Warriors: Changing Skies

Series continuity

Changing Skies is the ninth Warriors sub-series ("arc"), set after the events of A Starless Clan.

The Elders' Quest

Cats of StarClan (the spirits of deceased Clan cats) debate which living cat to send a prophecy to. The prophecy warns of a cat with a paw in both worlds having the potential to go down a dark path. Meanwhile, humans have begun a building project which threatens the Moonpool (the living Clans' primary method of communication with StarClan), although only Tawnypelt of ShadowClan is worried by it. In ThunderClan, Moonpaw struggles with her warrior training, even temporarily training to be a medicine cat instead. A voice in her head, later revealed to be her dead sister, prevents her from concentrating on her training, but out of fear and shame she refuses to tell anyone about it. Meanwhile, SkyClan leader Leafstar's sight is failing, which leads to her misjudge an attack on a group of badgers, resulting in the death of Starlingpaw's father. Her Clan is upset and blames her. Following a vote, Leafstar steps down from leadership, intending for her second-in-command, Hawkwing, to take charge. At the end of the book, Tawnypelt receives the prophecy from StarClan.

Hidden Moon

While under SkyClan's care, Starlingpaw learns of the prophecy from Tawnypelt, and convinces himself that he plays a part in it. He begins to suspect several cats around him of wrongdoing. While Moonpaw continues to struggle with her sister's voice in her head, Tawnypelt temporarily stays in ThunderClan, concerned about Brambleclaw, her sick and elderly brother. The Clans decide to send a patrol of cats to visit the Tribe of Rushing Water in hopes of contacting StarClan through a cat who lives in both StarClan and the Tribe's afterlife. Taking Brambleclaw's advice, Moonpaw asks to learn about her sister from her parents, and hopes that showing love to Morningkit will make her want to move on to StarClan. While visiting the Tribe, Crowfeather learns of the prophecy as well, but chooses to keep it to himself. On their way back to the Clans, the journeying patrol is attacked by an eagle, which lifts Crowfeather into the air before dropping him, knocking him unconscious. Moonpaw's plan to get Morningkit to leave the living realm backfires, and Morningkit reveals she is able to physically attack Moonpaw.

Chasing Shadows

The questing cats discover that Crowfeather has entered a coma after falling from a height. Over the next few nights, Starlingpaw watches Crowfeather's spirit rise from his body and wonder aloud which of the questing cats is the one foretold to cause trouble for the Clans. Starlingpaw is alarmed by this, as Crowfeather had hidden this prophecy from the rest of the group. Eventually, Crowfeather awakes from his coma and the cats begin their journey back home. Starlingpaw reveals the prophecy to the other questing cats and later to all the clans at a Gathering, causing tensions to rise.

Moonpaw continues to be tormented by Morningkit, who is growing increasingly angry. A plan to take Morningkit to StarClan fails. Moonpaw wants to be mates with Goldenpaw, so a jealous Morningkit takes control of Moonpaw's body while the latter is sleeping and attacks Goldenpaw. Horrified, Moonpaw leaves ThunderClan to live on her own in the hopes of protecting others from Morningkit. Starlingpaw encounters her while she crosses SkyClan territory and sees Morningkit beside her. He concludes that Moonpaw is the cat foretold to cause trouble, and he escorts her out of Clan territory. Later, Goldenpaw is revealed to have followed Moonpaw out of ThunderClan because he loves her too.

After an argument with Tigerstar, Tawnypelt travels to meet the elders of all the Clans to see if they can help find an alternative to the Moonpool. She concludes that she needs to organize a quest to go to the Whispering Cave (an alternate method of communication with StarClan) in SkyClan's former home. After returning to ShadowClan and reconciling with Tigerstar, they receive news that the humans have removed their construction materials from the Moonpool. Tawnypelt and several others travel to the Moonpool, only to find that human interference has destroyed its connection to StarClan and it is no longer useable.