warriors: the prophecies begin

I really should have done this long ago, however as I started working on my book series page it never occurred to me how easily it would become overrun.

So, for the record, this is (so far) my favorite Warriors series. In part because it was my first but also because it is the most solid. It has a clear cut beginning (Rusty discovering the life of wild cats), middle (Firepaw/heart realizing something is going on with Tigerclaw and eventually outing him) and end (Firestar taking down Tigerclan followed by Scourge). Which, yes, Scourge was a tad thrown in but Tigerstar did have his revenge later on and it gave the warrior cats an epic throw down battle that didn't happen between Tigerclan and Lionclan - which very well could have destroyed the four clans if it had. And, Firestar was my favorite for a long time - certainly throughout this series. It is not often that the main character is my favorite (actually it is never - even here technically Whitestorm is my favorite) but this series manages to pull it off.

And, there were some very impressive twists and turns - and so much triumph and sorrow. Bluestar's kits. Bluestar losing her mind. The depths of Tigerclaw's treachery. Ravenpaw's escape. Brokenstar's revenge. Yellowfang finding a home. Yellowfang's secret. Brokenstar's murder. Dustpelt's rejection of Tigerclaw. Longtail choosing the correct side. Darkstripe refusing the correct side. Sandstorm's change of heart. Dustpelt calming down. Cinderpaw's accident. Spottedleaf's death. Tawnypaw rejecting Thundeclan. Bramblepaw's determination to make Thunderclan his home.

All in all this is (and probably always will be) my favorite Warriors series.

Warriors: The Prophecies Begin

1. Into the Wild
2. Fire and Ice
3. Forest of Secrets
4. Rising Storm
5. A Dangerous Path
6. The Darkest Hour

into the wild: part six

The final four chapters!

Firepaw and Graypaw find Yellowfang easily enough, just beating a ThunderClan patrol looking for her. She says she ran to find the kits and bring them back. They find out from her that Brokenstar is training kits to be warriors and even killed two of them, framing Yellowfang. She also admits that he has been taking kits from other clans. She will not admit, though, why she would not speak against Brokenstar. She only said that he is the son of Raggedstar so his word is law but she is clearly holding back.

Yellowfang goes to get help from ShadowClan cats who want Brokenstar gone while Firepaw hopes to convince the ThunderClan cats who are out hunting for Yellowfang to listen. He is relieved to find Whitestorm leading the group and asks where Tigerclaw is. Whitestorm admits that Bluestar insisted Tigerclaw stay behind, and also hinted that Whitestorm might find some help. He realizes now that she meant Firepaw. He agrees to Firepaw's plan to give Yellowfang and her old clanmates the benefit of the doubt. Yellowfang arrives with some ShadowClan cats and they all go together to recuse the kits.

They arrive at the camp, the ShadowClan cats pretending to bring Yellowfang in as a prisoner. A fight breaks out and the ThunderClan cats join it. Brokenstar admits to killing the kits and framing Yellowfang, as well as killing his father Raggedstar. This news is a heavy blow for Yellowfang but it rouses the ShadowClan cats who are tired of Brokenstar's rule. They throw him out but Brokenstar tells Firepaw that things are not over between them. Whitestorm offers the enemy clan a month to repair their clan with no problems from ThunderClan. The kits are saved and everyone, including Yellowfang, go back to Thunderclan.

When they arrive home and Yellowfang's bravery and honor is spoken of she is finally accepted into the clan and made their medicine cat. Ravenpaw's death is shared by Firepaw, who boldly tells Tigerclaw his friend was no traitor. Graypaw and Firepaw are also made full warriors with the new names Graystripe and Fireheart. Tigerclaw sees an enemy in Fireheart, but Fireheart is unafraid. Some how, some day, he will tell Bluestar the truth and expose Tigerclaw.

Pretty much every plot point but Tigerclaw was resolved. Yellowfang is finally with a clan that loves and respects her. Ravenpaw is safe from Tigerclaw and has been cleared as a traitor. The kits are found. ShadowClan is broken. Fireheart and Graystripe are now full warriors. All is good in the world.

