History Recap / WarriorCatsCloudstarsJourney

* FamousLastWords: Petalfall: "Promise me, Cloudstar. Promise me you will not let the Twolegs drive us from our home."

* RulerProtagonist: Cloudstar is [=ThunderClan=]'s leader, and this novella deals with the hard part of leadership: what it's like to lead others through a hopeless time, when it seems like there's nothing you can do to protect those who rely on you.

* SeriesContinuityError: In ''Code of the Clans'', the [=SkyClan=] leader that gave territory to [=ThunderClan=] was named Darkstar. In this book, he's consistently called Duskstar.

* SeriesContinuityError: In ''Code of the Clans'', the [=SkyClan=] leader that gave territory to [=ThunderClan=] was named Darkstar. In this book, he's consistently called Duskstar.

* DownerEnding: The main character's home is destroyed, he is permanently separated from his mate and kits, he entirely loses his faith in [=StarClan=], and he and his entire Clan are banished from the forest.

* ADayInTheLimelight: Cloudstar gets a POV.

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''Cloudstar's Journey'' is a novella that takes place before the prologue of ''[[Recap/WarriorCatsFirestarsQuest Firestar's Quest]]''.

The next morning, Cloudstar announces to his warriors that they must fight [=ThunderClan=] and reclaim the territory that Duskstar gave away. He hates going back on Duskstar's word - he feels like he's betraying his ancestors - but he's that desperate. The Clan attacks the day afterward. The fight goes badly. Mousefang breaks her leg when trying to use the sky-drop move on a [=ThunderClan=] warrior, and in general the [=SkyClan=] warriors are not well-fed or strong enough to win. Cloudstar orders them to retreat. Readers of ''Battles of the Clans'' will recognize the next scene, as the guidebook had two stories about the aftermath of this battle (one from the point of view of each Clan): Cloudstar speaks to his Clan, telling them that they must want victory more than [=ThunderClan=] in order to win, and that night he is awakened that night by Fawnstep, who has had a dream about [=SkyClan=] leaving the forest. Cloudstar is dismayed but does not say anything, and Fawnstep says that this is a defeat they can't survive.

The next morning, Cloudstar announces to his warriors that they must fight [=ThunderClan=] and reclaim the territory that Duskstar gave away. He hates going back on Duskstar's word - he feels like he's betraying his ancestors - but he's that desperate. The Clan attacks the day afterward. The fight goes badly. Mousefang breaks her leg when trying to use the sky-drop move on a [=ThunderClan=] warrior, and in general the [=SkyClan=] warriors are not well-fed or strong enough to win. Cloudstar orders them to retreat. Readers of Battles of the Clans will recognize the next scene, as the guidebook had two stories about the aftermath of this battle (one from the point of view of each Clan): Cloudstar speaks to his Clan, telling them that they must want victory more than [=ThunderClan=] in order to win, and that night he is awakened that night by Fawnstep, who has had a dream about [=SkyClan=] leaving the forest. Cloudstar is dismayed but does not say anything, and Fawnstep says that this is a defeat they can't survive.

The next Gathering is the scene from the prologue of ''[[Recap/WarriorCatsFirestarsQuest Firestar's Quest]]''. The entire Clan comes to Fourtrees, and Cloudstar begs for the other Clans to give them some territory. One by one, the leaders of the other Clans deny the request. Larkwing, the [=WindClan=] medicine cat, points out that [=StarClan=] won't be pleased if [=SkyClan=] is driven out, but her leader responds that [=StarClan=] would have covered the moon if they didn't agree. The other cats continue to speak against [=SkyClan=], and Cloudstar's warriors prepare to fight, but he stops them. He announces that [=SkyClan=] will leave. Birdflight tells him that she must stay, as the kits are too young to travel, and Cloudstar curses the fact that he is leader; if he were a regular warrior, he could have stayed behind as well, living with her in another Clan or as rogues. They say goodbye and Cloudstar promises to wait for her forever, and he nuzzles his kits for the last time. Birdflight understands that he is sorry and that he must do this because his Clan depends on him as their leader. [=SkyClan=] leaves Fourtrees, uncertain of where they are going, and he silently promises to find his mate and kits again one day.

