The mountains

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The mountains
General information
Twoleg name	Hengest Ridge
Usage	Residence of The Tribe of Rushing Water and a rogue group
Discovered by	The Ancients

The mountains, also known as Hengest Ridge, is a region that provides a territory for the Tribe of Rushing Water and a group of rogues.

Description

Coming Soon

History

In the Dawn of the Clans arc

The Sun Trail

In the mountains, in the ancient Tribe, the cats are starving due to the departure of prey and harsh conditions. Every year, the leaf-bares in the mountains become more severe and colder. Then the Stoneteller has a dream about a land full of prey, and she tells her Tribemates about it. However, everyone has a different opinion: some think that it is necessary to stay in the mountains because of the possible danger in a new place, while others still want to try their luck. They decide to hold a vote, and a majority of the Tribe votes to leave in search of new lands, and soon they set off. Stoneteller and their other Tribemates wish them good luck.

Thunder Rising

Gray Wing dreams himself in the mountains in the cave behind a waterfall. Half Moon calls to him and asks him to follow her, then she gives him a message of a new life.

The First Battle

Gray Wing visits the mountains in his dreams. An elder complains about stones in their nest. Jay Frost offers to help, but an unnamed queen tells him that his paws are too soft for moving stones. The elder says that he will need tough paws in the future. Elsewhere, Lion's Roar tries to get Misty Water to eat. She tells him to give it to a younger cat and that it is the last piece of prey. At the edge of the cave, Twisted Branch, who is sharing tongues with Snow Hare, points that the hunting party will be back soon. Gray Wing runs to greet him, but is stopped when four kits sprint in front of him. Their mother, Dewy Leaf, scolds them not to run, and Gray Wing is relieved to know that she kitted safely. He tells himself that if Moon Shadow had stayed for his kits, he would probably still be alive.

Stoneteller hears him and walks over to greet him. He is surprised to see her, and she tells him that they share the same dream. She also says that he is both asleep in his nest, and in the cave when he asks. He asks about Quiet Rain when she sees her. He wishes aloud that he could tell her that he and his brothers were okay, and Stoneteller promises him that she'll tell her. Gray Wing, however, barely hears her, lost in regret over Jagged Peak's injury and his quarrels with Clear Sky. Stoneteller assures him that it isn't his fault. She then gives him the prophecy; "...greed is only the beginning. There will be war."

She asks about Turtle Tail, and he purrs in reply. She is delighted that he has relied her love at last. Gray Wing zones out thinking about her kits, only to hear Stoneteller ask him why he has come, and that he has brought change. He wonders if they all are born with change. She agrees that they are all born with blood, but blood only marks the beginning of bloodshed. Gray Wing starts to wake up, and yells for Stoneteller to stay. She replies by telling him that she has always believed in him. Gray Wing is engulfed in darkness, leaving the cave.

More Coming Soon

The Blazing Star

Gray Wing dreams he is back in the mountains, sitting in the cave behind the waterfall. He realizes where he is, and thinks that it has been so long since the travelling cats left the mountains. The tom sees Stoneteller and notes that she has gotten so old. Gray Wing sees his other old Tribemates, such as his mother and Dewy Leaf. The tortoiseshell she-cat has had three kits. He also notices Snow Hare, and remembers how the elder would tell such great stories.

Gray Wing decides to follow Stoneteller into her den, amazed at how beautiful her cave is. He believes he has not made a noise, but, as he is stalking towards his former Healer, she extends a paw to stop him. The tom wonders how she knows he is there, as he is dreaming. The white she-cat asks him why he is following her, and Gray Wing cannot seem to find an answer. Stoneteller reveals that she invited him, calling him there. She adds that part of his heart will always be with the mountains. Gray Wing realizes she is right, he sometimes longs to be back in the mountains, back in the cave with Quiet Rain.

Stoneteller knocks down a spider web, but the spider clings onto a web at the last moment. She asks Gray Wing what the spider did, and he replies that it saved itself. She then asks what the spider will do next, and he replies that it will build a new home. Stoneteller tells him that one day, he must be just as flexible as that spider, he must be stronger than ever before. Gray Wing looks over at his mother, thinking about how it has been so long since he left her in the mountains. The Healer tells him to make his mother proud.

In The New Prophecy arc

Moonrise

Feathertail, Brambleclaw, Tawnypelt, Crowpaw, Squirrelpaw, and Stormfur meet the Tribe of Rushing Water on the way back to the old forest. Stoneteller thinks that Stormfur is the gray cat mentioned in a prophecy to save them from Sharptooth, a mountain lion. In the end, Feathertail ends up sacrificing herself by dislodging one of the many stalactites hanging from the Tribe's cave, crushing Sharptooth.