Except... Tigerclaw roams free - and possibly even suspects that Fireheart knows the truth. Brokenstar has promised Fireheart revenge. And Yellowfang... well, I'm beginning to suspect that Bokenstar might be her kit. Why else would she refuse to speak out against him? Or hurt him? Why else would she refuse to have more kits? Why else would the news that he killed his father hurt her so? I am convinced that Brokenstar was her kit and she gave him up because medicine cats are not supposed to have kits and that even Brokenstar does not know the truth. Only time will tell whether or not this plot point is even gone back to. For now, book one is done and Tigerclaw is the bigger threat.

Since we are at the end of book one I will, however, confess half of my spoiler. It is Tigerclaw = evil. I do not, though, remember which book he is defeated in but now that I reflect on it I do remember at least part of his fate. And I do remember the fate of another cat, one that makes me feel sorrow to remember it. But all of that is in the future.

into the wild: part five

Things escalated pretty quick these four chapters.

The next morning there is a meeting where Tigerclaw appoints bodyguards (Darkstripe and Longtail) for Bluestar, since she is running out of lives. Due to her bravery during the ShadowClan attack, Bluestar also makes Yellowfang part of the clan. Tigerclaw then goes on to imply that Ravenpaw betrayed the clan to ShadowClan but Bluestar does not seem to notice. Firepaw overhears Tigerclaw telling Bluestar's new bodyguards that Ravenpaw ran off while they were at Moonstone. Tigerclaw implies that Ravenpaw must have told ShadowClan that Bluestar was gone so they would attack. He also tells them to fix the problem. Longtail says nothing, but Darkstripe is furious and agrees. Firepaw is unsure what to do but he knows his friend is in danger.

He stops by to see Spottedleaf but she seems distracted and upset. She tells him the spirits of StarClan are restless. Suddenly she feels the need to tell Firepaw the prophecy that fire will save their clan. Firepaw leaves confused - to him, fire is dangerous. Firepaw wants to confide everything to Bluestar but can never seem to find a chance. He does, however, turn to Ravenpaw for the truth and Ravenpaw admits Tigerclaw's treachery. Firepaw finally resolves to tell Bluestar no matter what, but when he finally gets her alone she admits to Firepaw how relieved she is to have Tigerclaw for such a strong deputy. She admits she once feared his ambition but now sees his loyalty truly is to the clan. Firepaw cannot bring himself to admit his fears or Ravenpaw's secret. She then confides in Firepaw that it was actually life number seven that she lost, not five. She lied so the clan would not worry about her.

Suddenly there is commotion and chaos in the camp. Someone has stolen Frostfur's kits - and murdered Spottedleaf. Suspicion immediately falls on Yellowfang, who is missing, and most of the clan wants to kill her on site. Bluestar is far more calm, though. She admits Yellowfang must be found and questioned but she wants the truth. A storm breaks out and Bluestar forbids anyone to hunt Yellowfang or the kits down until it has passed. She talks to Firepaw privately and asks him to go find Yellowfang immediately so she can get to the bottom of this. On his way Firepaw hears cats talking about how Ravenpaw probably helped Yellowfang since Tigerclaw has all but named him traitor. He decides to help his friend when he gets back. Then he then sees Frostfur chase Ravenpaw away from the nursery, an angry look on her face and realizes Ravenpaw is out of time. He turns to Graypaw for help in hiding Ravenpaw. Graypaw suggests Barley. They gather up Ravenpaw and go to leave when Tigerclaw catches them and reminds them that no one is to leave the camp. But Bluestar intervenes and tells Tigerclaw it is okay, she is sending Firepaw on an urgent errand and he is taking the other two apprentices with him for help. They take Ravenpaw as close to the farm as they can and leave him to find Barley on his own. Terrified of Tigerclaw, Ravenpaw asks what if his mentor hunts him down. Firepaw assures him he will tell Tigerclaw that he died.

A couple of things here. Clearly all the plot points are not going to be resolved. There is Tigerclaw, who we now know killed Redtail. Ravenpaw, who knows the truth and is in danger because of it. There is also Yellowfang's loyalty, which is constantly called into question. And the missing kits. All of these cannot be solved in the next four chapters but most of them should be - just leaving the Tigerclaw problem.

