warriors: dawn of the clans

This was a nice series and it really brought things full circle. Jayfeather had already discovered the ancient cats left the lake and moved to the mountains to become The Tribe of Rushing Water. Now, here, we discover some tribe cats left and joined with some rogues to create something different - the five clans surrounding fourtrees. Ultimately, the clans will leave fourtrees and return to the lake. Of course, SkyClan is still missing, off on their own. But, it is not like the clans returned to the Tribe so I suppose it is what it is.

It was both sad and exciting to see the birth of the clans. I wish there was more on the moonstone and the birth of the medicine cats, but the focus was more on the birth of the clans themselves (including StarClan). I am hopeful that Moth Flight's Vision will solve this problem, but we will have to see. It was nice seeing where the clan names came from.

Like The Power of Three this series also had no villain. It is easy to paint Clear Sky as the villain, but in actuality he was just misguided and afraid. Instead, if we were to point at a villain, the villain was really themselves. Their inability to realize that different things made different cats happy. Some preferred the moor, others the open forest. Some preferred the river, others the dark forest. The inability to accept this, the desperation of holding everyone together when they just wanted to be free, this is what the villain was. In that light one could even argue Gray Wing was just as guilty as Clear Sky. Where Clear Sky was very totalitarian Gray Wing wanted everyone to stay together.

My only complaint with this story is RiverClan was shoved into the background. Clear Sky had his story and Gray Wing had his (with Shadow Star and Thunder). River Ripple was off doing his own thing for most of the series. Eventually Shadow Star and Thunder would leave Gray Wing but River Ripple was separate from the start and we saw very little of him and the birth of his clan.

While this series was definitely more of a prequel to give background to the main story line it was solid enough to stand on its own and was very good.  

Warriors: Dawn of the Clans

1. The Sun Trail
2. Thunder Rising
3. The First Battle
4. The Blazing Star
5. A Forest Divided
6. Path of Stars

the sun trail: part seven

Petal and Fox stand over their dead mother as a badger walks away. They don't know what to do now. They are still kits and don't even know how to properly hunt. They bury their mother under some leaves and, determined to stick together and help each other out, go off in search of food. They don't find food but they do find some other cats. They approach them, hoping the cats will be friendly and take them in but instead they are hostile and make it clear if the kits don't leave now they will attack. They leave the cats and find a squirrel but before they can pounce the very cats that just chased them away attack them and steal their prey. Petal realizes these cats don't care if some kits starve to death. 

Moons pass, and Petal and Fox are barely surviving. One day while out hunting they see a group of the tribe cats in the trees. Since they have had negative run ins with these cats in the past they try to avoid them, but suddenly they are spotted. Terrified, Petal and Fox run away.

Two of the tribe cats chase after them as Petal and Fox try to get away. They reach the water and despite being terrified of it, Fox insists they must cross. They try to cross but it doesn't work. The tom that chased them calls out to them, telling them they won't hurt them. Realizing they have no choice Petal and Fox head back. But Petal slips and the current carries her away. The tribe tom helps get her out of the water and introduces himself as Clear Sky and his friend as Falling Feather. Clear Sky hunts for them while Falling Feather tells Fox what to do so they can warm Petal up.  While Clear Sky is gone Falling Feather asks the cats about themselves. She also invites them to come live with them. When Clear Sky gets back Fox is reluctant to agree but Petal can tell he has feelings for Falling Feather and Petal herself wishes to join the group. It is decided they will join and for the first time Petal feels good.

So why only three chapters here? These chapters are from a short story added to the end of this novel.

I have to say, I hated Fox immensely during the novel, but now I can see, thanks to the short story, that it wasn't all his fault. Two children, barely older then babies, forced to either die or survive in a hostile, uncaring world. The clans would have been a wonderful thing for them if the clans were not just birthing themselves and such a mess. Instead of getting someone like Firestar, they found Clear Sky, who clearly is also a mess and instead just fed Fox's hatred and hostility. This short story was a sad ending to an already sad novel.  

the sun trail: part six

A half moon goes by and Dappled Pelt returns. She is full of complaints about Clear Sky's camp and is happy to be home. As the cats talk it is clear that there is some hostility towards Clear Sky, which upsets Gray Wing. Everyone goes out hunting and the ground gives out under Rainswept Flower. The cats rescue her and discover a series of old rabbit tunnels. Everyone begins to see the benefits of the tunnels - especially if there is a battle with Clear Sky, which upsets Gray Wing who refuses to believe that could happen. They get Tall Shadow who is excited over the tunnels. She feels they should live in them during the winter for protection. Over the next few days all the cats move in and Gray Wing privately admits to himself that living in the tunnels would offer protection if they have to fight other cats.

