Warriors, medicine cats, apprentices – lend me your ears.  I come to present the final Warriors Roundup, covering the Elders’ Quest, the first book of the current arc, Changing Skies.  Let’s see what we’ve got…

Plot Summary

The Elders’ Quest has three point-of-view characters – ShadowClan warrior and longtime secondary character Tawnypelt; SkyClan leader and longtime secondary character Leafstar, and ThunderClan apprentice Moonpaw – each with their own virtually independent plotline.  For convenience’s sake, I’ll recount each character’s plot separately.

Tawnypelt, now one of the oldest cats in ShadowClan, is frustrated by the lack of respect she gets from her younger Clanmates.  When Tawnypelt discovers her grandson Birchfeather is pining after SkyClan warrior Ridgeglow, she encourages him to tell his parents, Tigerstar and Dovewing.  He does, telling them that he is leaving ShadowClan to be with Ridgeglow.  Tigerstar and Dovewing are not happy about this and take out their frustrations on Tawnypelt.  Tawnypelt joins two patrols to investigate a Twoleg building site beyond SkyClan’s border (the titular “elders’ quest”) along with Crowfeather, whom she starts developing romantic feelings for.  Later, Tawnypelt dreams of a cat in distress at the Twoleg building site and goes to investigate with Birchfeather.  While investigating, she slips, falls, and wakes up in StarClan, where she is told that she alone can lead the clans through an approaching crisis and to “beware the two-faced cat with one paw in each world.”  She then wakes up in SkyClan’s medicine den, declares she needs to warn the clans about something, and immediately passes out again.

Leafstar, who has led the reformed SkyClan for its entire existence, is beginning to feel the effects of her advanced age.  Her eyesight is failing, which she is keeping a secret from her Clan.  Several SkyClan warriors come down with an illness, the source of which is traced to the water from one specific stream.  With SkyClan unable to hunt close to this stream for fear of catching tainted prey, Leafstar requests ThunderClan and ShadowClan allow SkyClan slightly expanded hunting rights; they refuse, but, suspecting the Twoleg building site is tainting the stream, Leafstar convinces the other clans to send a joint patrol to investigate.  A second patrol then discovers signs of Twoleg activity at the Moonpool.  Leafstar leads a SkyClan battle patrol to drive out a group of badgers; due to her failing eyesight, Leafstar misidentifies SkyClan apprentice Starlingpaw as a badger and almost attacks him, leading to confusion and forcing SkyClan to retreat.  After Kitescratch dies of wounds received from the badgers, his mate Reedclaw invokes the new provision in the Warrior Code to depose Leafstar.  Reedclaw’s faction falls narrowly short of the ¾ threshold required and Leafstar remains leader.  When Leafstar’s deputy Hawkwing leads a battle patrol that successfully drives out the badgers, Leafstar begins to worry if he is plotting against her.  Wanting to prove that she is still capable, Leafstar goes hunting on her own, falls down a ravine, and wakes up three days later in the SkyClan medicine den.  Reedclaw calls for another vote to depose Leafstar, and the vote is successful.  According to the Warrior Code, the other four clan leaders then must assent to deposing Leafstar’s before giving StarClan the final word; however, at the next Gathering, the other clan leaders are reluctant to rubber-stamp Leafstar’s ouster.  Realizing that she has lost the confidence of her warriors, Leafstar decides to voluntarily step down.

