Short stories and plays

"I promise I will be guided by the warrior code, and most of all, by StarClan's wish that there should be four Clans. If that means sharing our fresh-kill, so be it. We will do what we have to in order to survive—just as we have always done."

— Firestar to the Gathering in The Clans Decide, page 14

Short Stories and plays
Release date
April/May 2007
Authors
Victoria Holmes, Cherith Baldry, Kate Cary
Books
Check the main article.
Chronology
Navigate to Warriors books for all arcs.

Short stories, plays, and essays are shorter texts outside of the main arcs that further expand on the characters. These include author explanations, stories, plays, and fan-work competitions.

Short stories

After Sunset: The Right Choice?

After Hawkfrost's death, Leafpool goes near the lake and thinks about how the prophecy has been fulfilled. Brambleclaw is behind her, and he is dejected as he thinks that she does not trust him; many also think that StarClan disapproves of him being made deputy without mentoring an apprentice.

The Elders' Concern

In the elders' den, Halftail and his denmates argue about Bluestar choosing Fireheart as deputy. Smallear thinks that Fireheart is a kittypet who knows nothing about leading, and Halftail says that Bluestar broke the code in not appointing him before moonhigh. Smallear questions why Fireheart was chosen when there are so many other cats, and Halftail says that they should give him a chance, but the other elders refuse to acknowledge him as deputy.

Spottedleaf's Honest Answer

Spottedleaf explains about her feelings over Firestar. She begins that she still loves Firestar even though they were never meant to and never will be together. Over time, she came to see him as a kind and brave cat who would be the fire that would save ThunderClan. After Spottedleaf died, she was forced to watch him from afar and speak with him only occasionally; once he became mates with Sandstorm, she knew that they had grown hopelessly far apart. Although upset, she knew she could never offer the presence of a living mate who matched him like Sandstorm could. Spottedleaf now watches over their two daughters, but she sometimes still wishes that things had turned out differently.

The Clans Decide

In a harsh leaf-bare, Pouncetail and Otterheart are found severely injured on ThunderClan territory after being chased by ShadowClan. Firestar takes them to Leafpool and later calls an emergency Gathering to discuss the prey shortages. However, many cats challenge him, so he prepares to leave. Mosspelt calls him back, and he proposes for the Clans to share their leftovers. Jayfeather states that they should hold a vote, where every cat decides if they will follow their own leader or follow Firestar. Firestar is bewildered at the thought of leading four Clans, but the vote results in him having a majority. Surprised, he states that they will meet every quarter moon to share prey and declares that they will survive.

The Death of Bright Stream

Bright Stream and her Tribemates are trapped in a cave by eagles who are trying to hunt them. Clear Sky declares that they must hunt the eagles, and Turtle Tail, Cloud Spots, and Bright Stream are chosen to go with Gray Wing to lure the birds away. Bright Stream is initially worried, but she then grows resolute even though she is carrying kits. They go into the open, and she darts back to safety when an eagle swoops toward her. She and Gray Wing prepare to surround a perching eagle. They run, but Bright Stream turns around to see the eagle above the tom. She pulls him into shelter, but the eagle then hooks its talons into her. Despite Bright Stream's efforts to break free, its talons sink in deeper, and darkness enfolds her as she is carried up higher and higher.

The Longest Night

The Longest Night is a fanfiction written by Kate Cary. ThunderClan decorates its camp and prepares gifts for the Longest Night. However, Bramblestar calls a Clan meeting stating that Jayfeather was warned that the night would not end until they "found the star". It snows heavily three days later, and Graystripe and Bramblestar go hunting. He tells Bramblestar to check on the other patrols, and he encounters Firestar as he looks for prey. The former leader sadly tells Graystripe that he misses ThunderClan, and after they bid farewell to each other, and Graystripe realizes that he has found the star.

The Disappearing Herbs

The Disappearing Herbs is the first short-story competition on the Warrior Cats website, where the first 500 words were written by Victoria Holmes, and the story was finished by fans. In the given section, Brightpaw watches her sister Cinderpaw train as a medicine cat. Yellowfang says that their herbs are disappearing, and she suspects that another Clan is stealing them. Brightpaw goes on a patrol to find signs of cats possibly stealing herbs.

A Fear of Fire

Tigerclaw has a nightmare of a fire in ThunderClan's camp. He wakes up and goes on a patrol near the Twolegplace, but he scents smoke as he walks, and a voice tells him that fire will destroy him. Tigerclaw tells his Clanmates to run, but they do not detect any fire, and Lionheart states that there is nothing but a ginger kittypet sleeping.