One day Gray Wing sees Frost and Jagged Peak approaching their camp. He calls out a greeting to them but Jagged Peak looks miserable and Frost ignores him. Frost leaves and an embarrassed and hurt Jagged Peak explains that because he can no longer hunt and contribute Clear Sky told him that he cannot live with them. He begs Gray Wing to let him come back to the tribe's camp because with winter coming he will not survive on his own. Gray Wing is furious and assures Jagged Peak that he will always have a home with them. After bringing Jagged Peak to Tall Shadow, Gray Wing confronts Clear Sky. But Clear Sky stands by his decision, infuriating Gray Wing and causing him to attack. Clear Sky easily beats him and tells Gray Wing he is no longer welcome in the camp. As he leaves Storm tells him that Clear Sky really does feel he is doing the best thing, but she seems worried. Gray Wing, however, is still upset and heads back to camp. Everyone is making Jagged Peak feel welcome and Cloud Spots is determined to figure out how to help him. Time passes and one day Gray Wing is out hunting a squirrel when Fox attacks him, accusing him of stealing prey. Gray Wing tries to talk to Clear Sky but Fox's attacks are so ferocious Gray Wing fears he will be killed. In desperation he fends off Fox's attacks and accidentally kills him. Clear Sky is furious, disowning Gray Wing. He won't listen to anything Gray Wing has to say in his defense. Storm finally speaks up, telling Clear Sky she has had enough. She tells Clear Sky she is tired of the way he treats her and blames him for Fox's death. She apologizes to Gray Wing and leaves.

Gray Wing begs Clear Sky to go after Storm, but Clear Sky refuses feeling that Storm has made ber choice. When he asks after Jagged Peak, Gray Wing becomes hopeful, but again Clear Sky disappoints him. Clear Sky feels that Storm and Jagged Peak are in the past and he must take care of his cats. Gray Wing invites Clear Sky to visit them whenever he wants, but privately he wonders if Tall Shadow would actually allow that.  Days pass and Hawk Swoop prepares to have her kits. This makes Gray Wing think of Storm and he decides to go to Twoleg place and find her. A dog chases him and Turtle Tail saves him. She is thrilled that Gray Wing has come to visit her but he embarrassedly admits he is there for Storm. This upsets Turtle Tail who pretends she doesn't know where Storm lives but Bumble tells Gray Wing that they do know. She takes Gray Wing to see Storm but Storm refuses to talk. She feels these are her kits and she wants nothing to do with Gray Wing and Clear Sky. Gray Wing is upset but accepts her decision.

Gray Wing returns home, feeling he is doing the wrong thing. When he wakes up in the morning he resolves to talk to Storm again. He heads towards Twoleg place and runs into Turtle Tail who tells him to come quickly, Storm is in danger. They reach her den to find a monster destroying it. Gray Wing is unable to save Storm, who dies telling Gray Wing that she just wanted to keep her kits safe. All the kits but one are dead. Turtle Tail helps Gray Wing carry the kit away. Turtle Tail names the kit Thunder and tells Gray Wing to bring it to his father. Gray Wing brings him to Clear Sky, much to the annoyance of Clear Sky's guards, but Clear Sky refuses to take the kit in. He feels he only brings suffering to those he loves. Gray Wing is furious with his brother but Clear Sky won't back down and admit he is wrong. Their relationship dies and an angry Gray Wing brings the upset kit, who doesn't understand why his father doesn't want him, to his camp. The arrival of Thunder causes some debate. Some cats fear that Clear Sky will use this as an excuse to attack their camp. Gray Wing threatens to leave if they kick the kit out. In the end it is decided that Thunder should stay. Gray Wing tells Thunder not to worry, that from this moment forward he will be his father.