It is good that Ravenpaw is gone - though it is also sad. He gave his life to his clan just for Tigerclaw to poison them against him. But leaving for now is the only real choice before him - before Tigerclaw has him killed.

But it is not just Ravenpaw in danger. Tigerclaw killed Redtail. He knows how many lives Bluestar has left. He has appointed warriors loyal to himself to be Bluestar's bodyguards. And even worse Bluestar admitted to Firepaw that she actually only has two lives left, not the four Tigerclaw believes. She also once feared his ambition but now sees it as a good thing for the clan. She can see only Tigerclaw's loyalty - which I believe is real, but his want for power is stronger and Bluestar cannot see that. If anything which each blow the clan is dealt she seems weaker and weaker which just makes Tigerclaw stronger and stronger...

into the wild: part four

Things pick up right where they left off. While asleep, Firepaw has a dream of a bright light that blinds him, their home being attacked by ShadowClan, and Graypaw crying. He awakens to Tigerclaw who asks him what is wrong. Firepaw brushes it off as a dream, but Tigerclaw looks thoughtful. 

They make the trip to Moonstone uneventfully. Bluestar leaves Graypaw and Ravenpaw outside to guard the entrance while she brings Firepaw and Tigerclaw inside with her. Tigerclaw stinks of fear and ultimately runs away to join the two apprentices. Firepaw is surprised but Bluestar points out to him that it is a different type of courage that is needed in the Moonstone. Firepaw witnesses the blinding light of Moonstone and is in awe. 

When Bluestar awakens she is in a rush to leave - her dreams spoke of danger. They run back the way they came, desperate to make it to their camp in time. They pass by the farm they saw on their way there and the cat who lives there, Barley, warns them of new dogs on the farm and urged them to take another path. 

They do so but dozens of rats attack. Barley arrives to help but it is too late for Bluestar. Tigerclaw is convinced this was a trap set by Barley and sends him away. When Bluestar finally awakens she admits that she has lost one of her lives, and admits privately to Tigerclaw that she has lost five of her nine.

They race back to the camp to find it under attack by ShadowClan - exactly as Bluestar's (and Firepaw's) dream spoke. Even worse, during the fight Firepaw sees the ShadowClan deputy, Blackfoot, taking kits from their den but he is powerless to stop him since he can't break away from the cats he is fighting. They defeat the cats but during the battle Lionheart dies. When Firepaw hears Graypaw's anguished cry for his dead mentor he realizes all of his dream came true. Yellowfang is also given acknowledgement for saving the kits when no one else could.

Bluestar names Tigerclaw as their new deputy, much to Ravenpaw's horror but the clans approval. When Firepaw asks Ravenpaw what is wrong, Ravenpaw starts to imply that Tigerclaw killed Redtail.

One major thing of note here is the prophecy that fire will save the clan. Clearly Bluestar thinks this is Firepaw - and the fact that Firepaw clearly had a dream from StarClan detailing his trip to Moonstone, the attack on the camp, and Graypaw's grief supports this. But, more importantly, he was given this dream even though he is neither clan leader or medicine cat. He is just an apprentice - and a former kittypet at that. And he is given the dream before Bluestar is. All of this implies that StarClan feels that Firepaw is very important.

Also of note is Tigerclaw's reaction to the visit to the Moonstone. Bluestar's explanation that you need a different kind of courage makes sense - but what also makes sense is that Tigerclaw fears what her dream will say. We know he is lying about something involving Redtail's death, but we don't know what. It makes more sense that Tigerclaw fears Bluestar will see the truth - and the truth will be very bad.

Finally, the last thing of note is that Bluestar has used up five of her nine lives - and Tigerclaw wanted that information. He is loyal to the clan but it begs the question - did he want that information for the good of the clan or for another reason? Just what is Tigerstar's lie and what is his endgame?

into the wild: part three

So quite a bit happened in chapters ten to thirteen.