In ThunderClan, Moonkit is a cat who is expected to have a great destiny.  She has an unusual fur pattern: one half of her face has orange tabby fur, and the other half is black.  Since birth, Moonkit has also had a voice in her head, “whispering to her, making comments, asking questions.” (The Elder’s Quest, pg. 35) Moonkit is aware that this is unusual but hasn’t told anyone about it at the voice’s insistence. Because of her portentous half-moon-esque face, her parents believe she is destined to become a medicine cat; however, Moonkit doesn’t tell Alderheart and Jayfeather about the voice in her head and they conclude she has no special connection to StarClan.  Moonkit is made an apprentice under Sunbeam and begins her warrior training; however, the voice is a constant distraction.  While looking at her reflection in the lake, Moonpaw sees a mysterious orange tabby she-cat behind her; the voice in her head tells her to keep it a secret.  Making little progress with her warrior training, Moonpaw decides to try medicine cat work.  She takes to it impressively well despite the voice in her head’s insistence that it’s the wrong path for her.  At her first half-moon medicine cat meeting, Moonpaw again sees the mysterious cat in her reflection in the Moonpool.  Jayfeather tells Moonpaw about the events of the Broken Code arc, specifically the part where Ashfur appeared to Shadowsight as a disembodied voice in his head.  Sufficiently spooked, Moonpaw returns to the Moonpool to talk with the voice; to prove that she’s not just a hallucination, the voice tells Moonpaw that the following day “the sun will disappear” and “you will find the sun shining in a hollow tree.” (The Elder’s Quest, pg. 184) Sure enough, the next day, Sunkit goes missing and is found next to a hollow tree.  Sunkit claims that he followed Moonpaw to the tree, which Moonpaw does not remember doing.  Moonpaw finally concedes to the voice’s insistence that medicine cat training isn’t for her and returns to her warrior training, which she takes to it spectacularly well – perhaps preternaturally well – ignoring the voice when it tries to distract her.  Later, after some ominous and obviously supernatural things happen to her (turning around and finding objects suddenly missing, feeling unnaturally cold, the voice telling her “You can’t run from me” [The Elders’ Quest, pg. 252]) Moonpaw decides that maybe she should tell her parents about the spooky voice in her head after all.  After telling her parents about the voice and the cat she’s been seeing in her reflections, her parents tell her that she had an orange tabby sister who died shortly after birth and conclude that this (yet-unnamed) sister must be trying to contact Moonpaw from StarClan.  Moonpaw tries to convince her sister that she doesn’t belong in this world and should move on to StarClan, but her sister refuses, saying “if you won’t let me be with you in your world, you will be with me in mine.” (The Elders’ Quest, pg. 256)

What We Have So Far

This is usually the part of a Warriors Roundup where I would pass judgement on the arc in question.  Unfortunately, since the Elders’ Quest is the only book of Changing Skies released so far, I am in no position to pass judgement on Changing Skies.  There’s just too much about this arc that we don’t know – I’ve said in the past that Warriors arcs live or die based on the quality of their villains, but the only real villains we have in the Elders’ Quest are Moonpaw’s ghost sister and “the concept of aging.” 

What I do feel comfortable passing judgement on is the Elders’ Quest in and of itself.  As far as Warriors books go, it’s fine.  The first books of every arc since the Broken Code have followed a similar pattern – three point-of-view characters with plotlines that barely intersect – and I think it works well for Warriors.  It’s nice to see what’s happening in different clans in an era of relative peace before the “main plot” of the arc begins to dominate.  As far as the individual plots go, they’re fine enough.  My favorite of the three is the Leafstar plot; I don’t think we’ve ever had a clan leader PoV in a main series book since the first arc, and we’ve certainly never had one from one so elderly or in such a precarious internal political position.  It is true that Leafstar is no longer in any shape to be physically leading her clan into battle, but it isn’t clear whether that should matter.  Her deputy, Hawkwing, is obviously more than capable of picking up the slack in terms of physical leadership, and with her age comes experience and wisdom.  Besides, despite her concerns about him plotting against her, Hawkwing has no interest in taking over as leader of SkyClan while Leafstar still lives, being perfectly happy as a supportive deputy. While Reedclaw’s arguments against Leafstar’s continued leadership are sound, her motivation for ousting Leafstar obviously comes from personal grief over her mate’s death following Leafstar’s ill-advised expedition against the badgers.  It’s also fun to see the leader deposition process in action. The process was clearly designed to be used against leaders who were Obviously Evil as well as unpopular within their own clans – after all, if internal support is the only thing that matters, why require the other clan leaders to assent?  But Leafstar is obviously not evil, just old, and the other clan leaders really do not want to assent to removing her from power.  What would have happened if the clan leaders didn’t assent and Leafstar didn’t step down voluntarily?  Would SkyClan continue to respect her authority?  I guess we’ll never know.  Or will we…

