StormClan's journey

"There will be many troubles on our path—I do not doubt it. But nothing good comes without a struggle. We must fight for our future." This article contains major spoilers for the recently released book, StormClan's Folly. Please proceed at your own discretion.

"Oh yes. One thing I can tell you clearly: You will leave a great legacy, Stripestar and Galestar. Your actions will echo through the ages. But this legacy will not be easily won. There is a darkness in your future, Clan cats. A storm is coming."

— Stoneteller warning Stripestar and Galestar in StormClan's Folly, page 168

StormClan's journey
General information
Book	StormClan's Folly
Locations	The forest territories to the mountains to the sun-drown-place, back to the forest territories
Duration	Greenleaf to leaf-bare, approximately one and a half years
Participants	Entirety of StormClan, including Galestar, Stripestar, and numerous ThunderClan and WindClan cats, with some staying behind (See more)
Outcome	Galestar and her kits find a new life with the wildcats. StormClan is disbanded, and ThunderClan and WindClan return to the forest territories under new leadership.
Chronology
Preceded by:	Fire
Concurrent:	Storm at the sun-drown-place
Followed by:	The Great Hunger

StormClan's journey took place in StormClan's Folly, where WindClan and ThunderClan combined to form StormClan and left the forest to find a new home.

Summary

Premise

"Well...how about it? We could really do it. Together. We could find a new place—a better place. It might be the best thing for us, and for the Clan. A fresh start."

―Stripestar to Galestar about leaving the forest ^{StormClan's Folly, page 111}

Thunderstar and the other founders take away Galestar's and Stripestar's nine lives

After forming a temporary alliance to take Sunningrocks from RiverClan, Stripestar and Galestar begin meeting in secrecy, eventually becoming mates. Due to their relationship breaking the code, they decide to merge their respective Clans instead, forming StormClan, though StarClan takes their nine lives. This plan upsets ShadowClan and RiverClan, and rumors spread that they may ally themselves against StormClan. StormClan initially settles in the ThunderClan camp, but a fire rages through the forest, destroying the territory and forcing StormClan to move to WindClan's old camp. During the evacuation, Galestar's kits are stillborn. They attempt to rebuild the ThunderClan camp again, but the camp is unsalvageable and the prey is scarce. After Birchstar and Snakestar refuse to help them, Stripestar and Galestar decide that StormClan will leave the forest and search for a new home elsewhere.

Overview

«When will this all end? Always moving on. Never finding any place to call home.»

—Galestar's thoughts about finding a home ^{StormClan's Folly, page 225}

Realizing that living on the ThunderClan and WindClan territories is not sustainable, Galestar and Stripestar decide to move their Clanmates to new hunting grounds. Several cats decide to stay behind, including Galestar's sister, Crowflight. While initially optimistic about the Clan's future, they are met with multiple tragedies and losses: Kestrelwing is killed while attempting to cross a large Thunderpath, Petalstep elects to become a kittypet, and Rosebush falls to his death in the mountains. These losses affect StormClan's faith in Stripestar and Galestar's dream. Upon meeting the Tribe of Rushing Water, Stripestar and Galestar are given grave warnings from Stoneteller about a grim future for StormClan. Due to their loss of trust in Galestar, Pebblenose and Thrushcall stay with the Tribe.

StormClan briefly camps in a stone hollow with a mysterious pool, where Stripestar experiences a nightmare that he refuses to tell Galestar about. The Clan eventually finds a comfortable Twoleg den to live in, where Stripestar and Galestar reconnect and Fernwhisper and Huntheart announce that they are having kits. However, Twolegs arrive and force the cats to flee, leaving them without a home yet again. StormClan then camps in the marshes, but the living conditions are miserable. After Mudsplash and Harewhisker fall ill from a bad toad, and Mudsplash is attacked by a strange creature and dies due to lack of herbs, Galestar forces StormClan to move out. They head for the fox-head mountain and find a good place to camp with water and prey. After two moons, however, greenleaf proves unbearable, and Rainkit is killed by a hawk. With pressure from their Clanmates, Stripestar and Galestar agree to head back to the forest, and Galestar soon realizes she is expecting more kits.

After Goldenleaf has delightful dreams of an endless lake, StormClan settles there, despite Stoneteller's previous warning. Hunting is poor, though, and Galestar tells the Clan that they need to move again. After finding the fish with legs, Stripestar is forced to tell Galestar about his dream, and Galestar refuses to leave until their kits are old enough to travel. A dangerous storm forces StormClan to evacuate, and Galestar and her kits are eventually separated from the Clan. While Galestar and her kits are rescued by the wildcats and given sanctuary, Stripestar leads StormClan away from the sun-drown-place. Another dream of Goldenleaf's—a river splitting into two—signals that StormClan must become ThunderClan and WindClan again.

Stripestar reluctantly agrees to split the Clans, asking that they stay together until they return home. WindClan splits off partway through the return journey, much to Stripestar's dismay. He admits to StormClan having been a mistake and decides he will stop leading StormClan upon their return to the forest. In the forest territories, StarClan accepts WindClan and ThunderClan back under the conditions that StormClan be forgotten and that Whitestep lead ThunderClan. Stripebark spends his moons helping ThunderClan win back their territory from RiverClan, never forgetting his former mate. Galestar bonds with the wildcats and Bound Hunt, feeling a sense of belonging with them, and eventually gives up her search for StormClan to stay with Bound Hunt as his mate, taking on the name Gale Rise.

