Dawnstar/History

***Spoiler warning:** Plot and/or ending details follow.*
This page contains the detailed history for Dawnstar

*Looking for a shorter overview? Find one here!*

#### *Flowerstar's Judgement*

In the prologue at the start of the book, Poppyfur and Honeywing appear in Flowerstar's dream, where they show Flowerstar that the dawn is casting shadows on the flowers. Flowerstar realizes that her time has come for her to join StarClan, and allow Dawnfire to lead the clan. Flowerstar suddenly wakes with a jolt, and can see smoke in her den, and she hopes that Dawnfire doesn't come in. She does though. Flowerstar tries to tell Dawnfire to save herself from the fire, but she can't speak. Dawnfire attempts to drag Flowerstar out of her den. Flowerstar feels sorrow for Dawnfire, since she's lost so much. Dawnfire's brother, Turtleblaze, tells them to hurry, and Flowerstar can tell that Dawnfire is struggling to pull Flowerstar along. Dawnfire starts coughing, and Flowerstar tells Dawnfire that Dawnfire must leave Flowerstar. She protests, and tries to keep dragging Flowerstar.

Flowerstar then tells Dawnfire she must leave Flowerstar, and that she will make a great leader.

In the epilogue, Dawnkit is born to Windflight and Blazeheart along with Turtlekit and Willowkit. Poppyfur tells Flowerstar that she believes Dawnkit is the subject of a prophecy. Later, when Willowkit dies, Poppyfur tells Flowerstar that she fears she damaged Dawnkit mentally by making her watch Willowkit die, they then make a promise to make sure to guide Dawnkit to her destiny.

#### *Dawnstar's Trouble*

In the prologue Poppyfur helps Windflight to have her three kits, Turtleblaze Turtlekit, Willowkit and Dawnkit (though unnamed at first). When she returns from the Moonstone she hears that Windflight has named her three kits, one of them being Dawnkit and that she heard her name in a dream. Poppyfur recalls the prophecy given to her by Honeywing  *When the forest is in danger, a new dawn will be brighter than the sun*and realizes that Dawnkit is the subject of the prophecy, wondering what Dawnkit's destiny would bring

Dawnkit wakes up at dawn, watching the patrol before her siblings wake up and they are sent into camp by Windflight. While in camp they first explore the warriors den and soon Willowkit wants to go to the leader's den. Dawnkit backs out and instead goes to meet Hawktalon and Nightwing . The next day while they are playing, Dawnkit dares Willowkit to eat berries which turn out to be deathberries and she dies.

Several moons after Willowkit's death and Dawnkit is still incredibly upset and guilty over it. However, with the help of her mother and brother she pushes through and becomes an apprentice with Sunstream as her mentor. Her first day of training goes well as she collects moss and Sunstream tells her about Honeywing. She meets with the other apprentics who welcome her and Dawnpaw starts getting a slightly more posotive outlook on life.

A moon after becoming an apprentice, Dawnpaw is struggling to hunt but Sunstream keeps helping her out. After returning to camp and talking with the other apprentices, an eagle is spotted above SunClan territory. Pebblekit is unable to get out of the way in time and is picked up. Dawnpaw attacks the eagle, getting injured but getting it to drop both her and Pebblekit. She is rushed to the medicine cat den where Poppyfur cares for both cats.

Dawnpaw wakes up in the medicine cat den where Poppyfur explains that her shoulder was badly injured and so is Pebblekit. Turtlepaw visits and expresses his frustration at Dawnpaw being so reckless and that he is scared to lose her like he lost Willowkit. Poppyfur says that Pebblekit may lose her sense of smell, but Dovetail thanks Dawnpaw for giving her a chance to live.