Within a quarter moon, Birdflight has her kits. Cloudstar goes for a walk, happy about his kits but extremely worried and desperate for their future. He walks to the edge of the Twoleg devastation, and falls asleep. He finds himself in [=StarClan=], but there are no cats around; he calls out that they're cowards and challenges them to tell him ''now'' that [=SkyClan=] is safe. A monster drives by and wakes him up, and he finds that an elder, Starlingfeather, is nearby. Starlingfeather tells him that there can be nobility in admitting defeat. Cloudstar wearily agrees and decides to ask the other Clans to give up some of their territory, just as they had once done for [=ThunderClan=].

When Cloudstar returns to camp, he joins a patrol that goes near the [=ThunderClan=] borders. The [=ThunderClanners=], including their leader Redstar, taunt [=SkyClan=] that there must be something wrong since there's a lot of noise coming from their territory and they've just seen Cloudstar patrolling twice. Cloudstar returns to camp to discover that the hunting patrols - which have been out ''twice'' - have hardly found a thing. He tries hunting on his own but doesn't have much better luck. He declares that the Clan will only have one meal a day, like they do in leaf-bare. Buzzardtail is concerned that they'll starve, but he doesn't have any other options. Birdflight tells him she's worried about him and reminds him to take care of himself for the sake of their kits. He promises to, and he also says he's sure [=SkyClan=] will survive; [=StarClan=] would not have made him leader if they didn't think he would be able to take care of his Clan.

Cloudstar trains a few of the apprentices (Buzzardtail's kits Tansypaw, Snailpaw, and Mintpaw), teaching them how to leap from tree to tree. They hear Twoleg monsters coming, and one comes right up to the tree - and knocks it over. They scramble out of the branches on the ground and get back to camp. The Clan is worried about the Twolegs, but Cloudstar promises to keep them safe, and the previous deputy, Petalfall (who would have been leader instead of Cloudstar at this point, had she not retired early due to epilepsy), speaks in support of him. After the meeting, he leads a patrol out to see how far the monsters have come. They are devastated to find that a sizable portion of their territory has been destroyed, and decide to re-set the markers, making their territory smaller. Cloudstar keeps watch that night, and in the morning, he sees the Twolegs hauling away trees, though they aren't cutting any more for the time being.

Two moons later, the Clan attends a Gathering. Buzzardtail has convinced Cloudstar that he has to at least acknowledge that the Twolegs are causing trouble, because they're certain the other Clans will know about it. He tries to keep things light and not let the other Clans know he's concerned. Fawnstep tells him on the way home that the other medicine cats have been dreaming about [=SkyClan=] being destroyed by monsters and that Molepelt is convinced they'll be dead before the next Gathering. Cloudstar tells her that Molepelt doesn't know what he's talking about, and they continue home. When they get home, they discover that Petalfall has had another seizure and is weaker than ever - near death. She needs food more than anything, but they have none to give. Cloudstar promises her that the Clan will never leave the forest as long as he has his nine lives. The next morning, he patrols alone before dawn and discovers that the Twolegs are building nests on the edge of his territory. Petalfall is dead when he returns to camp. A patrol comes back, and Oakpaw is injured after falling into a ditch the Twolegs had dug. Cloudstar decides that is no longer safe to hunt on that side of the territory, and that they'll have to find some other way of getting food.

Cloudstar dreams of [=StarClan=]. He is greeted by Maplestar (who had appeared in ''Code of the Clans'' and became leader when [=SkyClan=] created the law saying that deputy succeeds leader), a cat named Rowanstar, and Duskstar himself. They discuss borders, and Cloudstar asks Duskstar if he regrets giving up [=SkyClan=] territory. Duskstar replies that they have a duty to preserve all five Clans, and he encourages Cloudstar, saying that [=SkyClan=] is the most noble Clan and will endure forever. Cloudstar is awakened by his medicine cat, Fawnstep, who tells him of the bad omens she has seen - their prey has been appearing in the fresh-kill pile without wings and tails and such (though they were whole when caught), and she believes it is a sign that their prey will diminish even more than it already has. He tells her of his dream, and how Duskstar had told him that the Clan has nothing to fear. He goes for a walk with Birdflight and they talk again about their hopes for their coming kits.

Within a quarter moon, Birdflight has her kits. Cloudstar goes for a walk, happy about his kits but extremely worried and desperate for their future. He walks to the edge of the Twoleg devastation, and falls asleep. He finds himself in [=StarClan=], but there are no cats around; he calls out that they're cowards and challenges them to tell him now that [=SkyClan=] is safe.

