The Great Journey

"This is no longer our home. Home is waiting for us at the end of our journey."

— Firestar to RiverClan and ThunderClan in Dawn, page 232

The Great Journey
General information
Book	Dawn, Winds of Change, Onestar's Confession
Timeframe	Leaf-bare; approximately a moon
Place	The forest territories, The mountains, The lake territories
Outcome	The Clans relocate to the lake territories from the forest territories.
Participants
Affiliations involved	ThunderClan ShadowClan WindClan RiverClan
Chronology
Preceded by:	Journey to the forest territories
Followed by:	Mudclaw's rebellion

The journey to the lake territories, or the Great Journey, was a journey that took place in Dawn when all four Clans fled from the forest due to Twolegs destroying it and traveled over the mountains to their new home. It was also featured in Winds of Change and Onestar's Confession.

Summary

Premise

"In the days to come, you need each other. Your journey not end here, small warrior. It only just begin."

―Midnight to the questing cats ^{Midnight, page 300}

To secure the Clans' dire future, StarClan sends four cats to speak to Midnight the badger. Brambleclaw, Tawnypelt, Feathertail, and Crowpaw are joined by Stormfur and Squirrelpaw on their quest to the sun-drown-place, and Midnight warns them that Twolegs will destroy their home. She also advised them to stand on a great rock and "dying warrior" will show them the way to their new home. Meanwhile, Twolegs bring monsters and begin to destroy the forest. Tasked with their new knowledge, the six questing cats journey home through the mountains and meet the Tribe of Rushing Water. Back in the forest, the Twolegs' activities begins to scare away prey, forcing WindClan to steal prey from the other Clans, and poisoning rabbits. They also began trapping cats, and encroaching on the Clans' camps, forcing WindClan and ThunderClan to relocate.

Overview

"More water will flow before we join StarClan. This is not an end. It is a beginning. You will need the courage of a lion to face this journey."

―Ravenpaw to Firestar about the upcoming journey ^{Dawn, page 257}

The Clans walk separately at first, but soon learn to work together, starting with queens when Dawnflower saved one of Tallpoppy's kits. The five remaining questing cats guide them through the mountains, until they are found by the Tribe and taken to their cavern. After sheltering from the heavy snowfall for several days with the Tribe, the Clans leave the mountains. They head for the hillsides and discover a lake full of stars, having finally arrived at their new home.

Map

A map of the forest to the lake territories.

Description

The message

Brambleclaw: "Midnight is a badger. StarClan wanted us to find her because she could tell us what StarClan wanted us to know."

Firestar: "And what did she tell you?"

^{Dawn, pages 60-61}

When the five questing cats arrive back at the forest, they agree to bring their Clan leaders to the Great Rock at Fourtrees the following night to see Midnight's sign. Brambleclaw and Squirrelpaw inform Firestar and his senior warriors about Midnight's warning. While some are skeptical, Firestar agrees to meet the other leaders at the Great Rock. With Fourtrees gone, the Clan leaders sit upon the cast aside Great Rock. When no sign arrives, the Clan leaders argue; Blackstar insists his Clan will live in the Twolegplace now that Scourge is gone, and Leopardstar insists her Clan is fine. Only Tallstar agrees to leave since his Clan is starving, but Firestar refuses to leave without RiverClan and ShadowClan.

Eventually, Twolegs begin to destroy WindClan's temporary camp in the rabbit warrens, and Tallstar leads his Clan to ThunderClan for help. At the same time, Tawnypelt arrives and begs ThunderClan to save her Clan as Twolegs are destroying their camp. With WindClan's and RiverClan's help, ShadowClan is saved but their camp is destroyed. Back at Sunningrocks, ShadowClan agrees to leave the forest. RiverClan also agrees to leave since the river is drying up. Firestar announces they'll leave the forest at dawn and meet at the edge of WindClan's territory. The next morning, ThunderClan and ShadowClan prepare for their journey by hunting and eating traveling herbs. Stormfur arrives with news that RiverClan won't leave while their medicine cat Mudfur dies. Firestar and ThunderClan journey to RiverClan's camp while Cinderpelt and Runningnose wish Mudfur farewell as he dies. Four elders, Speckletail, Frostfur, Loudbelly, and Shadepelt, decide to stay with his body since they believe they are too old for the journey. RiverClan finally agrees to leave the forest, and ThunderClan and RiverClan meet ShadowClan and WindClan on the moor.

Leaving the forest

«Above them, a falling star blazed a silvery trail before disappearing in a flash of light. [...] It was the sign they had been waiting for, one of StarClan's own warriors scorching into nothingness to show them the way to go. Faint as cobweb, the star's fiery trail hung in the sky, stretching toward the horizon where the jagged peaks of the mountains jutted into the sky.»

