SkyClan's journey to find the Clans

"As long as I'm alive, SkyClan will never be exiled. We will always survive!"

— Hawkwing thoughts about SkyClan's future in Hawkwing's Journey, page 169

SkyClan's journey to find the Clans
General information
Book	Hawkwing's Journey, Pebbleshine's Kits, The Apprentice's Quest to Shattered Sky
Locations	The gorge to the lake territories
Duration	Newleaf to newleaf; approximately one year
Participants	Entirety of SkyClan except Ebonyclaw, Harveymoon, Nettlesplash, Mintfur, and their kits (See more)
Outcome	Twigpaw guides SkyClan to the lake SkyClan's presence is challenged by ShadowClan The five Clans are reunited
Chronology
Preceded by:	Battle of the gorge, The Kin's campaign
Concurrent:	The Kin's campaign, Journey to find SkyClan, Yellowcough plague, Fall of ShadowClan
Followed by:	Fall of ShadowClan, ShadowClan-SkyClan conflict

SkyClan's journey to find the Clans was a journey that takes place in Hawkwing's Journey and Pebbleshine's Kits through Shattered Sky where SkyClan fled the gorge after Darktail and his rogues drove them away. Guided by StarClan's prophecies, SkyClan wandered for many moons to find the other four Clans by the lake, and numerous cats died or were lost during the journey.

Summary

Premise

"The fire has burned out, but to dispel the darkness you must find the spark that remains."

―Echosong's prophecy from Skystar ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 36}

Sensing troubling times for SkyClan in the near future, Skystar, Cloudstar, and Brackenheart debate SkyClan's future in the gorge. With Firestar dead, SkyClan insists his Clan must leave the gorge to find the other Clans if they are to survive. Skystar sends a prophecy to Echosong: "The fire has burned out, but to dispel the darkness you must find the spark that remains." The Clan speculates that it must mean they must seek out the other Clans, particularly Firestar's living kin in ThunderClan but are unsure where the Clans are gone after they left the forest. While searching the nearby remains of a previous fire, Hawkwing discovers Darktail, a rogue, who has knowledge of the other Clans. Darktail convinces SkyClan that the Clans are only a few days travel away, so Billystorm, Waspwhisker, Blossomheart, Hawkwing, and Pebblepaw briefly journey to find ThunderClan following Darktail's directions. However, Billystorm is killed by badgers, and Hawkwing's convinced it was a trap by Darktail since he claimed their nest to be empty.

Their mission a failure, the patrol returns home with news of Billystorm's death, and they learn that racoons from the Twolegplace raided SkyClan's camp in their absence and the daylight warriors are confined to their Twoleg nests by their owners. To prove his worth, Darktail leads a second patrol to find ThunderClan with his friend Rain, Hawkwing, Sagenose, Firefern, and Harrybrook. After two days of travel, they meet Darktail's friend Toad, who claims to have seen a large group of cats take shelter in the nearby barn not long ago. Hopeful they may have found the other Clans, the group searches the barn when they are attacked by dogs, and Toad is killed. Without an inclination where the other Clans went, the patrol returns to the gorge. However, their arrival is met with news of the racoons attacking once again in their absence. While on a patrol, Hawkwing spots Darktail leaving Twoleg rubbish on their territory, but makes nothing of it. A group of rogues attack another patrol, but the SkyClan cats manage to drive them away. In the middle of the night, the same rogues attack SkyClan, and Darktail betrays SkyClan by siding with them. Outnumbered and weakened, Leafstar calls for a retreat, and the Clan scatters into the rainy night. Sharpclaw, Stormheart, Bouncefire, and Patchfoot are killed in the battle, and Snipkit drowned in the river trying to escape the gorge with her littermates.

Overview

"We mustn't lose faith. I know it will be a difficult journey, even if it is a short one. But we must remember what is at stake here: the future of SkyClan."