The Hidden Prophecy

The Hidden Prophecy is the second short-story competition on the Warrior Cats website, where the first 500 words were written by Victoria Holmes, and the story was finished by fans. Yellowfang and Cinderpaw are at the Moonstone, and the apprentice wakes to find herself in Yellowfang's dream. A cat states that "fox red and raven black will save us from the storm of stone and water". Cinderpaw thinks that it is a prophecy while Yellowfang dismisses it as an ordinary dream.

Beyond the Fence

Beyond the Fence is the third short-story competition on the Warrior Cats website, where the first 500 words were written by Victoria Holmes, and the story was finished by fans. Sandpaw, Dustpaw, Firepaw, Darkstripe, and Whitestorm go on a patrol to the Twolegplace, and the white warrior tells Firepaw to lead. Whitestorm injures himself, so he and Darkstripe head back. The apprentices continue, and there is a rabbit on the other side of the Twoleg fence, but Firepaw insists on hunting in the forest.

Plays

After Sunset: We Need to Talk

Leafpool and Crowfeather meet at the border, and Leafpool wants to say something important. Crowfeather informs her that he and Nightcloud have kits, and before they can leave, patrols from ThunderClan and WindClan find them. The two patrols argue, and as the two sides leave, Leafpool hopes that she and Crowfeather will not regret them not speaking.

Beyond the Code: Brightspirit's Mercy

A Gathering takes place during leaf-bare, and all of the Clans except for ThunderClan are starving. Later, Jaypaw goes to the lake to attempt to speak to Rock through the stick. Hollyleaf and Lionblaze find him, and three StarClan cats, Brightspirit, Braveheart, and Shiningheart appear, but they are only visible to Jaypaw. The spirits urge him to aid the other Clans, and although Lionblaze is disgruntled, they go hunting. They collect their prey and encounter a WindClan patrol. They give WindClan the fresh-kill, and afterward, the three StarClan cats say that Jaypaw is a good cat with a difficult future.

Essays

Why is Jaypaw Blind?

Victoria Holmes explains that Jaypaw was blind because did not need vision to be a hero. She also enjoyed the challenge of describing scenes without visual details. Jaypaw is not one to be pitied easily—he has a difficult personality and initially saw being a medicine cat apprentice as what he had to do because of his lack of sight. Victoria Holmes also wanted him to see in a different way: into the dreams of other cats, and he had to use his power for a good purpose.

Tigerstar: Heart of Evil?

Victoria Holmes debates whether or not Tigerstar is truly evil. Although it seemed to be clear from the beginning that he was the main villain, StarClan gave him nine lives, and in many ways, he had a positive impact on ShadowClan after Nightstar's death. Tigerstar was also a skilled warrior who was deeply loyal to what was important to him. She concludes that he deserves to be both respected and punished.

Erin Hunter's Confidential Notes 1: The Curtain Falls: Choosing Which Cats Would Die

Victoria Holmes discusses how she chose who died in the Great Battle. Hollyleaf died heroically because Holmes did not want her to be considered a murderer, but nor could she stay in ThunderClan after killing Ashfur. Spottedleaf died because Holmes wanted her final act to be her best one, and Ferncloud was killed in battle because of fans saying she never did anything dangerous. Mousefur died peacefully because she had been through so much in her life.

Erin Hunter's Confidential Notes 2: Unhappily Ever After? Ending the Doomed Romances

Victoria Holmes states that she likes complicated romances, but she had to decide their ends in the Last Hope. Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight did not reunite as mates, but they became leader and deputy. Leafpool and Crowfeather also could not have a happy ending, so Holmes concluded it by having Crowfeather say that he did not regret their time together. Lionblaze and Cinderheart were always meant to have an enduring relationship. Victoria Holmes concludes that Jayfeather and Half Moon's romance should have failed, but she could not bring herself to do so; Half Moon awaits Jayfeather in StarClan.

Erin Hunter's Confidential Notes 3: The Truth About Midnight

Victoria Holmes explains her fascination with Midnight the badger, who has strange and elusive powers. She originally did not have many details about Midnight's backstory, but she later realized that the badger could be interesting because she seemed to be above even StarClan. Holmes reveals that Midnight and Rock know each other, and they are both ghosts.

