Skyrock

"It has to be a special place. And up there we're closer to StarClan—that's the spirits of our warrior ancestors."

— Tinycloud to Coal in SkyClan's Destiny, chapter 13

Skyrock
General information
Usage	Gatherings Lookout location Communication with StarClan
Discovered by	Ancient SkyClan

The Skyrock is the highest portion of the gorge. It was the location of Gatherings for SkyClan, as well as a place to communicate with StarClan.

Description

"The Skyrock is for warriors. Besides, you're too young to leap across the gap, and if even one of you tries it, all four of you will go straight back to the nursery."

―Fallowfern to her kits ^{SkyClan's Destiny, chapter 13}

The Skyrock is a large flat rock that juts over the gorge cliffs. During the day, the surface is warm and smooth. The leader sits on a tumble of boulders where the rock meets the cliff. At night, starlight glints on its surface.

A narrow stony and slanted trail leads up to the Skyrock from beyond the elders' den cavern. It ends at a deep cleft in the cliff face. A large gap lies in between the Skyrock and the trail. Because of the gap, the young, old, and injured sit on the trail or keep watch over camp. As SkyClan grew, the Skyrock only had enough room for the senior warriors to sit on top of it, with the rest of the Clan sitting near the edge on top of the cliff or on the trail.

Significance

«Firestar wasn't sure that he was doing the right thing. He had no doubts about Leafdapple as the destined leader of SkyClan—Echosong's vision seemed too clear for that—but he wondered if he should have taken Leafdapple to the Whispering Cave for her ceremony. That was the nearest the SkyClan cats had to the Moonstone, where the leaders of the forest Clans received their nine lives and their name. Yet tonight the stars seemed particularly bright, and as he looked up they seemed to shift for a moment into the shape of the SkyClan leader's face, as if he were saying, “Come.”»

—Firestar's thoughts about the Skyrock ^{Firestar's Quest, chapter 34}

Beyond serving as a lookout location to view the entire gorge, the Skyrock was used by SkyClan as the place for Gatherings, which SkyClan still held despite being the only Clan in the area. The Clan would meet during the full moon to share news amongst each other. The Skyrock is also where new leaders receive their nine lives by sleeping on top of the rock, and StarClan visits cats in their dreams. The story of Firestar's restoration of SkyClan was also told at each full moon to honor his legacy.

Location history

Sky: "You already know the Skyrock; that's where the Clan gathered at the full moon."

Firestar: "Why did SkyClan hold Gatherings when there weren't any other Clans?"

^{Firestar's Quest, chapter 20}

When SkyClan arrived at the gorge, they used the Skyrock to hold Gatherings to be closer with the stars. When SkyClan was long gone, Sky still held vigil on top of the Skyrock every full moon in remembrance, causing the local kittypets to call him Moony. On their second day of exploring the gorge, Firestar and Sandstorm noticed a separate path up the gorge from the warriors' den. When the trail ended, Firestar spotted the large rock jutting over the gorge edge and leaps to it. He and Sandstorm spent the rest of the day resting on the warm stone. After Moony sent Firestar and Sandstorm away, the two ThunderClan cats decided to wait to speak with him until the full moon. They were surprised when the old cat managed the giant leap. Sky told them about SkyClan, and introduced them to SkyClan's former camp, including the Skyrock. While gathering recruits for the new SkyClan, Firestar, Sandstorm, and Sky discussed their thoughts on the Skyrock.

SkyClan hosted its first Gathering on the Skyrock with Firestar proceeding. He named Echo their new medicine cat, naming her Echosong. When Echosong received a dream signifying Leafdapple to be their leader, Firestar and Echosong took her to the Skyrock at night, where StarClan visited them in their dreams. Leafstar later ate fresh-kill on top of the Skyrock, though left half of it as an offering for her ancestors. Skywatcher's spirit appeared to compliment the vole and reassured her about SkyClan's attack on the Twoleg. In greenleaf, Sol interrupted the Gathering when he assumed he would be named a warrior, only for Leafstar to decline. A storm caused Leafstar to usher her cats back to their dens.

Seasons later, Echosong guided Ravenpaw on top of the Skyrock to rest, where Bluestar, Whitestorm, and Lionheart arrived to speak with the loner to offer him a warrior name, though Ravenpaw politely declined.

Book mentions

• Firestar's Quest (First appearance)
• SkyClan's Destiny
• Beyond the Code
• Ravenpaw's Farewell
• The Apprentice's Quest (Mentioned only)

Gallery

Map art

Skyrock on the original map

Skyrock on the original Twoleg view map

Skyrock on the reprinted map

Skyrock on the reprinted Twoleg view map

Official art

The Skyrock in SkyClan and the Stranger