―Leafstar to Waspwhisker ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 368}

SkyClan journeyed for nearly a year to find the other Clans by the lake

With the gorge now under Darktail's control, SkyClan leaves their territory for Barley's farm in search of the other Clans four days later, guided by Echosong's dream of a lake However, not every cat joins in on the journey: Ebonyclaw and Harveymoon stay behind to be with their Twolegs, Mintfur and Nettlesplash's kits are too young for the long journey, and Frecklewish, Sandynose, Fallowfern, and Mistfeather are missing. Two days later, SkyClan reunites with Stick and his group at their Twolegplace, though Hawkwing kills the rival rogue leader Dodge in exchange for his apprentice Curlypaw's life. SkyClan arrives at Barley's barn several days later. Barley points them in the direction the four Clans took on the Great Journey many seasons prior, and Cherrytail and Cloudmist decide to stay with Barley. Pebbleshine, Hawkwing's expectant mate, is also captured in a monster a moon later.

After nearly two moons of traveling, SkyClan comes across a lake. While they originally believe it to be the lake in Echosong's dream, they find no trace of the other Clans. Echosong believes they must move on quickly, but SkyClan stays to rest until Plumwillow has her kits. The lake seems to be paradise for the weary cats, though they quickly learn their temporary home is plagued with large birds, Twolegs, and their dogs in greenleaf. Plumwillow gives birth to Sandynose's kits a moon later—Finkit, Dewkit, and Reedkit—and she asks Hawkwing to help her raise them. Around this time in late greenleaf, StarClan sends the four Clans a prophecy, prompting Bramblestar to send a quest to find SkyClan led by Alderpaw. However, the patrol finds Darktail and his rogues in the gorge, and later learn SkyClan has been driven out. Alderpaw and Needlepaw discover Hawkwing and Pebbleshine's two kits on their journey back to the Clans, their mother having died on the Thunderpath.

A moon later, Echosong leaves with Bellaleaf and Harrybrook to find the other Clans, believing they are not meant to stay by the lake due to StarClan's silence. Two moons later, Parsleyseed and Curlypaw leave the Clan to become kittypets, believing it would be easier then dealing with the dogs and Twolegs that plague their temporary camps. Hawkwing convinces Leafstar that they must leave the lake. Twolegs attack their camp the following dawn, capturing Fidgetpaw, Waspwhisker, Clovertail, and Birdwing. With their deputy missing, Leafstar names Hawkwing her new deputy, and SkyClan leaves the lake for good. A moon and half later, numerous cats fall ill, and Hawkwing and Firefern struggle to treat them without their medicine cats. However, Echosong and her patrol return, though Rileypool and Firefern die. Sandynose and Fallowfern also return after escaping capture from Twolegs. Two moons later, now in leaf-bare, Echosong receives another prophecy from StarClan, the same one given to the four Clans moons earlier. SkyClan follows the blood trail after Echosong's death, eventually finding Twigpaw, who guides them towards the lake territories.

Description

SkyClan's exile

"I'm sorry to tell you, that the gorge is lost to us. Darktail has moved in so many rogues that the place is crawling with them. We're badly outnumbered. Our best chance of survival now is to forget the gorge. It is not the home we made there, not anymore. We must find new territory. We must find ThunderClan."

―Leafstar to her Clan a few days after they fled the gorge ^{Hawkwing's Journey, pages 225-226}

Nettlesplash was one of the warriors who chose to stay behind with his mate Mintfur and their newborn kits

Two days after the battle, a majority of SkyClan regroups in the garden of Ebonyclaw's Twoleg nest. Leafstar leads a patrol to check on the status of Darktail and his rogues in the gorge two days later. However, they somberly report that their home is overridden with rogues, and Leafstar declares the gorge is lost. Echosong announces that StarClan sent her another dream of SkyClan living happily beside a lake. Pleased they have some news from StarClan, Leafstar declares they will leave in two sunrises and head for Barley's farm. The next sunrise, Leafstar names Pebblepaw, Parsleypaw, Rileypaw, and Bellapaw warriors with the names Pebbleshine, Parsleyseed, Rileypool, and Bellaleaf. She also makes Curlykit and Fidgetkit apprentices, assigned to Hawkwing and Echosong respectively. SkyClan leaves the following sunrise. However, Nettlesplash and Mintfur decide to stay behind since their four kits—Palekit, Gravelkit, Nectarkit, and Fringekit—are too young to travel. Harveymoon and Ebonyclaw also decide to stay with their Twolegs. SkyClan also leaves behind Mistfeather, Frecklewish, Sandynose, and Fallowfern who are still missing since the battle.