I am in complete shock. I mean, I knew things were going to get bad, but this is worse then I imagined. Clear Sky kicking out Jagged Peak, writing off Gray Wing, and refusing to take in his son Thunder. This is awful. And reading as Gray Wing slowly comes to the realization that his brother is not the man he grew up with. This ending is so sad. And I guess I'm just in so much shock because I am used to ThunderClan being the heroes of the story, while Clear Sky is so clearly not a hero as he makes every single wrong decision that he possibly can.

However, I am willing to bet that Thunder becomes the Thunder of ThunderClan - and I bet that clan is Clear Sky's group. I am willing to bet that when Thunder grows up he goes back to his father's clan to lead it and change it. And I bet that Gray Wing's group will become WindClan. I can't wait to start the next book and find out what happens.

the sun trail: part five

Gray Wing goes off in search of Turtle Tail in Twoleg place. He cannot find her but he does run into the cat who warned him about the wasp nest. She tells Gray Wing her name is Storm, then she shows him where Bumble's home is. Gray Wing collects Turtle Tail but they get into another fight when Gray Wing discovers just how much she likes Bumble's home and twolegs. Later, while walking through the trees, Gray Wing comes across Storm fighting with some rogues who are accusing Storm of trespassing. Gray Wing comes to her rescue and shows her where he lives. She meets Turtle Tail but she and Gray Wing get into another fight over Bumble. Storm agrees to meet Gray Wing again tomorrow and leaves. Rainswept Flower admits to overhearing Gray Wing and Storm and teases Gray Wing for falling in love with a rogue.

Thinking about Storm, Gray Wing goes out for a run. When a rabbit crashes into him he instinctively kills it. Then he sees Wind and Gorse racing over and realizes what he has done. He apologizes but they aren't upset. Instead, they invite him to share the rabbit. He invites them back to his camp and they bring the rabbit along. At first Tall Shadow is cool towards them but she allows them to stay and even warms up to them a little. Turtle Tail comes back and Gray Wing is immediately suspicious of her visiting Bumble. But when he finds out she was out collecting herbs with Cold Spots he apologizes and admits he has no right to tell her where she can and cannot go. The next day Turtle Tail asks Gray Wing to go hunting with her but he tells her he is looking for Storm. Turtle Tail leaves hurt and Gray Wing is left confused. He meets up with Storm and takes her to meet his brothers, but when they approach the area where Clear Sky lives they are stopped by some rogues who tell them they are trespassing. Gray Wing insists he is Clear Sky's brother so the rogue escorts them to camp, clearly not believing him. The rogue, Fox, is shocked when Clear Sky confirms Gray Wing's story. Gray Wing is shocked that Clear Sky has rogues living with them, but Clear Sky points out that they are rogues too. Storm and Clear Sky act odd around each other and Storm promptly leaves. When Gray Wing asks if he can see her the next day she brushes him off. Gray Wing is confused by both Storm and Clear Sky's behavior.

Gray Wing waits for Storm but she never comes. Turtle Tail comes along, asking him to hunt, but he tells her he is waiting for Storm. Turtle Tail is upset, even more so when Gray Wing admits he wants Storm to live with them. She takes off towards Twoleg place. Tall Shadow arrives next and tells Gray Wing that maybe Wind and Gorse should be invited to live with them. Gray Wing is shocked, though privately he wants Storm to do that. Tall Shadow is unsure, but she feels if the tribe had more cats it would be stronger. Days pass and Gray Wing runs into Wind and Gorse again. They want to visit the camp but Gray Wing tells them they can't right now. He is worried about upsetting them but they accept his answer without complaint. He then runs into Storm but she is evasive and clearly doesn't want to talk to him. Then he runs into Turtle Tail and they get into another fight. Turtle Tail leaves then comes back to tell Gray Wing that she is going to live with Bumble. Gray Wing is shocked and hurt, but respects her choice. After that he runs into Storm and is finally ready to tell her how he feels but instead Storm tells him that she is going to go live with Clear Sky. Gray Wing is hurt, but feels maybe he owes his brother since it is his fault Bright Stream is dead.