Description

A treacherous beginning

"Listen, all of you. I know you are suffering. And I know... I know this journey has not...gone well. But I want you to understand that Galestar and I are suffering with you. I will carry the weight of Kestrelwing's death, and Rosebush's too, for all my moons. I will never forget them. And that is why I am so determined to keep going. They haven't died for nothing. They can't have!"

―Stripestar to StormClan about their losses ^{StormClan's Folly, page 151}

StormClan meets the Tribe of Rushing Water in the mountains, where Stoneteller delivers several warnings

On the day that StormClan plans to leave the forest, Galestar is confronted by her sister, Crowflight, who is distressed by Galestar's decision to leave with Stripestar. With a final mournful goodbye to those who chose to stay behind, StormClan sets off. After three days of travel, StormClan comes across a batch of Thunderpaths. All of the cats make it across safely, and soon, only Stripestar and Kestrelwing are left. The disoriented elder finds a burst of strength, but after tripping over a shiny Twoleg object that had been ejected from a monster, he falls behind and is struck, to StormClan's horror. StormClan is haunted by his death, and Petalstep chooses to leave to become a kittypet, questioning Galestar's belief in Stripestar's dream of a new home.

The exhausted StormClan reaches the mountains. Stripestar is eager to explore, though he feels concerned about Rosebush, whose paw had been injured by a stone while crossing the Thunderpath. Rosebush, however, insists that he can continue on. StormClan proceeds to climb the tiresome mountains until they come across a dangerous chasm in their path. Most of the cats leap across with ease, but Stripestar worries upon realizing that Rosebush's paw has begun to bleed again. Determinedly, Rosebush attempts the leap on his own, only to fall short. Whitestep tries to pull her mate up, but she accidentally drops him, and he falls to his death. StormClan is distraught, but Stripestar and Galestar encourage StormClan to have faith, convincing them to push onward.

As StormClan progresses through the mountains, they are halted by strange cats. The cats introduce themselves as members of the Tribe of Rushing Water, including Gust Whistles Through the Mountain and Lightning Scratches the Sky. Connecting their names to StormClan, Stripestar and Galestar readily follow the Tribe cats to speak with their leader, Stoneteller. They find that Stoneteller has been awaiting them, having been warned of their coming by her ancestors, the Tribe of Endless Hunting. She gives them a dire warning about an endless lake that they should avoid, as well as a fish with legs that they must listen to, and that StormClan has a dark future ahead. Pebblenose and Thrushcall confide in Galestar that they wish to stay with the Tribe together, having lost their trust in her. Galestar is distraught by this, though Stripestar reassures her that their belief is all that matters, and StormClan leaves without the two former WindClan cats.

Another home lost

Stripestar: "I wanted [our kits] to be the first StormClan kits. I wanted it so badly. I thought they would unite our Clan. I thought they would be the making of StormClan."

Galestar: "And they will be. We must honor them, Stripestar. We must make sure StormClan endures, always. In their memory. For our lost kits."

^{StormClan's Folly, pages 207-208}

StormClan settles comfortably in a Twoleg nest during leafbare

StormClan leaves the mountains, spirits lifting as they enter familiar terrain. They find a stone hollow with a strange pool and decide to camp there, though they are unsettled when their medicine cats experience odd sensations when interacting with the water. Stripestar has a nightmare but is unwilling to speak with Galestar about it, and the cats are soon chased out by a dog. The Clan continues onward as Stripestar laments over his visions of a fox-head mountain, a rock with legs, and a white gull. Upon finding a Twoleg den with apple trees, the cats take food from Twoleg kits, but are driven off by the adults.

On that same day, StormClan settles into an abandoned Twoleg den, where they find themselves comfortable, safe, and well-fed over several moons. Galestar and Stripestar, who had been distant from one another recently, reconnect over their withheld grief for their lost kits, promising to share everything with one another. Soon after, Fernwhisper and Huntheart reveal that they are expecting kits—the true first kits of StormClan. This upsets Galestar, whose raw grief returns in full force at the news, even as Stripestar and the rest of the cats rejoice. Her pain is not relieved by Goldenleaf's news that she has received a vision of a symbol for StormClan. As newleaf sets in, Twolegs arrive to the nest and are shocked to find StormClan there. Stripestar and Galestar initially attempt to stand up to them, but the female adult Twoleg sprays them with a liquid, forcing them to retreat, losing yet another potential home.

Insufferable marshes and mountains

«This has all been a mistake. Right from the beginning. Where do we go from here?»

—Galestar's thoughts about the journey ^{StormClan's Folly, page 245}

A hawk snatches Rainkit, devastating StormClan and leading Fernwhisper and Huntheart to leave with their kits

One moon later, StormClan makes camp to allow Fernwhisper and her kits to rest. Galestar suggests to Stripestar that they return to the mountains, but he and Tinyclaw argue against this. StormClan sets off again, only to stop in a marsh. The cats are wary of the marsh and feel miserable, trekking through muddy, undrinkable water, only hunting frogs, and dealing with ticks and fleas, but Stripestar hesitates to leave. Tension rises between the two mates when Galestar realizes that he only selects ThunderClan cats to go out, and she instead takes a WindClan patrol consisting of Mudsplash and Harewhisker. The two toms collapse, and Goldenleaf and Stoneflower report that they are ill from a bad toad. The medicine cats cannot properly treat the endless problems that their Clanmates are suffering in the marsh, leading to another argument between Galestar and Stripestar.