Reuniting with Stick and Dodge

"Stick, you should be ashamed of yourself! Have you forgotten how SkyClan helped us? I'll come with you, Leafstar."

―Shorty to Stick and Leafstar after Curlypaw is abducted ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 252}

Two days later, SkyClan arrives at the Twolegplace where Stick and his group live, though Leafstar wishes to avoid running into his group and Dodge's. Shorty, one of Stick's cats, finds SkyClan lost in the Twolegplace and guides them back to their camp to spend the night. SkyClan's older warriors reunite with Stick, Coal, Cora, Snowy, and Percy. While hunting with some of Stick's cats, Curlypaw is abducted by some of Dodge's crew, and Harley arrives with a message from Dodge: the rogue leader wishes to speak with Leafstar and all her cats. Leafstar accepts Dodge's ultimatum, and Harley leads SkyClan to Dodge's camp. There, Dodge explains that he gave Darktail and his rogues instructions on where to find SkyClan as revenge for SkyClan helping to defeat him in an earlier conflict with Stick and his group. The rogue leader asks for SkyClan's help to defeat Stick and his cats in exchange for Curlypaw's life. When Leafstar refuses, Hawkwing challenges Dodge to a one-on-one fight for Curlypaw's freedom. The gray tabby warrior manages to kill Dodge in combat, securing his apprentice's safety. Dodge's cats are prepared to attack in retribution for their leader's death when Harley insists they must honor Dodge's agreement and let SkyClan go.

Arrival at the forest territories

"I'm so sorry to hear what happened to you. And sorry too that your vision must mean that Firestar is dead. I can point you in the direction Ravenpaw told me the Clans went, but I don't know anything beyond that. The days when Ravenpaw and I lived alongside the Clans seem such a long time ago now. You're all welcome here. Feel free to hunt; there's plenty for every cat."

―Barley to SkyClan ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 274}

SkyClan reunited with Barley at his farm for directions on where to find the other Clans

Several days later, SkyClan continues to follow the river upstream to Barley's farm. Bellaleaf and Rileypool recognize landmarks from the river, and they lead their Clan across farmland to Barley's farm. While Barley is unsure where the Clans are now, he points them in the direction they took many moons ago and offers shelter for the night. In the morning, Barley points SkyClan to Highstones. Before they leave, Cherrytail announces she's staying due to her infected wound from the battle in the gorge and her grief over her mate Sharpclaw's death. Her daughter Cloudmist offers to stay with her.

Pebbleshine's disappearance

«Maybe my Clanmates are right. We still need to find the spark that remains, and make our new lives with the rest of the Clans. Pebbleshine and our kits will find SkyClan again one day. We will all be together again in the new territory beside the water, the home that Echosong dreamed of.»

—Hawkwing's thoughts after Pebbleshine's disappearance ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 303}

A moon later, Hawkwing, Pebbleshine, Waspwhisker, Blossomheart, and Curlypaw hunt while SkyClan rests for the day. They are unsuccessful due to the unfamiliar terrain, but Pebbleshine detects the scent of chickens in a nearby monster nest. The patrol decides it is worth the risk to steal a chicken for their hungry Clan, but Pebbleshine gets trapped on the monster when Twolegs arrive and drive it away. After three days of waiting for her to return, Hawkwing wishes to stay behind and continue waiting for her. However, Leafstar, Echosong, and Curlypaw convince him that he's needed with his Clan, and Hawkwing resolves that he, Pebbleshine, and their unborn kits will be reunited one day.

Pebbleshine eventually escapes the monster and attempts to reunite with her Clanmates. A moon later, she dreams of Hawkwing and her Clanmates urging her to follow the setting sun, and eventually gives birth in a tunnel underneath a Thunderpath to two daughters. Pebbleshine dies the next day on the Thunderpath trying to lure a badger away from her kits. The Thunderpath is less than a day's travel from the lake territories.

