Post by Fate of Five Staff on Dec 22, 2018 1:03:51 GMT -5
Major Plot Explanations
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LightningClan and RainClan (StormClan) vs. StoneClan (Newleaf #1-leafbare #2)
Night will fall over the Forest, Trees will block out the Light, a mighty Storm will scatter Stone, Five fall to Four and One falls to flight. A kit finds its mother to take up the fight and the Mountain's peace will crumble and cease.
The battle that drove StoneClan from their home was initially hatched by two Medicine Cats: Rookfrost of LightningClan, and Swanfeather of RainClan.
Bored of the quietude, Rookfrost found the peace tiresome and desired to end it. Swanfeather desired more power and territory for RainClan. RainClan was susceptible to flooding every newleaf, and the higher ground would keep them safe. After receiving a prophecy from StarClan, the co-conspirators chose to manipulate it to their own devices; an alliance was proposed between LightningClan and RainClan. They would become StormClan, and drive StoneClan from their territory for good.
The difficulties of the past leafbare were a powerful motivator for StormClan. The threat of flood and famine were very real.
Sandstar and Redstar agreed upon the alliance. LightningClan and RainClan went to war.
The battle was easily one of the bloodiest conflicts in the valley's history. Violent, morally bankrupt warriors on LightningClan's side -- most notably, Whiteshade, Cherrypool, Rookfrost -- turned the battle into a slaughter. Lives were lost on all sides, but StoneClan suffered the heaviest casualties. Their medicine cat, Blackeagle, was killed. Desperately outnumbered, a warrior from StoneClan was sent to TreeClan and NightClan for aid - but each Clan refused. With no help coming, Hawkstar sounded the retreat.
StoneClan was driven into the mountains for the next nine moons.
Uneasy by StoneClan's absence and his Clan's initial refusal to help, the following greenleaf Lionstar organizes a search patrol to find StoneClan.
StoneClan is discovered in the Oasis, having sought shelter with a relaxed group of non-Clan cats calling themselves MountainClan, led by Maverick. With TreeClan's and MountainClan's help, StoneClan returned to the valley. They chased StormClan from their territory. StoneClan had come home.
There are many warriors in StoneClan who still carry the scars (both physical and emotional) from the StormClan battle. There are kits who were orphaned in the conflict, and have grown up to carry a grudge against RainClan and LightningClan. Many moons have passed, but tensions are still very very high between StoneClan and their neighbors.
There are some who view RainClan's civil war as payback from StarClan for what they did to StoneClan.
The battle that drove StoneClan from their home was initially hatched by two Medicine Cats: Rookfrost of LightningClan, and Swanfeather of RainClan.
Bored of the quietude, Rookfrost found the peace tiresome and desired to end it. Swanfeather desired more power and territory for RainClan. RainClan was susceptible to flooding every newleaf, and the higher ground would keep them safe. After receiving a prophecy from StarClan, the co-conspirators chose to manipulate it to their own devices; an alliance was proposed between LightningClan and RainClan. They would become StormClan, and drive StoneClan from their territory for good.
The difficulties of the past leafbare were a powerful motivator for StormClan. The threat of flood and famine were very real.
Sandstar and Redstar agreed upon the alliance. LightningClan and RainClan went to war.
The battle was easily one of the bloodiest conflicts in the valley's history. Violent, morally bankrupt warriors on LightningClan's side -- most notably, Whiteshade, Cherrypool, Rookfrost -- turned the battle into a slaughter. Lives were lost on all sides, but StoneClan suffered the heaviest casualties. Their medicine cat, Blackeagle, was killed. Desperately outnumbered, a warrior from StoneClan was sent to TreeClan and NightClan for aid - but each Clan refused. With no help coming, Hawkstar sounded the retreat.
StoneClan was driven into the mountains for the next nine moons.
Uneasy by StoneClan's absence and his Clan's initial refusal to help, the following greenleaf Lionstar organizes a search patrol to find StoneClan.
StoneClan is discovered in the Oasis, having sought shelter with a relaxed group of non-Clan cats calling themselves MountainClan, led by Maverick. With TreeClan's and MountainClan's help, StoneClan returned to the valley. They chased StormClan from their territory. StoneClan had come home.
