Top six Mini moments from The Prophecies Begin
BY THE EDITOR
The Warriors books began with The Prophecies Begin, and so has our series of collectors sets of Minis. As a celebration of this all-important founding series, we’ll be looking at the top moment of each cat featured in the Mini set. Don’t forget to order your The Prophecies Begin Mini set if you haven’t already!
Ravenpaw – Tricking Jaggedtooth
At the beginning of the arc, Ravenpaw was a timid, terrified shell of a cat, constantly haunted by the burden of what he knew. But once he was free from the Clans and the fear of Tigerclaw silencing him, Ravenpaw was able to grow into the brave, loyal cat he was always meant to be. No scene displays this more than this one from The Darkest Hour, when he boldly approached the TigerClan rogue-turned-warrior Jaggedtooth and convinced him that he was a fellow TigerClan warrior with a message from Tigerstar in order to lure him away from the prisoners’ den. All of the hesitation and fear of his youth was gone – he was cool and confident, and easily convinced the former rogue of his ruse, allowing Firestar and his friends to rescue the half-starved prisoners. The Mini’s smile showcases the confidence and joy that came from life on the farm with Barley.
Graystripe – A friendship is born
Graystripe had a strong arc throughout the first arc, going from a goofy jokester of an apprentice, to a cat in love balancing loyalty with selfish desire, to a loyal deputy standing strongly by his leader’s side. But when we think of Graystripe in the first series, we keep coming back to that first meeting in the woods, where two young kittens got into a scuffle. Graypaw’s eagerness, curiosity, and immediate friendliness with Rusty impressed the other young tom, and the two hit it off right away, marking the beginning of one of the most heartfelt and enduring friendships in all of Warriors. His Mini sits proud and calm, and steady deputy beside his leader and best friend.
Brightheart – Warrior training on display
This cat had one of the hardest journeys of them all. After being viciously injured by the dog pack and left with only one eye, Brightheart’s future as a warrior looked uncertain. But she wasn’t willing to give up so easily, and with Cloudtail’s help, she began training on ways to hunt and fight with just one eye. The clearest scene of her determination and drive to prove herself comes from The Darkest Hour, when Firestar came to test Brightheart’s progress. He went into the training session thinking that she might never be a true warrior, but by the end, he realized that Brightheart had true skills to use in the service of her Clan. That confidence and joy in a warrior’s life can be seen in the smile on her Mini.
Yellowfang – An end to the bloodshed
It’s hard to imagine a more agonizing decision than the one Yellowfang came to in Forest of Secrets. She was always willing to fight against Brokenstar when he was in power, but after he became a blinded prisoner, she allowed herself to hope that maybe he could repent for the past and become something better, now that he couldn’t hurt anyone anymore. Her hopes were dashed when he plotted with Tigerclaw and brought his rogues to attack the Clan that had sheltered and defended him, even after all of his crimes. So, to save the forest from further bloodshed because of her mistakes, she did the hardest thing she ever could have. She fed Brokentail deathberries and brought her wretched son’s life to an end, killing the very cat she had once given life to, to save the lives of so many others. Her Mini shows the wear and tear of the difficult life she endured, but which never broke her indomitable spirit.
Scourge – Destruction of a tyrant
There is perhaps no more iconic scene in all of Warriors. Scourge came into the confrontation at Fourtrees a mysterious and unassuming stranger, too small and weak-looking to be regarded as much of a threat. But when he refused to order BloodClan into battle and Tigerstar launched himself at the smaller tom, Scourge’s deadly power suddenly became clear. He easily brought the larger tom to the ground and tore him open from throat to tail with his reinforced claws, sending the long-feared tyrant into convulsions and agonized wails as his life bled from him nine times over. With this one move, the tiny, unassuming tom sitting calmly in Mini form became the most dangerous threat the Clans had ever faced.
Rusty – A battle for his honor
Rusty’s curiosity and boldness brought him into the forest, but he didn’t truly start down the road of his destiny until this battle, where he had everything to gain and everything to lose. Rusty’s determination to stand strong and fight allowed him to distinguish himself and prove his mettle. He had none of the training or experience that would one day make him a force to be reckoned with, but the point was that he was willing to fight even so, that he would stand his ground no matter what obstacles were thrown at him, even if the odds seemed impossible. The snapping of his collar, which his Mini still bears and has yet to lose in his own battle with Longtail, only cinched the deal: Rusty was no kittypet anymore, but a true wild cat. His new name forever tied him to the prophecy of fire. With the burying of his collar and the Clan’s chanting of his new name, Firepaw forever turned his back on his kittypet past, and embraced his new life as a Clan cat.