Jackdaw's Cry tries to visit Falling Feather but is turned away by a large cat who made it clear he would fight. Gray Wing feels there must be some sort of misunderstanding so he goes to Clear Sky's camp himself however the rogues stop him. They decide that Gray Wing is just using his relationship with Clear Sky and an excuse and decide to attack him for stealing prey but Storm comes along and puts a stop to it. She tells Gray Wing she is pregnant and even though the news hurts him he congratulates her. At the camp Clear Sky and Storm fight over her going out to take a walk. Gray Wing tries to talk to him about Jackdaw's Cry being turned away but Clear Sky isn't interested. He insists that the tribe cats are welcome to visit but that there have to be clear boundaries. While there Jagged Peak falls out of a tree and hurts himself. Gray Wing races off to get help and Dappled Pelt comes back with him. She works on Jagged Peak's leg but decides she needs to stay for a bit, even though she is clearly unhappy about being in Clear Sky's camp.

Poor Gray Wing. Storm was so clearly in love with Clear Sky. And poor Turtle Tail. It is so sad that she decided to go live with Bumble but really, how many times every day can you stand getting your heart broken?

Meanwhile, I have a really bad feeling about Clear Sky and his group. The borders, the hostile rogues, the way he treats Storm. I think things are about to get really bad really fast.

the sun trail: part four

Gray Wing, Clear Sky, and some others are out hunting when they hear Moon Shadow being attacked. They race to help him and fight off the rogues, but they only win because they outnumber the rogues. The tribe cats have no real fighting skills and the rogues realize this. Back at camp Tall Shadow is yelling at Moon Shadow for refusing to listen when it comes down to the forest. The next day Moon Shadow wants to go hunting so Clear Sky goes with him. Gray Wing doesn't want to go so Turtle Tail asks him to go for a walk with her. They go to the four oaks and lie on the great rock. While there a kittypet named Bumble comes over and introduces herself. They talk for a bit then part ways. Another day Gray Wing decides to go running. While out he sees Wind and Gorse chase a rabbit. He keeps back because he doesn't want to get into another argument with them. But when the rabbit runs into its burrow - and Wind follows - Gray Wing goes over to find out what is going on. He is fascinated by Wind running into the burrow and catching the rabbit. He asks Wind if he can do it too, so she goes into the tunnel with him. While down there he has a panic attack and Wind helps him out. The cats part ways wary but no longer hostile.

Cloud Spots and Dappled Pelt ask Gray Wing to go with them in their search for herbs. He does and as they return to camp he finds Turtle Tail talking to Bumble. Bumble is happy to see him but Turtle Tail acts guilty. Bumble invites them to see her home sometime and leaves. After she goes Gray Wing tells Turtle Tail that she shouldn't be so friendly with a kittypet. Turtle Tail seems upset by his judgment. That night while everyone is asleep Gray Wing smells the same scent from the dog like creatures from before. He realizes the camp in under attack and calls out a warning to everyone to wake them up.

Gray Wing, Clear Sky, and Turtle Tail attack the foxes together, helping to drive them out of the camp. After the attack, both Gray Wing and Clear Sky realize they need to learn how to fight. The next day Clear Sky and Moon Shadow announce that they want to leave and live under the trees. Tall Shadow calls a vote to see if the cats should split up. Clear Sky and Moon Shadow lose, but they argue it isn't fair to keep them there when they want to leave. Tall Shadow sadly tells them they can leave then.

Clear Sky, Moon Shadow, Jagged Peak, Falling Feather, and Quick Water all leave. The leaving cats assure the ones who are staying that they will remain friends and that their paths will cross all the time. Cloud Spots asks Gray Wing to go hunting. While out Cloud Spots tries to assure Gray Wing that things will be fine, but Gray Wing has a feeling that everything is changing. Later on, Gray Wing walks through the woods and runs into Turtle Tail. When she admits she has been to Bumble's Twoleg den the two of them get into a big fight. They part ways, angry, and then Gray Wing runs into his brothers. They invite him back to their camp, where Falling Feather tells him they might invite some rogues to live with them. On his way back to his camp Gray Wing runs into a hostile rogue, but he decides to be nice to her, prompting her to warn him about a wasp nest. Gray Wing goes back to camp and tries to smooth things over with Turtle Tail by inviting her hunting. However Turtle Tail lets a rabbit get away, causing them to fight again. Turtle Tail leaves and doesn't return to camp that night.