Firepaw resumes trainign and he, Graypaw, and Ravenpaw are assessed as apprentices and Tigerclaw does the assessing. He sends the three of them on a task to catch as much prey as possible for the clan. He sends the three of them off with Ravenpaw towards snakerocks, mocking him saying in such easy territory he should have no problem catching prey. He sends Firepaw towards the Twolegs homes and Graypaw in the other direction. He warns all three that he will be watching them. Firepaw and Graypaw are confused by Tigerclaw's comments to Ravenpaw. Snakerocks is a dangerous place to hunt as it is full of quick, poisonous snakes. While out Firepaw meets his old friend Smudge (who was in the first couple of chapters). At first he attacks him as an enemy cat in his territory, but once he realizes who he is he is friendly towards him. He tells Smudge that he is happy in his new home and they affectionately part ways.

Back at the camp Tigerclaw makes his report to Bluestar who summons Firepaw. She is angry with him for being affectionate with Smudge and questions his loyalty to the clan. Firepaw insists that Smudge is a part of his old life and that the clan is his true home - and that seeing Smudge drove this home to him. Bluestar accepts his answers but seems worried. She tells Firepaw that Tigerclaw was very impressed with all three apprentices hunting skills and reported that they all did good. Then she tells him that all three will accompany the clan to the next meeting with all the clans called The Gathering.

At The Gathering things do not go as planned. ShadowClan's young apprentices appear to be too young - noted by Lionheart. Ravenpaw tells the story of taking back Sunning Rocks to other apprentices but in his version Redtail kills Oakheart. WindClan never shows. ShadowClan demands hunting rights in everyone's territories and admits to driving WindClan away because they would not share. RiverClan's leader, Crookedstar, admits to giving hunting rights to ShadowClan to keep the peace - much to the fury of his clan. Lastly, ShadowClan's leader, Brokenstar, speaks of a cat of theirs gone rouge - a cat who kills kits. Realizing what he means, Firepaw races from The Gathering to go warn Yellowfang, who he has begun to grow affectionate towards and who is also beginning to grow affectionate to him in return, before his clan comes home.

He beats everyone home but Yellowfang refuses to leave. She feels Bluestar is a fair leader and insists she will accept her judgement, no matter what it is. The cats return in a frenzy to check on the kits and attack Yellowfang in the hopes that Bluestar will pass a death sentence on her. Bluestar is shocked by their behavior and points out that Yellowfang has done no wrong, but Brokenstar has done plenty wrong and is the true enemy. She also says she will go to Moonstone to ask StarClan for guidance. Firepaw sees Tigerclaw with Ravenpaw and worries for his friend because Tigerclaw is clearly angry with him. Lionheart tells Firepaw that he, Graypaw, and Ravenpaw will travel to Moonstone with Bluestar so they need their rest.

MUCH happened in these four chapters. First of all is Tigerclaw and Ravenpaw. Tigerclaw sending Ravenpaw to the most dangerous territory to hunt, while mocking Ravenpaw and claiming to send him to the easiest place makes no sense. But when Ravenpaw tells a different story about Sunning Rocks then Tigerclaw, things start to fall into place. Clearly Tigerclaw is lying about something - Redtail's death if nothing else. Redtail killed Oakheart, not the other way around. Tigerclaw clearly didn't avenge Redtail's death. And just how did Redtail die if not by Oakheart? Claiming a victory that was not his - killing Oakheart - because the true victor is not alive to contradict you is one thing. But this is more then that since Oakheart supposedly killed Redtail yet clearly didn't. No matter what, this starts to explain Ravenpaw's fear and Tigerclaw's hatred. Ravenpaw clearly knows a secret that Tigerclaw does not want exposed.

However, despite what is going on between them Tigerclaw clearly seems to care about the clan and even the apprentices. He goes back and forth between mocking them and praising them. He might have gotten Firepaw in trouble with Bluestar but it could have been a genuine question of Firepaw's loyalties. After all, he fed and brought an enemy cat to their camp instead of killing her and let the kittypet Smudge live. Yet despite this he admitted to Bluestar that Firepaw - along with his two friends - did very good on their hunt.