The Tawnypelt plot is okay.  I like Tawnypelt, but the franchise has not been kind to her so far.  She was supposedly a major character in the New Prophecy, being one of the six cats to go on the big quest in the first half of that arc, but among the cats on the quest she was by far the least interesting – I believe in my New Prophecy roundup I called her the “token ShadowClan cat” and said her only job was to “wag her finger (paw?) at Brambleclaw for hanging out with his Obviously Evil half-brother.”  She had a forgettable novella and played a medium sized role for a few of the books in A Vision of Shadows, but overall I’ve never really felt that the series did her justice, so it’s nice to see her as a PoV character.  She’s a child of Evil Tigerstar, for crying out loud – give her something.  It’s nice to see Tawnypelt in the supportive grandmother role to Birchfeather, even if casting her in that role requires giving Tigerstar some bizarre characterization (“I don’t want my son to switch clans for love” – my brother in StarClan, your mate did that exact thing.)  I understand there has been some backlash against the idea of Tawnypelt falling for Crowfeather, but I don’t have a problem with it – they’ve known each other for a long time, both are widowed/cat-divorced, and their personalities seem like a good enough match.  Plus, I just think it’s funny that, if Crowfeather and Tawnypelt do get together, Crowfeather, a cat whose main personality trait is “abrasive,” will have been in relationships with four cats from four different clans. 

Were I to guess, I would predict that it is the Moonpaw plot that will eventually develop into the main series plot.  At this point, the text seemingly no longer considers it a mystery who the voice in Moonpaw’s head is – it’s her dead sister.  What is not clear to me is the nature of said dead sister’s existence.  Moonpaw’s dead sister (who, so I don’t have to keep typing the words “dead sister” I will refer to from here on out as “Ghostpaw”) exhibits three main supernatural powers: manifesting as a voice in Moonpaw’s head; appearing to Moonpaw in reflections; and affecting the physical world (she pulls Moonpaw’s tail at one point.)  Looking at these powers, my first thought is, “these are Dark Forest powers.”  In Crookedstar’s Promise, Mapleshade manifests as a voice in Crookedstar’s head, appears to him (and only to him) in both dreams and the waking world, and is shown to be able to affect the physical world.  Now, I don’t actually think Ghostpaw is a Dark Forest cat, for two main reasons:

1. It would imply that an infant was sent to Cat Hell, which is beyond the pale even for StarClan under their least charitable characterization (although I suppose it could have been an accident); and
2. Ghostpaw appears to be the same physical age as Moonpaw and it has been previously established that cats in StarClan (and therefore presumably the Dark Forest) don’t age.

I think whatever is going on with Ghostpaw is something we’ve not seen before in Warriors.  The best direct evidence we have for the nature of what is going on with Ghostpaw comes from her conversation with Moonpaw at the Moonpool.  Quoting directly from the book:

[…] it was with a serious look that it [i.e., Ghostpaw] meowed, I am you, and you are me.  We are two halves.

Moonpaw sat staring in confusion.  What does that mean? she asked.  Does every cat have two halves?  How do I know that your voice is real, and not just something I’m imagining?

Of course I’m real, the orange cat insisted.  And I live in a world few cats can see.  But I’m tied to you, Moonpaw.  We are part of each other.

That doesn’t help, Moonpaw snapped in frustration.  I could still be making it all up somehow.

The orange cat hesitated, its green gaze growing thoughtful.  Then I’ll prove to you that I’m real, it promised after a few heartbeats.  I’ll tell you something that you have no way of knowing.

Moonpaw found it hard to believe her.  How can you do that?  she asked suspiciously.