A different lake

"This is not the place StarClan showed me in my dreams. If it was, ThunderClan and maybe the other Clans too would be here to greet us. Believe me, If we stay here, no good will come of it. It doesn't feel right."

―Echosong about the lake ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 313}

Half a moon after leaving Pebbleshine, SkyClan comes across a lake in a valley with woodlands, meadows, and outcrops of rocks. SkyClan initially believes this to be the lake Echosong had dreamed about, and they find a suitable place to make camp in a rocky hollow lined with tree roots, long grass, and a stream bubbling from two boulders towards the lake. However, they do not find any of the Clans, and Echosong declares they must continue to search for the lake in her dreams. However, the rest of SkyClan wishes to stay, since they've been traveling for nearly two moons and Plumwillow is close to giving birth to her kits, much to Echosong's dismay. A moon later in early greenleaf, Echosong and Leafstar argue about SkyClan's place at the lake, with the medicine cat continue to insist they should leave to follow SkyClan's will. Plumwillow finally gives birth to her and Sandynose's kits with Hawkwing at her side. With her mate missing since they left the gorge, Plumwillow asks Hawkwing to help her raise her kits since he also feels the loss of his mate and kits with Pebbleshine's disappearance.

Prompted by StarClan's silence, Echosong leaves SkyClan at the other lake to try and find the other Clans

A moon later, SkyClan learns that Twolegs frequently visit their lake during greenleaf and cause disruption. One day, four dogs suddenly barge into their temporary camp, and the cats scatter in a frenzy. While the Clan debates on whether to move their camp until the Twolegs leave, Echosong announces she's leaving to find the other Clans, urged by a vision of smoldering embers and StarClan's silence. Harrybrook and Bellaleaf join her on her quest. A few days later, SkyClan moves camp twice around the lake to try to avoid the Twolegs and their dogs.

Two moons later, Parsleyseed leaves SkyClan to become a kittypet, believing it to be an easier and safer option than being surrounded by Twolegs and dogs. Curlypaw decides to join him a few days later, losing faith in StarClan's promise to reunite SkyClan with the other Clans. With the constant threat of Twolegs and dogs and their youngest members losing their fear of Twolegs, Hawkwing requests to Leafstar that they should leave the lake and search for Echosong. Leafstar agrees, despite Waspwhisker and others warning that leaf-bare is on the horizon. However, Twolegs invade their camp in the early dawn and capture Waspwhisker, Clovertail, Birdwing, and Fidgetpaw. After SkyClan regroups, Leafstar insists they must move on since there's little hope their lost Clanmates will return. With their deputy Waspwhisker gone, Leafstar names Hawkwing his successor.

SkyClan finally leaves the lake after living there for roughly four moons. Unbeknownst to SkyClan, six cats from ThunderClan were sent out on a journey to find SkyClan after being urged by a prophecy from StarClan to seek them out. Alderpaw and the others arrived at the gorge in late greenleaf, only to find Darktail and his rogues posing as SkyClan.

The sickness and SkyClan's fate

"SkyClan is dead. It has been, really, ever since we were driven from the gorge. Are we trying to revive something we should have given up on long ago? Nothing lasts forever. The original SkyClan died out, too."

―Plumwillow after Firefern's and Rileypool's deaths ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 402}

Firefern, Leafstar's daughter, attempted to help treat the sick cats but soon perish from the illness herself