There are many warriors in StoneClan who still carry the scars (both physical and emotional) from the StormClan battle. There are kits who were orphaned in the conflict, and have grown up to carry a grudge against RainClan and LightningClan. Many moons have passed, but tensions are still very very high between StoneClan and their neighbors.
There are some who view RainClan's civil war as payback from StarClan for what they did to StoneClan.
RainClan Civil War (Leafbare #3 - Leaf-fall #4)
The RainClan Civil War was brought about by the convergence of two different stories. The first is of Swanfeather, the medicine cat. In her youth, she fell in love with a warrior, and when he was killed by a NightClan patrol, she was absolutely devastated and never could forgive the other clan for their actions. Over time, this grudge festered into full-blown hatred that boiled over when Timberwing, a former NightClan warrior who became RainClan’s deputy, stepped up to replace Razorstar.
Indeed, Razorstar was a highly respected leader, but when he named that she-cat as his deputy, he could not have foreseen the strife that would bring to his clan. When he died, Timberwing’s ascension to power was contested by Swanfeather. She spoke of a sign that predicted that Timberwing would come to betray them just as she had NightClan, but unbeknownst to the clan, she had made up this prophecy, driven as she was by her hatred of the other clan. Still, many supported her claim that they ought to be led by someone who was a full-blooded RainClan cat. After all, how could they trust the loyalty of someone who had abandoned their family and their clan once before? This announcement fractured the clan into two parties. Those who sided with Swanfeather, the Purists, refused to call Timberwing their leader and eventually left camp to live in the Wooded Cove. The others, Loyalists, stayed in camp and supported Timberwing just as she remained unwavering in her loyalty to RainClan.
For a while, these two parties managed to somewhat peacefully coexist, with each hunting in their own allotted part of RainClan territory, and under a tacit agreement, they both worked to keep word of their internal strife from reaching the other clans. However, tensions grew between the two groups, and everything escalated when the Purists began targeting the Loyalists who were not pureblooded RainClan, were half-Clan sympathizers, or had any connection to a mixed-blood or loner-born Clanmate at all. While Loyalist patrols reeled from these fatal attacks and feared finding more of their clan mates dead along the banks of the river, Timberstar fell ill and withered away in her den. In the wake of her anticlimactic death, the Loyalists began to hope that the fighting, which at this point was entering its fourth season, would soon end.
However, the Purists prevented Timberstar’s deputy, Bluewave, and Ottersplash, who had stepped up as full medicine cat for the Loyalists after Swanfeather’s defection, from reaching the Moon Tree. Soon after, StarClan revealed in a dream to Bluewave that it was Stormheart, rather than himself, who was destined to lead RainClan. Stormheart became Stormstar, with StarClan's blessing. During his leader ceremony, the new leader of RainClan discovered both the names of those responsible for the deaths of the Loyalists and Swanfeather’s treachery. He led a patrol to the Purist camp, where he revealed a key fact: Swanfeather had never received a sign from StarClan foretelling Timberstar’s disloyalty, and driven by her hatred of NightClan, she had instead invented the story against the will of their ancestors. The fighting and death had all been for nothing. He then issued an ultimatum: surrender and return to RainClan or be exiled forever.
Disillusioned and tired of the fighting, most of the Purists rejoined their old clan mates, but a handful of the most loyal Purists stayed behind. They were driven out and exiled. At long last, the Civil War was finally over.
Indeed, Razorstar was a highly respected leader, but when he named that she-cat as his deputy, he could not have foreseen the strife that would bring to his clan. When he died, Timberwing’s ascension to power was contested by Swanfeather. She spoke of a sign that predicted that Timberwing would come to betray them just as she had NightClan, but unbeknownst to the clan, she had made up this prophecy, driven as she was by her hatred of the other clan. Still, many supported her claim that they ought to be led by someone who was a full-blooded RainClan cat. After all, how could they trust the loyalty of someone who had abandoned their family and their clan once before? This announcement fractured the clan into two parties. Those who sided with Swanfeather, the Purists, refused to call Timberwing their leader and eventually left camp to live in the Wooded Cove. The others, Loyalists, stayed in camp and supported Timberwing just as she remained unwavering in her loyalty to RainClan.