A moon later and Poppyfur clears Dawnpaw to attend the gathering. Once at the gathering Dawnpaw meets MoonClan apprentice, Swiftpaw and AshClan apprentice, Silverpaw who she befriends quickly. She also encounters AshClan deputy, Echoheart

Another moon later and AshClan attacks SunClan, which results in the death of Sunstream, upsetting Dawnpaw greatly. Thornpelt was made to be her new mentor In the meantime, Cinderpaw, Yarrowpaw and Pebblepaw are al made apprentices, with Pebblepaw being the medicine cat apprentice. . After another gathering, the dawn patrol encounters a fox and in an attempt to drive it out, Tigertail dies and Snakewhisker is named the new deputy

Rain continues to fall heavily in the forest, annoying the cats of SunClan. When Dawnpaw comes back from hunting she sees Fawnpaw being punished for being careless by not being allowed to become an warrior and instead only Adderpaw is made into a warrior. Thornpelt sends the apprentices to Jagged Rocks to get herbs for Poppyfur but the group are ambushed by AshClan warriors and attacked until Thornpelt and another patrol comes in to save them and drive away the AshClan cats, Dawnpaw's old shoulder wound had been opened again and she and several other apprentices were injured as well.

A few days later, Flowerstar tells Dawnpaw, Turtlepaw, Lionpaw and Goldenpaw are going to the moonstone. During the journey Dawnpaw nearly falls in the river, which she thinks is Thornpelt's fault, but she makes it across and to the moonstone. Flowerstar choses Dawnpaw to go with her into the Spirit Tree where Dawnpaw dreams and is visted by Honeywing. When Flowerstar finsihes, she wakes Dawnpaw up and the two leave the Spirit Tree and the group of cats begin to head home.

The next moon, Turtlepaw and Dawnpaw are used to help in Goldenpaw's and Lionpaw's warrior assesment. Dawnpaw and Lionpaw have a very sucsessful hunt and while she waits for him to finish his solo hunt, she thinks about how excited she is for him. Lionpaw and Goldenpaw pass their assesment and earn their warriors name along with Fawnpaw. She is very proud of Lionclaw, but knows she will miss sleeping with him in the apprentice's den.

Dawnpaw has a nightmare of where she sees Willowkit, Sunstream and Tigertail drowning. In her attempts to help them, she finds Thornpelt who then causes her to drown. She wakes up, feeling incredibly uneasy with her mentor and starting to question him. She runs into Flowerstar who asks if she's alright and says it's common for thunderstorms to bring bad dreams. Before heading to the gathering, Dawnpaw overhears Poppyfur telling Dovetail to take it easy since she's moving back into the nursery. When SunClan returns from the gathering, they are shocked to find that the apprentice den has been flooded. They move to an old den outside the camp and while she struggles to sleep, Dawnpaw begins questioning everything that Thornpelt has done before falling asleep.

A moon later, Dawnpaw is training intensely with Thornpelt when she accidently injures him, but he praises her for fighting with spirit. When they return, Dovetail begins having her ktis but it is entirely too early. Poppyfur is out of camp and Dawnpaw joins Pebblepaw in attempts to help. Poppyfur returns but tells Dawnpaw to stay and help. Three kits are born but two of them, along with Dovetail die; leaving only one alive. Dovetail says that she wants Dawnpaw to mentor the living kit before she dies. When Dovetail dies, Dawnpaw runs out and has a panic attack in camp until Poppyfur takes her back to her den and says that she blames herself for Dawnpaw's panic attacks due to her sister's death.

Thornpelt tells Dawnpaw to go out hunting, but to stay away from the AshClan border. She listens to his advice until she is unable to find enough prey and ventures to the AshClan border. There she spots Echoheart and Thornpelt talking about Thornpelt becoming deputy. Dawnpaw however, makes a noise and stops the conversation. She runs away before they notice and encounters Thornpelt afterwards, both of the know that Dawnpaw saw the conversation but neither say anything. Back in camp, Dawnpaw shares prey with Lionclaw but notices that Thornpelt is talking with Snakewhisker. Snakewhisker then goes to Flowerstar's den and steps down from his postion as deputy and Blazeheart is made deputy in his place.

