| “ | You never understood. I'm not greedy. I'm just strong. | „ |
| ~ Clear Sky after killing Rainswept Flower. |
| “ | If Clear Sky catches you with one of his cats, who knows what he'll do? I've known him a long time. He's capable of more cruelty than you can imagine. | „ |
| ~ Wind Runner warning Moth Flight about Clear Sky. |
Skystar, formerly known as Clear Sky, is one of the overarching protagonists of the Warriors book franchise by Erin Hunter.
He is the founder of SkyClan, and father to Thunderstar and brother to Gray Wing. While initially cold and overprotective, he does so out of fear of losing those he loves. He eventually would come to redeem himself, reconciling with his kin and gaining his nine lives and becoming the first leader of SkyClan.
Appearance[]
Skystar is a thick-furred, broad-shouldered, long-legged, light gray tom with pale ice-blue eyes, large paws, a torn ear, tufted ears, and a long tail.
Personality[]
As a Tribe cat in the mountains, Clear Sky is a brave, selfless and caring cat. When his sister Fluttering Bird is starving to death, he tries to give share some food with her in vain. As he journeys down the mountains with his brother and mate, he is also noted to be very headstrong and a potential good leader.
But after his mate Bright Stream and their unborn kits die after being snatched away by an eagle on their journey to the forest territories, he becomes a controlling, overprotective and hateful cat. He believes that he is always right and never acknowledges any of his own faults, even when other cats try to call him out.
Clear Sky is very aggressive and territorial, much to the disturbance of other Clan/group leaders. While he initially allowed outsiders to join his group, much like Tigerstar, he began to hate outsiders after becoming more and more defensive and fearful, and is willing to kill any of them on sight if they trespass his territory. However, also like Tigerstar, he is willing to allow the rogue One Eye into his camp in order to ‘help’ SkyClan (and himself) and even becomes mates with the rogue’s daughter: Star Flower.
Similar to Darktail, Clear Sky is an extreme social Darwinist, and exiles anyone who is too weak to stay in his camp, including his brother Jagged Peak after he injures his leg due to falling from a tree. He exiles his brother out of fear that his cats will consider him weak if he makes exceptions to his kin. After his new mate Storm and two of their kits die in a collapsed Twoleg building, he disowns his remaining kit (who his brother Gray Wing saved) Thunder.
However, Clear Sky, despite his coldness, is also very insecure and paranoid. His greatest fears are being unable to protect his loved ones, hence why he disowns Thunder so Gray Wing can take care of him instead. He, despite mostly being not there for his mates and kits, is very protective of them, sometimes even regretting when he isn’t there in their time of need. He later expresses remorse over his actions and reconciles with his son Thunder. Clear Sky would go on to become the first leader of the new SkyClan and receive his nine lives and leader name — Skystar. His redemption would eventually allow him to ascend to StarClan after his death, and SkyClan becoming a prospering and good-hearted Clan, cleared of its bad name.
Biography[]
Dawn of The Clans[]
Clear Sky is born to Quiet Rain and an unnamed tom in the mountains where the Ancient Tribe lives, alongside his brother/littermate Gray Wing. Quiet Rain would then have another litter; Fluttering Bird and Jagged Peak, the former which would die due to starvation and overcrowding in the mountains. Due to this, Half Moon, the Stoneteller. suggests that some cats move down to the forest and establish new territories there. Clear Sky, his brothers, and new mate Bright Stream head down the mountains to find a new home. But Bright Stream, now pregnant with Clear Sky’s kits, gets carried off and killed by an eagle. This would mark the beginning of his turn to evil.