A moon and a half since they left the lake, SkyClan sets up temporary camp in a rocky hollow in a bleak landscape. Macgyver, Blossomheart, Rileypool, and Finkit fall ill with a mysterious sickness, and Hawkwing and Firefern attempt to treat them without their medicine cats but lack the medicinal knowledge to properly heal them. Firefern falls ill two days later, and Leafstar's prepared for Hawkwing to lead the remaining healthy cats to search for Echosong, whom they haven't seen in nearly four moons, when Echosong, Harrybrook, and Bellaleaf return. Brackenheart had guided Echosong to her Clan in her dreams. SkyClan quickly catches Echosong up with what has occurred, and she immediately begins treating the ill cats. However, Firefern and Rileypool pass from the sickness. Frustrated by the long moons of travel without clear direction, Plumwillow and a few others argue if they're meant to be part of a Clan anymore. However, Sandynose and Fallowfern miraculously reunite with SkyClan after moons of being trapped by Twolegs and tracking their Clanmates, prompting renewed hope for Plumwillow and the rest of SkyClan that their missing Clanmates may one day return. SkyClan leaves after a few days once their ill Clanmates recover.

Embrace what you find in the shadows

"Embrace what you find in the shadows, for only they can clear the sky."

―Skystar's message to Echosong ^{Hawkwing's Journey, paeg 419}

SkyClan finding the blood trail

After two moons of travel in the thick of leaf-bare, Echosong receives a vision from SkyClan with a message: "Embrace what you find in the shadows, for only they can clear the sky." While the rest of SkyClan is displeased by the vague message, Echosong is happy that StarClan is still with them. Unbeknownst to SkyClan, the four Clans also received the same message that prompted Alderpaw on his journey. The next morning, Leafstar names Sandynose and Plumwillow's kits apprentices. After their ceremonies, Echosong tells Hawkwing that she also received a vision of a young she-cat who resembled him pointing at a leaf with five points. Hawkwing believes his kits may be alive after many moons since Pebbleshine's disappearance.

The blood trail

"You must look for the blood trail in the sky! Follow the blood trail!"

―Echosong's prophecy before she dies ^{Shattered Sky, page 4}

Prior to Echosong's death, she received another vision from StarClan instructing them to follow the blood trail. Alderheart dreamed of Echosong's death and concluded that SkyClan still needed their help. Meanwhile, SkyClan continued their journey. Following a five-pointed leaf in the wind, Hawkwing discovers that the blood trail is the setting sun guiding SkyClan towards the lake. From his dreams, Alderheart believes SkyClan was not far away from the Clans, but Bramblestar, Rowanstar, and their Clans decide to prioritize fighting Darktail and his Kin, who recently commandeered ShadowClan. Frustrated with their inaction and the hopeful prospects of finding her lost kin, Twigpaw ventures on her own to find SkyClan. After fleeing from the Twolegs who treated her wounds when she was struck on the Thunderpath, Twigpaw wanders for days and is guided in her dreams by a gray tom to follow the blood trail. She follows the setting sun until it vanished below the horizon, and the gray apprentice eventually finds a group of cats settling camp for the night: SkyClan. The SkyClan cats are relieved to find a member from ThunderClan, and Twigpaw realizes that their deputy Hawkwing is her father.

Aftermath

"That doesn't mean you should die there! There was nothing for us at the lake. No land! No prey! No respect! We would have had to fight for every morsel. Is that really how you want to live? Treated like rogues? Have you forgotten who you are? You're SkyClan. The lake was never home. StarClan only wanted us there for some prophecy that was never to do with us. Why should we sacrifice ourselves for Clans who don’t even respect us?"

―Leafstar to her Clan ^{The Raging Storm, chapter 18}

Rowanclaw eventually annexed ShadowClan into SkyClan when his Clan was struggling following Darktail's reign

Twigpaw guides SkyClan back to the lake, recalling Alderheart's journey from the gorge to find her way home. SkyClan meets with ThunderClan, RiverClan, and ShadowClan in ThunderClan's camp. The medicine cats visit the Moonpool to speak with StarClan. While their ancestors are pleased to have SkyClan reunited, but warned that the Kin must be defeated. With SkyClan at their side, the Clans united to defeat the Kin. ShadowClan gives up a portion of its territory for SkyClan since they are recovering from the Kin with most of their warriors dead or missing, and it is eventually annexed into SkyClan after Rowanclaw gives up leadership, though ShadowClan is restored when Tigerheart returns and assumes leadership of his Clan. Tigerstar's demands to reclaim ShadowClan's lost land led to numerous conflicts between the two neighboring Clans, causing SkyClan to doubt its place at the lake. The Clans eventually agree to shift their borders over to make room for SkyClan, though these changes only last a few moons when problems arise. SkyClan eventually moves to a new camp where the Sisters formerly lived, and the old borders shift to accommodate concerns. SkyClan also sends a patrol to the gorge to find their missing Clanmates: Hawkwing and the others bring back Mintfur, Nettlesplash, their four kits, Fidgetpaw, Frecklewish, Cherryfall, Cloudmist, and Tree.

