Sunningrocks

Sunningrocks is a rock formation in the forest territories located on the eastern shore of the river. It is a source of deadly conflict between RiverClan and ThunderClan due to its uses as both a place for cats to bask in the sun and to hunt prey.
==Description==
:Sunningrocks is located to the eastern shore of the river in the forest territories. Along the shoreline of the river, the area is sandy with a thick patch of reeds by the shore. It is a large granite rock formation with several large, smooth, flat, pale gray rocks stacked on top of each other and deep cracks between. On one side, it faces the sun, while the other side is sheer, overshadowing the river. The smooth rocks are flat, making them a desirable location for cats to sunbathe and rest. Within Sunningrocks there is cleft where cats are able to shelter in several gullies and hollows. However, the rocks are also unstable and prone to rockfalls. In the rocks, prey is able to hide in small cavities between the boulders, and the forest surrounding the boulders is lush with prey. A pair of stepping-stones lie not far from Sunningrocks that can be used to cross the river, and another pair lies downstream of Sunningrocks. Herbs also grow nearby.
===Location history===
:When the early settlers first arrived to the forest, Gray Wing and Clear Sky explored the river and climbed to the pile of rocks in the middle of the water. They were met by Nightheart who declared the pile of rocks to be hers. At some point, these warm rocks became known as Sunningrocks. Eventually, a great flood carved a new course for the river to bend, exposing Sunningrocks to the eastern shore. ThunderClan then claimed the rocks for themselves from RiverClan, resulting in deadly battles between the two Clans. Over time, elders began to pass down tales that some cats believed that Sunningrocks were once submerged in the river itself.
:Due to its location, Sunningrocks often switches ownership between RiverClan and ThunderClan. Conflicts have spanned generations over the ownership between ThunderClan and RiverClan, having lasted from the time of Darkstar's leadership and before when the RiverClan cat Aspentail lived. The two Clans fought over the rocks up until the Clans were forced from the forest territories. Most fights that break out over the rocks are border skirmishes, however, some skirmishes have been noted to be outright battles. These battles would often have casualties and would prolong the drawn-out fights over the patch of territory. The first known instance of a conflict at Sunningrocks occurred during Darkstar's leadership, in which RiverClan was victorious at defending the rocks from ThunderClan. Splashheart noticed RiverClan's swarming over the stones to motivate him to continue the fight, and this victory inspired Splashheart to create the third law of the warrior code to honor their kits and elders. Many seasons later, a battle at Sunningrocks resulted in Birchface, and his apprentice, Flowerpaw, falling into the swollen river and drowning. Mapleshade revealed she is expecting the RiverClan warrior Appledusk's kits despite this conflict, and was of the belief that their half-Clan heritage might end the feud over Sunningrocks.
:Sunningrocks remained under ThunderClan's control through Oakstar's and Doestar's leaderships. Sunningrocks was lost under Pinestar's leadership when RiverClan, led by Hailstar reclaimed the rocks. When ThunderClan attempted to reclaim the rocks by lounging on them, Shellheart gave them a warning, though eventually ThunderClan reclaimed them. While escaping Goosefeather at Sunningrocks, Stormkit slipped on the nearby stepping-stones and broke his jaw. RiverClan eventually made a move to reclaim the rocks when they noticed ThunderClan looking weak during leaf-bare, though they retreat when Stormtail arrived with a second battle patrol. RiverClan eventually reclaimed Sunningrocks without a fight from ThunderClan, though they were defeated when Hailstar attempted to claim more land. ThunderClan retook the rocks just after leaf-fall, and Mudfur reclaimed the rocks for RiverClan by defeating the acting deputy Adderfang by himself. Sunstar later reclaimed Sunningrocks for ThunderClan by visiting their camp and threatening unnecessary death in the midst of leaf-bare. Hailstar reasoned with his Clan to allow ThunderClan to have Sunningrocks until newleaf. When Hailstar's warriors returned to Sunningrocks, Sunstar led a battle patrol to warn them, though the battle was lost when Bluefur's patrol had to stop and rescue Redpaw from a hawk. Crookedstar eventually reclaimed the rocks during his leadership. In leaf-bare, Bluefur gave her kits up to their father Oakheart at Sunningrocks.
:Sunningrocks was frequently challenged under Bluestar's and Crookedstar's leadership. When RiverClan owned Sunningrocks, Leopardfur's patrol came into conflict with Redtail's, resulting in Whitefang's and Sunfish's deaths. ThunderClan eventually retook Sunningrocks until they were forced to retreat in a battle with RiverClan. Bluestar sent her deputy Redtail, Tigerclaw, and his apprentice Ravenpaw to mark Sunningrocks at dawn, though they were met by a RiverClan patrol led by their deputy Oakheart. RiverClan's ownership of Sunningrocks was short-lived when their confrontation resulted in ThunderClan resecuring Sunningrocks, though it also led to Oakheart's death by a rockfall and Tigerclaw killing Redtail. Tigerclaw later claimed that Oakheart killed Redtail and Tigerclaw killed Oakheart in retaliation, a ruse that Fireheart would later discover was false. RiverClan began to hunt near Sunningrocks, creating tension between the two Clans. Graystripe, a ThunderClan warrior, and Silverstream, a RiverClan warrior, began meeting in secret, and Silverstream eventually died giving birth to their kits by Sunningrocks. Graystripe buried her by Sunningrocks. During a fire, ThunderClan fled to Sunningrocks before crossing the river. Leopardstar attempted to reclaim the pile of rocks for RiverClan, until ThunderClan reinforcements arrived. In the midst of battle, Graystripe saved Fireheart from Leopardstar, and Fireheart revealed to Stonefur and Mistyfoot that Bluestar is their mother. When the pack of dogs threatened ThunderClan, Fireheart had Bluestar lead the Clan to Sunningrocks for safety. Prior to the battle against BloodClan, Leopardstar met Mistyfoot at Sunningrocks to ask for forgiveness.