A final three points.

Spottedleaf is clearly developing feelings for Firepaw as well. She was very affectionate to him when he went to her for herbs to bring to bring on their trip to the Moonstone. And about the Moonstone, Graypaw said it is where the clan leaders go to receive dream visions, change their name to star, and receive their nine lives when they are named clan leader. Finally, the cats feel they are descended from the great cat clans from long ago. LeopardClan gave them their swiftness and hunting skills, TigerClan gave them the ability to hunt at night, and LionClan gave them their love for the sun. And while some cats mourn the passing of these cats because they would teach the Twolegs a lesson, Spottedleaf points out that if they ruled the woods there would be no home for their small clans.

More chapters later!

into the wild: part two

Firepaw's adventures continue for another five chapters.

Without a mentor of his own, Firepaw is jointly trained by both Lionheart and Tigerclaw. Tigerclaw can't seem to make up his mind when it comes down to Firepaw. Sometimes he seems to approve but other times he seems to mock the young cat. Lionheart is stern with Firepaw, but fair and very approving (and sometimes shocked) when Firepaw does something right. The two warriors show Firepaw (and Graypaw since Lionheart is his mentor) the boundaries of their land. They also train the two young cats, along with Ravenpaw once his wound heals enough to resume his training. However, Ravenpaw does not seem to enjoy his training and is in fear of Tigerclaw - though this could just be because Tigerclaw is a harsh mentor.

Time passes and Firepaw grows into his role as an apprentice. One day, while out gathering food for the clan, he finds an enemy cat in their territory and attacks it. At the end of the fight the cat surrenders her life but Firepaw does not take it. Instead he realizes that the cat is sick and so hungry she won't last long without food. Instead he breaks warrior code and catches her some food and shares it with her. As they talk the warrior patrol comes across them and Firepaw is found out - both for helping an enemy cat since she is Yellowfang, formerly of ShadowClan and now a loner, but also for eating before feeding the clan first.

The warriors, led by Bluestar herself, lead the prisoner back to camp. One there Bluestar informs everyone that WindClan is missing and their territory smells of ShadowClan alone. She also tells them that Yellowfang is now their prisoner. In private, Tigerclaw is unhappy with this because he feels that Yellowfang will betray them to ShadowClan but Bluestar admits that she hopes instead Yellowfang will betray ShadowClan. She also announces that she will take Firepaw on as her apprentice. This is a huge honor as Bluestar normally does not take apprentices. As punishment for breaking the warrior code Firepaw must tend to Yellowfang while she is healing.

Lastly of note, everyone is sticking close to the camp or patrolling in larger groups then normal. This is both because of the mystery of WindClan but also because a fox is in the area. They worry that the fox might get into the den where the kits live and that ShadowClan will try to drive them out of their own land.

It seems Yellowfang is somewhat of a legend. Not a big one, but she was a warrior who chose to become a medicine cat which is unheard of. Females are queens, warriors, queen/warrior, or medicine cat. There are no other options - and it is even revealed by Yellowfang that medicine cats do not have kits so there is no option for a medicine cat to also be a queen. Yellowfang also freaks out on a kit who comes to close to her and yells at Firepaw to keep them away. Firepaw asks her if she had kits and this is when she reveals to him that medicine cats do not do that. He points out that she was once a warrior, but she sadly remarks that accidents happen to kits around her. So perhaps she does not have a hatred of kits, but rather a sorrow of the tragic loss of either her own or ones she was in charge of.

While taking care of her Firepaw finds himself spending time with Spottedleaf to get the necessary medicines to heal Yellowfang seems to start to develop feelings for her. Whether anything will come of this is unknown since Spottedleaf is a medicine cat, not a queen. However, it seems that the feelings might be mutual.