—The dying warrior ^{Dawn, page 254-255}

The Clans cross over the mountains

The four Clans trek through what remains of WindClan's territory, darting past Twolegs, monsters, and dogs. Firestar wishes for the four Clans to stick close together for safety, but Leopardstar and Blackstar disagree. They stop by Barley's farm and Ravenpaw and Barley offer for the Clans to stay the night and hunt. The four Clans sleep in the broken nest, and Firestar rouses them the following sunhigh to continue their journey. Ravenpaw walks with them as they walk to Highstones. The Clan leaders and their medicine cats stop by the Moonstone to converse with StarClan one last time. While sitting on Highstones to discuss their next moves, Brambleclaw, Squirrelpaw, Tawnypelt, Stormfur, and Crowpaw spot a shooting star heading towards the mountains. Recognizing it as Midnight's sign, the five cats realize they must travel over the mountains.

The Clans bid Ravenpaw and Barley farewell as they leave the forest. They approach a Thunderpath, and when the Clan leaders disagree who to follow, Brambleclaw insists each questing cat should guide their Clan across. While ShadowClan crosses, one of Tallpoppy's kits gets separated on the Thunderpath, and the RiverClan queen Dawnflower saves the kit. The Clans sleep together the first night within a copse, with the youngest and oldest in the center. Slowly, the Clans' boundaries begin to dissolve.

Into the mountains

Blackstar: "We are not the Tribe. You should have warned us so that we could have found shelter."

Tallpoppy: "What shelter? There's nowhere to hide. There's nowhere to hunt. We're the prey here!"

^{Dawn, page 288}

Brackenfur saving Marshkit from an eagle

The Clans reach the mountains on the third day, and they continued ascending through it on the fourth day. While climbing a narrow path that led between two peaks, Smokepaw, a ShadowClan apprentice falls into the void after the ledge he was standing on gave way. Russetfur, the ShadowClan deputy, tries to save him but almost falls herself. Blackstar tells Nightwing they will honor the apprentice. After crossing the gap, the Clans briefly rest in a ravine while Brambleclaw instructs them how to hunt in the mountains. The patrol spots a mouse and hopes an eagle will be tempted near it, but the eagle dives down to the large group of cats and picks up Marshkit, a ShadowClan kit. Brackenfur, a ThunderClan warrior, leaps up and manages to loosen the eagles hold on the kit and Marshkit falls to the ground. The cats begin to panic about more eagle attacks, but Leopardstar insists the Clans will protect each other.

While hunting a few days later in a blizzard, Squirrelpaw finds Talon, Night, and Jag, Tribe cave-guards, and they guide the Clans to the Cave of Rushing Water. The Tribe of Rushing Water warmly welcomes the four Clan cats into their home as Stoneteller, their healer, was informed of their arrival by the Tribe of Endless Hunting. The Clans are forced to stay another day due to the snow. That night, Leafpaw tells Stoneteller about Gatherings, noticing it is the full moon, and Stoneteller decides to throw a feast to honor Feathertail's sacrifice and the Clan cats who helped them defeat Sharptooth. Tallstar decides to grant Crowpaw his warrior name, but Crowpaw requests his warrior name to be Crowfeather, in tribute to Feathertail. Tallstar agrees to this, and names him Crowfeather. After the ceremony, Stoneteller takes Onewhisker to the Cave of Pointed Stones and passes him a message from the Tribe of Endless Hunting: "There is something that must be done, and only you can do it. You will know it, when it comes hunting you."

The Clans stay in the cavern for a few days while the snow clears. Stormfur decides to stay with the Tribe to be with Brook and his sister's spirit. Stoneteller wishes the Clan cats farewell and instructs a few of his Tribe cats to lead the Clans out of the mountains in the direction of the hillside.

A new home

«This is the place we were meant to find, and StarClan is here.»

—Leafpaw about their new home ^{Dawn, page 335}

The Clans reach the hills later that day; Leafpaw notices how comfortable the Clans are with each other and how being out of the mountains has given them hope. The next morning, the Clans are undecided where to go, and Leafpaw tells them that she dreamed of great shining water that held Silverpelt in it. As dawn approaches, the Clans climb over a ridge and find themselves staring at a lake filled with the stars in the sky, just as Leafpaw dreamed of. They finally find their new home.

Deaths during the journey

• Smokepaw

Aftermath

"The time has come to fight our greatest enemy. We can fight alone, or we can stand together. We're stronger side by side, as we were for the Great Journey. Uniting against the Dark Forest is our only hope."