Characters

Leafstar

"We are and always will be a Clan. I will never lose faith that eventually we will find the other Clans and the home where we are meant to live."

―Leafstar to her Clanmates ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 400}

Leafstar guided her Clan through the trials of their journey

Leafstar is the leader of SkyClan. Originally tasked with SkyClan's stability after its revival, Leafstar is tasked with ensuring her Clan's survival after Darktail drove them away. Her mate Billystorm, daughter Stormheart, and deputy Sharpclaw were killed prior to their journey, so Leafstar relies on her medicine cat Echosong and new deputy Waspwhisker. She guides her Clan through Stick's Twolegplace, Barley's farm, and a different lake. Leafstar is firm when she has to be, encouraging her Clanmates to move onward and when it is time to rest. When they arrive at a lake, Leafstar wishes for it to be their new home until accepting it is not within SkyClan's fate. The Clan leader's faith in StarClan is tested during their silence for moons, especially when Echosong and Leafstar's son Harrybrook leave on a quest to find the other Clans. When sickness strikes SkyClan, Leafstar asks for Hawkwing to lead the healthy cats away while she stays with the sick cats, including her daughter Firefern. However, Echosong, Harrybrook, and Bellaleaf arrive shortly after, but Firefern dies from the sickness. As her Clan dwindles from sickness and capture from Twolegs, Leafstar's prepares for the end of SkyClan when Sandynose, and Fallowfern return, prompting newfound hope for the remaining SkyClan cats. She leads her Clan west towards the setting sun after Hawkwing interprets Echosong's final vision.

Hawkwing

«We aren't home by the lake yet, but for the first time in a long while, I believe we will be soon.»

—Hawkwing's thoughts about their journey ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 425}

Hawkwing grew as a warrior and eventually became SkyClan's deputy during their journey

Hawkwing is SkyClan's deputy, and he was promoted after Waspwhisker's disappearance nearly five moons since they began their journey. A hardheaded, ambitious, and stubborn young tom, Hawkwing participates in the original two missions to find ThunderClan. He befriends Darktail and originally trusts the strange tom until Billystorm's death. However, Darktail regains his trust after Frog's death in the second quest. Hawkwing blames himself for SkyClan's destruction after Darktail betrays SkyClan and drives them from the gorge, especially since Darktail kills his father Sharpclaw. Hawkwing is determined to secure SkyClan's survival; he kills Dodge when the rogue leader threatens his apprentice Curlypaw. However, the journey is not without loss: his mother and sister, Cherrytail and Cloudmist, decide to stay with Barley at his farm, his pregnant mate Pebbleshine is carried away by a monster, and his apprentice Curlypaw eventually decides to become a kittypet.

Hawkwing struggles with his grief over losing Pebbleshine and their unborn kits for many moons. He finds new meaning caring for Plumwillow's kits since her mate Sandynose disappeared, and he became a surrogate father to Finkit, Dewkit, and Reedkit. Hawkwing is one of the first to realize Echosong's right about the strange lake, and he manages to convince Leafstar that they should leave. However, several of their Clanmates are captured by Twolegs that morning, including their deputy, Waspwhisker. Leafstar names Hawkwing the new deputy, citing how he's grown to put his Clanmates first. As deputy, Hawkwing helps Leafstar to guide their remaining Clanmates through the sickness. After Echosong's death, Hawkwing interprets the setting sun as the meaning behind her vision.

