Journey to the Cats of the Park (ASC)

"Curlfeather had told her to trust no cat, but that wasn't because no cat was trustworthy. It was because Curlfeather wasn't trustworthy. The warning had been as close as her mother could get to admitting her betrayal. But Curlfeather was dead, and Splashtail was still alive. Frostpaw would have to face him. She leaped onto the wall. I have to heal my Clan. She knew everything she needed to choose a new leader. It was time to go home."

— Frostpaw's thoughts about her growth and journey in Thunder, page 297

Journey to the Cats of the Park
General information
Book	Thunder
Locations	The lake to the park by a river
Duration	Late leaf-fall to early leaf-bare; approximately one moon
Participants	Frostpaw, Nightheart, and later Wasp and Waffle
Outcome	Frostpaw learns that Splashtail was the one who attacked her, and her mother Curlfeather schemed to kill Reedwhisker Frostpaw learns the qualities that their new leader should have
Chronology
Preceded by:	Battle for RiverClan
Concurrent:	RiverClan's leader succession crisis
Followed by:	Journey to find the wildcats

The journey to the Cats of the Park takes place in Thunder, where Riverstar sends Frostpaw and her chosen companion, Nightheart of ThunderClan, to the Cats of the Park so Frostpaw can learn how to meditate and choose RiverClan's next leader.

Summary

Premise

"You need to become the cat who can save RiverClan. You need to make a journey. […] But there isn't much time. You must learn and grow. You will discover how to put the Clan back together. But first you must learn how to break it."

―Riverstar to Frostpaw ^{Thunder, page 96}

Following her brutal attack, Riverstar appears to Frostpaw in her dreams, acknowledging what she has suffered through and that he will help her choose RiverClan's next leader. She travels to the Moonpool, where she meets Mistystar, Reedwhisker, and Moth Flight. Riverstar instructs that she will need to make a journey in order to become the cat who will save RiverClan. Despite Frostpaw's concerns, Riverstar explains that she will have a living companion that she will need to trust, and they will have to follow the rising sun at dawn. When she wakes up, Frostpaw finds Nightheart standing guard for Squirrelflight and Bramblestar, and she convinces him to join her on her mission to save RiverClan.

Overview

"You'll learn everything when you're ready. For now, just listen. You can't think about the past. Or even the present. There isn't time. You must think of the future. You must follow your paws. Help will come, and when it does, you must let them in. I know everything that's happened has undermined your faith in others, but you can rely on this cat. You must trust them."

―Riverstar to Frostpaw ^{Thunder, page 98}

Frostpaw initially distrusts Nightheart and keeps her distance from him emotionally, but she slowly begins to open up to him after they are attacked by otters. Riverstar provides directions to Frostpaw in her dreams, first to follow a three striped Thunderpath, and later to cross the river to find a tree the color of salmon flesh. They find the Cats of the Park, who recognize Riverstar as the cat who saved them from rogues and came back to life. They teach Frostpaw how to meditate, though she initially struggles to learn how to relax. After a half-moon of support from Nightheart and the park cats, Frostpaw accepts that it was Splashtail who attempted to murder her. Frostpaw also begins to learn how to feel safe again after the stressful moons since Mistystar's and her mother's deaths. Finally, she feels ready to learn what Riverstar has been hiding from her: Frostpaw realizes that Curlfeather and Splashtail schemed together to kill Reedwhisker. Knowing she has learned everything she needs to choose RiverClan's next leader, Frostpaw decides it is time to go home, with Waffle and Wasp joining them.

Description

Learning to trust

Frostpaw: "I'm sorry. I'm scared. I don't know who to trust."

Nightheart: "I get it. Some cat tried to kill you. But it wasn't me. I don't even know why any cat would do something like that."

^{Thunder, page 146}

StarClan chose Nightheart to accompany Frostpaw so she could learn how to trust others again.

As they begin their journey, Frostpaw still doubts that she can trust Nightheart, despite his friendly demeanor. Riverstar visits her dreams on the third night, and Frostpaw grows frustrated when Riverstar refuses to tell her who attacked her, insisting she is not ready to hear it. Instead, he asks to her follow the Thunderpath with three stripes. In the morning, Nightheart asks about her dream after hearing her talk in her sleep, but Frostpaw is still unsure if she can trust him. However, she promises to him after their journey is over. After being attacked by otters, Frostpaw treats Nightheart's wounds and bond over their expectations of appeasing their kin and Clans. She slowly begins to open up to Nightheart. When they resume walking, Frostpaw confides that Riverstar is the one guiding in her dreams. She notices an extra white stripe running on the Thunderpath. However, they are swarmed by bony monsters and flee into a Twolegplace. During their panic, Nightheart nearly drowns in a pond, and he begins to doubt his ability to protect Frostpaw.

The salmon-colored tree

"You'll find a way. Cross the river and keep going until you find a tree the color of a salmon's flesh. You'll find cats there who can help you."

―Riverstar to Frostpaw ^{Thunder, page 187}

The third stripe on the Thunderpath soon disappears, and Frostpaw and Nightheart resume following the rising sun for a few more days until they come across a churning river, though they are unsure how to cross it. Riverstar advises Frostpaw in her dreams to find a tree the color of salmon's flesh where the cats there will help her. Nightheart realizes they can climb the trees and cross the branches to get over the river, and he comforts Frostpaw when she recalls her mother's death by dogs. They come across another Twolegplace and a large garden. Frostpaw spots a tall tree with Twoleg lights in the ground illuminating it in a soft pink color. She recognizes it as the tree Riverstar had mentioned in her dreams. She notices cats gathered around it, but Nightheart argues that they should wait.