Two moons later Dawnpaw is arguing with Thornpelt about becoming a warrior. She catches prey after he leaves her there and returns only to argue with him some more before going to sleep. While talking with Lionclaw they see Thornpelt going directly to Flowerstar's den after returning from patrol. Flowerstar shares his news of a small badger on SunClan territory. Thornpelt says that if they send Turtlepaw and Dawnpaw it could be their warrior assesment. The patrol is led by Blazeheart but also has Windflight and Lionclaw. They leave and find that it is a much larger badger than they originaly thought. Blazeheart is fatally wounded and Windflight is thrown against a rock, breaking her spine and both die. Leaving Dawnpaw in a panic. Lionclaw, Turtlepaw and Dawnpaw return to camp where they share the news and Dawnpaw vows to never lose Turtlepaw.

Two days pass with Snakewhisker as the stand-in deputy for SunClan while they grieve the death of Windflight and Blazeheart. Dawnpaw is incredibly depressed over the loss of her parents. She thinks herself being sellfish for wanting her parents here with her and Turtlepaw instead of in StarClan with Willowkit. Thornpelt asks her to talk, he apologizes for the death of her parents bu Dawnpaw accuses him of causing their deaths. Thornpelt replies with saying that he has never killed a single cat before, only other things have. Thornpelt also tells her that she will be made a warrior along with Turtlepaw. After a conversation with her brother they both agree it is the right thing to do and the two are made warriors and much to Dawnfire's fear, Thornpelt is made deputy.

Dawnfire is out on a patrol in the middle of leafbare when the cats notice that Icepetal has a cough. Upon returning to camp, she sees that Cloudkit is in Poppyfur's den and is scared that he's sick. She goes in and convinces Cloudkit to take herbs before sending him back to Willownose. While in the medicine cat den, Poppyfur tells Dawnfire of the prophecy which she denies and storms off, telling Poppyfur that Icepetal had a cough. Lionclaw finds her upset and the two go out into the forest for a run. She enjoys her time with Lionclaw, forgetting about all of her problems and just walking with him.

More and more cats start getting sick in SunClan the Clan starts to worry because they have no catmint to spare. On a patrol, Goldenleaf tells Dawnfire how cute it is that she and her brother are so close. Dawnfire then talks to Turtleblaze about it who accepts it despite his feelings toward Lionclaw. On the patrol they run into an AshClan patrol who attack them in demands for catming, but SunClan chases them out but Dawnfire is nearly knocked out. Back in camp, Dawnfire is suprised to find herself in the medicine cat den but Lionclaw tells her that Icepetal has greencough.

Sickness is taking over the Clan, but Cinderpaw and Yarrowpaw are mad warriors. Flowerstar is shown to be incredibly sick as well and the cats with greencough are moved to her den, scaring the cats of SunClan. During the night, Pebblepaw comes to Dawnfire saying she dreamed of catmint. The two journey to the twolegplace and return with plenty of catmint, but are too late to save Flowerstar from losing a life, but no other cats die.

Leaf-bare is over and the forest is recovering. Dawnfire have a dream where she meets Feathernose who shares with her a vision; telling her that she is destined to be leader and even Willowkit's happened for a reason. Dawnfire later decides to finally share her fears about Thornpelt with Flowerstar, however Flowerstar rejects her and yells at her, sending her away. Three days later, a patrol goes to MoonClan but later MoonClan attacks, saying SunClan stole prey. Thornpelt kills MoonClan deputy Tawnytail and they retreat.

After playing with Cloudkit Lionclaw tells Dawnfire she would be a great mother which just flusters her. Flowerstar calls Dawnfire into her den and says that she wants her to be Cloudkit's mentor. Dawnfire agrees and the ceremony is held. She takes him around the territory and knows he will make a great warrior.