Two days later, a strange, stoat-like creature attacks StormClan and ends up seriously injuring Mudsplash, before it is drowned by Galestar and Stripestar. Galestar leads StormClan away as a result, but they are forced to stop on a hillock, still in the marshes. Galestar feels exhausted, especially as her medicine cats reiterate the dire situation that their sick cats are in. After Mudsplash's death, Galestar finally forces StormClan to move out of the marshes; Stripestar challenges this but is unwilling to explain himself, and the Clan heads for the fox-head mountain. Stripestar feels encouraged as they continue on, and he takes Rainkit with him as they explore the mountain. They find a decent spot for StormClan to settle, with fresh water and places to build dens. StormClan catches hawks using the Tribe's method and thrive at first.

However, once greenleaf sets in over two moons, the cats begin to suffer from scalding heat and a lack of prey, with the stream drying up. Determined to make the most of the mountain, Stripestar leads a patrol to hunt a hawk, but the hunt backfires when the hawk ends up snatching Rainkit. The tragedy prompts Fernwhiper and Huntheart to abandon StormClan with their remaining kits, having lost trust in Galestar and Stripestar. The unbearable conditions lead StormClan to confront Galestar and Stripestar, wanting to return home to the forest, as the journey is proving to be a failure. The two leaders attempt to argue, but eventually must concede, and they hesitantly agree to lead their Clan back home.

The endless lake

"Oh, that's right...it's even worse. You told Tinyclaw! Your old friend from ThunderClan. But you didn't tell me, did you? Your mate. The leader of StormClan. And everything that's happened since then...Mudsplash, and Rainkit, all this pain and suffering... Now I find out we could have turned back and avoided it all! Stars above! Why in the name of Silverpelt didn't you tell me, Stripestar?"

―Galestar's fury with Stripestar's secrecy ^{StormClan's Folly, page 332}

StormClan escapes a major storm at the sun-drown-place, but is separated from Galestar and her kits

As StormClan reaches the apple forest once again, Galestar realizes that she is expecting more kits. Though she and Stripestar are delighted, they are concerned about the safety of the kits due to StormClan's uncertain future. However, their concerns are washed away when Goldenleaf wakes the Clan to announce that she has dreamed of an endless lake where kits play, shown to her by Kestrelwing. Despite Stoneteller's prior warning and the doubts of some of the Clan, Galestar and Stripestar decide to lead StormClan to settle by the lake. The lake proves to be no better than their previous camps—easy prey is difficult to find, the cats must compete with gulls for food, and storms regularly destroy their camp. After only a half-moon, Galestar and Stripestar decide that the Clan must move again.

After being captured by a cruel, young Twoleg while hunting in the carrionplace with Tumbletail, Stripestar lies to Galestar about the rat bite he had sustained. The birth of Galestar's kits, Pebblekit, Thrushkit, and Fogkit, delays StormClan's leaving. After stumbling upon the fish with legs and the white gull from his vision, Stripestar, realizing that a nasty storm is approaching, attempts to persuade Galestar to leave, finally confessing to his secrecy. Infuriated by his dishonesty, Galestar refuses to leave until the kits are old enough, but as the storm grows dangerously violent and the camp floods, she is forced to gather StormClan together to escape. The cats climb the treacherous cliffs, lashed by the storm, and Thrushkit sustains an injured paw from falling rocks.

The Clan rests under an overhang for two days, and once the storm settles, they head off again. However, the storm soon worsens again, making the climb nearly impossible as the Clan struggles to keep track of each other. Spotnose nearly falls to her death but is helped by Stripestar and Berryfall. By the time Stripestar returns to the others, Galestar and her kits have disappeared, lost to the storm. After briefly attempting to search for them, StormClan is forced to move on, escaping the lake. Stripestar takes a patrol to attempt again to find his mate and kits, but they are unsuccessful.

A new life

«I've never felt so cared for. I've never felt so loved. [...] This is what a home feels like.»

—Galestar's thoughts about the wildcats ^{StormClan's Folly, page 398}

As Galestar struggles to keep her kits calm and together in the raging storm, she loses Pebblekit, but quickly finds her again. Galestar finds herself separated from StormClan and cannot find them again. She and her kits take shelter between two boulders, but are trapped by a rockfall. The lost cats are soon discovered by three wildcats, Bound Hunt, Hunt Fly, and Whisper Groom. After some persuasion, Galestar and her kits return to the wildcats' camp with them, where they are warmly welcomed and tended to. While Bound Hunt develops feelings for Galestar, she continues to search for StormClan. She soon gives up due to having no way to track them, but clings to her love for Stripestar.

The kits are given their ancestor guides, and Galestar receives one of her own, causing her to feel a sense of belonging. As her kits train and grow, Galestar continues to wonder who she is now, confused about her future. She admires the wildcats and Bound Hunt as he bonds with her kittens, especially after he protects Pebble Lunge from an eagle attack. Over time, Galestar feels a stronger connection to the wildcats, and she is overjoyed when her kits become prowlers. Galestar's guide, Rise Stretch, shows her a vision of a future with a new mate and a litter of four half-wildcat kits. On the full moon, she confesses to Bound Hunt that she no longer wants to return to the Clans, instead wishing to be with him as his mate. She finally takes on her wildcat name, Gale Rise.