For a while, these two parties managed to somewhat peacefully coexist, with each hunting in their own allotted part of RainClan territory, and under a tacit agreement, they both worked to keep word of their internal strife from reaching the other clans. However, tensions grew between the two groups, and everything escalated when the Purists began targeting the Loyalists who were not pureblooded RainClan, were half-Clan sympathizers, or had any connection to a mixed-blood or loner-born Clanmate at all. While Loyalist patrols reeled from these fatal attacks and feared finding more of their clan mates dead along the banks of the river, Timberstar fell ill and withered away in her den. In the wake of her anticlimactic death, the Loyalists began to hope that the fighting, which at this point was entering its fourth season, would soon end.
However, the Purists prevented Timberstar’s deputy, Bluewave, and Ottersplash, who had stepped up as full medicine cat for the Loyalists after Swanfeather’s defection, from reaching the Moon Tree. Soon after, StarClan revealed in a dream to Bluewave that it was Stormheart, rather than himself, who was destined to lead RainClan. Stormheart became Stormstar, with StarClan's blessing. During his leader ceremony, the new leader of RainClan discovered both the names of those responsible for the deaths of the Loyalists and Swanfeather’s treachery. He led a patrol to the Purist camp, where he revealed a key fact: Swanfeather had never received a sign from StarClan foretelling Timberstar’s disloyalty, and driven by her hatred of NightClan, she had instead invented the story against the will of their ancestors. The fighting and death had all been for nothing. He then issued an ultimatum: surrender and return to RainClan or be exiled forever.
Disillusioned and tired of the fighting, most of the Purists rejoined their old clan mates, but a handful of the most loyal Purists stayed behind. They were driven out and exiled. At long last, the Civil War was finally over.
Greencough Epidemic (Newleaf #4)
A lot of cats got sick and died.
The End.
The End.
A Skulk of Foxes (Greenleaf #5)
A family of five foxes, a parent pair and their offspring, set up residence in the valley. These fire-coated devils with empty bellies and angry eyes began terrorizing the clans and disturbing the food sources of the valley. At first, only traces of them were found - rotten prey left to sit in the sun, droppings, and scent trails. Later, the foxes themselves began to make themselves known to the clans. Masa, the mother fox, did not hesitate to attack clan cats, while her mate, Tenko, lived for the hunt. Their children, Kayo, Nao, and Arisu, were each quick to establish their own reputations as formidable and vicious predators.
Between the five of them, the foxes hunted clan cats like prey, their actions resulting in the maiming and deaths of felines across all the clans. Then the full moon arrived. As the moon climbed high in the sky, the Tribe of Forgotten Waters had ventured down from the mountains to attend their first Gathering. After weeks of uncertainty and pain, the clans were on edge, and for good reason: the foxes had grown arrogant from their victories throughout the season. Led by Masa, the family of five attacked the Gathering, resulting in chaos and death that left all of the clans reeling. While all but the youngest of the foxes, Arisu, perished in the fight, each clan suffered their own losses.
StoneClan's leader, Hawkstar, lost a life, and among their casualties was Dawnblossom, their senior medicine cat. Moonshine, the deputy of Rainclan died while defending her clan, while the horrors and losses of that night proved to be the catalyst for two of NightClan's warriors, who left their clan shortly after. TreeClan lost multiple warriors, and LightningClan's leader, Firestar, also lost a life.
Only the Tribe escaped relatively unscathed... the Tribe and a single she-fox, Arisu, who was last seen retreating across clan borders.
Between the five of them, the foxes hunted clan cats like prey, their actions resulting in the maiming and deaths of felines across all the clans. Then the full moon arrived. As the moon climbed high in the sky, the Tribe of Forgotten Waters had ventured down from the mountains to attend their first Gathering. After weeks of uncertainty and pain, the clans were on edge, and for good reason: the foxes had grown arrogant from their victories throughout the season. Led by Masa, the family of five attacked the Gathering, resulting in chaos and death that left all of the clans reeling. While all but the youngest of the foxes, Arisu, perished in the fight, each clan suffered their own losses.