Sometimes, in my world, I can see slips in time, the orange cat explained.  It’s not quite seeing the future, but it’s close.  If what I tell you comes true, then you’ll know that I’m not lying to you, and that I’m real.  Okay? (The Elders’ Quest, pg. 183-184)

From this block we learn that 1. Moonpaw and Ghostpaw are in some sense “connected” or “two halves” of the same whole, and 2. Ghostpaw lives in some “world” wherein she can do something akin to seeing the future. The “seeing the future” part is something we’ve seen before as a StarClan ability, but Ghostpaw is clearly not a part of StarClan so I’m not sure what exactly “her world” is. As far as the “connection” between Moonpaw and Ghostpaw goes, while I suppose you could argue this just refers to their sibling bond, I think something more is going on here.  When I first read the “we are two halves” line, I immediately connected it to Moonpaw’s distinct fur pattern – the description of her as being half orange tabby, half black is consistent with her being a chimera.  According to my favorite social media platform Wikipedia, “Animal chimeras can be produced by the fusion of two (or more) embryos.” [1] Knowing this, heading into the final chapter of this book, my running theory was that Moonpaw is a chimera and Ghostpaw is the spirit of the secondary embryo that merged with Moonpaw in utero.  Then, in the final chapter, Moonpaw’s parents tell her about her dead infant sister, Moonpaw confronts Ghostpaw, Ghostpaw refuses to move on, and the book ends.  At this point, I thought to myself “okay, the voice is her dead infant sister, the chimera/absorbed in utero thing was just a red herring,” but the more that I think about it the more I’m genuinely torn as to Ghostpaw’s true identity.  For your consideration, here are a few arguments that Ghostpaw could still be the spirit of an embryo absorbed by Moonpaw in utero:

1. Moonpaw could have had two orange tabby siblings – one absorbed in utero and the one that died as an infant – of which the one absorbed in utero is now Ghostpaw.
2. Ghostpaw never confirms that Moonpaw’s understanding of her identity (i.e. that she was her sister that died as an infant) is correct.
3. Ghostpaw’s frequent references to her and Moonpaw being “two halves” and “connected” imply that something beyond a simple sibling relationship is at play.
4. It has been previously established that even infant kits who die go to StarClan; something else happening to Moonpaw’s infant sister (i.e. “becoming Ghostpaw”) would be a departure from the norm.  In a vacuum, it makes more sense that Ghostpaw’s strange situation happened to a cat who was absorbed in utero rather than a cat who simply died as an infant.
5. If Ghostpaw is simply Moonpaw’s dead infant sister, then Moonpaw being a chimera is likely a red herring.

And here is are my best counterarguments – arguments that Ghostpaw is, as Moonpaw believes, the spirit of her dead infant sister:

1. Occam’s Razor.  Taking Moonpaw’s beliefs as true does not require us to invent another orange tabby sibling for Moonpaw. 
2. Ghostpaw’s only quote regarding Moonpaw’s understanding, “Now you know the truth” (The Elders’ Quest, pg. 255) obviously implies that her understanding is correct, even if she never directly comes out and says “Yes, Moonpaw, I am your dead infant sister.”
3. This could easily be reconciled by circumstances revealed in later books.
4. See counterargument 3 above.
5. No counterargument, this is true.

Ultimately, while I think it would be a cool twist if Ghostpaw turned out to be a sibling absorbed in-utero, I think Moonpaw’s understanding is correct: Ghostpaw is her dead infant sister.  That said, I am fully convinced that Ghostpaw being an absorbed chimera sibling was at the very least an idea in an earlier draft of the story, and that is why Moonpaw is a chimera even if her being a chimera isn’t plot relevant in the final arc.