At dawn, Twolegs arrive to bring the park cats food, and Nightheart and Frostpaw introduce themselves after they've eaten to avoid appearing hostile. At first, Frostpaw is unsure what to say, but the park cats immediately recognize Riverstar's name, recalling how he once saved their group from vicious rogues and came back from the dead. Scruff introduces Frostpaw and Nightheart to the rest of the group, former kittypets and loners who live and care for one another. Scruff mentions that all park cats meditate as they did in Riverstar's time to help them focus, uncover hidden thoughts, and to learn and grow. Bee and Waffle teach Frostpaw how to meditate by the river, and she spots Riverstar standing on the far shore. He encourages her that she will need to let the others support her as she learns difficult truths through meditation.

Finding peace

«All at once she could remember what it felt like to be the Frostpaw she'd been before Mistystar's death, before the tragedy of her mother. Before she'd been tasked with finding a new leader, before RiverClan's destiny weighed on her shoulders. She had been clever. Quick. Friendly. She had been able to let her guard down when she felt safe. She had been able to feel safe. It felt good to remember that.»

—Frostpaw's thoughts while with the park cats ^{Thunder, page 236}

Frostpaw's journey provided a brief respite for her to learn how to meditate.

After a quarter-moon, Frostpaw struggles relaxing despite working diligently on her meditation. Bee, the cat who meditate with her often, suggests that she should play. She plays find the shell with Waffle, Molly, Wasp, and Nightheart, realizing how it feels to feels safe. A quarter-moon later, Frostpaw realizes who attempted to kill her: Splashtail. The truth shocks her, but it is something she has always known. Nightheart asks Bee if he believes Frostpaw is ready to return home yet, but Bee reveals that there is something else Frostpaw needs to learn. Frostpaw feels like a fool for believing in Splashtail, but Nightheart reassures her. After spending much time with the park cats, Frostpaw begins to learn qualities that RiverClan's future leader should have. At last, she feels ready for Riverstar's final vision, one she has been holding back on for so long. She learns that her mother Curlfeather was part of Splashtail's schemes to kill Reedwhisker and she now resides in the Dark Forest. Frostpaw finally feels ready to go back home. Before they leave, Waffle and Wasp decide to join them to become warriors. It takes the four cats roughly a half moon to return back to the lake.

Characters

Frostpaw

"You're a really special cat, Frostpaw. Don't ever let anyone make you feel like you're not."

―Waffle to Frostpaw ^{Thunder, page 249}

Following her attack, Frostpaw grew distrustful of every cat, even going as far as to tell Whistlepaw to not inform the other Clans about her survival. Despite everything she has survived, StarClan told Frostpaw that she must become stronger for what lies ahead. She kept her distance from Nightheart when StarClan chose him to accompany her. When they met the park cats, Frostpaw found an opportunity to feel safe once more, away from the dangers and trauma of RiverClan. She was able to let her guard down spending time with Nightheart and the park cats, and Bee and Riverstar taught her how to meditate. About a half-moon after their arrival, Frostpaw accepted that it was Splashtail who attempted to murder her. Frostpaw learned what qualities should be in their future leader. After learning the truth about her mother, Frostpaw realized she knows everything to heal her Clan.

Nightheart

«For now, he was her Clan.»

—Frostpaw about Nightheart ^{Thunder, page 216}

StarClan chose Nightheart to accompany Frostpaw on her journey. At first, Nightheart was reluctant to leave, though Frostpaw managed to convince him after implying he would help save the Clans. Despite Nightheart being her StarClan-chosen partner, Frostpaw kept her distance from him, though she began opening up to him after Nightheart saved her from otters. He reassured Frostpaw when they crossed the river by climbing tree branches. Despite longing for the closeness of her Clan, Frostpaw found comfort in Nightheart's companionship and loyalty. While Frostpaw learned how to meditate, Nightheart spent his time with the park cats, and he never rushed Frostpaw for how long she took. He continued to support her as she progressed with her meditations, promising to support her even when they return to the Clans.

Riverstar

"You must trust them to take care of you when you can't take care of yourself. Meditation can show us things that are difficult to know. It can stir up powerful emotions. You mustn't let them consume you. RiverClan needs you to stay strong. And that means you must accept help when you need it."

―Riverstar to Frostpaw ^{Thunder, page 229}

Riverstar guided Frostpaw during her journey to his former parkmates.

Riverstar was formerly a member of the Cats of the Park. RiverClan's founder first appeared to Frostpaw following her recovery, encouraging that he would help her restore RiverClan. At the Moonpool, Riverstar revealed how he had chosen Frostpaw to save RiverClan, but first she must place her faith in others during her journey. When Frostpaw and Nightheart arrived at the Cats of the Park, Riverstar appeared to Frostpaw during her first meditation, and he encouraged Frostpaw to let Nightheart and the others support her. During her final meditation, Riverstar revealed to Frostpaw that it was her mother Curlfeather who plotted with Splashtail to kill Reedwhisker. Riverstar was pleased with Frostpaw's progress and promised that StarClan would be on her side.

Bee

"Perhaps if you found the kit inside you, she could help you face this terrible truth you are searching for."

―Bee to Frostpaw ^{Thunder, page 233}

Bee is a member of the park cats. He was one of the first cats to teach Frostpaw how to meditate, and he often spent the most time with her by the river. He encouraged Frostpaw to take her time. He also informed Nightheart that Frostpaw still needed some time to uncover the truth she was avoiding. He also began to experience odd dreams of cats along the frozen riverbank watching him, though Bee was unsure what his dreams meant.