Applespots is announced to be having Thornpelt's kits, but Dawnfire is incredibly uneasy about it; however she is excited for new kits. Lionclaw is boasting and Turtleblaze comes up anc challenges him. They have a contest in the forest in which Lionclaw refuses to admit defeat and sends Turtleblaze off in a huff, Lionclaw apologizes and promises to make it up to Turtleblaze.

While hunting, Cloudpaw nearly runs into Echoheart over the AshClan border but Dawnfire stops him. She threatens Dawnfire and says that there is a cat in her own territory who could hurt her. Dawnfire ignores her and takes Cloudpaw back to camp. Dawnfire helps out Pebblestep and Poppyfur by going to get herbs but is nearly attacked by Thornpelt but makes it away.

Briarkit, Cherrykit and Thrushkit are born and Squirreltail is expecting kits and Dawnfire takes Cloudpaw out hunting but is terrified that Thornpelt would attack her again. Later, Dawnfire is approached by Turtleblaze who tells her that Fawnheart is expecting his kits. She's incredibly excited to have a niece and nephew despite her feelings for Fawnheart.

Two moons later and Earthkit and Mudkit are born to Fawnheart. At the gathering, SunClan announces their new kits but Thornpelt urges the Clan to return to camp incredibly early. When they get there, they find that AshClan has attacked. Dawnfire fights for a while until she notices that Flowerstar is missing. She finds Thornpelt attack her and goes in to save her leader. Lionclaw shows up to help and Flowerstar loses a life. When she recovers, she takes Thornpelt back to camp and exiles him. She makes Cloudpaw a warrior and Dawnfire is named deputy.

Dawnfire is struggling with her new role, but she goes for a walk with Lionclaw who assures her that she is doing just fine. They stay out in the forest during the night where Lionclaw says that he loves her and Dawnfire realises that she loves him too. Sometime later, Poppyfur talks to Dawnfire and tells her that she's an idiot for taking a mate. Dawnfire lashes out, insuting Poppyfur and running out. She instantly feels guilty and talks to Flowerstar who tells her about the truth behind Honeywing's death. Dawnfire feels incredibly guilty but when she goes to apologize to Poppyfur, the medicine cat is found dead due to an adder bite. Dawnfire blames herself for the death of Poppyfur.

A few days later, the Clan along with Dawnfire are recovering over the death of Poppyfur. At the gathering, they find that Thornpelt has taken over AshClan and is now leading them; despite what SunClan says about him. Two moons later, and Dawnfire apologizes for pulling away from Lionclaw after Poppyfur's death and he accepts it. They return to camp to find Applespots in a panic that her kits are missing. They track them to the AshClan border. Flowerstar challenges Thornstar to battle for the ktis and he agrees.

During the fight, Dawnfire fights Echoheart who mentions that Dawnfire will lose one more loved one. She thinks Turtleblaze at first but realizes that it's Lionclaw and finds him almost dead from a wound. Flowerstar calls SunClan away and they retreat. In camp, Pebblestep manages to stop the bleeding but says she can gaurentee he will survive. Pebblestep also notices that Dawnfire has gotten bigger and tells her that she's expecting kits. Dawnfire goes to Lionclaw, urging him to wake up so he can see their beautiful kits. The next day, Lionclaw wakes up and is delighted to hear the news of his kits.

Now in the nursery, but still acting as deputy Dawnfire is excited for her kits. However, Cinderflame and Yarrowtail find their father talking with Thornstar on SunClan territory. Rockfur refuses to prove his loyalty and is exiled from SunClan, leaving the kits in shock.

Another moon later, Dawnfire gives birth to Honeykit and Falconkit and both she and Lionclaw are incredibly happy. She talks to Honeywing, who gave her the idea to name her daughter Honeykit. At a half-moon old, Honeykit and Falconkit are playing but SunClan is shocked when AshClan warriors arrive. They claim to have run away from AshClan due to Thornstar's rule. SunClan welcomes them and Dawnfire introduces Silvermoon to her kits.