Characters

Main characters

• Leafpool
• Crowfeather
• Brambleclaw
• Jaypaw
• Brightspirit
• Halftail
• Spottedleaf
• Firestar/Firepaw
• Bright Stream
• Graystripe
• Brightpaw
• Tigerclaw
• Cinderpaw
• Yellowfang
• Sandpaw

Major characters

• Lionblaze
• Hollyleaf
• Ashfoot
• Breezepaw
• Smallear
• Dappletail
• Patchpelt
• Russetfur
• Onestar
• Leopardstar
• Blackstar
• Jayfeather
• Clear Sky
• Gray Wing
• Bramblestar
• Firestar
• Cinderpaw
• Yellowfang
• Lionheart
• Dustpaw

Supporting characters

• Brambleclaw
• Cloudtail
• Berrypaw
• Onestar
• Tornear
• Harepaw
• Leopardstar
• Blackstar
• Russetfur
• Firestar
• Shiningheart
• Braveheart
• Pouncetail
• Otterheart
• Rowanclaw
• Sandstorm
• Mosspelt
• Blackclaw
• Rainswept Flower
• Dappled Pelt
• Cloud Spots
• Turtle Tail
• Shaded Moss
• Tall Shadow
• Millie
• Larkkit
• Leafkit
• Honeykit
• Lilyheart
• Thornpaw
• Whitestorm
• Bluestar
• Ravenpaw
• Graypaw
• Darkstripe

Important events

Book	Event
Beyond the Code: Brightspirit's Mercy	Brightspirit, Shiningheart, and Braveheart urge Jaypaw to help the other Clans through the leaf-bare, so Jaypaw, Hollyleaf, and Lionblaze catch prey for WindClan.
The Clans Decide	Pouncetail and Otterheart are found severely injured. At a Gathering, it is decided through a vote that Firestar will temporarily lead all of the Clans through the leaf-bare.
The Death of Bright Stream	Bright Stream, who is pregnant, dies when she is caught by an eagle and is unable to escape.
The Longest Night	During the Longest Night, Jayfeather receives a warning that "the Longest Night will not end until you have found the star." The meaning is revealed when Graystripe finds Firestar's spirit in the forest.
A Fear of Fire	On patrol, a voice tells Tigerclaw that fire will destroy him. He thinks he smells smoke, but it is just a ginger kittypet, hinting at Firestar's arrival.
The Hidden Prophecy	Yellowfang receives a prophecy stating that "fox red and raven black will save us from the storm of stone and water."

Publication history

• After Sunset: We Need to Talk (EN), Victoria Holmes, HarperCollins (digital), April/May 2007
• Beyond the Code: Brightspirit's Mercy (EN), Cherith Baldry, HarperCollins (digital), January 2009
• The Clans Decide (EN), Victoria Holmes, HarperCollins (digital), 20 January 2009
• Why is Jaypaw Blind? (EN), Victoria Holmes, HarperCollins (digital), 2 July 2009
• Tigerstar: Heart of Evil? (EN), Victoria Holmes, HarperCollins (digital), 7 July 2009
• Spottedleaf's Honest Answer (EN), Victoria Holmes, HarperCollins (digital), 8 July 2009
• After Sunset: The Right Choice? (EN), Victoria Holmes, HarperCollins (digital), 30 June 2011
• The Elders' Concern (EN), Victoria Holmes, HarperCollins (digital), 30 June 2011
• Erin Hunter's Confidential Notes 1: The Curtain Falls: Choosing Which Cats Would Die (EN), Victoria Holmes, HarperCollins (The Last Hope enhanced e-book), 3 April 2012
• Erin Hunter's Confidential Notes 2: Unhappily Ever After? Ending the Doomed Romances (EN), Victoria Holmes, HarperCollins (The Last Hope enhanced e-book), 3 April 2012
• Erin Hunter's Confidential Notes 3: The Truth About Midnight (EN), Victoria Holmes, HarperCollins (The Last Hope enhanced e-book), 3 April 2012
• The Death of Bright Stream (EN), HarperCollins (digital), 13 February 2014
• The Longest Night (EN), Kate Cary (digital), 18 December 2015
• The Disappearing Herbs (EN), Victoria Holmes, HarperCollins (digital), 11 November 2021
• A Fear of Fire (EN), Victoria Holmes (digital), 15 December 2021
• The Hidden Prophecy (EN), Victoria Holmes (digital), 1 December 2022
• Beyond the Fence (EN), Kate Cary (digital), 9 November 2023

See Also

• Erin Hunter
• Warriors books