Dawn

When all four Clans evacuate the old forest and journey to find a new home, they encounter the Tribe of Rushing Water while heading through the mountains and spend a day with them. They end up spending another day with the Tribe due to snowfall. When the Clans leave the Tribe behind, Stormfur, wanting to be with Brook, stays in the mountains with the Tribe, wishing the Clans well.^[source?]

In the Power of Three arc

Outcast

The mountains are first mentioned by Stoneteller as the home of the Tribe of Rushing Water in defense against the intruder rogue cats. Both groups of cats claim the mountains as their own for prey and territory.

Later during a hunting session, Hollypaw has difficulty focusing. In order to help her, Brook mentions that she had difficulty adjusting to hunting in the forest, as she is used to hunting on bare mountain slopes. Hollypaw later mentions how she would like to see the Tribe of Rushing Water, but thinks the mountains are too far away to visit.

When Jaypaw meets with the other medicine cats and their apprentices at the half-moon meeting, he sees Rock. Rock tells him that he will find the answers to his questions in the mountains. When Jaypaw meets up with Leafpool in her dream, they see Feathertail, and Leafpool tells Jaypaw that she died in the mountains. When the medicine cats are returning back from the Moonpool, Jaypaw consults with Leafpool about her dream. He believes that something is wrong in the mountains, and that Brook and Stormfur should be told about it. He also believes ThunderClan is involved, and he knows he must find a way to go to the mountains.

After Lionpaw has a disagreement with Berrynose, Stormfur talks to him, and Lionpaw asks him about the journey to the lake. Stormfur mentions that when he stayed in the mountains with the Tribe, he met Brook. He also tells Lionpaw about how Feathertail died in the mountains. After they finish their discussion, Lionpaw can just make out the mountains in the distance. He wonders what the mountains look like, and describes how he wants to see the world outside of ThunderClan's borders. He feels that the mountains are calling him, and he wonders if he can find a way to the mountains.

Later when Talon and Night come to the ThunderClan camp, Jaypaw goes inside Brook's thoughts. When he sees the Tribe speaking about the attack of the rogue cats, Talon mentions that the mountains rightfully belong to the tribe. After Stormfur tells the Tribe of his plan to rid of the rogue cats, Brook supports him by mentioning that the Tribe has lived in the mountains for many seasons, and asks if they are going to leave after doing so little. The Tribe cats go to battle the group of rogue cats, resulting in the death of several Tribe cats. Stoneteller blames Stormfur for the attack and banishes him, mentioning that there is no place in the mountains for Clan cats.

When Jaypaw exits Brook's memory, Talon tells Firestar that he and Night are at the ThunderClan camp to ask that Stormfur and Brook return to the mountains. After Stormfur and Brook decline their request, Stormfur retells the story of their banishment from the Tribe. He starts the story by mentioning the group of rogue cats that came to the mountains. After talking, Brook and Stormfur later decide to return to the mountains. They decide that they will bring Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight with them to the mountains. Lionpaw realizes this is his chance to go to the mountains, and he finds that Hollypaw and Jaypaw also want to go.

Firestar speaks with Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight along with Stormfur, Brook, Leafpool, Graystripe, and Sandstorm. When they leave the camp, the other cats discuss the mountains. Longtail tells Mousefur that he also wishes he could go back, so he can feel the terrain there again. Birchfall agrees with him; Berrynose disagrees, however, and expresses that he sees the mountains as distasteful. Dustpelt objects, mentioning that the young tom has never been there. Jaypaw, Lionpaw, and Hollypaw then slip out of camp to listen to Firestar speak with the other cats. They are later called out of their hiding spot, and Hollypaw mentions that they will never make it to the mountains this way. They later decide that the apprentices may come to the mountains, and that they also want to bring Tawnypelt and Crowfeather.

Brambleclaw and Lionpaw go to the ShadowClan camp to fetch Tawnypelt, and they explain that they need to go to the mountains to help the Tribe. Tawnypelt agrees to go, and explains to her kits that she is going to the mountains.

Squirrelflight and Hollypaw go to the WindClan camp to fetch Crowfeather, and Hollypaw explains that the Tribe cats are having trouble, and they need to go to the mountains. Onestar agrees to their plan and sends Breezepaw along with Crowfeather.

Jaypaw and Leafpool prepare herbs for the traveling cats before they leave. Jaypaw considers bringing some herbs to the mountains, Leafpool objects and tells him that Stoneteller will show him the mountain herbs. On the traveling cats way out of ThunderClan territory, Jaypaw sees the stick, and figures that he cannot bring it with him to the mountains, but he knows he will find Rock in the mountains without it. The cats make their way out of the Clan territories, and stop to look back, and recall how this was the first view the traveling cats had of their new home. Night says the Tribe would never leave the mountains like the Clan cats left their home because they belong there. The cats continue on their way and then stop to hunt, and Lionpaw wants to keep going, but Hollypaw mentions that the mountains are not going anywhere.