StoneClan's leader, Hawkstar, lost a life, and among their casualties was Dawnblossom, their senior medicine cat. Moonshine, the deputy of Rainclan died while defending her clan, while the horrors and losses of that night proved to be the catalyst for two of NightClan's warriors, who left their clan shortly after. TreeClan lost multiple warriors, and LightningClan's leader, Firestar, also lost a life.
Only the Tribe escaped relatively unscathed... the Tribe and a single she-fox, Arisu, who was last seen retreating across clan borders.
TreeClan vs. NightClan (Leaf-Fall #6 - Leaf-bare #7)
For two clans who historically met each other with unsheathed claws, animosity was nothing new. NightClan's senior warrior, Blackwolf, however, was thirsting for a fight, and he decided that TreeClan had maintained control of the Branch Trail, for long enough. As Foxstar and Briarthroat led the NightClan patrol to StarClan's Claws for the Gathering, he led his own patrol to the border and after a fierce skirmish with a TreeClan patrol, reclaimed the piece of land for his clan. Capitalizing on Blackwolf's recent success and the much-needed morale boost, Foxstar followed suit and led a patrol that successfully took back the Deer Path from TreeClan - though at the cost of Blackwolf's life. Lionstar's son, Brackenstride, killed the senior warrior, and in doing so, set off a chain of events that would escalate a series of border skirmishes into a full blown war.
Darkstorm swore vengeance upon Brackenstride for killing her mentor. Brackenstride returned the animosity. One fateful morning, the two crossed paths while on patrol, and after exchanging hostilities, they unsheathed their claws. However, the fight ended before it even began when Gorsetail, TreeClan's deputy, intercepted Darkstorm's attack aimed at Brackenstride. Crippled, he was forced to retire to the elder's den. The tension between the clans grew - it had become personal.
As the seasons passed, NightClan warriors were caught stealing prey from TreeClan, and Lionstar made his animosity toward NightClan - and their new leader, Darkstar - evident at the Gathering. War was brewing. When a TreeClan patrol reclaimed the Branch Trail by attacking a NightClan patrol and chasing them into the mountains, it began in earnest. As TreeClan celebrated their victory, NightClan retaliated by attacking their camp in the middle of the night. Both clans lost cats that night, but TreeClan managed to defend the heart of their territory and chase off the offenders, taking hostages as they did so. Despite their mutual loathing, Darkstar and Lionstar met on the border to negotiate a truce, for the leaders recognized that a prolonged war would only lead to the ruin of both their clans. In exchange for the hostages, there would be peace. NightClan would retain control of the Branch Trail for half of the year, during leaf-bare and newleaf, while TreeClan would own it during greenleaf and leaf-fall. There would be no more fighting - for now.
Darkstorm swore vengeance upon Brackenstride for killing her mentor. Brackenstride returned the animosity. One fateful morning, the two crossed paths while on patrol, and after exchanging hostilities, they unsheathed their claws. However, the fight ended before it even began when Gorsetail, TreeClan's deputy, intercepted Darkstorm's attack aimed at Brackenstride. Crippled, he was forced to retire to the elder's den. The tension between the clans grew - it had become personal.
As the seasons passed, NightClan warriors were caught stealing prey from TreeClan, and Lionstar made his animosity toward NightClan - and their new leader, Darkstar - evident at the Gathering. War was brewing. When a TreeClan patrol reclaimed the Branch Trail by attacking a NightClan patrol and chasing them into the mountains, it began in earnest. As TreeClan celebrated their victory, NightClan retaliated by attacking their camp in the middle of the night. Both clans lost cats that night, but TreeClan managed to defend the heart of their territory and chase off the offenders, taking hostages as they did so. Despite their mutual loathing, Darkstar and Lionstar met on the border to negotiate a truce, for the leaders recognized that a prolonged war would only lead to the ruin of both their clans. In exchange for the hostages, there would be peace. NightClan would retain control of the Branch Trail for half of the year, during leaf-bare and newleaf, while TreeClan would own it during greenleaf and leaf-fall. There would be no more fighting - for now.