:Sunningrocks remained under ThunderClan's ownership with Firestar's leadership following Bluestar's death. When Twolegs began to destroy their homes, ThunderClan relocated to Sunningrocks, making their camp in the narrow clefts. Both WindClan and ShadowClan seek refuge at Sunningrocks when Twolegs destroyed their camps as well. The Clans eventually leave the forest behind on the Great Journey to their new home. Seasons later, Graystripe spots Sunningrocks when he briefly visited the old forest.
==Known deaths==
==Ownership==
:The following is a list of which Clan owned Sunningrocks by book and Clan leader.
Clan / Leader(s) 	From 	To
RiverClan / Darkstar 	"A Mystical Battle" 	Before Mapleshade's Vengeance
ThunderClan / Oakstar - Doestar 	Before Mapleshade's Vengeance 	Before Crookedstar's Promise
RiverClan / Hailstar 	Before Crookedstar's Promise 	Crookedstar's Promise
ThunderClan / Pinestar 	Crookedstar's Promise / Bluestar's Prophecy	Crookedstar's Promise / Bluestar's Prophecy
RiverClan / Hailstar 	Crookedstar's Promise / Bluestar's Prophecy	Crookedstar's Promise / Bluestar's Prophecy
ThunderClan / Sunstar 	Crookedstar's Promise / Bluestar's Prophecy	Crookedstar's Promise / Bluestar's Prophecy
RiverClan / Hailstar 	Crookedstar's Promise / Bluestar's Prophecy	Crookedstar's Promise / Bluestar's Prophecy
ThunderClan / Sunstar 	Crookedstar's Promise / Bluestar's Prophecy	Crookedstar's Promise / Bluestar's Prophecy
RiverClan / Crookedstar 	Crookedstar's Promise / Bluestar's Prophecy	Leopardstar's Honor
ThunderClan / Bluestar 	Before Redtail's Debt / Into the Wild 	Redtail's Debt / Into the Wild
RiverClan / Crookedstar 	Redtail's Debt / Into the Wild 	Redtail's Debt / Into the Wild
ThunderClan / Bluestar - Firestar	Redtail's Debt / Into the Wild through Dawn	Dawn
==Book mentions==
* indicates a battle took place at Sunningrocks
==Gallery==
===Map art===
Sunningrocks.map.png|Sunningrocks on the original map
Sunningrocks.twoleg map.png|Sunningrocks on the original Twoleg view map
Sunningrocks.map-RR.png|Sunningrocks on the reprinted map
Sunningrocks.twoleg map-RR.png|Sunningrocks on the reprinted Twoleg view map
Sunningrocks.DTC.map.png|Sunningrocks in the river on the original Dawn of the Clans map
Sunningrocks.DTC.twoleg map.png|Sunningrocks in the river on the original Dawn of the Clans Twoleg map
Sunningrocks.DTC.map-RR.png|Sunningrocks in the river on the reprinted Dawn of the Clans map
Sunningrocks.DTC.twoleg map-RR.png|Sunningrocks in the river on the reprinted Dawn of the Clans Twoleg map
===Official art===
Sunningrocks.TPB-1.png|A battle at Sunningrocks in The Prophecies Begin, volume 1
Sunningrocks.TPB-1-2.png|Sunningrocks in The Prophecies Begin, volume 1
Sunningrocks.ASIR.png|A battle at Sunningrocks in A Shadow in RiverClan
River Chell.FG-3.png|A battle at Sunningrocks in Code of the Clans
==Trivia==
===Interesting facts===
*In Into the Wild, Sunningrocks was referred with a "the" in front of it, similar to the Moonstone and the Moonpool. This was changed in Fire and Ice and has since been referred to as just Sunningrocks.
===Mistakes===
*Sunningrocks has been misspelled as Sunning-rocks.
*Redtail's Debt depicts Oakheart's death at Sunningrocks being caused by Redtail. However, one of the foundational aspects of The Prophecies Begin was that he did not die that way, and was instead confirmed to be killed by a rockfall.
*In Leopardstar's Honor, RiverClan challenges ThunderClan for Sunningrocks and Leopardfur specifically mentions this fight taking place after her skirmish with ThunderClan that resulted in Whitefang's and Sunfish's deaths. This fight is supposed to line up with the one in Into the Wild (and supposedly Redtail's Debt) where Oakheart and Redtail die. However, RiverClan already owned Sunningrocks by this time as they retook the pile of rocks in the prologue of Into the Wild. This is even mentioned in Redtail's Debt.
===Continuity===
*In Secrets of the Clans, a 2007 field guide, Sunningrocks is said to have been an island that only RiverClan cats could reach. It is also mentioned in the legend, "How LeopardClan Won the River" which tells the story of how LeopardClan got control of the river in the forest.
==Quotes==
==External links==
* 
* 
==See also==
*ThunderClan's forest territory
*RiverClan's forest territory
*River Chell
*Battles
==References==
da:Solklippernede:Sonnenfelsenes:Rocas Soleadasfi:Aurinkokivetfr:Rochers du Soleillt:Saulėtosios Uolosit:Rocce del Solenl:Zonnerotsenpl:Słoneczne Skałyru:Нагретые Камниsv:Solklippornapt-br:Rochas Ensolaradas
Category:Locations