felt the day before.[102] The cats collect bedding and discuss how to sort dens and if they will be able to recruit a medicine cat. Firestar takes a hunting patrol[103] to find an odd lack of prey and a crowfood smell around the Old Twoleg barn. He teaches the hunting crouch, then they move to the edge of the cliff for more prey.[104]
- At the gorge, Scratch is arguing with Sandstorm that warriors should eat before elders and queens. Sandstorm explains that's not how the Clan works and Scratch grudgingly agrees to let Clover eat first.[105] Firestar and Sandstorm talk on how Scratch and Clover could improve[106] when Firestar holds a meeting, and gives everyone a Clan name and the apprentices mentors.[107] Sky, now Skywatcher, calls Firestar to his den and tells him of the prophecy: "There will be Three, kin of your kin, who will hold the power of the stars in their paws".[108]
- The next day, Firestar takes a border patrol and makes SkyClan's territory borders.[109] Firestar goes to Skywatcher's den to tell of the borders to find that the old tom has died overnight.[110] Firestar calls a meeting to tell the sad news, and try to hold vigil, but only Leafdapple takes it seriously.[111] The next day, Sandstorm holds a battle training session for the Clan.[112] Afterwards, Firestar and Sandstorm discuss Clan problems when Bouncekit falls into the river, but Clovertail rescues him.[113] Bouncekit claims he heard voices when he entered the Shining Cave, and Firestar wonders if it was SkyClan's ancestors. He is also curious if Clovertail has RiverClan ancestry, as she is a strong swimmer.[114]
- The next day, the cats discuss about the spirits that Bouncekit heard in the now called Whispering Cave.[115] They enter the cave, but it is silent, and Firestar thinks they really need a medicine cat.[116] Later, Rainfur, a rogue that refused to join SkyClan previously, begs for help: He has a mate, Petal, who is living as an abused kittypet that is hardly fed. Firestar agrees to help and they head downstream to a run-down Twoleg den.[117]
- They plan to have two cats get the Twoleg to open the door then distract it as the others grab the kits and Petal.[118] The plan works and the cats make it back to camp. Clovertail agrees to suckle the kits and names them Sage and Mint.[119] Petal and Rainfur stay, but haven't decided to join the Clan yet. Firestar and Sandstorm wonder if they can find a leader and medicine cat for the Clan, and hope for a sign. Later, Sandstorm's patrol is attacked by rats near the abandoned Twoleg Barn, and cats help to heal the injured.[120]
- Firestar takes a small patrol to investigate the abandoned barn, and a giant horde of rats appears. Their leader speaks cat,[121] and describes they killed cats once, they can do it again. He delivers an ultimatum to the patrol: leave the gorge or die. Firestar now understands why the original SkyClan scattered, and realizes that the tiny marks in the nursery were made by rats.[17] The ThunderClan leader tells the Clan about the rats, and they all agree to drive them out, making Firestar worry if he is leading them to their deaths.[122] Later, Spottedleaf visits them from StarClan to help heal the injured. Sandstorm is angry when she finds out that Spottedleaf visits Firestar's dreams often, but Spottedleaf tells her that Firestar's real love is the ginger she-cat. Firestar and Sandstorm promise to not keep any secrets from each other.[123]
- SkyClan prepares for the battle against the rats, doing extra battle training, extra patrols, and post a permanent watch on Skyrock; even Petal and Rainfur join battle training.[124] Soon, Skywatcher comes to Firestar in a dream, and Firestar asks why he never told of the rats. Skywatcher reveals that he feared Firestar could have given up on the quest. The deceased tom also says that the cat destined to be SkyClan's medicine cat has not heard of SkyClan, but dreams of StarClan.[125] Firestar goes to the Twolegplace, hoping to find the cat, and a cat named Echo explains she dreams of cats with stars in their fur. Echo never heard of the cats in the gorge, and she agrees to join SkyClan.[126]
- On the night of the full moon, SkyClan has a Gathering on the Skyrock. They share news, and agree to attack the rats as soon as Patchfoot, a fellow warrior, has healed.[127] Echo is given the Clan name of Echosong, and the Clan cheers.[128] Echosong quickly learns the medicine herbs and treatments, and the rats don't show up, trying to keep the Clan tense and in suspense.[129]