Now I really do feel like I am seeing the beginning of WindClan and ThunderClan. I do not see any good from Clear Sky leaving the tribe's camp. I have a feeling things are about to get very bad. However, inviting some of the rogues to live with them could be a good idea. It is better to live in peace with the rogues then to drive them out of their own territory. As for Turtle Tail, if Gray Wing doesn't return her love soon then she just might end up leaving to become a kittypet...

the sun trail: part three

They find an abandoned monster den (garage) to spend the night in. The cats are hungry and weary, causing then to snap at each other. The cats doze fitfully. At one point Moon Shadow tells Gray Wing he is going to go hunting. Gray Wing dozes off and is woken when he hears cats fighting. He and some others find Moon Shadow being attacked by three kittypets. They quickly join the fight, though they don't really know what they are doing since they have never had to fight another cat before. The kittypets run off, telling them that rogues are not welcome here. Back at the den the cats report what happened. Shaded Moss feels they need to leave as soon as they can. Everyone wonders what a rogue is. The next day their journey continues and they leave Twoleg place. They hunt but capture too much prey for everyone to eat. Feeling guilty they leave it behind. Gray Wing sees an animal steal the remainder of their prey. He doesn't know what the animal is, though it does resemble a dog, but he feels it looks mean. They cross some water and find a large den that is dry. Rainswept Flower asks if this could be their new home.

The cats consider her words and even Shaded Moss agrees it is possible. Shaded Moss also feels that they are so close to the mountains they could visit their kin. Everyone can smell a strange scent in the den, but since it does not smell like a predator no one is concerned. Gray Wing disagrees but he seems to be the only one. Turtle Tail even points out to him that everything outside of the mountains would feel strange. Gray Wing wakes up to a strange sound. No guard has been set since everyone felt so safe. Suddenly he realizes what is wrong and yells at everyone to wake up. The den floods with sheep and everyone races to get out. Hawk Swoop gets injured in the escape, but thankfully Cloud Spots knows how to reset her leg. They rest there for the day even though it means being stuck out in the rain. Gray Wing tries to talk to Clear Sky, but his brother wants to be left alone. They continue on their journey and it is hard going. One day Jagged Peak insists that someone is watching them. Gray Wing tells him he is imagining things but then another cat confronts them. The cat seems surprised to see so many cats, but he isn't hostile. He asks where they are from and he misunderstands, thinking they are from Highstones, but Highstones is their end journey. The cats move on and as they go they scent dogs. Everyone scatters. Gray Wing goes through some bushes and finds a thunderpath. Shaded Moss follows him and runs out onto the thunderpath before he can stop him. A monster comes racing by and hits Shaded Moss.

Gray Wing stops anyone else from making the same mistake. Tall Shadow runs out to collect Shaded Moss but there is nothing that can be done for him. They decide to bring his body to the other side of the thunderpath and bury him. After they bury him everyone speaks about their memories of him. Some of the cats are ready to give up but Gray Wing reminds them they need to continue on for Bright Stream and Shaded Moss. After resting the cats go forward, crossing another thunderpath. Jagged Peak panics and Clear Sky has to save him, which causes Clear Sky to lose his temper. Gray Wing notices that all the excitement over almost reaching their new home is subdued again.

Gray Wing and the cats reach what they hope is their new home. Everyone takes turns exploring with different ideas on where to live. Some, like Jagged Peak, want to live in the trees while others, like Gray Wing, want to live on the plains. One day while out chasing a rabbit two rogues attack Gray Wing, causing him to lose the rabbit. When he calls them out on it Wind and Gorse, the rogues, claim he screwed up on his own by crashing into them. Tall Shadow and Hawk Swoop come along and tell the rogues to leave or else. Gray Wing worries that they might have to fight for the right to hunt. Eventually Tall Shadow declares she is in charge,  claiming it was Shaded Moss's wish, and says everyone must hunt in pairs.

Turtle Tail tells Gray Wing that he needs to speak with his brother about Bright Stream. When Clear Sky leaves camp alone Gray Wing realizes he will never have a better opportunity. He follows Clear Sky to the water and calls out to him as he starts to climb down. This causes Clear Sky to lose his footing. Gray Wing races forward and catches him, helping him back up, saying he won't lose Clear Sky too. Clear Sky asks him what he means and Gray Wing admits he feels Bright Stream's death is his fault. Clear Sky is surprised, since he has been blaming himself. The brothers make up and explore the rocks next to the water. A rogue tells them that they are not welcome and then jumps into the water, swimming away. After exploring there they explore in the trees. Clear Sky admits to wishing to live in the trees while Gray Wing admits to prefering the open. Gray Wing feels they are being watched but Clear Sky doesn't care. Back at camp Tall Shadow and Moon Shadow are arguing again over the trees. Tall Shadow wants everyone to stay out of them and Moon Shadow wants to hunt there. Hawk Swoop breaks up their argument by suggesting hunting. As the cats hunt they easily catch prey and act excited over it, but Gray Wing feels the excitement is forced.

I feel like I am reading about the birth of WindClan, which is odd because the story has always followed ThunderClan. But maybe their birth story is in here too? Clear Sky and some of the others long for the trees. But this is Gray Wing's story, and he would definitely be a WindClan cat. Though, some cats would favor RiverClan for certain. However, we have also met a female cat named Wind. I cannot remember if the ancient Wind was male or female, but maybe this Wind is the ancient one? Will she somehow wind up living with the tribe? I have so many questions now that they have reached their home. How do they split up into four groups? Well, five, actually. If this is Wind then where is Thunder, Shadow, River, and Sky? Clear Sky cannot be Sky since he clearly prefers the trees. I always assumed the tribe cats would shorten their names and lead their respective clans, but maybe the answer lies with the rogues like Wind. I need to go back and look at previous posts. I want to find out more about the original clan leaders (Thunder and company) even though little was mentioned and I seem to remember there was a tie between SkyClan and ThunderClan involving a father and son. I need to go back and refind that information - limited as it was.

the sun trail: part two

A blizzard comes and Gray Wing insists he must leave anyway. Quiet Rain and the others overrule him, pointing out that Jagged Peak will have to wait for it to pass as well. After the storm passes Quiet Rain walks with him for a bit. When they reach rushing water only one cat can cross the ice, which is breaking apart. Gray Wing says goodbye to his mother and crosses, but as he does the ice breaks, plunging him into the strong current. He gets out immediately and tries to tell Quiet Rain he is fine, but the water is too loud and a mist blocks his view. He has to hope that she knows he crossed. He starts to follow the path of the other cats but he cannot scent Jagged Peak. He realizes Jagged Peak probably didn't cross the ice and went around instead, so he looks around for him. He sees an eagle above and quickly realizes the eagle is after Jagged Peak. He races over and attacks the bird but gets caught himself. Jagged Peak attacks the eagle, saving his brother.

Gray Wing assures Jagged Peak that he isn't taking them home and they settle down for the night. When they wake they go on their journey and try to reach the other cats. Jagged Peak struggles but does a good job despite how young and small he is. They find the path the other cats took and Jagged Peak follows it since he is the better tracker. They settle down and Gray Wing dreams he can hear the cats talking. When he wakes up he realizes he can still hear the other cats. He excitedly wakes up Jagged Peak and they immediately find their tribe mates. Everyone is happy to see them.

As they continue on their journey they learn things about themselves that they never knew. Having lived in the cave there were skills they never needed to try before, and now that they have an opportunity to try them they are discovering what they are good at (such as fishing) - which they find very eye opening. While crossing a dangerous part an eagle attack occurs. Gray Wing saves Dapppled Pelt and then everyone takes shelter. The eagle won't leave and more arrive, so Clear Sky puts forward the idea of attacking the eagles. His plan has some cats luring the eagles away while others attack the distracted birds. Clear Sky is in the group who will attack while Gray Wing and Bright Stream (who is pregnant, but no one knows this other then herself, Clear Sky, and Gray Wing) are placed in the group who will lure the birds away. Everything goes fine until Gray Wing stumbles because he was paying more attention to Clear Sky then to what he was doing. Bright Stream saves him but gets grabbed by an eagle herself.

Gray Wing tries to save Bright Stream but cannot reach her. Cloud Spots and Turtle Tail stop him from running off of the mountain edge. Clear Sky arrives, triumphant that his plan worked, and looks for Bright Stream. Gray Wing tries to tell him what happened but it is Turtle Tail who has to break the news. In shock, Clear Sky insists on going after her since she is carrying his kits. This revelation shocks everyone. Everyone comforts Clear Sky since nothing can be done. Turtle Tail comforts Gray Wing, who blames himself for the loss of Bright Stream. The next day the cats get ready to leave. Shaded Moss asks Clear Sky if he wishes to return home, but he wants to move forward. Gray Wing cannot find the words to talk to his brother. They eventually leave the mountains and as they go they discover new skills (swimming and running fast). Gray Wing catches a squirrel, to the amazement of his tribe mates, but no one is hungry enough to finish it. As they leave the remainder of the rabbit they are shocked that there is so much food in this land that they cannot eat it all.

The cats reach their first thunderpath. Clear Sky and Gray Wing help everyone to cross, and Gray Wing hopes that this will heal their relationship, but once everyone is across the strain returns. Shaded Moss announces that they are going to a group of stones in the distance. Everyone is amazed at both how far they have to go still as well as how far they have come. Clear Sky and Tall Shadow decide to climb a tree to scout ahead. Everyone is shocked over how well they do it. When Clear Sky and Tall Shadow come back down Gray Wing notices they are evasive in their answers about what lies ahead. The cats push on, crossing paths with a dog. This leads them to Twoleg place, which Gray Wing realizes they must have seen from the top of the tree and decided not to mention. The cats realize they need to find a warm, dry place the spend the night. In the morning they will continue their journey.

I did not expect Bright Stream to die like that, but she should never have agreed to help with the eagles. However, that is clan logic so maybe it isn't tribe logic? But everyone was pretty horrified when they found out she had been pregnant. I understand Gray Wing blaming himself but of course Bright Stream tried to save him - just like if their positions were reversed he would have tried to save Bright Stream.

I wonder how much longer they have to travel for? And what will they find when they reach there? This is supposed to be the birth of the clans but I'm not seeing much of that so far. However, they are still on their journey. Brambleclaw's journey annoyed me with how long it dragged out for. Hopefully this one doesn't drag so much.

the sun trail: part one

Stoneteller (Half Moon) lies in the cave with the other cats. Everyone is hungry and there is not enough food to go around. A hunting patrol returns, but they didn't find enough food to bring any back. Stoneteller can sense everyone's despair and wonders what to do before they all die from starvation. Lion's Roar hints to her that maybe the cats should leave, but she can't agree. She feels this is where Jay's Wing sent them so this is where she must stay. Suddenly she sees a vision of golden light. No one else can see it and she realizes it means that some cats must leave so that those who stay can survive.

Gray Wing and Clear Sky, brothers, are out hunting for the tribe. They catch a hawk which Clear Sky wants to eat. Gray Wing, however, thinks back to the starving cats in the cave and insists they bring the prey back. The tribe is thrilled to see so much food and are grateful to Gray Wing and Clear Sky for bringing it back instead of eating it themselves. Lion's Roar makes a comment about the mountains having fed them enough and Gray Wing sees Stonetellet shoot him a look. Quiet Rain, Gray Wing's mother, comes over to ask him to eat too. He insists he will later as he watches his younger siblings play. Jagged Peak, his brother, is a strong, young cat but Fluttering Bird, his sister, looks weak and tiny by comparison. Shaded Moss announces that Stoneteller will speak. Some cats wonder if Stoneteller will finally announce a successor in Shaded Moss but instead she speaks of a vision of a new land with plenty of prey. She then announces that Shaded Moss will go there with whomever wishes to travel with him. The cats are shocked but what is even more shocking is how many immediately volunteer to go with them. Clear Sky wishes to go, and wishes Gray Wing to come with him, but Gray Wing is unsure. Jagged Peak and Fluttering Bird wish to go as well but Quiet Rain insists that they stay with her as they are too young for the journey. Bright Stream is unsure and Clear Sky asks her to go with him. As everyone discusses the idea a hunting party returns without food. Turtle Tail excitedly asks Gray Wing if he will go with her but he looks around the cave, unsure if he can leave it.