As for Ravenpaw, he is constantly in fear though from what is unknown. He seems to fear ShadowClan and attacks coming from anywhere. He is also in fear of his mentor, but, like I said before, Tigerclaw is harsh. However, as harsh as Tigerclaw is he does give praise where praise is due, and even praises Ravenpaw for catching a crow - though I imagine it was grudgingly.

into the wild: part one

I bought a new book by Erin Hunter, book one in a new series that takes place on the plains of Africa. I didn't realize that only book one was out. While I like starting new series I don't like starting them when there is only one book out. There needs to be at least three. If I get drawn in I like to move on to the next book, not wait an entire year before the next adventure. Usually, by then, I've forgotten what is going on. With three books firmly established in my mind I don't mind walking away for a bit because everything is more deeply ingrained. But I did really want to read my new book so I decided to revisit the world of Warriors. I only ever read the first series and a few graphic novels. I never ventured beyond that. And this was more then ten years ago so I all really remember is- well, that would be spoilers. (But I'll confess it by the end of the series. I will give you two names as hints: Firepaw and Tigerclaw.)

While this book follows Rusty/Firepaw it doesn't start with him. It starts with a clan fight.

RiverClan, in search of food, has invaded ThunderClan territory. A fight ensues led by Oakheart of RiverClan and Redtail of ThunderClan (both a deputy of their respective clans). In the end ThunderClan calls a retreat, a part of their territory lost. Back at their camp Bluestar, leader of Thunderclan, searches for answers. A meteor streaks across the sky and Spottedleaf, their medicine cat, tells her it is a message from StarClan: Fire alone can save our clan.

Meanwhile a young cat named Rusty awakens from a dream in which he was hunting a mouse. He is a kittypet who lives with the Twolegs. He is both happy with his life and upset with with. Both content and discontent. He likes his life but his heart yearns for the woods outside of his home and the fresh taste kill of mouse. He finally braves the woods only to be attacked by another cat. That cat is Graypaw, warrior in training for ThunderClan. After their fight they strike up a sudden friendship and are discovered by Bluestar and Lionheart (a warrior who is Graypaw's mentor). Bluestar decides to extend an invitation to join their clan to Rusty. There have not been many kits, their territory is being overtaken, their clan is failing. They need more warriors and Bluestar was impressed by the kittypet's courage and skills.

The next day Rusty leaves his home behind, escorted to the clan home by Lionheart and Whitestorm (another warrior). He receives a mixed welcome, even needing to fight another warrior to prove his worth, but ultimately he is accepted and given the name Firepaw.

But then Ravenpaw (another apprentice) arrives with the news that Redtail is dead. He passes out from his wounds and Tigerclaw arrives dragging Redtail's body. He brings the news that Redtail was slain by Oakheart, and he himself slew Oakheart in return. And the Riverclan cats have fled their part of the forest. While everyone mourns Redtail's passing, Graypaw shows Firepaw around and instructs him on clan life - including that there is a StarClan that all clans are a part of. That is where clan cats go when they die, to the white band (called Silverpelt) in the sky to look down on clan cats below. Bluestar names a new deputy (Lionheart) and gives young Dustpaw a new mentor (since Redtail was his) in Darkstripe. Firepaw and Graypaw turn in for the night.

Now, thoughts. This was a good introduction. The story has been well set up on both ends.

In the case of Rusty/Firepaw we see him both at his home and in the woods. We see him make the choice between kittypet and warrior. And he is well aware that either choice is final. If he picks kittypet the offer will never be extended again. If he picks warrior he must prove he is worthy of it or forever be scorned and hated. The laws, ways, and traditions were laid down for Firepaw, who has officially walked away from his life as a kittypet. He has made some friends and earned the respect of many cats, but he also has had a few run ins with those who feel they should not have a kittypet among their ranks.

On the other hand we see a failing clan that is desperate. Their numbers are not growing at the rate they should, they are losing territory, and food is scarce. A prophecy has been delivered and, of course, Bluestar clearly feels that Rusty is the "fire" that will save their clan. And things only get worse with the death of their deputy. Just how much sorrow must this clan face? Will things ever get better? And how, exactly, will "fire" save them? I doubt it's by knocking up every female cat in the clan and/or forcing the mice to have more children so that implies that their problems are more then they seem.

I really do not remember what the main story arc is fully, just the one spoiler I don't want to reveal so I am eager to read on and discover more.