- Echosong dreams of frightened cats fleeing across moorland, but not about StarClan.[130] Firestar is worried if the Clan can survive the attack, and wonders if he should take them back to the forest.[131] At night, the rats attack, pouring over the clifftop.[132] Firestar organizes a defense and warns the SkyClan cats to be careful. They fight the rats, being pushed back by the their enemies coming over the clifftop, then a second group come from below, along the gorge.[133]
- Suddenly, the rats stop fighting and leave. Firestar suspects it's a trap, or the rats want to scare them off.[134] He realizes the fight isn't over, and they have to take the fight to them. The others agree, and plan to fight them the following night.[135] Rainfur and Petal also decide to join the Clan. Petal is given the name Petalnose, and her kits are given the names of Sagekit and Mintkit.[136]
The battle against the rats[]
- The SkyClan warriors, along with Sandstorm and Firestar, set out to drive the rats out of the barn for good. Leafdapple tells Firestar he doesn't have to fight, as it's not his battle, but Firestar insists.[137] They reach the barn and enter the yard through a gap in the fence, but the rats are nowhere to be seen.[138]
- Sharpclaw, Firestar, Shortwhisker, Cherrypaw, and Sparrowpaw, enter the barn, intending to lure out the rats, but are surrounded and attacked by their adversaries and separated.[139] The other patrol comes in to try and save them, but just make it worst. Most cats are able to exit, but Rainfur and Firestar are trapped.[140] Firestar loses a life to the rat leader, and has a vision of the Whispering Cave, where he sees Cloudstar, the cat he saw in his dreams.[141] He wakes up to find Rainfur is dead. Firestar thinks of fleeing, but the fence is blocked by hordes of rats, so they claw up a tree.[142] Firestar tries taunting the rats to find the leader, but it doesn't work.[143]
- Spottedleaf whispers in his ears “not many, but one” meaning all rats take orders from one leader. Firestar pinpoints the leader of the rats by the visual signals the rats give to each other.[144] Without warning, Firestar leaps forward and kills the rat leader. Without their leader to guide them, the remaining rats flee; thus SkyClan wins the battle.[145]
After the battle[]
- The SkyClan cats carry Rainfur's body back to camp, and sit vigil. Firestar blames himself for leading the warrior to his death.[146] Shortwhisker decides to return to being a kittypet. Firestar tries to change his mind, but respects his decision.[147] Leaf-bare is close, and Sandstorm suggests going back to the forest, but Firestar says that SkyClan needs a leader first.[148] Echosong soon receives a prophecy of dappled leaves, revealing Leafdapple will be the new Clan leader of SkyClan.[149]
- Leafdapple is taken aback, but eventually agrees to be the new leader.[150] Firestar and Echosong take her to the Skyrock, and they watch her Leadership ceremony. Cloudstar gives her first life,[151] then receives one from her own mother, and also Spottedleaf.[152] More cats start appearing, with the SkyClan ancestors returning home.[153] The four ancient leaders of the other Clans, Redstar, Birchstar, Swiftstar, and Dawnstar, apologize for driving SkyClan out,[6] and thank Firestar for bringing SkyClan back. They all give Leafdapple a life. Her ninth life is given by Birdflight, Cloudstar's mate who stayed behind with ThunderClan, and is finally reunited with her mate.[154]
- Fawnstep, an ancient SkyClan medicine cat, promises to teach Echosong on herbs and Rainfur tells Firestar that he forgives him.[155] Back at the gorge, Leafstar appoints Sharpclaw as deputy. Cherrypaw and Sparrowpaw are given warrior names, and Bouncekit, Rockkit and Tinykit become apprentices.[156] After saying their sad farewells, Firestar and Sandstorm start their journey back to ThunderClan.[157]
After the journey[]
- Three moons after returning back to the forest, Firestar has fully recovered from the long journey back. He returns from a dawn patrol with Brambleclaw and Mousefur, instructing them to eat and prepare for the Gathering that night.[158] He heads to the nursery, where Sandstorm and their newborn kits lay. Sandstorm suggested naming them Squirrelkit and Leafkit. Firestar thinks they are a good idea, Squirrelkit after the dark ginger's fluffy tail[159] and the tabby Leafkit, in memory of Leafstar, and maybe Spottedleaf. The prophecy, "there will be three, kin of your kin, with the power of the stars in their paws," haunts Firestar, and he wonders if the prophesized cats will be descended of these cats.[160]