The next morning, Cloudstar announces to his warriors that they must fight [=ThunderClan=] and reclaim the territory that Duskstar gave away. He hates going back on Duskstar's word - he feels like he's betraying his ancestors - but he's that desperate. The Clan attacks the day afterward. The fight goes badly. Mousefang breaks her leg when trying to use the sky-drop move on a [=ThunderClan=] warrior, and in general the [=SkyClan=] warriors are not well-fed or strong enough to win. Cloudstar orders them to retreat. Readers of Battles of the Clans will recognize the next scene, as the guidebook had two stories about the aftermath of this battle (one from the point of view of each Clan): Cloudstar speaks to his Clan, telling them that they must want victory more than [=ThunderClan=] in order to win, and that night he is awakened that night by Fawnstep, who has had a dream about [=SkyClan=] leaving the forest. Cloudstar is dismayed but does not say anything, and Fawnstep says that this is a defeat they can't survive.

Two moons later, the Clan attends a Gathering. Buzzardtail has convinced Cloudstar that he has to at least acknowledge that the Twolegs are causing trouble, because they're certain the other Clans will know about it. He tries to keep things light and not let the other Clans know he's concerned. Fawnstep tells him on the way home that the other medicine cats have been dreaming about [=SkyClan=] being destroyed by monsters and that Molepelt is convinced they'll be dead before the next Gathering. Cloudstar tells her that Molepelt doesn't know what he's talking about, and they continue home. When they get home, they discover that Petalfall has had another seizure and is weaker than ever - near death. She needs food more than anything, but they have none to give. Cloudstar promises her that the Clan will never leave the forest as long as he has his nine lives. The next morning, he patrols alone before dawn and discovers that the Twolegs are building nests on the edge of his territory. Petalfall is dead when he returns to camp. A patrol comes back, and Oakpaw is injured after falling into a ditch the Twolegs had dug. Cloudstar decides that is no longer safe to hunt on that side of the territory, and that they'll have to find some other way of getting food.

When Cloudstar returns to camp, he joins a patrol that goes near the [=ThunderClan=] borders. The [=ThunderClanners=], including their leader Redstar, taunt [=SkyClan=] that there must be something wrong since there's a lot of noise coming from their territory and they've just seen Cloudstar patrolling twice. Cloudstar returns to camp to discover that the hunting patrols - which have been out ''twice'' - have hardly found a thing. He tries hunting on his own but doesn't have much better luck. He declares that the Clan will only have one meal a day, like they do in leaf-bare. Buzzardtail is concerned that they'll starve, but he doesn't have any other options. Birdflight tells him she's worried about him and reminds him to take care of himself for the sake of their kits. He promises to, and he also says he's sure [=SkyClan=] will survive; [=StarClan=] would not have made him leader if they didn't think he would be able to take care of his Clan.

Cloudstar dreams of [=StarClan=]. He is greeted by Maplestar (who had appeared in ''Code of the Clans'' and became leader when [=SkyClan=] created the law saying that deputy succeeds leader), a cat named Rowanstar, and Duskstar himself. They discuss borders, and Cloudstar asks Duskstar if he regrets giving up [=SkyClan=] territory. Duskstar replies that they have a duty to preserve all five Clans, and he encourages Cloudstar, saying that [=SkyClan=] is the most noble Clan and will endure forever. Cloudstar is awakened by his medicine cat, Fawnstep, who tells him of the bad omens she has seen - their prey has been appearing in the fresh-kill pile without wings and tails and such (though they were whole when caught), and she believes it is a sign that their prey will diminish even more than it already has. He tells her of his dream, and how Duskstar had told him that the Clan has nothing to fear. He goes for a walk with Birdflight and they talk again about their hopes for their coming kits.

The story starts with Cloudstar and his deputy, Buzzardtail, hunting near the [=ThunderClan=] border. They're interrupted by a [=ThunderClan=] patrol that had come a little closer to the border than usual. As they head back to camp after warning them away, Buzzardtail wishes that Duskstar (who [[SeriesContinuityError had been called Darkstar in Code of the Clans]]) had not given [=ThunderClan=] a piece of [=SkyClan=] territory moons ago, and Cloudstar reminds him that thanks to Duskstar, obeying the Clan leader is part of the warrior code.