My next couples series article deals with Dawn of the Clans, my least favorite arc. Since I have failed in the past to complete a re-read of this arc, I struggled to remember the books and characters to talk about each one. The reason I dislike it so much is one of the reasons I struggled with picking cats for this article: this arc has too many couples and potential relationships. As a result, I talk about some unofficial couples under the official ones and put two couples under the same conversation when possible.
All of the following couples will consider the relationships in full. This article contains spoilers for any main book, Super Edition, or novella that contains content from the prequel, early/ancient settlers. Read at your own risk!
Gray Wing and Turtle Tail / Gray Wing and Slate
Rating: 6/10 and 5/10
The character with the first point of view of this arc, Gray Wing’s romantic journey through the books is convoluted and awkward. Early on, readers discover he might’ve had a crush on Bright Stream, his brother Clear Sky’s destined mate. Then he falls for Storm, who falls for… his brother, Clear Sky. While both are going on, Gray Wing’s close friend Turtle Tail has been in love with him the whole time. He’s completely oblivious and doesn’t realize how important she is to him until she leaves to be a kittypet. It’s only when Turtle Tail is back in the Clan swollen with kits from another cat that Gray Wing realizes he feels the same way. I was happy to see them become mates, but mostly because I love Turtle Tail’s character. I was glad to see her happy finally. Gray Wing was an excellent adoptive father for her kits, too, which was great to see, and the two worked well as a team. It was disappointing for her to be killed off, especially when I then believed it was for Gray Wing to finally be with his “real true love,” Slate, and have biological kits. At least Gray Wing finally gets the cat he was chasing after. I find his courtship with Slate nice too, not as rushed as all the other relationships that happen for Gray Wing’s kin. Slate’s slightly standoffish and feisty attitude compliments Gray Wing’s calm demeanor. As for the ratings, they’re pretty similar. I like Turtle Tail for Gray Wing more, so it’s a point higher. The circumstances of Gray Wing’s romances bring them down to an average since I’m more neutral on his character.
Turtle Tail and Tom
Rating: 0/10
Turtle Tail and Tom are the most straightforward couple on this list: I hate them. Tom’s character is an egotistical bully who abuses Turtle Tail after discovering she’s carrying his kits. When Turtle Tail flees back to the tribe cats on the moor, Tom begins to abuse Turtle Tail’s friend and fellow kittypet, Bumble, by scratching her legs and pushing her around. While Turtle Tail finds refuge in Tall Shadow/Wind Runner’s camp, Tom continues to be a threat in her and Gray Wing’s lives. In fact, Turtle Tail’s death can be blamed on Tom. When Tom leaves the Twolegs and comes looking for his kits, he eventually steals all three away from Turtle Tail. She attempts to retrieve them from Twolegplace, resulting in being killed by a Twoleg “monster,” or car. Readers only see Tom in this aggressive way and never see him and Turtle Tail in their relationship. There’s no doubt that he’s a manipulative abuser though. Despite how he eventually dies while defending his and Turtle Tail’s daughter Sparrow Fur from the villain One Eye, this doesn’t redeem his character as a father or his treatment of Turtle Tail.
Clear Sky and Bright Stream / Clear Sky and Storm
Rating: 2/10 and 1/10
The character with the most “successful” relationships is Clear Sky. He’s frankly an insufferable character who would’ve been a good villain if they didn’t continuously redeem his character only to make him bad and good over and over again. When we first meet him, he’s sweet and doting to Bright Stream, if a little egotistical. Readers don’t get much of their relationship, with her being killed off quickly in the first book of the arc. Gray Wing and Bright Stream clicked and worked together better, almost making more sense than her and Clear Sky. Her character was also only a plot device that caused Clear Sky to go off the deep end. For that alone, I rated them low. The same can be said for his second mate, Storm, though their relationship gets a smidge more time in the books than his former. Their “love at first sight” moment is more unrealistic than most relationships in Warriors, and his control over Storm is abhorrent. When Clear Sky suffocates her freedom and shows his true colors as an aggressive leader, Storm leaves him and his group. This forces her into the Twolegplace at a vulnerable time of kitting. When she dies, along with two of Clear Sky’s kits, he doesn’t appear to feel as much remorse. He disowns their only surviving son, Thunder, and continues mistreating him throughout the series. As a mate and a father, Clear Sky is terrible. Bright Stream and Storm deserved better. I would’ve given them both zero ratings, but I will admit there must’ve been love between these characters at some point.
Clear Sky/Skystar and Star Flower
Rating: 4.5/10
Did somebody put a spell on Clear Sky to make him irresistible or is he just that “good-looking”? The circumstances of Clear Sky and Star Flower are uncomfortable. While Star Flower became friends with his son first, intending to manipulate Thunder for her father’s evil plans, it doesn’t excuse the fact that Thunder and Star Flower might’ve began a relationship. When Clear Sky decides to give Star Flower a second chance after she’s betrayed the early settlers, their love blossoms. With Star Flower breaking Thunder’s heart earlier, he then witnesses his father falling in love with his crush. This calls some questions into the age gaps between both Thunder and Star Flower and Clear Sky and Star Flower, though an age is never stated for her character. Despite my dislike for Clear Sky, I will acknowledge that he and Star Flower complement each other. They’re both independent, feisty, and have troublesome histories. Clear Sky is desperate to get Star Flower back when she’s kidnapped by Slash and stops at nothing to enlist help from the other groups. Being with Star Flower also shows some growth on Clear Sky’s part, as he’s a much better mate and father to their kits than he ever was to his previous mates and kit. Their score is also helped by the fact that Star Flower is one of the most dynamic female characters of the Dawn of the Clans arc, with a compelling and well-rounded backstory and personality. They might’ve been at a solid five if I didn’t dislike Clear Sky and the start of their relationship so much.
