Wind (book)

Wind is the fifth book in the A Starless Clan arc.Revealed on edelweiss.plus Splashtail is featured on the cover, with Frostpaw on the right and Whistlepaw on the left. 
==Dedication==
:Special Thanks to Cherith Baldry
==Blurb==
:The adventure continues in the fifth book of the eighth pawsome story arc in Erin Hunter's #1 bestselling Warriors series!
:Frostpaw has returned to the lake just in time to reveal all she knows at the Gathering—but the Clans are reluctant to believe an apprentice who's already admitted to lying about her visions in the past, and she is forced to take refuge in ShadowClan as Splashtail seizes control of her home.
:While the other Clan leaders debate whether to interfere any further in RiverClan affairs, Nightheart returns to ThunderClan. But what should be a happy reunion with his mate is more complicated than he or Sunbeam expected. Nightheart has his paws full teaching Clan ways to the two park cats who followed him home, and Sunbeam's efforts to fit in as the newest member of ThunderClan are hampered by her concerns for her mother, who is paying for her treachery with exile and illness. As Berryheart's schemes take an alarming new turn—and Splashtail's ambitions turn toward violence—a few cats' efforts may not be enough to preserve the peace.
==Detailed plot description==
:Curlfeather meets with Splashtail in secret to discuss her plan to kill Reedwhisker so she can succeed him as deputy and eventually leader with Mistystar so frail, though Splashtail is frustrated that he is tasked with killing Reedwhisker with limited reward. The two warriors hope to restore RiverClan to greatness with fresh leadership, though Splashtail secretly plots that he will be the one to do so.
:At the Gathering, Frostpaw yowls that they cannot trust Splashtail, and her Clanmates are surprised to see her alive. Frostpaw elaborates how Splashtail conspired with her mother Curlfeather to kill Reedwhisker, and he later turned on Curlfeather and attempted to kill Frostpaw. However, the other Clans are skeptical to trust her since she was previously led astray. Splashtail insist that he knew about Curlfeather's plans but was unaware of their full extent. With StarClan seemingly choosing Splashtail as RiverClan's newest leader, the other Clan leaders accept his leadership. However, Splashtail exiles Frostpaw, though Tigerstar welcomes her into ShadowClan. Unwilling to take in Frostpaw, Squirrelstar instead takes in the two park cats, Wasp and Waffle, so they can learn about the Clans for one moon. She tasks Nightheart with caring for them.
:A quarter-moon later, Nightheart and Sunbeam happily discuss their plans for the future when a WindClan patrol, led by Breezepelt, informs them that Berryheart, Sparrowtail, and Hollowspring have been spotted beyond their territory and are looking unwell. After taking Wasp and Waffle to hear stories from the elders, hoping to entice them with ThunderClan's rich history, Nightheart convinces Sunbeam to ask Squirrelstar about checking on her family instead of sneaking off without permission. To Sunbeam's relief, Squirrelstar indirectly agrees to her request but stresses to not get caught. Sunbeam locates her family beyond the horseplace, though Berryheart is struggling to heal from an injury after a Twoleg threw something sharp at her. Sunbeam suggests they should ask Smoky or the other Clans for help, but Berryheart sharply declines her offer. 
:In ShadowClan, Frostpaw spies on RiverClan's camp and is shocked to see Splashtail vehemently training his warriors for battle. Mothwing informs Frostpaw that he has yet to visit the Moonpool for his nine lives and worries about speaking out against him. Later, Frostpaw convinces Puddleshine and Shadowsight to let her accompany them to the half-moon meeting. The other medicine cats are skeptical about Frostpaw's and Podlight's visions, though Mothwing presents Podlight as her new apprentice regardless. Jayfeather presses Podlight to bring Splashtail to the Moonpool as soon as possible for his leadership ceremony. Frostpaw receives a dream of a shadow draining the river, though the others debate on what its interpretations. The following morning, Squirrelstar and Nightheart visit ShadowClan to speak with Tigerstar and Frostpaw about RiverClan, worrying about a potential battle with Splashtail. Meanwhile, Sunbeam steals some herbs from Jayfeather and Alderheart's den to take to Berryheart, though her mother again refuses help from the Clans. Worried about her deteriorating condition, Sparrowtail and Sunbeam agree to meet in three days to take Berryheart to a medicine cat. However, Sunbeam is caught by a WindClan patrol and taken to their camp until tomorrow morning. 
:That night, Frostpaw convinces Puddleshine to accompany her to the Moonpool to watch Splashtail receive his nine lives. The RiverClan cats arrive momentarily, with Podlight boasting how fortunate that Mothwing had to stay behind to help Havenpelt give birth to her litter. Unsure how the ceremony is supposed to start, Podlight and Splashtail linger just long enough for their Clanmates to believe that StarClan appeared; Splashtail does not intend to receive nine lives. The new RiverClan leader mocks the sanctity of the ceremony and how easy it was to murder Reedwhisker. At that moment, Riverstar appears to Puddleshine and Frostpaw, though Splashtail and Podlight cannot see him. His message is clear: Splashtail is not RiverClan's true leader. 