Soon after, Brambleclaw is shown talking to Talon about the invaders. Lionpaw determines Talon's answers are not useful for making a plan for when they get to the mountains.

More Coming Soon

Upon reaching the mountains, the apprentices are surprised. While Jaypaw feels the sun warmer on his pelt and a whisper of breeze, Hollypaw whispers that it is amazing, and Jaypaw is curious and annoyed at what it is. Lionpaw, in awe, replies that it is the mountains, and that they are vast. Hollypaw explains that it is a huge wall of stone, all gray and steep and bare, apart from a few racks with grass growing in them. She tells Jaypaw that she wishes he could see, as it goes up forever. Lionpaw adds that he cannot even see the top, as it is hidden in the clouds. Brook whispers the word home, and Jaypaw senses tension from her and the other Tribe cats. He guesses that they must be afraid of facing intruders in the place they had always thought of as only theirs. Night asks the Tribe of Endless Hunting to watch over them, and Jaypaw wonders if StarClan can see them under a different sky. Talon says that they will rest, but Squirrelflight is doubtful, reminding him that the apprentices are not experienced climbers, and that they do not want to be stuck out on the mountain overnight. Brambleclaw decides to go on, and they cross an open space as the ground begins to gradually slope upward, the grass under paw growing thinner, with patches of loose soil mixed with grit, and the slope soon begins to steepen even more. Jaypaw begins to struggle with the slope, and Squirrelflight guides him toward a path that they can follow. Jaypaw begins to feel more confident as he climbs, but as the path twists higher into the mountains, he is not so sure, and constantly pictures the long drop that his mother has warned him about.

The cats stop when Brambleclaw announces that there is a gap that they will need to jump. As Jaypaw waits, he thinks that he hates the mountains, and has troubles thinking why he had ever wanted to come. Jaypaw recalls that he had expected to discover the landscape of his dreams, but instead the wind wafts unfamiliar scents toward him. As it is Jaypaw's turn, he begins to get nervous, but Squirrelflight gives him directions, and Brambleclaw calls to him from the other side. Jaypaw successfully crosses to the other side, and as they carry on, he sense that their path leads between towering walls of stone. The path often winds and curves, and Jaypaw once hears the gurgle of falling water. When he picks up faint scents of prey, he wonders why any cat would want to live in and fight over such a unfriendly place. As they continue moving, Jaypaw wonders what the passage of time is, as there are no signs to guide him of if sunset is approaching.

The rocky path begins to slope upward and as the breeze picks up as if they are climbing out of a valley, Hollypaw calls to Lionpaw to come to where she can see forever. Squirrelflight orders her to get down, and Hollypaw apologizes, but says that one can see the whole world.

More Coming Soon

Eclipse

The cats that made the journey to the mountains are leaving the Tribe of Rushing Water, and it is revealed that Stormfur and Brook will be staying with the Tribe. Lionpaw and Hollypaw discuss the prophecy, and Hollypaw contemplates whether they will ever be able to fly, like an eagle they see above the mountains. Brook and Stormfur thank the ThunderClan cats for their hospitality, saying their final goodbyes and returning to to the Tribe's cave with their prey. As they head back to the lake, the Clan cats discuss whether or not they will ever see Stormfur and Brook again.

In the Omen of the Stars arc

Sign of the Moon

Jayfeather returns to the mountains to help the Tribe of Rushing Water. While he is there, he is sent back in time to the ancient Tribe in the body of Jay's Wing. The ancient Tribe had just moved away from the lake and into the mountains, but are considering relocating. Rock tells Jayfeather that he has to find a way to convince the Tribe to stay in the mountains.^[source?]

In the Super Editions

Graystripe's Vow

Coming Soon

Onestar's Confession

Coming Soon

In the Novellas

Tawnypelt's Clan

Coming Soon

Book mentions

• The Sun Trail
• Thunder Rising
• The First Battle (Vision or Dream)
• The Blazing Star (Vision or Dream)
• Moonrise (First appearance)
• Dawn
• Outcast
• Eclipse
• Sign of the Moon
• Tawnypelt's Clan
• Graystripe's Vow (Now)
• Onestar's Confession

Gallery

Map art

The mountains on the map

The mountains on the Twoleg view map

The mountains on the Ivypool's Heart map

Official art

The mountains on the reprinted cover of The Sun Trail

The mountains on the cover of Moonrise

The mountains on the reprinted cover of Moonrise

The mountains in Winds of Change

The mountains on the cover of Outcast

The mountains in The Ultimate Guide

The mountains in The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition

See also

• The Tribe of Rushing Water
• Journey to the mountains