Jagged Peak and Holly
Rating: 9/10
The mistreatment of Jagged Peak through at least half, if not more, of this arc is smoothed over by Holly’s never-ending support for her mate. It doesn’t excuse all of the times Jagged Peak was put down, but it was a huge relief to see him fall for someone who believed him fully capable of anything he wanted to do. It was heartbreaking that an accident and lack of treatment led to Jagged Peak being exiled by his brother, Clear Sky, who he looked up to. Before meeting Holly, Jagged Peak unknowingly contributed greatly to Tall Shadow’s group by watching over kits. Yet, it’s when Holly teaches Jagged Peak to overcome his disability and fight as he is that he feels a sense of belonging again. When Holly becomes gravely ill while expecting their kits, Jagged Peak is a courageous and doting mate, going to all lengths to find the cure. With the birth of their kits, Storm Pelt, Eagle Feather, and Dew Nose, Jagged Peak and Holly begin life as parents. Holly always defends Jagged Peak against the “useless” claims against him and even defends him against his mother, who complains that their kits are ill-behaved. Their love for each other is strong and in general, they’re just wholesome. Their character growth separate and together means a high rating for this couple.
Thunder/Thunderstar and Violet Dawn
Rating: 5/10
After Thunder’s unsuccessful relationship with Star Flower, he finds love with Violet Dawn. Thunder is, unfortunately, cringey when it comes to her as well, falling for her at first sight as he seemed to do with Star Flower. As a couple, I don’t have much to say about them, especially as they’re in the latter half of the arc that I haven’t reread in several years. It was a relief to have a cat that likes Thunder back, especially with the quick mutual affection between them. I also found Violet, later Violet Dawn, to be a strong character as she tries to hold together the remnants of Slash’s group. I loved seeing her stand up to Slash too, in any way she could. Thunder as a character I don’t have much of an opinion on. Honestly, I would rather Thunderstar be with his best friend Lightning Tail because their chemistry and love for each other seemed beyond friendship, but I digress. Readers even get some extra content through Thunderstar’s Echo. There’s a lot of focus on Violet Dawn expecting kits, but there’s as much emphasis on Thunderstar and Lightning Tail’s relationship. I don’t find much remarkable about these two. To be fair in my rating, I put them at the average.
Wind Runner/Windstar and Gorse Fur/Gorsestar
Rating: 9/10
Wind Runner and Gorse Fur are the definition of “I support my wife in everything she does.” They’re a nearly perfect couple who help each other through Dawn of the Clans at every moment. It’s rare in Warriors to show an already-established couple and keep them consistent through the arc, but that’s exactly what happens with them. Wind Runner’s strength and leadership qualities are perfectly matched with her mate’s sensibility and intelligence. Readers also get some backstory into this relationship, with Wind being initially wary of Gorse when they first meet. She lets her guard down and becomes friends with Gorse, surviving together on the moor until they later become mates. As part of Tall Shadow’s group, Wind Runner and Gorse Fur grieve the deaths of their two kits. After that and the Great Battle, they require space away from the tribe cats and move to another spot on the moor to support each other as they have since their youth. When picking a deputy for WindClan, Windstar easily named Gorse Fur her second-in-command. Together, they’re great, and as separate characters, they’re mostly without flaws. However, Wind Runner’s treatment of their daughter Moth Flight was not great at first in Moth Flight’s Vision. She had no patience for her daughter, despite the signs that Moth Flight was special. She later comes around to the idea of medicine cats though, especially when she becomes the first leader to receive nine lives and the -star at the end of their name. That consideration and the fact that they’re a background couple led me to give them a nine out of ten.
Leaf and Milkweed
Rating: 8/10
Though these two technically aren’t revealed to be mates until the Super Edition Moth Flight’s Vision, it was obvious during DotC that they were destined to be a couple. When the groups finally split into a tentative five, caused by Thunder’s leave from Clear Sky’s group in the forest, this romance begins. At first, Leaf’s aggressive and grumpy attitude lashes out at Milkweed and her two kits, Clover and Thistle. He scowls at them for taking resources but not contributing, despite Milkweed wanting to. Later, in Thunder’s camp, her quick defense of herself and her kits impresses Leaf. She also scorns him for being selfish, which is a perfect reality check for him. It was endearing to see this generally unlikable character’s turn-around for Milkweed. Quickly after she tells him what’s-what, Leaf is seen bringing her a squirrel to eat. These small background moments were something I found pleasant about DotC, especially in the midst of all the terrible things happening around them. Later, as a mate and father, Leaf is also excellent. Milkweed was always a great mother and I was happy to see how she and Leaf would go on to have two litters. This softer enemies-to-lovers couple is one of the only in the series. They balance and hold each other accountable. For a background couple, I happily gave them a higher-than-usual score.
Check out my other articles for this series:
“Rating Canon Warriors Couples – The Prophecies Begin”
“Rating Canon Warriors Couples – The New Prophecy”
“Rating Canon Warriors Couples – Power of Three”
“Rating Canon Warriors Couples – Omen of the Stars”