StormClan's collapse

"I made a dreadful mistake when Galestar and I created StormClan. I am sorry for it—sorrier than you will ever know. I ignored StarClan when they warned us to turn back. When I think of it now, I can hardly believe my own folly! I loved her so much, I thought nothing else mattered. I thought we could hold two Clans together with nothing more than that love. But now... Now she is gone. Our kits are gone. I cannot tell you how that feels. But I know what it means—StormClan was never meant to be. It was doomed right from the beginning."

―Stripestar to StormClan ^{StormClan's Folly, page 403}

ThunderClan settles near Highstones while waiting to speak with StarClan

While Galestar builds a life with the wildcats, Stripestar mourns her loss over a moon. StormClan settles in the Twoleg den again, growing unsettled as Stripestar dwells on losing his mate and kits. He is soon confronted by StormClan and forced to face their reality, as Goldenleaf has dreamed of a river splitting in two, growing stronger after separating. WindClan and ThunderClan no longer feel united, and they wish to return home to the forest as two independent Clans once again. Distraught, Stripestar agrees. Only a quarter moon afterward, amidst growing arguments, WindClan slips away in the night, finally dismantling StormClan. Stripestar declares that he will take ThunderClan home and beg for StarClan's forgiveness, and then step down. Half a moon later, ThunderClan reaches the forest territories at last, settling near Highstones.

A Gathering is held to decide what to do with WindClan, where Stripestar informs the horrified ShadowClan and RiverClan that Galestar and her kits are dead, and admits to his mistakes. Birchstar and Swiftstar refuse to give WindClan and ThunderClan their territories back, but Shineflower reminds them that StarClan had wanted to judge the returning Clans itself. ThunderClan begins recruiting rogues and kittypets to bolster their strength. After putting it off, ThunderClan finally travels to the Moonstone to receive StarClan's judgment. Stripestar begs for the founders' forgiveness, and despite that they remain furious with StormClan, the founders agree under certain conditions: StormClan shall be forgotten entirely; Stripestar shall become a warrior, Stripebark, again, and spend the rest of his days striving to serve ThunderClan tirelessly; and Whitestep shall step up as ThunderClan's new leader. The white she-cat is granted her nine lives and leader name.

Aftermath

"As the last living cat forgets a cat who has died, we in StarClan begin to forget them as well. And this would have happened much more quickly if the living Clans were determined not to talk about StormClan and Galestar. Perhaps now it's time for your story to be remembered."

―Windstar to Icewing and Galestar ^{Ivypool's Heart, pages 348-349}

Ivypool and Icewing help Galestar find closure with Stripestar and StormClan

Over the following moons after Whitestar is appointed their new leader, ThunderClan fights to reclaim their territory from RiverClan. An aging Stripebark serves them loyally, never forgetting StormClan or his mate and kits, and regretting losing Galestar. The Clans never speak of StormClan or Galestar, as StarClan had ordered. Meanwhile, Galestar remains with the wildcats as Bound Hunt's mate, and the two raise her kits together and eventually have another litter, just as Rise Stretch's vision had predicted. After her death, Galestar stays in the wildcat afterlife. Stripestar and the other former StormClan cats, however, share a different fate. As a consequence of StarClan's demand that StormClan's betrayal be forgotten, both the living Clans and StarClan no longer remember StormClan, and the StormClan ancestors fade and are lost.

Many seasons after, the wildcats struggle to survive and are dwindling in number due to Twolegs driving away prey and destroying their territory. Two wildcats, Tumble Leap and Stalk Purr, are captured by a cruel Twoleg who keeps exotic animals in cages, and Stalk Purr's unborn kits are endangered in these conditions. Wishing to repay the wildcats for their kindness, Galestar sends a vision to the young WindClan medicine cat apprentice, Whistlepaw, of Stripestar and other StormClan cats searching for Galestar and the kits. The Clans agree to send four representatives—Ivypool, Rootspring, Dovewing, and Whistlepaw herself—to find out the meaning of the vision. Icewing soon catches up with them after they head off.

Led by Whistlepaw and signs, they find the sun-drown-place where StormClan had been separated from Galestar. Nearby, they find Tumble Leap and Stalk Purr trapped in the strange Twolegplace, where the wildcats explain their group's struggles and tell the Clan cats about the Star Tree. They also recognize the symbol of StormClan. Upon finding the Star Tree, the Clan cats meet Galestar, who admits to having sent Whistlepaw the vision of the strange cats and tells them the story of StormClan, finishing by asking them to rescue Tumble Leap and Stalk Purr and reunite them with the wildcats. The Clan cats do as she has requested, freeing the two wildcats.

While searching out the other wildcats, Stalk Purr ends up kitting, leaving Ivypool and Icewing to go on alone and find the wildcats. They are successful, and though the wildcats are suspicious of them and hostile because of the way Galestar had been abandoned, Ivypool and Icewing manage to earn their trust by fighting off foxes. Guided by the wildcat elders, Ivypool and Icewing are able to meet Galestar again, and they persuade her to tell StormClan's story to StarClan so that they can be remembered again, and so that she can finally gain closure with Stripestar. The plan is successful, as StarClan remembers StormClan at last, allowing StormClan's ancestors to return and rejoin StarClan, and giving Galestar an opportunity to confront and make amends with her former Clanmates.