While walking with Silvermoon, they run into Snakewhisker and Earthpaw during a storm and lightning strikes the forest, causing a fire. As SunClan panics to get out of camp, Squirreltail and Mudpaw are injured and Flowerstar dies with Dawnfire staying at her side until the end. SunClan retreats to a makeshift camp by the river and are aided by MoonClan.

The next day, Pebblestep tells Dawnfire its time to go to the moonstone for her nine lives. She does and is named Dawnstar, chosing Sandfoot as her deputy. The Clan moves back into their camp and she moves into her new den with Falconkit and Honeykit.

As leader, Dawnstar decides to sneak back into AshClan territory and take Applespots's kits back. With the help of Cinderflame and Yarrowtail they do just that, but Thrushpaw decides to stay with his father. They run out of AshClan territory with Cherrypaw and Briarpaw who are welcomed warmely back into SunClan.

Dawnstar is visited by Falconclaw who threatens to take control over her son, Dawnstar defends Falconkit and her nightmare ends. Later, at the gathering Thornstar suggests that the Clans should band together but is rejected by all three leaders. Thornstar then says any cat who doesn't join him will have to fight. Dawnstar returns to SunClan and enlists every cat to help train and stand against Thornstar. Shadowstar asks for help and says that all three Clans will stand against Thornstar who will have an army of rogues.

Dawnstar faces against  Thornstar and a battle rages in the gathering hollow. Dawnstar witnesses the death of Thrushclaw, Rockfur and several others. She is determined to find Thornstar and kill him, ending his reign. With the help of Cinderflame and Yarrowtail she finds Thornstar and fights him. After losing a life and learning that Thornstar never received his nine lifes, she kills him and ends the battle

When she returns to MoonClan camp to get her kits, she finds the dead body of Hawktalon who died defending the kits. After two days, the Clans meet to talk about the battle and honor the fallen. She names Cherrypaw, Briarpaw and Rosepaw all warriors and after Sandfoot decides to retire, she names Cinderflame her new deputy. Dawnfire looks up to the sky, wondering what the future will hold.

### In the A New Horizon Arc

#### *Sun Awakening*

In the prologue, Honeywing, Poppyfur and Flowerstar talk about how Falconclaw visited Dawnstar when Falconkit was incredibly young. Poppyfur also reminds Honeywing and Moonwhisker to not interefere with Honeykit's and Falconkit's destiny, that they need to let them find their own paths as they did for Dawnstar.
Dawnstar interupts Falconkit as loses his temper at Mudpaw. When Falconkit explains his adventures out of camp and his encounter with the adder, Dawnstar tells him that he shouldn't have left camp and then questiosn Honeykit, asking if she left camp as well. Dawnstar then sends Honeykit off with Pebblestep and talks with Falconkit alone. Dawnstar scolds Falconkit on his choice to leave camp, then tells him that he is her entire world and tells him the story of Willowkit. Finally, Dawnstar sends Falconkit back to the nursery with Honeykit.
When AshClan invades, Dawnstar tells Mudpaw and Redclaw to take the elders, queens and kits to the moss hollow but Pebblestep tells her to let Honeykit stay with her. Dawnstar resists, but eventually agrees to the medicine cat's request. When Riverstar explains her reason behind the attack, Dawnstar tells her that she should've made her point at a gathering instead of risking the lives of both SunClan and AshClan cats.
After the battle, Falconkit is sent to Dawnstar's den after his attempted fight who threatens to postpone his apprenticeship. After some pleading, Dawnstar agrees to not hold him back from becoming an apprentice. When the time comes for Falconkit's and Honeykit's apprentice ceremonies, Dawnstar holds the ceremony and names both her kits as apprentices. Later, Dawnstar goes to Honeypaw and explains to her that Pebblestep wanted Honeypaw to find borage and to give it to Goldenleaf. Dawnstar then asks Honeypaw how her Moonstone trip went the night before. Later that day, when Snakewhisker breaks his leg, Pebblestep explains that she will tell Dawnstar to assign a new mentor to Earthpaw. Later, when Honeypaw is talking to Snakewhisker about her fight with Falconpaw, she tells him she doesn't plan on telling Dawnstar.