Echosong

"I don't see what else Skystar's words could mean. And if that's true, then 'the spark that remains' could well be Firestar's kin in ThunderClan. That must mean that we're being told to seek out ThunderClan, and perhaps the other Clans, too. Perhaps it's time for SkyClan to go home..."

―Echosong's thoughts about the prophecy ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 37}

SkyClan relied on Echosong's dreams and visions to guide them to their new home

Echosong was SkyClan's medicine cat. Skystar sends a prophecy to Echosong warning SkyClan to find the other Clans and Firestar's kin. After SkyClan is driven from the gorge, Echosong requests Fidgetpaw to be her apprentice since Frecklewish is missing. StarClan also sends her a dream of their future home by a lake. After nearly two moons of travel, SkyClan discovers a lake different from the one in Echosong's dreams, and Echosong has a feeling there will be danger for SkyClan if they settle here for too long. Her warnings are met with deaf ears since her Clanmates are eager to rest after moons travel and Plumwillow close to give birth. A moon later, Echosong receives a dream of smoldering embers and is displeased with StarClan's silence since they settled at the lake. She departs with Bellaleaf and Harrybrook to try to find the other Clans, leaving her apprentice Fidgetpaw in charge of healing the Clan in her absence. Two moons later, SkyClan leaves the lake to search for their medicine cat, especially when Fidgetpaw is captured by Twolegs. Echosong and her patrol reunite with their sick Clanmates roughly a moon and a half later, having been guided by Brackenheart to find her Clan. After traveling for another two moons, Echosong receives a vision from SkyClan with another prophecy. She also dreams that SkyClan will reunite with the other Clans one day, and of she-cat bearing resemblance to Hawkwing. Echosong later dies from sickness, leaving SkyClan without a medicine cat for the remainder of their journey, but not without telling her Clanmates to follow the blood trail.

Pebbleshine

«I promise I'll get you to SkyClan. You will grow up to be Clan cats. I don't know how I'll do it, but somehow, I will make it happen.»

—Pebbleshine's thoughts to her newborn daughters ^{Pebbleshine's Kits, chapter 7}

Pebbleshine was a lost SkyClan queen and the mother of Twigbranch and Violetshine

Pebbleshine was a SkyClan queen and is the mother of Twigbranch and Violetshine. As an apprentice, Pebblepaw participated in the first brief quest to find ThunderClan with her mentor Billystorm, Waspwhisker, Blossomheart, and Hawkwing. After her mentor's death, Pebblepaw grew bitter, though Hawkwing understood her pain after his brother Duskpaw's death. The pair grew closer, and eventually became mates once she earned her warrior name of Pebbleshine at the start of SkyClan's journey. While pregnant with their kits, Pebbleshine volunteered to hunt chickens trapped in the back of a monster to feed her famished Clan, but became imprisoned herself. Pebbleshine traveled for over a moon to find her lost Clanmates, urged by a dream from StarClan to follow the setting sun. After giving birth to her two daughters, Pebbleshine was killed on the Thunderpath luring a badger away from her nest. Instead of joining StarClan, Pebbleshine chose to wander the living world as a ghost to watch over her kits.

Darktail

"I never turned on you. My plan was to destroy SkyClan all along."

―Darktail to Hawkwing ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 188}

The estranged son of the kittypet Smoke and future WindClan leader Onestar, Darktail sought revenge against his father for abandoning him and his mother. He first sought to destroy SkyClan, and he discovered SkyClan's location with help from Dodge. Darktail lured racoons to SkyClan's gorge with a trail of Twoleg rubbish, and leads them falsely on two occasions to find the other Clans. With SkyClan significantly weakened from the racoons, Darktail led his rogues on a raid on SkyClan's gorge to drive them away. His group continues to live at the gorge until Alderpaw's patrol discovers them, and they follow the group to the lake.

Twigpaw

«I need my kin more than ever now, because I don't have Violetpaw anymore. I'm not going to think about my so-called sister ever again! I'll have something else now...A father, maybe.»