Characters

Galestar

"Of course there might [be dangers]! But what is the alternative? Stay here and wait for death? I am a leader, Crowflight, and I intend to lead this Clan. We will fight to survive, just as we have always done. And I believe we will survive. So long as we stay together, as StormClan, nothing can stand in our path."

―Galestar's determination to ensure StormClan's survival ^{StormClan's Folly, page 116}

Galestar struggles against Stripestar's secrecy, finding peace only with the wildcats

Following StormClan's failure to properly settle in together and the death of Galestar's kits, Galestar and Stripestar make the rash and hopeful decision to leave the forest. Galestar shares an agonizing goodbye with her sister, Crowflight, who is distraught by her decision to leave the forest. Despite Crowflight's protests, Galestar truly believes that only hardship and death will meet StormClan in the forest. She leads StormClan on their journey alongside her mate, feeling excited and eager at first to find out what awaits. However, as the journey continues on, Galestar realizes that things will not be so simple. She is horrified by the death of Kestrelwing and Petalstep's choice to leave, and though she attempts to maintain her courage and bolster her Clanmates' resolve, Galestar experiences immense frustration and grief as the Clan goes on. Despite the hope she finds in Stoneteller's warnings, she is devastated when Pebblenose and Thrushcall stay with the Tribe of Rushing Water, feeling frustrated with Stripestar's seemingly endless hopefulness.

As StormClan treks on, Galestar grows agitated with Stripestar's secrecy about his dream. StormClan settles at a Twoleg nest, where Galestar and Stripestar reconnect through their shared grief for their lost kits, giving Galestar hope. However, Fernwhisper's announcement that she is having Huntheart's kits devastates Galestar, who mourns that her kits will not be the first StormClan kits. After the Clan is chased from the Twoleg nest by Twolegs, they settle temporarily in a marsh, where Galestar and Stripestar again begin to drift apart. Galestar feels frustrated with Stripestar's complaints and his reluctance to leave the marsh, even as cats fall ill and suffer. Tinyclaw's unending support for Stripestar's word infuriates her. It is after Mudsplash's death that Galestar finally moves StormClan out of the marsh, heading for the fox-head mountain.

When StormClan finds a camp on the mountain, Galestar and Stripestar find temporary peace, but the mountain proves uninhabitable after two moons. Rainkit's death by a hawk leads Fernwhisper, Huntheart, and their kits to leave, hurting Galestar, who feels intense guilt. When StormClan demands to go home to the forest, Galestar reluctantly agrees, understanding that her warriors have been pushed far enough. However, new hope sprouts when Galestar not only realizes that she is having kits, but also that StormClan has another chance in an endless lake that Goldenleaf has seen in a vision. The endless lake proves no better than their previous homes, with difficult prey and storms that constantly destroy their camp. Worried for their kits, the two leaders decide that StormClan should leave. However, after Stripestar lies to Galestar once again and she finds out about his dream that had warned of dangers to come, Galestar is outraged and hurt by Stripestar's lack of trust. A storm forces the Clan to retreat from the lake, and Galestar and her kits soon end up separated from StormClan and trapped in a crevice.

Galestar and her kits are rescued by a group of wildcats, including a tom named Bound Hunt. Galestar is impressed by how tight-knit and caring the wildcats are, and she feels well-loved and that she belongs, though she clings to the hope of finding StormClan and her mate. As her kits grow up amongst the wildcats, becoming trainees, and she sees Bound Hunt's love for them, Galestar soon begins to let go of StormClan and Stripestar, questioning who she really is. Her kits grow into prowlers, and after receiving a vision of the future from her guide, Rise Stretch, Galestar chooses to stay with the wildcats, becoming Bound Hunt's mate and taking on the name Gale Rise.

Stripestar

"You're forgetting the legacy. [...] We can weather any storm. And a legacy...surely that means kits. How else could our actions 'echo through the ages'? Those were Stoneteller's words. If you ask me, that's a future that we should walk toward. Run toward! No matter what stands in our way. [...] Besides, if we believe in our dream...together...who cares what any other cat may say?"

―Stripestar reassuring Galestar about the journey ^{StormClan's Folly, page 176}

Stripestar fights in vain to keep his dream of adventure alive alongside Galestar

After losing his and Galestar's kits and watching StormClan struggle in the forest, Stripestar suggests that they leave, feeling particularly eager for the journey. He earns the ire of Galestar's sister, Crowflight, but he and Galestar remain determined that leaving is the only way StormClan can survive, and he says goodbye to his brother, Grassfoot. The journey proves perilous from the start: Stripestar is deeply disturbed by Kestrelwing's death on the Thunderpath, having been racing alongside him to cross. Despite this, Stripestar looks forward to exploring, urging StormClan into the mountains, even though he knows that Rosebush is injured and struggling. Rosebush's death inspires grief and guilt in Stripestar, but he and Galestar encourage StormClan onward. Stoneteller's warning that he and Galestar will leave a legacy behind them gives Stripestar hope, even in the face of Galestar's grief after Pebblenose and Thrushcall leave StormClan.

Stripestar experiences grim visions that he refuses to tell Galestar about, for fear of going to the fox-head mountain and causing his mate to doubt their journey. Stripestar grows paranoid, and he begins to resent Galestar for the way their Clanmates look to her for guidance. He also notes the still-existing divide between ThunderClan and WindClan, with he himself choosing only ThunderClan cats to help steal food from Twolegs. He searches for signs of hope where he can find them, interpreting StormClan coming together to eat from the Twolegs' hands, overcoming their fear, as a sign that StormClan can persevere. He and Galestar grow close again amidst their common grief over their kits, but when Fernwhisper reveals that she is having Huntheart's kits, Stripestar's glee is in contrast to Galestar's pain. He finds immense hope in Goldenleaf's vision of a symbol for StormClan. He feels comfortable and worry-free in the Twoleg nest, until StormClan is chased out by Twolegs.

