The island

"I love it here. It's smaller than Fourtrees, but it feels so safe."

— Leafpool about the island in Twilight, page 79

The island
General information
Location	The lake
Twoleg name	Littlepine Island
Usage	Gatherings
Discovered by	Mothwing and Leafpaw

The island, also known as Littlepine Island, is a small patch of land in lake territories, just off the shore of RiverClan territory. It is the location of the Gatherings, where the Clans meet in peace under a full moon. Fourtrees serves as the same purpose in the forest territories.

Description

The location of the island in the lake territories

The water around the lake is icy cold, but refreshing. The island's shore is very rocky with some thorns rooted in them, and from the shore, the island changes into a lush miniature forest, made up of dense bush and pine and beech trees around the edge. In the center of the island lays an open patch of grass with a giant oak tree, which is where the cats go for the Gatherings, and the leaders sit on the lower branches of the oak to address the cats, with low-growing branches. This tree is also known as the Great Oak. The deputies and medicine cats sit near the tree's thick, twisting roots. A fallen tree lays across the lake from the mainland to the island, and cats use it as a bridge to reach the island for Gatherings.

Significance

«Brambleclaw realized that the last problem with their new home had been solved. Thanks to Leafpool they had the Moonpool where they could share tongues with StarClan, and now the island would give them a safe place to gather that would belong to all the Clans, and none.»

—Brambleclaw's thoughts about the tree-bridge ^{Starlight, page 316}

Similar with Fourtrees, StarClan has a special connection with the island. StarClan oversees the truce during Gatherings and is capable of sending clouds to cover the moon if fighting breaks out. The island is also neutral territory without any Clan claiming it as their own territory. StarClan has also physically appeared at the island.

Location history

"But think how safe the island would be. We'd have a lake full of fish right outside our dens. Have you thought that your choice of camp might be too open? And that Thunderpath you mentioned can't be too far away."

―Hawkfrost about the island being RiverClan's camp ^{Starlight, page 106}

The island is first discovered by the medicine cats while searching for herbs near the shoreline shortly after the Clans arrived from the Great Journey. Mothwing speculates it might make a perfect place for Gatherings, though the island is inaccessible. Mothwing brings this idea to the other Clans, but they disagree since they do not wish to swim to Gatherings. Hawkfrost instead posits that the island might be suitable for RiverClan's camp, and while Mistyfoot disagrees, Leopardstar allows Hawkfrost to lead a patrol to investigate it further. Hawkfrost and his patrol later return and declares the lake the perfect place for RiverClan's camp. However, Leopardstar disagrees since the island is too far offshore for their kits and elders to swim.

Mudclaw was slain by a falling tree, which would later provide a bridge to the island

Unbeknownst to the other Clans, Mudclaw and Hawkfrost meet in secret at the island to discuss Firestar using Onewhisker as a puppet leader to control WindClan. Mudclaw grows more disgruntled with Onewhisker's leadership, especially since Mudclaw was Tallstar's deputy before he was replaced by Onewhisker shortly before Tallstar's death. He and Hawkfrost gather allies to meet at the island who disagree with Firestar's involvement with WindClan and believe Mudclaw should be in charge. After Leafpaw finds the Moonpool, Mudclaw's allies meet once again at the island and discuss a plan to attack WindClan to kill Onewhisker and Ashfoot. Hawkfrost and Mudclaw speak on the lakeshore after the meeting, but they are spotted by Mistyfoot. Mudclaw, Hawkfrost, and their allies attack WindClan's camp, though they are foiled by ThunderClan's arrival. As Mudclaw and Hawkfrost flee, lightning strikes a tree on the island, sending it crashing on the lakeshore and killing Mudclaw. Mudclaw's death creates a bridge to the island, allowing the Clans to use the island for Gatherings.

Graystripe and Millie return to the Clans and arrive on the island during a Gathering. RiverClan temporarily moves to the island when Twolegs threaten their former camp for a short while. This displeases the other Clans as RiverClan has infringed on neutral territory, though they promise to move by the next full moon. However, they have a difficult time finding prey on the island due to its small size and lack of fish due to the nearby Twoleg activity. During a drought, the lake is dried up and cats cross over the dry pebble lake bottom to reach the island. The four Clan leaders meet at the island and vow to unite ahead of the Great Battle. Following the battle, the former Dark Forest trainees swear an oath of loyalty to their Clans at the island. The island is flooded during the Great Storm and is littered with Twoleg rubbish, debris, and dead fish when the flood waters finally recede. When SkyClan arrives at the lake, they also participate in Gatherings at the lake, though SkyClan's legitimacy is challenged at their first Gathering. StarClan leaders met on the island one night to discuss the trouble brewing between ShadowClan and SkyClan that threatens the existence of all five Clans.

Book mentions

• Tallstar's Revenge (Comic)
• Onestar's Confession
• Starlight (First appearance)
• Winds of Change
• Twilight
• Sunset
• Warrior's Return
• The Sight
• Dark River
• Outcast
• Eclipse
• Sunrise
• Hollyleaf's Story
• The Fourth Apprentice
• Mistystar's Omen
• Fading Echoes
• Night Whispers
• Sign of the Moon
• The Forgotten Warrior
• The Last Hope
• Dovewing's Silence
• Crowfeather's Trial
• Bramblestar's Storm
• The Apprentice's Quest
• Thunder and Shadow
• Shattered Sky
• Darkest Night
• River of Fire
• Tigerheart's Shadow (Mentioned only)
• The Raging Storm
• Squirrelflight's Hope
• Lost Stars
• The Silent Thaw
• Veil of Shadows
• Darkness Within
• A Light in the Mist
• River
• Sky
• Shadow
• Thunder
• Wind
• Ivypool's Heart
• Secrets of the Clans
• Battles of the Clans
• The Ultimate Guide
• The Clans Decide
• Beyond the Code: Brightspirit's Mercy

Gallery

Map art

The island on the original map

The island on the original Twoleg view map

The island on the reprinted map

The island on the reprinted Twoleg view map

Official art

The island in Tallstar's Revenge

The island in Winds of Change

The island in Winds of Change

The falling tree bridge in Winds of Change

The island in Graystripe's Adventure

The island in Graystripe's Adventure

The island in Bramblestar's Storm

The island on the cover of Darkest Night

The island in Secrets of the Clans

The island in the Warriors Adventure Game

Trivia

Interesting facts

• In Beyond the Code: Brightspirit's Mercy, it was humored that the cats sitting on the tree at the head of the clearing used for Gatherings on the island used a stepladder to climb up there.

External links

• Marvellous Maps on the Warriors official website (backup link)

See also

• The lake territories
• The lake
• Gathering