When the group finally reaches their new home, Clear Sky leads a group to live in the forest. He also meets others who are in charge of their own groups in the forest: Tall Shadow, Wind Runner and River Ripple. At first, Clear Sky welcomes free passage to and from his group, but quickly grows obsessed with protecting his territory, and he and his cats attack anyone caught trespassing. He allows rogues to join his group, and turns away those too weak to fend for themselves, including his younger brother, Jagged Peak. This behavior only increases after the death of his second mate Storm and two of their kits. Fueled and blinded by his fear of failing to protect those he loves, he turns away his only surviving kit, Thunder, for Gray Wing to raise with the moor cats (Tall Shadow’s group).
Despite being raised on the moor, Thunder's heart longs for the forest as he grows up. One day, Clear Sky arrives at Gray Wing's camp and asks Thunder if he wants to join his real father's camp, Thunder is a bit hesitant at first, but after questioning Clear Sky, he leaves Gray Wing's camp to be with his father.
Clear Sky’s defensiveness and hostility is brought into concern by other cats, who hold a Gathering (the first Gathering in Clan history). Conflict between him and his former Tribemates arrives to a deadly battle at Fourtrees, resulting in Clear Sky killing one of his former Tribemates, Rainswept Flower, and almost killing Gray Wing but stops as he can’t bring himself to kill his own brother . The battle ends when mysterious spirit cats of their fallen friends appear. Storm (now a spirit) opens Clear Sky's eyes to his fear which misguided his actions, and Clear Sky blames himself.
One moon later at another Gathering, the spirit cats give the cats an omen about the Blazing Star, and that to survive, the cats must split up into five groups (just like the petals of the plant itself). Clear Sky allows One Eye to join his group, believing he could help him find the Blazing Star the spirit cats spoke of. However, One Eye tricks Clear Sky, banishing him from the camp after commandeering the group. Clear Sky helps the other groups defeat One Eye and his rogues. After allowing Star Flower, One Eye's daughter, to join his group, Thunder warns his father about her sinister intentions. He ignores his son, and becomes smitten with Star Flower, believing he has finally found a worthy mate. Finally tired of his father's refusal to listen to him, Thunder leaves and makes his own camp in the forest, which would later become ThunderClan.
Quiet Rain, Clear Sky's mother, manages to find her sons in their new home. On her deathbed, the brothers visit their mother and after learning about the Great Battle, Quiet Rain disowns Clear Sky, furious that the son she raised would murder a Tribemate, but later forgives him after being talked to by Shaded Moss. Star Flower (now pregnant with his kits) is kidnapped by Slash, a former associate of One Eye, and Clear Sky enlists the help of the other groups to rescue his pregnant mate. Gray Wing rescues Star Flower, and she gives birth to Dew Petal, Flower Foot, and Tiny Branch. After Star Flower gives birth to Clear Sky's kits, Thunder visits them.
At first, he is envious of his father's visible adoration for his new kits, but he is ultimately pleased the kits would grow up with loving parents. Father and son begin to reconcile. Thunder and Lightning Tail then rescue Slash's prisoners, and Thunder is immediately awestruck by Violet. When Slash steals Black Ear, one of Gray Wing's kits, Clear Sky rushes across a Thunderpath to save the kit from being hit by a monster. After reuniting the kit with his father, Gray Wing, who is dying, suggests renaming the groups as Clans. He names Clear Sky's group SkyClan after their leader's gaze that was always fixed on the horizon.
Moth Flight’s Vision[]
Tensions between WindClan and SkyClan flare when Willow Tail accuses SkyClan of stealing prey. In the midst of this during a Gathering, Moth Flight announces Micah, a former rogue, shall be SkyClan's medicine cat. After some motivation from StarClan, Clear Sky begrudgingly allows Micah to join the Clan to heal his son Tiny Branch. Later, Tiny Branch dies from his wounds despite Moth Flight's best attempts. Clear Sky blames Wind Runner and the two Clans fight before it is revealed Willow Tail lied about stealing prey. He eventually goes to the Moonstone and receives his nine lives, earning the name Skystar. He personally adopts Honey Pelt, one of Micah and Moth Flight's kits, and raises him as one of his own.