Stripestar and Galestar find themselves at odds again, arguing fiercely over where StormClan should go, with Stripestar still refusing to tell her why he is so afraid of the mountains. Tinyclaw's support for Stripestar drives a deeper wedge between the two mates, as does Stripestar's refusal to leave the marshes and his tendency to prioritize ThunderClan cats. After Mudsplash's death, Galestar decides to head to the fox-head mountain. Stripestar protests against this but is unable to explain himself, and he feels angry that she has made this choice alone. They manage to find a suitable camp in the mountain, and Stripestar is determined to make it work, even as the Clan goes hungry and suffers in the heat two moons later. His attempt to catch a hawk goes wrong when the hawk attacks Rainkit instead of a mouse, overwhelming him with guilt for ignoring Stoneteller's warning. Stripestar is devastated when StormClan wants to return to the forest, but finds hope in learning that Galestar is having more kits, and in Goldenleaf's vision of a new home for them at the endless lake.

When the endless lake proves too difficult to survive by, Stripestar and Galestar decide to leave out of concern for their kits. However, when Stripestar is bitten by a rat and nearly taken by a Twoleg, he lies to Galestar about it, arousing her suspicions once more. After Galestar's kits are born, Stripestar finds the signs from his visions, and he spills his secret to Galestar in a panic. Outraged, she initially refuses to leave, as the kits are too young. A savage storm forces StormClan to try to escape the endless lake, only for Galestar and her kits to be separated from their Clanmates. Stripestar is distraught when he is unable to find them, and reluctantly, he leaves with StormClan. Seeing their misery, he agrees to lead StormClan back to the forest, devastated that they will again become two Clans. Stripestar chooses to step down once they return to the forest, and he leads StormClan home, where he begs StarClan for forgiveness and surrenders his leadership to Whitestep. Taking on his warrior name, Stripebark, once again, he spends his moons serving ThunderClan loyally, never forgetting Galestar and StormClan.

Kestrelwing

"And now we know. Now we know what [StarClan thinks] of your plan. [...] I hope you are satisfied with your choice. You told StarClan that there is no going back. And now...now I'm afraid that you are right."

―Kestrelwing to Stripestar and Galestar ^{StormClan's Folly, pages 76-77}

Kestrelwing is killed on a Thunderpath after tripping over a Twoleg object

Kestrelwing is the medicine cat of ThunderClan, and later StormClan. Kestrelwing firmly disapproves of Stripestar and Galestar's plot to join ThunderClan and WindClan together, even warning them as they approach Highstones that StarClan will not approve. He is concerned by StormClan's severed connection with their ancestors. He has trouble adjusting to sharing medicine cat duties with Goldenleaf, but dutifully cares for Galestar. He informs her of the unrest within StormClan due to rumors about Birchstar and Snakestar potentially forming an alliance, and the lack of prey. When a fire ravages the forest, Kestrelwing helps Galestar to evacuate and aids with her abrupt kitting.

Kestrelwing joins StormClan in leaving the forest to find a new home. The Clan's first obstacle is a tangle of Thunderpaths, and the cats cross in pairs. Kestrelwing is left for last with Stripestar, though Galestar realizes their foolish mistake upon seeing how exhausted and disoriented the old cat is in the heat. As he crosses, a shiny Twoleg object thrown from a monster rolls into his path with the wind, and Kestrelwing stumbles to a halt and is killed by a monster. His loss devastates and traumatizes StormClan; Petalstep decides to leave StormClan to become a kittypet, partly due to the tragedy, and Kestrelwing's death harms StormClan's morale. He is remembered often by Galestar and Stripestar, contributing to feelings of despair and worry.

Goldenleaf experiences a dream in which Kestrelwing shows her the endless lake, where kits play and StormClan is at peace. Interpreting this to mean that StormClan belongs at this lake, they find the location that Kestrelwing has shown and attempt to settle there, but only find more hardship. After ThunderClan and WindClan return to the forest territories, Kestrelwing gives a life to Whitestep, granting her the ability to admit mistakes.

Goldenleaf

"The river represents StormClan. You know this, Stripestar. Together, our Clans—WindClan and ThunderClan—have stumbled and faltered. Our stream has almost dried up. If we are to thrive again, there is only one thing to be done. We must return to the way things were. The way they have always been. We must be WindClan and ThunderClan once again. If we follow this path, both Clans will prosper. We will both be stronger and healthier than we have ever been together. This is the path. This is the only path."

―Goldenleaf to Stripestar ^{StormClan's Folly, page 384}

Goldenleaf is the medicine cat of WindClan. Much like her fellow medicine cats, she is mortified when Stripestar and Galestar defy StarClan's disapproval for StormClan, and distressed when StarClan cuts the new Clan off. She and Kestrelwing have trouble adjusting to working together, but she looks after StormClan, making a nest for Galestar's stillborn kits and giving out herbs. She accompanies StormClan on their journey to find a new home. Like Stoneflower, she is bewildered by the mysterious pool that StormClan finds in a hollow, reporting feeling dizzy and seeing stars upon interacting with it. After StormClan settles at a Twoleg nest, Goldenleaf reports that she has had a vision of a symbol for StormClan, drawing it into the earth: a bolt of lightning accompanied by wind. Soon after, StormClan is chased out of the nest by Twolegs and ends up trying to camp in a prey-poor, uncomfortable marsh, where Mudsplash and Harewhisker end up falling ill. She and Stoneflower tend to them, but wisely warn Galestar that the marsh is unfit for the Clan to survive in due to constant injuries, lack of herbs, and the potential for more sickness.

