Eclipse (Warriors)

Infobox Book
name = Eclipse
title_orig =
translator =
author = Erin Hunter
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = HarperCollins
release_date = September 2, 2008
media_type = Print (Hardback)
pages = 336 pp
isbn = ISBN 978-0060892081
preceded_by = Outcast
followed_by = Long Shadows

"Eclipse" is the fourth book in Erin Hunter's "", and was widely released on September second. [ [http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060892111/Warriors_Power_of_Three_4_Eclipse/index.aspx HarperCollins] ] It is the fourth book in what is to be the third six-book series of Warriors [ [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warriors_(novel_series) Wikipedia Warriors Page] ] . Like the three previous books in the series, it centers on the grandchildren of the ThunderClan leader [http://warriors.wikia.com/wiki/Firestar Firestar] , [http://warriors.wikia.com/wiki/Jaypaw Jaypaw] , [http://warriors.wikia.com/wiki/Hollypaw Hollypaw] , and [http://warriors.wikia.com/wiki/Lionpaw Lionpaw] , who have been blessed with extraordinary powers. Mostly, the book centers on the three coming to terms with their powers, and the prophecy that predicts they will someday be more powerful than StarClan.

Plot Summary

The plot begins as the three apprentices are trekking back from their journey to the mountains, which they started in the previous book, Outcast, with the warriors Brook, Stormfur, Brambleclaw, Squirrelflight, Tawnypelt, Breezepaw, and Crowfeather. However, once back, tenseness grips the four clans. WindClan becomes bolder and bolder, constantly trespassing onto ThunderClan territory to steal prey. When Firestar sends a patrol to talk to Onestar, WindClan warriors refuse their request, one even attacking Brambleclaw. Soon, the attack everyone suspects comes-in the form of a late-night ambush. Lionpaw is the first cat to notice, when he gets up in the middle of the night and notices WindClan warriors stalking into the camp, ready to surprise-attack. Despite the advantage of surprise, WindClan is beaten back and is believed to have surrendered-until Brambleclaw, the ThunderClan deputy, takes Lionpaw and a few warriors to check if WindClan has retreated into their territory. When they investigate, they realize WindClan split into three groups on ThunderClan territory, each one ready to ambush ThunderClan patrols and hunting parties in a different place. Quickly, Firestar divides his clan into three groups as well, sending each one out to discover and attack a group of WindClan warriors. A huge and bloody battle then starts, with no clear winner for hours. RiverClan sends in patrols to help WindClan, while ShadowClan sends warriors to ThunderClan's aid. This is very worrying to Firestar, who says it is very bad that "all four clans are fighting." [ [Warriors: The Power of Three: Eclipse by Erin Hunter, copyright 2008 by Harpercollins] ] However, in the middle of the battle, there is an eclipse of the sun. Many warriors are afraid, and take it as a sign from StarClan that the battle needs to stop. Squirrelflight gets very hurt and nearly dies. However, the medicine cats worry about why their warrior ancestors didn't warn them about the sun or the battle before they happened. This leads to some beginning to doubt their faith in StarClan. Of course something good happens. Millie's kits are born. Their names are Bumblekit, Blossomkit and Briarkit.Meanwhile, the three young apprentices learn more and more about their powers throughout the novel. Jaypaw begins to see memories and thoughts inside other cats heads, even when they are trying to conceal them. He listens in on another cat's dream with StarClan, as well, as he has done in the previous books. This time he overhears the ShadowClan medicine cat talking to a warrior ancestor about Blackstar, his leader and one of the cats losing faith in StarClan. Lionpaw's power has also gotten more intense, and he fights in the WindClan battle extremely well without getting hurt. However, Lionpaw also learns about the bad side of his power. When he learns that WindClan have invaded using the tunnels he and Heatherpaw, a WindClan apprentice, employed to secretly see each other in a previous book, he goes crazy with bloodlust, almost killing her and Crowfeather (who happens to be nearby). He doesn't even believe her when she claims it was Sedgekit, not her, who told the secret to the rest of WindClan. It scares him that he can't control his temper.

Meanwhile, a mysterious loner, called Sol, has been wandering the clans territories. He, not StarClan, comes to ThunderClan and warns Jaypaw about the eclipse that will come. Jaypaw suspects he may have knowledge about the three cats mystical powers, and seeks him out to talk to him. He tells them that he knows about the prophecy, and that someday the three cats will be so powerful that the clans will turn to them for guidance instead of StarClan. He adds that when this occurs, they will have the power to keep the warrior code-or destroy it. Sol then journeys to ShadowClan to meet with their leader, Blackstar. Upon hearing that Sol predicted the eclipse, he begins to think that perhaps StarClan is not as important or powerful as Sol and other living cats with mystical powers. He decides to stop living by the rules StarClan has made for the clans, such as the importance of attending gatherings every full moon. Finally, he decides to leave the lake, implying that his faith in StarClan was the only thing making him stay and suffer through the hard times in their forest. Lionpaw, Jaypaw and Hollypaw believe that they need to persuade Blackstar to come back, and that there need to be four clans in the forest. In this book, Blackstar does not act with fierce, often scary, loyalty to his clan like in previous books, but falls into deep depression, and doesn't seem to care what his clan does.

At the end of Eclipse Hollypaw and Lionpaw receive their warrior names, Hollyleaf and Lionblaze. Cinderpaw also becomes Cinderheart with them, because she was forced to become a warrior later than her siblings due to an injury. Firestar praises Hollyleaf for her thoughtfulness and intelligence, Lionblaze for his courage and skill at fightning, and Cinderheart for her determination and loyalty.

Talents/Powers

*Jaypaw - can enter others' dreams and read their minds/ sort through their memories.
*Lionpaw - can fight exceptionally well without getting injured.
*Hollypaw - high brain capacity

References

External links

* [http://www.warriorcats.com Warriors] The official "Warriors" website.