Warrior Cats: Power of Three is the third arc of the popular Warrior Cats series by Erin Hunter. Set after the events of the first arc and it's sequel The New Prophecy, Power of Three focuses on the kits of the heroes of The New Prophecy, who find the long-awaited peace the clans have been waiting for threatened by supernatural forces and secrets from the past.
The series stars siblings Jayfeather, Lionblaze and Hollyleaf. They are the grandkits of Firestar, leader of ThunderClan and are believed by him to be the three, cats said to hold power beyond anything the clans have ever seen. When Jayfeather accidentally obtains this knowledge, he makes it his life's mission to fulfill the prophecy. Meanwhile, vengeful cats from the past search for opportunities to obtain revenge, outsiders arrive to wreak havoc among the cats, and the secrets of the past come to light which could gravely affect the future...
Provides examples of:
- Arc Words: "There will be three, kin of your kin, who hold the power of the stars in their paws." (First appeared chronologically in Firestar's Quest and continues through to Omen Of The Stars).
- Ascended Extra: Nightcloud was a minor WindClan warrior in The New Prophecy. During the Time Skip, she's become Crowfeather's mate and appears much more frequently.
- Berserk Button: Don't try to pity Jayfeather, don't tell Lionblaze that you were using him because of his power, and don't openly mock the warrior code in front of Hollyleaf.
- Big Bad: Books 3-6 each have their own individual one, with Sol, the mysterious traveler as the overall villain.
- Chekhov's Gun: Jayfeather's stick saves his life twice during the climactic scene.
- The Chosen One: Jayfeather, Lionblaze and Hollyleaf think that they are the three, but Hollyleaf turns out to not be a member.
- Decoy Protagonist: Hollyleaf, if you think of Power of Three and Omen of the Stars as one arc in two parts.
- Demoted to Extra: Brambleclaw, Squirrelflight, Hawkfrost, Tawnypelt, Stormfur, and Crowfeather among others all play a much less important role in this arc. Also, Cinderheart in the last two books.
- Dropped a Bridge on Him: Rainwhisker dies in the Time Skip between Sunset and The Sight. Also, Ashfur in Long Shadows.
- Flat-Earth Atheist: Sol isn't one, but he temporarily converts Blackstar into one.
- Last Episode, New Character: Dovekit and Ivykit are born in Sunrise, with Jayfeather realizing that one of them is the real third. They both are important in Omen of the Stars.
- Lighter and Softer: At first, it appears to be this, but then Outcast ends with a literal bloodbath and the rest of the series follows suit.
- Meaningful Name: Jayfeather and Hollyleaf are named after Crowfeather and Leafpool.
- Hollyleaf is possibly also named after holly bush growing on the border between ThunderClan and WindClan that Leafpool was always hiding in when she went out to meet Crowfeather.
- My Friends... and Zoidberg: In Outcast everybody acts that way towards Breezepaw, even his own father. Heck, he was sent to the mission only because WindClan didn't want him.Lionpaw: This is my sister Hollypaw, and that's my brother Jaypaw, and that's Breezepaw.
- No Antagonist: The first two books, The Sight and Dark River, don't have any villains, although Tigerstar and Hawkfrost do show up and hang out around Lionblaze.
- One-Word Title: Some are also Time Title:
- Book 3: Outcast
- Book 4: Eclipse
- Book 6: Sunrise
- Pining After Protagonist's Parent: Ashfur was in love with Squirrelfight, the mother of the sibling protagonists. His anger at her for breaking up with him leads him to try to kill the protagonists.
- Reincarnation: Cinderheart is a reincarnation of Cinderpelt.
- Spin-Offspring: This arc is about the kits of Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight (or so they think - they're actually the children of two other second arc characters, Leafpool and Crowfeather).
- Squishy Wizard: Unlike most of the medicine cats in the series, Jayfeather is useless in a fight. But don't say that to his face.
- Tomato Surprise: We spend two chapters with Jayfeather before we find out that he's blind.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: Onestar already took one in The New Prophecy, but he gets much worse here.
- Total Eclipse of the Plot: During Eclipse. It also works into the villain's plan, but not in the way that would be expected.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Breezepelt towards his father Crowfeather, who neglects him.