After failing to find a new home, StormClan makes its way back to the forest, stopping at the apple forest once again. There, Goldenleaf experiences a dream in which Kestrelwing shows her a peaceful endless lake, where StormClan was content and safe. StormClan becomes convinced that this is their destined home. At the lake, StormClan struggles to find adequate food and safety, and Galestar and Stripestar wonder if Goldenleaf had been wrong. After StormClan is separated from Galestar and her kits, and they leave the sun-drown-place, Goldenleaf tells Stripestar of another vision: a river that split into two and became stronger for it. She concludes that StormClan must become two Clans again. She seems to take on a leadership role for WindClan, agreeing to Stripestar's plea for them to stick together until they reach the forest. She abandons ThunderClan with the rest of WindClan, returning to the forest, where she helps explain what happened to Galestar and her kits.

Petalstep, Rosebush, Rainkit, and Mudsplash

"It's over. How many 'new homes' have we found? And each and every one of them has turned out to be full of peril. How many more cats will have to die before—"

―Stoneflower to Galestar and Stripestar ^{StormClan's Folly, page 286}

Petalstep questions Galestar's faith in hers and Stripestar's dream, and leaves StormClan to become a kittypet

Petalstep and Mudsplash are warriors of WindClan, while Rosebush is a warrior of ThunderClan. The three warriors join StormClan on its journey to search out a new home. Following Kestrelwing's death, Petalstep is deeply disturbed and decides to leave StormClan to become a kittypet, believing that StormClan will never work. Rosebush, whose paw had been injured by a stone while crossing the Thunderpath where Kestrelwing had been killed, stubbornly climbs the mountain with his Clanmates, not wanting to slow them down. When StormClan comes upon a sheer drop in their path, every cat makes it across except Rosebush, whose injury causes him to fall short when he leaps. His mate, Whitestep, attempts to catch and save him, but he slips from her grasp. After losing Kestrelwing, Petalstep, and Rosebush, StormClan is troubled and their faith in the journey is shaken.

When StormClan settles in a Twoleg nest, Fernwhisper gives birth to Huntheart's kits, Lightningkit, Windkit, and Rainkit. Soon after, StormClan tries to stay temporarily in the marshes, where Mudsplash and Harewhisker fall ill. Weakened by his illness, Mudsplash is unable to escape when a strange creature attacks the camp, and he is killed. Prompted to leave the marshes at last, StormClan heads to the fox-head mountain, where they find a seemingly decent camp to settle in. However, after starvation sets in due to the heat and lack of prey, Stripestar attempts to lead a patrol to hunt down a hawk. The plan goes wrong when the hawk targets Rainkit, carrying the kit away despite her mother's efforts to save her. The loss leads Huntheart and Fernwhisper to leave StormClan with their remaining kits.

Their tragic losses throughout the journey steadily damage StormClan's morale and willingness to continue their search for a new home, with the first doubts being spoken aloud by Pebblenose and Thrushcall after losing Kestrelwing, Petalstep, and Rosebush. Stripestar and Galestar are able to rally StormClan back together again. However, these losses are never forgotten. The following deaths of Mudsplash and Rainkit, as well as the departure of Fernwhisper, Huntheart, their kits, Pebblenose, and Thrushcall, all of whom had lost faith and trust in their leaders, weigh on Galestar and Stripestar, who begin to feel guilty for all StormClan has suffered. Upset with all that has happened, StormClan decides that it is ready to return home to the forest, as the journey has been a failure, tainted by constant loss. After a brief stint of hope is dashed by more struggles at the sun-drown-place and the loss of Galestar and her kits, StormClan returns to the forest at last. There, Whitestep receives her nine lives, with three of her lost former Clanmates—Kestrelwing, Rosebush, and Rainkit—granting her three of her lives, and with Rainkit reminding Whitestep and Stripebark that there will always be hope.

Characters that took part in the journey

WindClan

• Galestar (Joined the wildcats)
• Goldenleaf (Led WindClan back to the forest)
• Pebblenose (Joined the Tribe of Rushing Water)
• Huntheart (Left after Rainkit's death)
• Thrushcall (Joined the Tribe of Rushing Water)
• Harewhisker
• Petalstep (Left to become a kittypet)
• Peaktail
• Mudsplash (Died)
• Flash
• Whitebreeze
• Spotnose
• Icefoot
• Berryfall
• Swiftwing

ThunderClan

• Stripestar (Led ThunderClan back to the forest)
• Kestrelwing (Died)
• Tumbletail
• Nettlesting
• Quailpaw
• Wasppaw
• Nettlesting's remaining kits
• Roughpelt
• Rosebush (Died)
• Whitestep
• Tinyclaw
• Fernwhisper (Left after Rainkit's death)
• Stoneflower
• Hazelfrond
• Palepaw
• Frecklepelt
• Alderbranch