—Twigpaw's thoughts while searching for SkyClan ^{Shattered Sky, page 87}

Twigpaw journeyed to find SkyClan after ThunderClan refused to help

Twigpaw and her sister Violetpaw are the missing kits of Pebbleshine and Hawkwing. After Pebbleshine was killed on the Thunderpath, Alderpaw and Needlepaw found her two newborn kits in her nest underneath a Thunderpath. The two sisters were brought back to the Clans since they were thought to be part of the prophecy from StarClan. Twigkit and Violetkit were separated, with Violetkit going to ShadowClan while Twigkit stayed in ThunderClan. The other Clans were unsure how the two sisters will fulfill StarClan's prophecy. With the Kin's takeover taking priority, Alderheart received a few visions of SkyClan and suspected one of the cats he saw might be one of Twigpaw's kin. When ThunderClan refused to act to focus on defeating the Kin, Twigpaw left to find her kin on her own but was struck on the Thunderpath, and ThunderClan believed her to be dead. Twigpaw was rescued by some Twolegs instead and she later escaped. After searching for many days, Twigpaw found SkyClan and reunited with her father Hawkwing.

Characters that took part in the journey

• Leafstar
• Waspwhisker (Abducted by Twolegs)
• Hawkwing
• Echosong (Died)
• Fidgetpaw (Abducted by Twolegs)
• Sparrowpelt
• Cherrytail (Stayed with Barley at his farm)
• Macgyver
• Tinycloud
• Sagenose
• Rabbitleap
• Plumwillow
• Sandynose (Initially missing, found wanderers later)
• Birdwing (Abducted by Twolegs)
• Firefern (Died)
• Harrybrook
• Blossomheart
• Cloudmist (Stayed with Barley at his farm)
• Bellaleaf
• Rileypool (Died)
• Pebbleshine (Abducted by Twolegs)
• Parsleyseed (Became a kittypet)
• Curlypaw (Became a kittypet)
• Reedpaw
• Dewpaw
• Finpaw
• Clovertail (Abducted by Twolegs)
• Fallowfern (Initially missing, found wanderers later)

Characters who stayed/were left behind

• Ebonyclaw
• Harveymoon
• Nettlesplash
• Mintfur
• Mistfeather (Missing)
• Frecklewish (Missing)
• Palekit
• Gravelkit
• Fringekit
• Nectarkit

Quotes

Leafstar: "Silence! I will not hear such talk. Have you forgotten our history? SkyClan has endured so much. When Twolegs invaded our old territory and drove us out, when the other Clans refused to share with us—not even that could end SkyClan. And this new attack won't, either!"

Sharpclaw: "I know my history as well as any cat. And I've been wondering why we're so keen to find the spark that remains—if that really does mean the kin of Firestar—when the other Clans are at least part of the reason why we were driven to settle here in the gorge in the first place."

^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 163}

"Surviving our exile from our first territory is what made SkyClan who we are. Of course, I don't know for sure, but I suspect that the other four Clans, wherever they are, don't have anything close to our spirit, because they've never been through the same troubles. [...] It took a long time—and a visit from Firestar and Sandstorm—before we could find a way to put ourselves right. I'm afraid that if we are driven into exile again, SkyClan may be lost forever."

―Cherrytail about SkyClan's future ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 167}

"The important thing now is to follow the prophecy. Our Clan is on the verge of being destroyed. If we want to save SkyClan, we must find the spark that remains. Then we will see what the future holds for us."

―Leafstar to SkyClan following the battle of the gorge ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 215}

«Maybe that's why StarClan is letting our journey take so long. So that we learn how much we need each other.»

—Hawkwing's thoughts about their journey ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 287}

"The lake was never meant to be our new camp. It was simply somewhere to regroup, while we waited for a new sign from StarClan, or figured out once and for all what they were asking of us. And now, dogs and Twolegs give us trouble, and our young cats have begun to drift away from Clan life. It is past time for SkyClan to leave this place, and resume our quest to seek out the other Clans."

―Leafstar to her Clan about the lake ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 369}

Leafstar: "I'm going to miss this place. I wanted so much for it to be our home forever. But it isn't."

Hawkwing: "Perhaps something even better is waiting for us."

^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 372}