Characters[]
Firestar[]
- Firestar is the cat chosen by Cloudstar, an ancient SkyClan leader, to rebuild SkyClan because he is a strong leader who doesn't have the blood of the cats that drove SkyClan out. He is not a descendent of those cats, yet is a true Clan warrior.[9] Firestar worked hard to rebuild the Clan and treated it as his own. He lost a life fighting the rats[161] and returned to ThunderClan knowing SkyClan is well and safe.[162]
Sandstorm[]
- Firestar wanted no one else but Sandstorm to be beside him on this journey, proving his love to her again and again.[39] Sandstorm doubted his love, thinking Spottedleaf was his first, but Spottedleaf visited them, and told her that Firestar's real love is Sandstorm. Both Firestar and Sandstorm promised to not keep secrets from each other.[163]
SkyClan cats[]
Cloudstar[]
- Cloudstar was the leader of SkyClan when they were driven out of the forest. He had to leave his mate, Birdflight behind because their newborn kits, Gorsekit and Spottedkit, were too young to go with them. Cloudstar was left bitter, blaming StarClan for not helping when his Clan needed them, and also blaming the other Clans for driving SkyClan out.[164] He led his Clan to the gorge where he ruled his final days. In StarClan, he watched as Firestar saved the Clans from BloodClan, and sought out the leader to rebuild his Clan.[9] He did, and Cloudstar reunited with his mate and kits, now grown up with the warrior names Gorseclaw and Spottedpelt.[154]
Sky[]
- Sky was the last cat to hold the ancient SkyClan ways. His mother's mother was Clanborn, and his mother told him of the Clans ways. He kept alive the memory of SkyClan, and helped Sandstorm and Firestar rebuild the Clan.[88] He died, but saw his dream come true.[110] He was given the honor to tell Firestar the prophecy, “there will be three, kin of your kin, with the power of the stars in their paws.”[108]
Boris[]
- Boris was a kittypet when Firestar and Sandstorm came to the gorge. He and Cherry were the first to be invited to join the new Clan,[93] and he gave up his name of Boris to become Sparrowpaw. He suggested holding a meeting to tell rogues and kittypets about SkyClan, bringing more cats to SkyClan's ranks.[100] He fought hard in the battle against the rats, and was awarded with the warrior name Sparrowpelt.[165]
Cherry[]
- Cherry was a kittypet when Sandstorm and Firestar first came to the Clan. She and Boris were the first to be invited to join the new Clan,[93] and she gave up the name of Cherry to become Cherrypaw. She was cheeky and eager, and fought hard in the battle against the rats. Afterwards, she was awarded with the warrior name of Cherrytail.[165]
Scratch[]
- Scratch was a rogue when Sandstorm and Firestar came to the gorge, and immediately joined the Clan when offered;[96] however, Firestar suspected he was more after the Clan Leader position than anything else, nonetheless, now named Sharpclaw, he fought hard against the rats and proved his leader, fighting and hunting skills. He was rewarded when he was made deputy of SkyClan.[166]
Leaf[]
- Leaf was a rogue when Sandstorm and Firestar came to the gorge, and was disinterested in being a part of the Clan at first, but when she heard more at a meeting with other rogues and kittypets, she agreed to join.[102] Firestar knew there was a special position for her, and wondered if she was going to become a medicine cat, but she had a different destiny, becoming SkyClan's newest Clan Leader.[167]
Echo[]
- Desperately looking for a medicine cat for the new Clan, Firestar's dreams were walked by Cloudstar, telling him the cat that will become SkyClan's medicine cat doesn't know the new Clan, but dreams of StarClan. Firestar searched the Twolegplace and found Echo, who dreamed of cats with stars in their fur.[126] She went with Firestar and was given the name Echosong. She treated the cats after the battle against the rats and was rewarded by being named a full medicine cat.[168]
Quotes[]
- "I knew you would leave pawsteps behind you that will be remembered as long as the warrior Clans survive. Perhaps SkyClan sees this also. Perhaps they think that only you can save them."
