"Darkness, Air, Water and Sky will come together and shake the forest to its roots."
The New Prophecy is the second arc of the popular Warrior Cats series by Erin Hunter. Unlike the previous arc, The New Prophecy shifts the focal point between multiple characters.
One and a half years after the battle with BloodClan, the Clans seem to have finally found peace. However, a mysterious new threat to the forest is appearing, and StarClan selects four cats, one from each Clan, to embark upon a journey to save the Clans. Chosen from ThunderClan is Brambleclaw, son of Tigerstar, who fights not only to save his Clan, but also to prove that he is different from his cruel father. Meanwhile, Leafpaw, daughter of Firestar, worries about her sister Squirrelpaw who has chosen to join Brambleclaw's group as the Clans face total anihilation. And strangers are appearing with shocking connections to the events of the past.
Yes, that's how it is.
The New Prophecy provides examples of:
- Acid Reflux Nightmare: Brambleclaw originally thinks his prophecy dream was one of these.
- Arc Words: "Darkness, Air, Water and Sky will come together and shake the Forest to its very roots. Nothing will be as it was or as it has been." and later "Before there is peace, blood will spill blood, and the lake will run red."
- Bait-and-Switch: The prologue of Twilight is designed to make you think that Firestar is the cat being warned of their imminent demise. It's actually Cinderpelt.
- Darker and Edgier: The first half of the arc, which is focused on a complete destruction of the forest, Graystripe being kidnapped, starvation, and poisonings, and the struggles of migration. Makes the events of the original series look light in comparison.
- Demoted to Extra: Firestar, Sandstorm, Graystripe, Ravenpaw and Cloudtail are just some of the main characters who have been pushed into the background.
- Doomed Hometown: The forest is destroyed thanks to Twolegs, prompting a journey to find a new home where the rest of the series takes place.
- The Friends Who Never Hang: Most of the cats on the journey have some way in which they play off each other. The least interactive of the cats is Tawnypelt, who doesn't develop much of a rapport with Stormfur or Crowpaw.
- Gender-Equal Ensemble: The cats chosen for the journey to the ocean are two toms (Brambleclaw and Crowpaw) and two shecats (Tawnypelt and Feathertail). Two more cats come along, and they are also one male (Stormfur) and one female (Squirrelpaw).
- Hollywood Atheist: Mothwing. Justified by the fact that we (the readers) really do know that Star Clan exists, and there's actually quite a bit of evidence for it.
- Idiosyncratic Episode Naming: Time Title and One-Word Title: Midnight, Moonrise, Dawn, Starlight, Twilight, Sunset.
- Inevitable Waterfall: How the Clan cats meet the Tribe: they go over a waterfall the Tribe lives behind.
- Literal Cliffhanger: Happens to Leafpool at the end of Starlight - she accidentally gets knocked over the edge of the cliff at the top of the quarry, and hangs just by her claws.
- Meaningful Name: Crowpaw's warrior name Crowfeather, in memory of Feathertail. As well as Leafpool, because she discovers the Moonpool.
- Ocean Awe: The journeying cats are going to the sun-drown place, aka the ocean. They are very impressed when they finally see it.
- Oh, and X Dies: Indirectly used in Twilight which says one character will face their end, it is left ambiguous in the prologue, but revealed to be Cinderpelt at the end.
- The Promised Land: Midnight tells the cats that there is new territory waiting for them, with oak forest and streams and lots of prey. It does turn out to have perfect land for each Clan, but it's still just as susceptible to natrual disasters as the old territory.
- The Namesake: Midnight is the title of the first book and also the badger the cats were actually sent to find.
- Reincarnation-Identifying Trait: Cinderkit not only greatly resembles her past life, but other characters note their similar mannerisms.
- Secret Test: According to Cats of the Clans, StarClan telling Cinderpelt about her death in advance was a test to see if she was worthy of a second chance at life.
- Spin-Offspring: Series two focuses on Leafpool and Squirrelflight, kittens of The Hero and his Love Interest from the first arc, as well as Brambleclaw, son of the Big Bad Tigerstar; Tawnypelt, Feathertail, and Stormfur (Tigerstar's other kit, and Graystripe's kits) are also major characters.
- Star-Crossed Lovers: Crowpaw and Feathertail, given they're from different Clans, but what really dooms their relationship is Feathertail dying killing Sharptooth.
- Stood Up: Leafpool accidentally does this to Crowfeather; they arrange to meet, but then she has to help care for RiverClan when Mothwing cannot do it alone.
- Twin Telepathy: Leafpaw and Squirrelpaw can feel what the other is feeling and sometimes see where the other is.
- While You Were in Diapers: Mudclaw is told to show more respect to Tallstar, because Tallstar was leader while Mudclaw was a kit mewling in the nursery.
- Your Days Are Numbered: Twilight opens with a cat being warned of their imminent death. It's Cinderpelt.