―Firestar to the other Clan leaders ^{The Last Hope, page 229}

The Clans send the journeying cats around the lake to investigate the new territory, with Mistyfoot representing RiverClan. They find suitable places for all the Clans to settle, and the Clans disperse to their new home. Tallstar dies not long after the Clans arrive at the lake, passing on leadership to Onewhisker. At some point, the Clans began to call their journey from the forest as the Great Journey. The Great Journey is remembered as a time when all four Clans helped each other; one year after the Great Journey, Squirrelflight suggested the daylight Gathering to honor their survival since the journey. Firestar refers to the Great Journey when rallying the other leaders to unite to fight the Dark Forest.

Characters

Brambleclaw

Brambleclaw made the journey to Midnight and adopted the role as unofficial leader. He helped guide the Clans throughout the journey, teaching them Tribe techniques for hunting in the mountains. He made the journey around the lake to investigate the new territory and helped his Clan settle in the new territory.

Squirrelpaw

Squirrelpaw, who was only an apprentice at the time, was not selected for the journey when she made the journey to Midnight, but went anyway, and grew closer to Brambleclaw. Returning to the Clans, she taught them Tribe hunting techniques when they were in the mountains, and she made the journey around the lake to investigate the new territory. All her efforts were rewarded when at the shore of the lake, she received her warrior name, Squirrelflight.

Stormfur

Stormfur was not selected for the journey to Midnight but loyalty to his sister, Feathertail, drove him on. Feathertail died on the way back though, so Stormfur stood in place in representing RiverClan. He was particularly attuned with the Tribe’s hunting techniques, and helped the Clans when they were vulnerable in the mountains. He grew close to a Tribe cat named Brook on the way back from seeing Midnight and when the Clans said goodbye to the Tribe, he stayed with the Tribe to be with Brook.

Crowpaw

Only an apprentice, he was selected to journey with the cats from the other Clans to see Midnight. During the journey, he fell in love with Feathertail, a RiverClan cat, but Feathertail sacrificed herself for him. Sick with grief, he returned to his Clan and almost dies intentionally, but is convinced to help the living instead of joining the dead. Crowpaw used Tribe techniques to catch food for his starving clan, and helped the Clans catch food when they were vulnerable. His efforts were rewarded when Tallstar gives him his warrior name, but Crowpaw requests it to be Crowfeather, in memory of Feathertail, and Tallstar agrees.

Tawnypelt

Tawnypelt was the ShadowClan cat that was selected to journey to Midnight, and she encouraged Feathertail to see Crowpaw’s softer side, causing her to sacrifice herself for Crowpaw, something Tawnypelt probably regretted later. Tawnypelt went around the lake, investigating the territory and helped her Clan settle in their new home.

Firestar

Firestar was willing to leave when Brambleclaw and Squirrelpaw told him to, but knew the Clans had to leave together. He waited, offering shelter to ShadowClan when they lost their camp. He led his Clan through the hardships, trusting Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw to guide his Clan, even though he was told they would destroy the Clan. He knew in the end they would save the Clan, and he helped his Clan settle in their new home.

Leopardstar

Leopardstar was stubborn at first to leave the forest, her Clan unaffected and thriving while the other Clans starve. It was not until ShadowClan’s camp is destroyed when Leopardstar agrees to leave. She then told they can’t leave because their elderly medicine cat and her father Mudfur, is dying. Elders of the Clans that refuse to go stay with him and sit vigil for them, so Leopardstar leads her Clan, and help to settle them in their new home.

Tallstar

Tallstar was a very old cat by the time Crowpaw returned. His Clan was starving since Twolegs poisoned the rabbits, and Crowpaw manages to help his Clan with Tribe techniques he learned in the mountains. Too weak to lead his Clan, his deputy, Mudclaw made the leadership decisions. Tallstar did make Crowpaw a warrior at the Cave of Rushing Water, and at the shore of the lake, their new home, he made Onestar his deputy and successor, something that made a great effect on the Clans later on.

Blackstar

Blackstar refused to talk about the trouble with Twolegs, let alone leaving at first until ShadowClan’s camp was destroyed, and is forced to shelter with ThunderClan. Blackstar still clung to his Clan’s pride, refusing to accept prey from ThunderClan and barely accepting herbs and medicine. On the journey, he let his Clan share with the other Clans, and even after the journey he was mindful of the bonds the Clans made.