What Happens Next

While the whole “arc isn’t finished” thing means I can’t pass judgement on Changing Skies as a whole, what it does allow me to do is make predictions.  Here’s are some guesses of where I think this arc is going to go:

• The Clans are going to lose their connection to StarClan again.  In the prologue StarClan is clearly worried about this and the Twoleg activity around the Moonpool does not bode well.
• Leafstar will stay leader of SkyClan, at least for a while.  Crucially, this book ends before Leafstar has the chance to go to the Moonpool and get StarClan’s approval for her resignation.  I think the next book is going to open with Leafstar going to the Moonpool only to find that Twoleg interference prevents her from contacting StarClan, meaning she’s stuck as leader of SkyClan until the connection is restored.
• Alternate afterlives will be used as a backdoor to StarClan.  In Ivypool’s Heart, Ivypool enters StarClan from the wildcats’ afterlife via the River of Spirits.  I think, when the clans lose their connection to StarClan, this will be tried again.
• StormClan is going to be relevant.  In Ivypool’s Heart it was made abundantly clear that de-fading the StormClan cats was going to be important.  It wasn’t important in Ivypool’s Heart or the final book of A Starless Clan, so I think it’s going to be important here.  I’m thinking StormClan either helps with the backdoor into StarClan, or helps guide cats traveling through the same territory they traveled through in StormClan’s Folly.
• The Clans will not leave the lake territories.  This book has a lot of callbacks to the New Prophecy, the first half of which was concerned with the clans’ relocation to the lake territories after Twolegs destroyed the forest, and the idea of leaving the lake territories is even mentioned a few times.  I just don’t think it’s going to happen.  Call it a hunch, I guess.
• Tawnypelt will be rejected by Crowfeather.  Crowfeather has shown no signs of reciprocating Tawnypelt’s affections, and I think it’ll stay that way.
• Ghostpaw’s intentions won’t be as sinister as one might expect.  She will be an overall antagonistic force, but she will be characterized as more of a petulant, selfish child than an Obviously Evil sociopath.
• Moonpaw will be a villain protagonist. Tawnypelt’s prophecy to “beware the two-faced cat with one paw in each world” will turn out not to be a red herring and refer to the obvious candidate, Moonpaw.  Moonpaw will, under the influence of Ghostpaw, partake in some villainous behavior but ultimately be redeemed.
• WarriorClan will save the day.  This is less of a prediction and more of a hope.  Erin Hunter – I have never asked anything of you before; I have no tongue for it.  No one, not even you, will remember if this was a good arc or bad; what new powers StarClan gained, or what minor characters died.  No – all that matters is which secondary characters make an appearance.  That’s what’s important.  Fan engagement pleases you, Erin, so grant me one request.  Grant me MONKEYSTAR.  And if you do not listen, then to the Dark Forest with you!

What Now?

And…that’s it.  That’s the entirety of the Warriors main series, novellas, and Super Editions all rounded up.  Had you told me in January that I would spend all summer reading a series aimed at middle schoolers and write nearly 50,000 words about it – well, in all honestly, I probably would have believed you; it does sound like the kind of thing I would do.

While there isn’t any more mainline Warriors content to be rounded up, that doesn’t mean that my Warriors journey is entirely finished.  I intend to write one more roundup summarizing my thoughts on the series as a whole, so keep an eye out for that, and I’m certainly planning on rounding up new releases as they come out.  The second book in Changing Skies comes out in a little over two months, so I’m sure it’ll be fun to look back on my predictions and laugh at how off-base I was.  Plus, while I don’t have any plans to cover them in the near future, there are several other pieces of Warriors media that could do with a roundup – field guides, graphic novels, the website, the Warriors Adventure Game (if I can ever convince my D&D group to humor me for a few a sessions.) 

For now, Zippy and I are going to take a break from Warriors. What are we going to do with ourselves, now that, for the first time in months, we don’t know exactly what book to read next?  Truly a conundrum, but I’m sure we can figure it out.  Thanks for reading, and, as they say in the lake territories, “may StarClan light your path.”  Actually, scratch that – with their track record I don’t want StarClan to lighting anything around me…

References

[1] Wikipedia contributors. “Chimera (genetics).” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 18 Aug. 2025. Web. 4 Sep. 2025.