- ―Bluestar to Firestar Firestar's Quest, page 55
- "You must follow the river to its source. We fled upstream, and that is the place where you will find remnants of the Clan, and a place where they can live."
- ―Cloudstar to Firestar Firestar's Quest, page 85
- "There are some things that are too big to be contained in the warrior code."
- ―Silverstream to Firestar Firestar's Quest, page 103
- "If StarClan has told him he must go, then we must trust our warrior ancestors to take care of him and bring him safely back. They have never let us down before – why would they take our leader from us now if it wasn't the right thing to do?"
- ―Brightheart to ThunderClan Firestar's Quest, page 115
- Sky: "Do you think it's as easy as that? Do you think the wrongs of the past can be forgiven so easily?"
- Sandstorm: "What do you mean?"
- Firestar's Quest, page 236
- "You must right the wrongs your Clan's ancestors did all those seasons ago. You must rebuild SkyClan."
- ―Skywatcher to Firestar Firestar's Quest, page 257
Trivia[]
Interesting facts[]
- The journey to the gorge took 13 days.[169]
- However, Vicky states that it took 4 days to travel to SkyClan, and she says that they stayed for a little over a month.[170]
See also[]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Revealed in Firestar's Quest
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 54
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 3
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 5
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 7
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, pages 492-493
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 196
- ↑ Revealed in SkyClan's Destiny, page 4
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 86
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 85
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 118
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 170
- ↑ Revealed in an unknown book
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 245
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 274
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 321
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 393
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 468
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 12
- ↑ the cat is Cloudstar, the leader of SkyClan when it was driven out of the forest
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 13
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 14
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 15
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 20
- ↑ the cat is Cloudstar, the leader of SkyClan when it was driven out of the forest
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 21
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 22
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 23
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 29
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 37
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 43
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 49
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 56
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 65
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 68
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 72
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 77
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 109
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 111
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, pages 114-115
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 115
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 116
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 121
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 123
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 125
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 126
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 127
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 128
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 129
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 131
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 133
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 134
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 137
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 140
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 142
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 144
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 147
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 149
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 155
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 159
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 164
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 166
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 169
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 171
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 174
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 177
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 178
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 182
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 186
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 189
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 191
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 193
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 198
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 200
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 201
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 203
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 205
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 207
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 208
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 210
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 214
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 216
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 222
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 224
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 226
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 227
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, pages 233-234
- ↑ 88.0 88.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 236
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 242
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 256
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 259
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 262
- ↑ 93.0 93.1 93.2 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 272
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 275
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 277
- ↑ 96.0 96.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 282
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 284
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 285
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 288
- ↑ 100.0 100.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 290
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, pages 314-315
- ↑ 102.0 102.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 319
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 324
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 327
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 329
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 331
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 332
- ↑ 108.0 108.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 339
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 341
- ↑ 110.0 110.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 348
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 350
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 356
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 361
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 363
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 365
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 368
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 372
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, pages 374-375
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, pages 380-381
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 386
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 391
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 397
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 401
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 403
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 408
- ↑ 126.0 126.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 414
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 423
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 424
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 426
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 433
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 435
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 438
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 441
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 442
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 446
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 450
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 453
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 455
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 457
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 459
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 462
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 463
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 466
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 467
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 469
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 470
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 474
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 477
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 480
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 481
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 487
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 490
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 491
- ↑ 154.0 154.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 496
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 498
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, pages 501-502
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 505
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 508
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 509
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 510
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 461
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 506
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, pages 401-402
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, pages 6-7
- ↑ 165.0 165.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, pages 503-504
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 501
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 497
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 502
- ↑ Time intervals during the journey.
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook