Sky is the second book in the eighth Warrior Cats arc, A Starless Clan, taking place a few days after the end of the previous book, River.
In the prologue, Mistystar and Reedwhisker discuss their Clan; Reedwhisker wants to warn them about something, but Mistystar tells him that she'd tried, and that they must trust their Clanmates now.
In the book itself, Sunbeam of ShadowClan is upset with how all her Clanmates still seem to be trying excessively hard to cheer her up after Blazefire's rejection. However, she soon has something else to worry about: Tigerstar and Dovewing's kit Rowankit is sick, they're concerned it may be greencough, and catmint supplies are low.
In ThunderClan, the recently-named Nightheart goes on a hunting patrol and is so desperate to prove himself that he disobeys the patrol leader, Lionblaze, to chase a squirrel into the trees, and ends up injuring himself in a fall. While in the medicine den, he hears the medicine cats discussing that Brightheart may have greencough and that they don't have much catmint. After recovering, his Clanmates are still treating him coldly for rejecting the name Bramblestar was originally going to give him: Flameheart.
Meanwhile, Frostpaw of RiverClan is grieving her mother's death. The Clan is in rough shape with no leader- though at the end of the previous book they'd decided to ask the other Clans for help, it seems they've changed their minds - and both Splashtail and Mothwing encourage her that the Clan needs her.
Both ThunderClan and ShadowClan ask SkyClan for catmint, but turns out they have almost none as well. Tigerstar sends patrols to the other two Clans; WindClan only has a few leaves to spare, and RiverClan also claims to not have any. While there, Sunbeam notices how RiverClan seems to be behaving strangely. Sunbeam's mother Berryheart blames Fringewhisker - ShadowClan's newest recruit who had joined to be with her mate - for bringing sickness, even though Fringewhisker wasn't sick herself, and Sunbeam finds this unfair.
The medicine cats hold a meeting and confirm that they all have catmint shortages, so they decide to send out a patrol of cats from ShadowClan, ThunderClan, and SkyClan to go fetch catmint (WindClan and RiverClan will remain at home so that their medicine cats don't leave just an apprentice with their Clan.) Nightheart is chosen to go as one of the ThunderClan cats. Frostpaw and Mothwing remain at the Moonpool afterward for Frostpaw to try to ask StarClan again for a sign for a new leader. Frostpaw's mother Curlfeather comes to her, and tells her that she cannot instruct her as to the next leader should be, just that she should "look beyond the obvious choices". Mothwing says she trusts Frostpaw to make the choice, and Frostpaw knows that as the only one who has a connection to StarClan, her word is the only one the Clan will trust.Tigerstar decides that ShadowClan needs both of their medicine cats in camp, so the cats he chooses for the catmint patrol are Sunbeam and Lightleap. They meet up with Fidgetflake and Rootspring of SkyClan, and Nightheart and Alderheart of ThunderClan, and head toward a Twolegplace beyond WindClan territory that SkyClan had passed on their journey to join the other Clans. During the trip, Sunbeam and Nightheart have a heart-to-heart about what's bothering them. The following day, the group has a bit of an adventure when Sunbeam gets stuck, they go past a fairground, and then find the Twolegplace with plenty of catmint. So far, the mission is successful and they prepare to return home.
Frostpaw thinks about who should be the next Clan leader, finally coming up with a name after discarding many other options. They announce her choice to the Clan: Owlnose, her father's littermate. The Clan has mixed opinions on this choice, and throughout the day they seem to have doubts: he accidentally sends a patrol to a riverbank that collapses and results in injuries, and he is extremely indecisive when making decisions. Her grandmother Duskfur speaks to her and questions whether she's made the right choice. Moreover, some of the Clan imply Frostpaw is choosing leaders based on their kinship, as their previous appointed leader was Frostpaw's mother, and now it's her uncle.
The catmint patrol returns, but it's too late for Rowankit: Sunbeam and Lightleap arrive to find that he had passed that morning. Berryheart speaks to Sunbeam, generally being suspicious about outsiders (for instance, she wonders why WindClan and RiverClan didn't send representatives on the catmint patrol.) She invites Sunbeam to a meeting for ShadowClan cats who want to discuss all the "Clan-swapping" that's been going on. They repeat the suspicion that Fringewhisker brought the sickness with her, and even go so far as to suggest that it was intentional and that SkyClan sabotaged the other Clans' catmint supply. Sunbeam wants no part in this or for her mother to be either.
In ThunderClan, Nightheart resents having to do apprentice duties again. While cleaning out Bramblestar's den, Nightheart's uneasy about Bramblestar's behavior: Bramblestar coaxes him to explain the situation in the previous book where Squirrelflight brought a patrol to WindClan to ask for prey to replace one that they'd taken from ThunderClan's territory, and at different times seems either furious or out of it. Nightheart finds himself thinking about Sunbeam and how things must be nicer in ShadowClan.
As far as RiverClan, Frostpaw brings Owlnose to the Moonpool. Both of them touch their nose to the pool, but StarClan does not come to either of them. They break the news to the Clan, and Mothwing decides that they'll still carry on with Owlnose as their leader for now; he names the young warrior Splashtail as deputy. Tawnypelt arrives in the camp and passes along the news that Tigerstar's requested that the Clans have an emergency Gathering to discuss what will happen in the case of future catmint shortages. This Gathering is where the other Clans first learn about the change in RiverClan's leadership, and needless to say they're confused, upset, and suspicious; eventually the truth comes out that Owlnose has not received nine lives. Tigerstar suggests that he take over the running of RiverClan until they find their feet - a proposal that horrifies cats from every Clan. Leafstar of SkyClan, instead, suggests that she send one of her medicine cats, Fidgetflake, to help, which Mothwing unenthusiastically accepts.
Leafstar visits ThunderClan; she's concerned that Tigerstar may be planning to invade RiverClan. Bramblestar's willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, and Squirrelflight backs him up in front of the other leader, but in private she agrees with Leafstar. Bramblestar invites Nightheart on a walk and asks his opinion on the new situation; Nightheart is also suspicious of Tigerstar. Bramblestar, having seen Nightheart interact with Sunbeam at the Gathering, suggests that he sneak into ShadowClan territory and ask her about what Tigerstar's true intentions are - but he orders that Nightheart not tell Squirrelflight.
In RiverClan, Fidgetflake helps Frostpaw with their herb supply… and also to RiverClan's embarrassment, witnesses Owlnose still being an ineffective leader. Fidgetflake ends up finding catmint in the den and accuses Mothwing of hoarding it - and is also suspicious since it contradicts RiverClan's lies about Mistystar and Reedwhisker having greencough. They head to the Moonpool to try and help Owlnose get his nine lives again, and on the way Fidgetflake describes seeing all of StarClan (which makes Frostpaw wonder if her visions are unusually vague), and they discuss Curlfeather's death (Fidgetflake suggests that since WindClan's been finding prey bones on their territory, perhaps someone left them there to lure the dogs.) This makes her remember her mother's final words - "trust no one" - and realize that all the cats who'd died recently were either leader or were supposed to be. Just when they get to the Moonpool hollow, Owlnose backs out, saying that he no longer wants to be leader.
Sunbeam is sitting in camp with her Clanmates when her mother Berryheart arrives in camp, reporting that Fringewhisker had given prey to SkyClan on their hunting patrol. Fringewhisker tries to explain herself, but keeps getting cut off by her patrol-mates and the angry Tigerstar. Berryheart and the other accusing cats seem disappointed that her only punishment is to catch extra prey. Sunbeam suspects that something's off and goes to talk to Fringewhisker, who explains that Berryheart had told her to give up the prey. Sunbeam confronts her mother, who insists that Fringewhisker should have known enough to refuse. Berryheart explains that her suspicion of outsiders comes from Darktail, but Sunbeam knows that Fringewhisker isn't anything like him, and tells her mother to leave her out of her meetings in the future.
Nightheart's excited for his secret nighttime mission, but his denmate Bayshine, who he'd chosen to help him, is doubtful and points out that Bramblestar's been "disconnected" recently. Bayshine ends up telling Squirrelflight, who confronts Bramblestar and calls the mission off. Nightheart resents feeling that he's not valued, and starts to consider joining ShadowClan to be Sunbeam's mate since he'd gotten along so well with her and they might not treat him the same way. He still decides to go on the mission, since Bramblestar outranks Squirrelflight, and does end up talking to Sunbeam. They discuss their worries; Sunbeam mentions that she disagrees with her mother, Nightheart asks if Sunbeam would be okay if he one day joins ShadowClan, and she says yes, so he's excited thinking that this could potentially be an option. He then asks her about Tigerstar's plans with RiverClan, and she doesn't seem to think that Tigerstar's planning to invade. They're just starting to say how easy they find each other to talk to when a ShadowClan patrol gets near, so Nightheart returns home.
Sunbeam thinks about how Nightheart suggested moving to ShadowClan and thinks that she'd be less lonely if she were to do so. On the way back to camp, she finds her brother Spireclaw arguing with their mother Berryheart about Fringewhisker. She shares a meal with her Clanmate Flaxfoot and, thinking of her conversation with Nightheart, asks him if he's heard of Tigerstar having any plans to invade (he hasn't). Unfortunately he tells Berryheart, who confronts Tigerstar about it, and after he denies it angrily, Berryheart accuses Sunbeam of spreading lies. When storming out of the camp, Sunbeam witnesses Blazefire and Lightleap very close together, and he confesses that their friendship has grown into romance. She realizes that this doesn't upset her as much as it once would have, and that she's been thinking mostly of Nightheart lately.
After Owlnose leaves the Moonpool, Fidgetflake decides to call an emergency medicine cat meeting to try and figure things out for RiverClan. Mothwing suggests that Frostpaw try to talk to StarClan right now, and she attempts it, but it doesn't work, and she comes to the horrified conclusion that she must not have a connection to StarClan since her experience was so different to what the other medicine cats described; Mothwing reassures her that she knows Frostpaw can do it and that she just has to keep practicing. Frostpaw panics and starts to imagine a life as a normal warrior, feeling comforted that she would no longer have to deal with the pressure she's been facing, and decides to tell Fidgetflake the truth about what's been going on with RiverClan. When they get home, they find Tigerstar in the RiverClan camp with a patrol of warriors.
On the way back to ThunderClan's camp, Nightheart makes up his mind to join ShadowClan. Upon his return, Squirrelflight is furious that he'd disobeyed her and gone on Bramblestar's mission anyway. They get into an argument, and he reveals that he's leaving the Clan. He makes his way to the ShadowClan camp, finding it oddly empty. Blazefire's there, though, and Nightheart tells him he wants to join ShadowClan.
RiverClan is furious to see ShadowClan in their camp, but Tigerstar keeps insisting that RiverClan needs his help, especially after he learns that Owlnose hasn't received his nine lives. He insists it's not a takeover, but when RiverClan tries to escort them out of the camp, he signals for more warriors to enter. That's when Duskfur attacks the ShadowClan deputy, and everything descends into battle. Sunbeam, meanwhile, is part of the patrol and can't believe that they're fighting, angry that Tigerstar had refused to leave. Eventually, ShadowClan is victorious; RiverClan is pressed against the camp wall and Tigerstar seems prepared to kill Duskfur until Splashtail gives the order to surrender. Tigerstar starts to give the RiverClan cats cats orders to heal and hunt, insisting that this has all been for their own good. Sunbeam can see the fury in Splashtail's eyes, and the book ends with her thinking that RiverClan won't ever believe that Tigerstar wants to help.
Tropes appearing in this book:
- All Your Base Are Belong to Us: ShadowClan attacks RiverClan's camp and forces them to surrender. Tigerstar believes that this is necessary in order to help them.
- Ambition Is Evil: Leafstar uses the word "ambition" in the context of meaning "thirst for power", commenting that it's in Tigerstar's blood (since he's descended from the villainous first Tigerstar).
- Beware the Nice Ones: Splashtail is normally a gentle cat, so it terrifies Frostpaw to see how fierce he is when he's ready to defend his Clan.
- Dead Guy Junior: When Frostpaw starts to imagine what life might be like as a normal warrior, she pictures having kits and naming one of them after her mother Curlfeather.
- Death of a Child: Rowankit dies of greencough.
- Deer in the Headlights: Sunbeam panics on the Thunderpath, but Rootspring helps her across, and all the cats manage to cross safely.
- The Ditherer: Owlnose struggles with making any decision as leader, constantly changing his mind to try to please whoever spoke to him last. This is actually why he chooses Splashtail as deputy and why Splashtail even remains in the position despite protests; Splashtail is decisive when it counts and makes up for Owlnose's shortcomings.
- Doesn't Trust Those Guys: Berryheart has a thing against any non-ShadowClan cat, which at least in part stems from what happened with Darktail (he had acted friendly at first, only to take over ShadowClan and RiverClan and reveal himself as a murderous tyrant).
- Don't You Dare Pity Me!: Sunbeam hates feeling like her Clanmates are pitying her for Blazefire's rejection; she wants them to act like everything is normal so she can move past it.
- Due to the Dead: The Clan holds a vigil for Rowankit and lay flowers and leaves around his body.
- Ensemble Cast: A Starless Clan features three protagonists: Nightheart, Frostpaw, and Sunbeam.
- Famous Ancestor: Firestar is considered one of the greatest leaders the forest has known, and Nightheart struggles with being compared to him.
- Fantastic Racism: One would think that the Clans would be over this, since many rogues and kittypets have joined over the years - the kittypet-born Firestar is considered to be the best leader the Clans have known, for instance - and now the warrior code allows cats to join other Clans for love. However, early on, Gullswoop tries to comfort Sunbeam for her rejection by Blazefire (who was born as a city cat) by saying that soon she'll get over it and fall for a real ShadowClan cat. Sunbeam's mother Berryheart is also incredibly suspicious of any non-ShadowClanner, trying to get Fringewhisker (her new SkyClan-born daughter-in-law) driven out, and outright saying that outsiders bring trouble.
- "Fawlty Towers" Plot: Between the last book and this one, RiverClan's been making up excuses to hide their lack of leadership for over a moon. It's now past the point where they can continue that charade, so now they have to explain both Mistystar and Reedwhisker's deaths and how the inexperienced Owlnose became leader and the even less experienced Splashtail appointed deputy - and also try to hide the fact that he was seemingly rejected by StarClan and has not received nine lives. This comes crashing down at a Gathering, when their lies fall apart and the truth comes out about how weak they currently are - which makes Tigerstar feel that he needs to "help" by running the Clan for a while.
- For Your Own Good: The last line of dialogue in the book is Tigerstar telling RiverClan that his takeover of RiverClan is for their own good. From his point of view, they need his help, even if he has to threaten lives for them to accept it.
- Help, I'm Stuck!: Played for drama: Sunbeam gets stuck under a fence with a monster on its way. By the time they manage to get her out, Rootspring is the last one through, and just barely gets out of the way in time.
- Idiosyncratic Episode Naming: The books in this arc are each named after one of the Clans: River, Sky, Shadow, Thunder, Wind, Star.
- It's All My Fault: Sunbeam feels guilt for Rowankit's death, wishing multiple times that they'd traveled faster. Puddleshine says, however, that Rowankit was already too sick at that point for the herbs to have helped.
- One-Word Title: Sky.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business:
- Nightheart thinks that if the short-tempered and sarcastic medicine cat Jayfeather sounds worried, then things must be serious.
- When Tigerstar comes to RiverClan and tells them they need help, several cats tell him to more or less back off and go home. Including cats who keep to themselves like Sneezecloud, or cats who are generally level-headed like Splashtail.
- Open Mouth, Insert Foot: When Bramblestar says that he doesn't think Tigerstar intends to take over RiverClan for good, Leafstar replies that ambition is in Tigerstar's blood and that he can't help himself. Bramblestar then points out that he and Tigerstar share blood. Leafstar, upon realizing this, is very awkward, but Bramblestar just seems amused.
- Pull the Thread: RiverClan tries to come up with explanations as to why both their leader and deputy are suddenly replaced. Cats from the other Clans, who are already suspicious of their weird behavior, notice holes in their stories, such as that they frequently forget to use the -star name and call Reedwhisker and Owlnose by their warrior names, when they previously claimed that the two cats had been given nine lives.
- The Quest: A group of warriors is sent off on a mission outside Clan territory to find catmint that the Clans desperately need.
- Sneaky Departure: Nightheart sneaks out of camp to carry out Bramblestar's mission for him.
- Succession Crisis: RiverClan is in the middle of one. Mistystar and Reedwhisker died in the previous book, and then the cat next chosen to be leader, Curlfeather, died on the way to the Moonpool. No cat seems willing to step up now. Frostpaw ends up choosing Owlnose, but StarClan never shows up to give him his nine lives, he proves to be too indecisive to be an effective leader, and ends up stepping down before attempting to get his lives again.
- Too Unhappy to Be Hungry: Frostpaw hasn't eaten in days since her mother's death.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Sunbeam mentions earlier in the book that shrew is her favorite; Flaxfoot offers her one later specifically for this reason.
- Unexpected Successor: Frostpaw is told to choose the next RiverClan leader, and to "look beyond the obvious choices". She takes this to heart and thinks through all of her Clanmates, thinking of reasons as to why each one should not lead, until she settles on one cat she would never have selected normally: Owlnose. Her Clan is very surprised as to the choice, admitting that he *is* unexpected.
- Unwanted Assistance: Things are rough in RiverClan, but they are not willing to let other Clans get involved. They only accept Fidgetflake's help because it's the only alternative offered to Tigerstar taking over the Clan. Even that doesn't help as Tigerstar decides to just go ahead and do it anyway, despite the entire Clan telling him to get out of their camp and fighting until they're defeated.
- Young and in Charge:
- Rootspring is the second-youngest cat on the catmint patrol after Nightheart, but the others tend to listen to him; it's mentioned that his experience in the Dark Forest has given him an authority the others didn't have.
- Owlnose is appointed by Frostpaw to be their next leader. At this time, he's around four years old, so while he isn't that young, it's pointed out that there's plenty of more experienced cats ahead of him and he's still young in warrior standards.
- Splashtail is appointed by Owlnose as his deputy. This raises even more questions because Splashtail is "hardly more than a kit himself" and is only a little over a year old. He was only chosen because he and Owlnose work well together.
