New Power

Lore & Background

Warriors is written by Erin Hunter, a pen name for four people: Victoria Holmes, who creates the storyline and edits, and Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry, and Tui Sutherland, who write the books in turns. The series follows four Clans—ThunderClan, RiverClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan—of feral cats. The Clans believe in StarClan, a Clan made of the spirits of their ancestors. In a previous series, Warriors: The New Prophecy, the Tribe of Rushing Water was introduced. The Tribe, another group of wild cats, inhabits a mountain range and believes in their own set of ancestors, the Tribe of Endless Hunting. The Tribe has a Stoneteller, cave-guards, and prey-hunters, who each serve a different function. The Stoneteller leads the Tribe, heals the ill and wounded, and communicates with the Tribe of Endless Hunting. Jayfeather, originally Jaykit and then Jaypaw, is a pale gray tom with blue eyes, and the brother of Lionblaze and Hollyleaf. He is a medicine cat apprentice in ThunderClan. Jayfeather can sense the emotions of other cats and enter their dreams, where he can actually see—his blindness does not carry over into the dream world. He is characterized as proud and sarcastic, especially when he feels other characters are judging him for his blindness. Hollyleaf, originally Hollykit and then Hollypaw, is a black she-cat with green eyes, and the sister of Lionblaze and Jayfeather. She is a warrior in ThunderClan. Hollyleaf is characterized as an ardent follower of the warrior code and tends to have an inflexible interpretation of the code. Lionblaze, originally Lionkit and then Lionpaw, is a golden tabby tom, and the brother of Jayfeather and Hollyleaf. He is a warrior in ThunderClan. Lionblaze is especially talented in fighting skills and invincible against anyone he fights. Unaware of the Dark Forest's sinister intentions, he secretly receives dangerous training from the deceased Dark Forest warriors Tigerstar and Hawkfrost.

In Their Own Story

The Sight opens with a prologue set near the conclusion of Firestar's Quest: Firestar is told a prophecy that "There will be three, kin of your kin, who hold the power of the stars in their paws." The remainder of the novel takes place several months following the events of Sunset, and centers around Firestar's grandchildren. Hollypaw is training to become ThunderClan's medicine cat, while her brothers Lionpaw and Jaypaw are training to become warriors. Jaypaw is born congenitally blind and is trained by Brightheart, a ThunderClan warrior who herself has only one eye following an injury. During a battle with ShadowClan, Jaypaw defeats an enemy apprentice only with his siblings compensating for his blindness. Hollypaw discovers she enjoys battling as a warrior better than her duties as a medicine cat apprentice. Jaypaw has a dream in which StarClan tells him he must become a medicine cat because of his unique gift: although blind in the real world, he can sense other cats' emotions and enter their dreams, at which time he is able to see. Hollypaw and Jaypaw trade roles. At the next Gathering, a dispute breaks out. To repair relationships, Squirrelflight suggests a one-time event where each Clan's apprentices compete in tree climbing, hunting, and fighting. Jaypaw has a vision of choking on earth and smelling badger and fox, realizing it is a premonition from Lionpaw's perspective. He alerts others in time to save Lionpaw and WindClan apprentice Breezepaw, who fall into a collapsing badger set. At the end, Jaypaw enters Firestar's dream and hears the prophecy, realizing it refers to himself and his siblings. In Dark River's prologue, Fallen Leaves enters tunnels beneath WindClan territory, meets an old cat named Rock, and drowns when it rains. Lionpaw befriends WindClan apprentice Heatherpaw, and they meet at night in the tunnels despite the warrior code forbidding friendships between Clans. Tigerstar and Hawkfrost begin teaching Lionpaw advanced battle moves in his dreams. When Lionpaw teaches the moves to Heatherpaw, Hawkfrost scolds him. Lionpaw chooses loyalty to his Clan and leaves Heatherpaw. Jaypaw finds a stick with odd scratch marks, has a dream experiencing Fallen Leaves' death, and understands the scratches represent ancient cats who undertook a trial in the tunnels.

Reader's Guide

Arc: Warriors: Power of Three (books 1–6 of the arc, published 2007–2009). The central conflict follows the three grandchildren of Firestar—Jayfeather, Hollyleaf, and Lionblaze—as they discover their prophesied powers. Key turning points: Jaypaw and Hollypaw trade roles (Jaypaw becomes medicine cat apprentice, Hollypaw becomes warrior apprentice). Jaypaw learns he can sense emotions and enter dreams. Lionpaw receives training from Tigerstar and Hawkfrost in the Dark Forest. Lionpaw befriends Heatherpaw but ends the friendship to remain loyal to the warrior code. Jaypaw discovers the tunnels beneath WindClan territory and the fate of Fallen Leaves. Characters who rise: Jayfeather (from blind apprentice to medicine cat with unique powers), Hollyleaf (from medicine cat apprentice to warrior), Lionblaze (from apprentice to warrior trained by Dark Forest spirits). Continuity link: Power of Three follows Warriors: The New Prophecy and is set after the events of Sunset. The prophecy given to Firestar in Firestar's Quest is fulfilled in this arc.

Did You Know?

• The arc's six novels were published from 2007 to 2009.
• Jayfeather is blind but can sense emotions and enter other cats' dreams—and unlike in the waking world, he can see clearly within those dreams.
• Lionblaze secretly receives dangerous training from the Dark Forest warriors Tigerstar and Hawkfrost, unaware of their sinister intentions.
• The prophecy foretells that the three grandchildren of Firestar hold the power of the stars in their paws.