Riverstar’s Home[]
Heavy rain causes a tree to collapse, inadvertently creating a bridge between SkyClan and RiverClan. Skystar uses this as an excuse to trespass and later invade RiverClan, under the pretense that this is a sign from StarClan that he is Clan should invade. Riverstar brings up his concerns to the other Clan leaders, but all refuse to engage, forcing Riverstar to bring his Clan back together and drive out Skystar himself.
The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition[]
The Clans are at another gathering, including Skystar and one of Thunderstar’s kits with Violet Dawn: Feather Ear (presumably now an apprentice). There, a dog comes out of nowhere and charges at the young cat, but Skystar sacrifices his final life to save her. He then ascends to StarClan.
Legacy[]
After his death, Skystar would continue to watch over the living cats, especially his own Clan. He would be the one who suggests to the other StarClan cats that SkyClan now has to leave the gorge to reunite the other Clans.
Relationships[]
Family[]
- Quiet Rain (mother)
- Fluttering Bird (sister)
- Gray Wing (brother)
- Jagged Peak (brother)
- Star Flower (mate)
- Bright Stream (former mate)
- Storm (former mate)
- Flower Foot (daughter)
- Dew Petal (daughter)
- Thunderstar (son)
- Tiny Branch (son)
- Tiger Tail (child)
- Pale Sky (child)
- Rumble (child)
- Lightning (child)
- Honey Pelt (adopted son)
Quotes[]
| “ | Clear Sky: I'm sorry Jagged Peak is hurt, but the good of the group is what's important. Every cat has to contribute, or none of us will survive. I gave Jagged Peak time to recover, but it doesn't look like he'll ever be able to hunt again. Gray Wing: But he's family! Clear Sky: That's exactly why I had to be tough on him. The other cats won't trust me if they think I'll make exceptions to the rules for my own kin. |
„ |
| ~ Clear Sky casting Jagged Peak out of the group |
| “ | Clear Sky: What do you want? Gray Wing: This kit is your son. Clear Sky: Where's Storm? Gray Wing: Storm is dead. She spoke to me before she died. She asked me to tell you she was sorry. Clear Sky: I can't believe this... Not Storm... not such a dreadful death. Take him away. There's no place for him here. Gray Wing: What? He's your son! Clear Sky: I can't raise him. It's my fault his mother died. If I'd stopped Storm from leaving, she would still be alive. What kind of life can I give her kit? How can I raise a kit? I have too much to do here, protecting these cats. Gray Wing: You have cats who will help you! Thunder needs you. Clear Sky: No. What he needs is a father who can take care of him - who doesn't bring bad luck to every cat he cares about. Gray Wing: This truly is the end of our brotherhood. I can't recognize you anymore as the beloved littermate I grew up with and traveled here with. Clear Sky: If you can't accept me as leader of these cats, or understand what I'm trying to do for the good of every one of them, then there's no relationship left between us. |
„ |
| ~ Clear Sky disowning Thunder and Gray Wing |
| “ | Clear Sky: Frost, come here. Show every cat your injury. This is an injury from the forest fire. An injury that has not healed. Thunder: It's not Frost's fault that he was burned in the fire. Clear Sky: No. But see how the forest fire really damaged us? Now one of our group endangers all of us. Frost can't carry out his patrols properly. Thunder: Frost has been hunting and patrolling. He still contributes to our group. And his wound just needs care to get better, isn't that right? Clear Sky: If you care so much, why don't you lick his wound clean? Thunder: What has happened to you? Why don't you care about Frost anymore? You always say that you're acting in the best interests of all of us. Clear Sky: That's right. Quick Water: What are you doing? You're our leader, not our tormentor. Think of Quiet Rain - would she want to see this? Clear Sky: Leave my mother our of it. Quick Water: Is that why she wished you luck when we left the mountains. Clear Sky: I owe you all an apology. Clearly you don't understand what I'm trying to do. I should have explained it better. Frost must leave us. It's time for him to go, before he spreads disease among us. This is for the greater good. Thunder, I want you to escort him to the boundary and leave him... leave him where the maggots will find him. Do you understand? |