Before the gathering, Honeypaw and Pebblestep approach Dawnstar and Dawnstar asks Honeypaw if she's excited for the gathering. Dawnstar leads her Clan to the gathering and says she won't challenge Riverstar or AshClan about their recent behaviors When the gathering begins, Dawnstar announces the apprenticeship of Honeypaw and Falconpaw as well as the birth of Hollykit and Burnkit. Riverstar then challenges SunClan, saying that SunClan has too much hold over AshClan, Dawnstar questions her and Riverstar continues to say that SunClan cats are full of themselves. An argument breaks out between Dawnstar and Riverstar when Riverstar says that SunClan cats don't respect borders. Dawnstar tells her to stop yelling before she breaks the truce.

Dawnstar tells Riverstar that if AshClan attacks then SunClan will defend, and any blood that is spilled will be on Riverstar's paws. She then ends the gathering and takes SunClan home. Once out of the gathering hollow, Dawnstar orders her Clan to prepare for a possible battle and to make the borders stronger.

When AshClan attacks Rainears's patrol, Dawnstar shows up later with the rest of the Clan, ordering them to attack. When Dawnstar sees Falconpaw covered in blood, she asks if he's okay. After Bramblepelt is taken away from the battle, Falconpaw sees Dawnstar towering over Ashblaze. She tells the AshClan deputy to tell Riverstar that she is a coward because she failed to show up to the battle and AshClan retreats.

After the battle, Dawnstar tells her Clan that even though the battle was hard, SunClan came out victorious. She continues to tell SunClan how proud of them she is.

After Honeypaw runs out of camp due to Bramblepelt's death, Dawnstar follows her and talks to her. Honeypaw tells Dawnstar that she is a failure, but Dawnstar assures her that she isn't and that death is a natural part of Clan life. She continues to tell the story of Dovetail dying under Pebblestep's care and asks Honeypaw if she though Dovetail's death was Pebblestep's fault. Honeypaw realizes her point but asks how she will be able to be a medicine cat if death bothers her so much. Dawnstar tells her that death will always be hard, no matter what.

Honeypaw then tells Dawnstar about her fight with Falconpaw and that Falconpaw said he thought medicine cats were useless. Dawnstar says she will talk to Falconpaw about what he said, and continues to tell Honeypaw how proud of her that she is. The two of them then return to camp to send Bramblepelt off.

After Bramblepelt's vigil, Dawnstar finds Falconpaw and tells him that they need to talk in her den. Dawnstar tells him that Honeypaw told her about their fight, and tells him that she doesn't know how such an idiotic thought crossed his mind. She informs Falconpaw that Honeypaw is blaming herself for the death of Bramblepelt because of what he said. Dawnstar threatens to stop Falconpaw from becoming a warrior if he fails to learn to the importance of his fellow Clanmates. Falconpaw promises to apologize, and Dawnstar sends him away.

Later, SunClan discovers that AshClan has been pushing the borders father and father into SunClan territory. Dawnstar tells the Clan that she will be taking a patrol into AshClan camp to talk to Riverstar about her actions. Dawnstar gathers the patrol and they head out for AshClan camp. The patrol meets Stormheart leading an AshClan patrol. Dawnstar promises that they come in peace, and are eventually guided to AshClan territory.

Once in AshClan camp, Dawnstar tells Riverstar if she doesn't stop pushing the borders then unnecessary blood will be spilled. She then tells AshClan that their battle killed Bramblepelt. Dawnstar accuses Riverstar of being a tyrannical leader and Riverstar tells SunClan to leave.

### In the Novellas

#### *Squirreltail's Darkness*

*Coming soon*

*End of spoiler warning*