Gravely injured, Frostpaw places her trust in a young warrior, convincing him to protect her as she follows StarClan's cryptic directions toward the roots of RiverClan, where she hopes to find the answers she so desperately seeks while staving off a war between the clans.

"Exiled after a battle that left all five Clans devastated, ThunderClan's deputy, Squirrelflight, reveals the identity of the fake Bramblestar and fights for the return of the real one"--

"In the midst of the coldest leaf-bare any warrior can remember, the Clans have lost their connection with their warrior ancestors, and only one ShadowClan apprentice can still hear their voices--or their warning about the new shadow rising within the warrior Clans"--

Leopardstar knows her destiny is to save RiverClan from destruction, so as the rise of ThunderClan deputy Tigerstar shatters peace among the clans, Leopardstar must decide what kind of leader she will be.

While Frostpaw takes refuge in ShadowClan as Splashtail seizes control of her home, Nightheart returns to ThunderClan and to a complicated reunion with his mate Sunbeam whose efforts to fit in as ThunderClan's newest member are hampered by her treacherous mother.