Characters that took part in the journey

ThunderClan

Firestar

Cinderpelt

Leafpaw

Brambleclaw

Sorreltail

Squirrelpaw

Ashfur

Rainwhisker

Brackenfur

Dustpelt

Cloudtail

Sandstorm

Whitepaw

Spiderpaw

Ferncloud

Birchkit

Longtail

Mousefur

Thornclaw*

Brightheart*

Sootfur*

Goldenflower*

ShadowClan

Blackstar

Russetfur

Littlecloud

Runningnose

Tawnypelt

Tallpoppy

Applekit

Toadkit

Marshkit

Smokepaw

Nightwing

Two ShadowClan elders

Apprentice

Oakfur*

Cedarheart*

Rowanclaw*

Talonpaw*

Boulder*

Nightwhisper*

RiverClan

Leopardstar

Mistyfoot

Mothwing

Stormfur

Hawkfrost

Swallowtail

Dawnflower

Tumblekit

Minnowkit

Pebblekit

Mosspelt

Willowkit

Apprentice

Male apprentice

Queen

Kit

Blackclaw*

Heavystep*

Volepaw*

Stonepaw*

Reedpaw*

Ivytail*

Icewing*

WindClan

Tallstar

Mudclaw

Barkface

Crowpaw

Onewhisker

Ashfoot

Webfoot

Whitetail

Tornear

Nightcloud

Weaselpaw

Owlpaw

Morningflower

Darkfoot

Oatwhisker

Kit

Elder

Kit

Kit

Rushtail*

* While these cats do not formerly appear during the journey, they are listed in both the allegiances for Dawn and Starlight and/or subsequent books at the lake.

Map

Links to external sites:

• Official Map (hosted on web.archive.org)

Gallery

Please do not edit this gallery The Great Journey in Winds of Change The Great Journey in Graystripe's Adventure The Great Journey in Graystripe's Adventure The Great Journey in Tallstar's Revenge

Trivia

Author statements

• When asked how many miles the Clans walked during the Great Journey, Victoria Holmes stated, "I didn't think of it in terms of miles; I planned it in terms of days' traveling. I guess cats could travel three or four miles a day, and they marched for a moon, so that's about one hundred miles. That's far!"

Quotes

Frostfur: "We can't leave the forest! We'll all die."

Sorreltail: "We'll die if we stay!"

^{Dawn, page 74}

"How can any cat think this is still our home?"

―Squirrelpaw about the forest's destruction ^{Dawn (book), page 75}

"StarClan won't do anything to keep the Clans together. They don't have to. Being one of the four Clans—not two, not three, but four—lies within our hearts, just like the ability to track prey and hide in the forest shadows. No matter what the other Clans say, they cannot turn away from the divisions, the differences, the rivalries that bind us. The line that separates us from WindClan or RiverClan is also the line that connects us. StarClan knows this, and it is up to us to have faith in that connection."

―Firestar about the importance of convincing the other Clans to leave the forest ^{Dawn (book), pages 140-141}

"The Twolegs have started to destroy the warrens where we have been sheltering. We cannot stay a moment longer on the moor, but we are too weak to travel alone. I don't care that we haven't had another sign. I just know we have to leave. Take us to this sun-drown-place, I beg you."

―Tallstar to Firestar ^{Dawn (book), page 173}

Kit: "I want to go home!"

Tallpoppy: "We are going home. Our new home."

^{Dawn, page 227}

Firestar: "We should stay closer together. Travel like a single Clan."

Leopardstar: "And who will give the orders? You?"

^{Dawn, page 238}

«Leafpaw slowly grew used to dealing with Thunderpaths as they trekked toward the setting sun. The Clans still crossed separately, but the queens watched out for each other's kits now, having seen how easily the youngest cats were confused by the noise and the stench of the monsters. Like cobwebs in the rain, the Clan boundaries were beginning to dissolve.»

—The second day of the journey ^{Dawn (book), page 269}

"We will have a gathering of our own tonight. Cats of the Clans and of the Tribe, we have not celebrated our deliverance from Sharptooth. Instead we grieved for Feathertail, who died saving us. But tonight we shall honor the cats who came from far away and killed the terrible creature. [...] We feast in honor of Feathertail. Her spirit will live forever in the Tribe of Endless Hunting. We honor too the cats who refuse to desert us and returned to fulfill the prophecy of our ancestors. Now let us eat!"

―Stoneteller about the feast ^{Dawn (book), pages 314-315}

"We have to climb the ridge. I'll never forget the night we arrived here. We climbed that ridge from the other side, and we had no idea where StarClan was leading us. Then we reached the top and saw the lake, and the spirits of our warrior ancestors reflected in the water. It was one of the most wonderful nights of my life."

―Sandstorm about the Great Journey to Alderpaw ^{The Apprentice's Quest, chapter 9}

See also

• Dawn
• Cliffnotes
• The lake territories