„ |
| ~ Clear Sky humiliating and exiling Frost |
| “ | Gray Wing: You killed her! You killed Rainswept Flower! Clear Sky: If I hadn't some other cat would have. Why do you always have to challenge me? You should have just let me make my boundaries as I wanted! Instead, you bring me war. Gray Wing: You've betrayed the cats who were once your kin. The cats who traveled here with you from the mountains. Is this what you wanted? Is this why we left the mountains? To kill each other? I'm glad Storm is dead. She would have never wanted to see this! Clear Sky: Don't mention her name! (...) Clear Sky: Just give in! Gray Wing: Never. Clear Sky: Give in! Gray Wing: Kill me. Kill me and live with the memory. Then tell the stars that you won. Clear Sky: Don't make me do this, brother. All I want is for every cat to be safe. To have borders to protect us and make sure we have prey. Gray Wing: You want to tell every cat what to do. You always have and you always will. You're so greedy for power, you'll kill your own littermate to get it. Clear Sky: I can't... Stop! This battle is over! |
„ |
| ~ Clear Sky and Gray Wing battling |
| “ | Wind Runner: Micah is your medicine cat! Stop complaining! Clear Sky: That's easy for you to say. You don't have to take in a rogue. Wind Runner: You've taken in plenty of rogues before, Clear Sky. You just don't like being told what to do. Clear Sky: Neither do you. Wind Runner: At least if I'm wrong, I'll admit it. Clear Sky: I'm never wrong! |
„ |
| ~ Clear Sky to Wind Runner |
| “ | Skystar: You came back. I thought you'd decided to become a loner again. Riverstar: I was never a loner. Skystar: Then a park cat or whatever you were. Riverstar: I'm a warrior. And this is my territory. Skystar: I thought you didn't believe in territory. Riverstar: I believe in protecting my Clan. Skystar: This tree fell and made a river crossing for us. It was a sign from StarClan that we can hunt here. Riverstar: It was a sign that a tree with rotten roots can't survive a storm. Before you start challenging RiverClan, Make sure your roots are deep and strong, Skystar, because we won't give in easily. We won't give in at all. Skystar: What happened to you while you were away? You're beginning to sound like a warrior. But who knows how long you'll stay this time? You might be gone again in another moon, and the rest of your Clan will run away to the Twolegplace like those strays you took in. Riverstar: Dawn Mist and Moss Tail aren't strays. And they'll be back. My Clanmates are loyal, and I'd trust them with my life. Skystar: Do they think the same about you? This tree-bridge is StarClan's gift to SkyClan. It's their way of saying they want us to take your land. And SkyClan always obeys StarClan. Riverstar: No cat takes RiverClan land. Not as long as I'm here. And I'm here to stay. |
„ |
| ~ Riverstar confronting Skystar about SkyClan's theft |
Trivia[]
- Skystar's redemption is one of the most controversial topics in the Warriors fandom, with many arguing that he had caused too much harm to deserve it, especially since the consequences for what he'd done were rather underwhelming, and he would go on to do similar things that he'd done as a villain afterwards.
- Skystar is Quiet Rain's first-born.
- Cloudstar has the same light gray fur as him, and the two are possibly distantly related.
- Counting his adoptive son Honey Pelt, he has the largest amount of children out of any character in the series, at nine in total.
- Author Kate Cary has stated that she paired Skystar with Star Flower because she thinks they're a perfect match, and believes he's chosen her over Bright Stream and Storm in StarClan.
- Kate has also stated that she dislikes Skystar for his arrogance, and says he deserved getting berated by Quiet Rain.
External Links[]
- Skystar on the Warriors Wiki