:The next morning, Crowfeather and Hootwhisker escort Sunbeam back to ThunderClan's camp, and Squirrelstar punishes her with apprentice duties. Tigerstar informs Squirrelstar what his medicine cats witnessed the previous night, though Squirrelstar is hesitant to spill blood over RiverClan's affairs. Sunbeam asks Nightheart to visit Sparrowtail as they've previously agreed, but Nightheart explains how no cat was there. Sunbeam worries that her mother might have died. Later at the Gathering, Splashtail claims to have received nine lives from StarClan, though Frostpaw accuses him of lying. However, SkyClan and WindClan recognize Splashtail as RiverClan's true leader. With no cat to formerly challenge Splashtail, Squirrelstar asks Wasp and Waffle if they plan to join the Clans. Wasp announces that he has decided to return to the park since he originally wanted to join RiverClan, though Waffle agrees to stay. After the Gathering, Duskfur and Icewing tell Frostpaw that they believe her about Splashtail. That night, Frostpaw receives a dream from Reedwhisker about a storm damaging WindClan's nursery.
:The following morning, Squirrelstar names Waffle and Spotfur's kits apprentices: Wafflepaw to Nightheart, Bristlepaw to Bayshine, Graypaw to Finchlight, and Stempaw to Molewhisker. Nightheart, Bayshine, and Finchlight take their apprentices on a tour of their territory. While hunting, Sunbeam, Lionblaze, and Twigbranch take shelter next to a boulder when a storm arrives, and they are surprised to see Frostpaw already hiding there. She's on her way to WindClan to warn them about the storm. Back at ThunderClan's camp, Nightheart, Sunbeam, and the apprentices reinforce the dens for the coming storm. Frostpaw's attempts to warn WindClan about a tree destroying their nursery falls on deaf ears. Deciding to find help, Frostpaw ventures to ThunderClan to ask for help, and Nightheart and Sunbeam go with her. However, right as they approach WindClan's camp, lightning strikes a tree and it falls into the camp below. Leafkit, one of Oatclaw and Featherpelt's newborn kits, is trapped in the crushed nursery underneath. Nightheart, Sunbeam, and the rest of WindClan remove the surrounding branches to rescue Leafkit, who is fortunately still alive. Kestrelflight and Harestar apologize to Frostpaw for doubting her, and Harestar agrees to help RiverClan if they decide to overthrow Splashtail.
:When they return to ThunderClan's camp, Nightheart is shocked to learn that Wasp had left for RiverClan earlier. Tigerstar and Frostpaw arrive to rediscuss their strategy against Splashtail, though Squirrelstar insists that RiverClan itself has to challenge their new leader first. Without any news from Duskfur, Icewing, or Mothwing, Frostpaw decides to spy on RiverClan, with Sunbeam and Nightheart joining her. At that moment, Sneezecloud and Gorseclaw arrive with Wasp, accusing ThunderClan of spying on them. Realizing that he cannot join RiverClan, Wasp decides to go back to the park. In RiverClan's camp, Splashtail yowls that they will kill Icewing, Duskfur, and Mothwing for betraying RiverClan. To their surprise, Berryheart, Sparrowtail, and Hollowspring are in RiverClan's camp, appearing healthier. Harelight, Splashtail's deputy, wonders if he is being too harsh on their former Clanmates. However, Splashtail kills Harelight, and he appoints Berryheart as his new deputy. Splashtail vows to lead RiverClan to greatness. Frostpaw realizes that they have to find Duskfur, Icewing, and Mothwing before they are killed.
==Publication history==
*Wind (EN), HarperCollins (hardcover), 2 April 2024
*Wind (EN), HarperCollins (e-book), 2 April 2024Revealed on HarperCollins.com
*Wind (EN), HarperCollins (audiobook), 2 April 2024
*Wind (DE), Beltz & Gelberg (hardcover, e-book), 20 February 2025, translated by Friederike LevinRevealed on beltz.de
*Wind (DE), Julius Beltz GmbH & Co. KG (audiobook), 20 February 2025, translated by Friederike Levin and narrated by Claudia GräfRevealed on kobo.com 
*Wind (EN), HarperCollins (paperback), 1 April 2025Revealed on barnesandnoble.com
*Unknown (TW), Morning Star (unknown), Summer 2025Revealed on an announcement by Morning Star 
==Gallery==
===English covers===
ASC-5.jpg|English Language EditionReleased in North America & United Kingdom
ASC-5-FC.png|English Language EditionTextless Cover
ASC-5-FLF.png|English Language EditionFront Flap
ASC-5-FLB.png|English Language EditionBack Flap
ASC-5-A.png|English Audiobook EditionReleased in North America & United Kingdom
===Foreign covers===
ASC-5-DE.jpg|German Language EditionReleased in Germany
ASC-5-DE-FC.jpg|German Language EditionTextless cover
ASC-5-DE-A.jpg|German AudiobookReleased in Germany
==Trivia==
===Interesting facts===
*The Story Team began brainstorming the plot for this book in early November 2022. 
**On June 12, 2023, Cherith mentioned that she had recently finished her draft of it.Revealed on an Instagram livestream 
===Mistakes===
:A compiled list of the errors present in Wind can be found here.
==External links==
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==Notes and references==
de:Wind (Buch)fi:Wind (kirja)fr:Windru:Ветерpl:Wiatr
Category:Books
Category:A Starless Clan arc
Category:Wind (book)