StormClan

• Pigeonpaw
• Unknown apprentices
• Unknown elders
• Frightened kit
• Unknown kits
• Windkit (Left after Rainkit's death)
• Rainkit (Died)
• Lightningkit (Left after Rainkit's death)
• Pebblekit (Joined the wildcats)
• Thrushkit (Joined the wildcats)
• Fogkit (Joined the wildcats)

Characters who stayed/were left behind

WindClan

• Crowflight (Joined RiverClan)

ThunderClan

• Grassfoot (Joined ShadowClan)
• Fawnpelt
• Russetkit
• Curlkit

Quotes

Stripestar: "We'll find out! Listen, things aren't going well for us here in the forest. The cats from my old Clan won't ever be comfortable in WindClan's camp. And this camp is a disaster! Who knows when the prey will return—if it ever will. But if we go...if we start a new life, outside the forest..."

Galestar: "I believe in you, Stripestar. But we have to be careful. Losing SkyClan was one thing, but this would be a choice. We'd be choosing to give up on the Blazing Star prophecy, forever. The other Clans might never forgive us! They'd certainly never take us back if things went wrong. Besides...will our Clanmates really want to leave the forest? [...] Some might prefer to desert StormClan altogether and try their luck with the other Clans. Or they might become kittypets, or rogues. Or, worst of all..."

^{StormClan's Folly, page 112}

Galestar: "StarClan must have known. They must have known what would happen to Kestrelwing, who never went against StarClan in all his days! They must have known what would happen to our kits!"

Stripestar: "And they stayed silent. They took back our nine lives and their guidance, but they didn't warn us of the horrors we would face. Of course they didn't! Thrushcall was right after all... They care nothing for us."

^{StormClan's Folly, pages 166-167}

«Some of our Clanmates are afraid to keep going. But I'm not afraid of that. I'm only afraid to stop.»

—Stripestar's thoughts ^{StormClan's Folly, page 190}

Galestar: "I wonder if... I wonder if it's the same thing that weighs on me. Even on our brightest days. The pain we felt when...when we lost our kits. We never talked much about that, did we? We left the forest so quickly afterward. We never grieved. I think we were too busy trying to save the Clan to spare a thought for ourselves and our loss. But it hurts. I feel as thought it will always hurt. And I feel that...if we don't talk about it, it may fester, like a wound gone bad. Am I right, Stripestar? Is that what's burdening you?"

Stripestar: "They were everything. Everything I ever wanted. You're right. We never spoke about it. I didn't even let myself think about it. It was too awful. So I ignored it. I hid my sadness away in the shadows within my mind, and I never looked at it again. I devoted myself to our future. To StormClan's future. But the pain... I'd felt so much joy. So much hope in imagining us as a family, with our kits. I couldn't believe what happened. I...still can't."

^{StormClan's Folly, pages 206-207}

Galestar: "It's over, Stripestar. There is no home for us here."

Stripestar: "I think I know what you're really saying. You want us to go back to the mountains. But I've already told you, they're not right for StormClan. We can't—"

^{StormClan's Folly, pages 243-245}

"We can't trust you. Nor you, Galestar. Wherever we've roamed, the pair of you have only led us into disaster. You've shown us that you cannot keep our family safe. So may StarClan light your path...but we are StormClan no longer."

―Fernwhisper to Stripestar and Galestar ^{StormClan's Folly, pages 282-283}

Stripestar: "I didn't know if the dream really meant anything. Not for sure... And I was going to tell you, I swear it. As soon as I saw any of the signs from the dream in the waking world, that's when I planned to—"

Galestar: "You deceived me. And now you think I'll roll over so you can have your way? I don't think so. [...] No! My kits are too small to leave now. They're still nursing! I won't put them in danger because of your foolishness. We stay."

^{StormClan's Folly, pages 332-333}

«It was Stripestar's fault. Everything. And now her frustration was distorting into anger. Rage. If only Stripestar had shared his dream with her, like he ought to have, she would never have agreed to come here. To the place where the land falls away. Would she? A worm of doubt wriggled in her gut. Would it have made a difference? she wondered. For so long, she and Stripestar had shared a vision of StormClan's future, a vision that nothing had shaken. Wouldn't she have found a way to convince herself that the dream didn't matter? It had been her fault, too. She hadn't heeded Stoneteller's warning—it had seemed so long ago, so unimportant in comparison to the need to find a safe place for her kits to be born.‎»

—Galestar's furious thoughts about Stripestar's secrecy ^{StormClan's Folly, pages 363-364}

"You promised to take us back to the forest. For that we are grateful. But we will not go to StormClan's old camp. We WindClan cats will fight to make our home on the moor, as our ancestors did, for generations. I do not know which cat will lead us, nor if StarClan will grant another leader nine lives. I do not even know if RiverClan and ShadowClan will allow us to return! Only one thing is certain—we can be StormClan no longer. We are WindClan. And so we will remain. Always."

―Goldenleaf to Stripestar about WindClan ^{StormClan's Folly, page 385}

"Don't call me that. Call me by my true name. Call me Gale Rise."

―Gale Rise to Bound Hunt ^{StormClan's Folly, page 433}

«I didn't understand that it was there all along. That you were all I wanted. [...] I'll never forget you, Galestar. And I'll never forgive myself for losing you.»

—Stripebark's thoughts about Galestar ^{StormClan's Folly, page 449}

See also

• StormClan's Folly
• Ivypool's Heart
• The wildcats