Hunger wakes up Gray Wing. He sees Clear Sky and Bright Stream discussing the future. Bright Stream is unsure if she wants to go and decides to go hunting with Gray Wing. They catch a rabbit and share it. Bright Stream realizes Gray Wing intends to stay and asks him. He admits it. As they bring the rest of the rabbit to the tribe they see the cats who will leave head off to look at the path they will take. They invite Gray Wing to join them but he makes an excuse of bringing the rabbit back to the cave. Inside Quiet Rain cannot wake Fluttering Bird. Gray Wing rushes to get Stoneteller but there is nothing to be done. After Fluttering Bird dies Clear Sky asks his mother to join them but she refuses. However, after Clear Sky leaves she tells Gray Wing that he must leave. She tells him that while she doesn't want him to go she cannot bear to lose another of her children like this. She feels Jagged Peak is too young for the journey so he must stay, but her other sons should leave.

Gray Wing approaches the group of cats who are leaving and admits he is considering changing his mind. Clear Sky and Turtle Tail are happy he might be joining him. Suddenly there is a commotion as Dewy Leaf realizes Moon Shadow is planning on leaving. She is furious since she is pregnant with their kits. This leads to a debate over whether or not Moon Shadow has the right to go. Stoneteller intervenes and tells the cats about the vote to leave the lake. She proposes a vote to see if any cat who wishes to leave has the right to leave. Jagged Peak wants to vote as well but Quiet Rain tells him no. However Stoneteller says every cat must vote. When it is Gray Wing's turn to vote he votes to stay, feeling that this is their home. Stoneteller counts the rocks and gives everyone the answer. The cats who wish to leave can.

Everyone is outside. Stoneteller and Shaded Moss speak about the upcoming journey and the dangers. Clear Sky tells his family goodbye. The cats part ways and the tribe adjusts to their new life without their tribe mates. Jagged Peak wants to learn to hunt and a reluctant Quiet Rain agrees after Gray Wing points out that if he isn't trained he will try and train himself. Gray Wing takes Jagged Peak out and watches as his brother catches a rabbit - Gray Wing did have to save him from hawk, but he is proud of his young brother's accomplishment. The next day Quiet Rain cannot find Jagged Peak anywhere. Gray Wing asks the elder, Misty Water, to help him find his brother. Misty Water used to be the best tracker of the tribe. She finds his trail following the cats who have left. They return to the cave where Gray Wing breaks this news to his mother. She insists Gray Wing go after Jagged Peak. He doesn't want to, insisting that Jagged Peak can look after himself, but Quiet Rain gets her way in the end.

Okay, I'm going crazy over here. I know that the clans were named after their founders - Thunder, Shadow, Wind, River, and Sky. None of these cats have those names. Tall Shadow is a female and could, potentially, be the also female Shadow but she is really the only one who fits the criteria. I'm dying to figure out how these tribe cats become the clan cats. Also, I figured the clan cats were related to the tribe cats since some of them have lived in the past with the tribe and in the present with the clans, but I never figured they were so closely related as to actually be tribe cats. How did their tribe code turn into the warrior code? They are so very different. How did they lose their pacifist ways? Although, the tribe clearly isn't established in their ways yet. They are still on their first Stoneteller and don't place feeding the tribe before feeding the hunters. That was so shocking, to see the hunters eating and then bringing their scraps back to the elders and queens. Something like that would never happen in the current tribe or clans.

As for Jagged Peak, I am not surprised he ran off, after wanting so badly to go! I am sure Gray Wing will find him, but since this book is Gray Wing's story he clearly has to leave - and he just as clearly does not wish to.