Character Spotlight - Daisy

It’s always exciting to start work on a new set of novellas, because it gives the story team a chance to think about which characters might have stories to tell that we haven’t heard yet. And because the novellas can take place at any time in the Warriors timeline—classic or modern—the possibilities are endless! As we recently began plotting the first novella in the collection that will publish in 2021, we thought it would be a good time to focus on a cat in the modern timeline, whose story takes place between books #3 and 4 in The Broken Code series.

Without giving away too many spoilers, at that point, the Clans will be facing some serious new challenges. Life is difficult in all of the Clans, and some cats are rethinking what it means to be a Clan cat versus a rogue, a loner, or a kittypet.

When we began looking at the Clans, we were thinking about which cats might question their roles if things changed dramatically for them. Again—without giving too much away!—one cat who felt like she might have an interesting journey was Daisy. As the fans know, Daisy was once a loner who lived at the horseplace. When the three kits she had with Smoky, another loner, were born, Firestar took her into ThunderClan, and she and her kits eventually became ThunderClan cats. Daisy has an unusual job for a Clan cat, though: she is a “permanent queen,” meaning she lives in the nursery and helps queens who are about to kit, as well as queens who have new litters to care for. In a way, Daisy has helped to raise most of the cats who now make up ThunderClan. In some cases—like when a queen was raising kits alone, or was somehow unable to care for her newborns—Daisy’s help has been lifesaving. Alderheart and Jayfeather know that they can count on her to help both mothers and kits stay well-fed, well-rested, and safe.   

But what would happen if a period of time went by with no new queens or kits to care for? And what if other forces were at work, changing life drastically for the whole Clan? And what if—Here’s the big question!—a figure from Daisy’s past came back, desperately needing her help?

Would Daisy feel confident in saying, “No, my place is here with ThunderClan”? Or would she be tempted to experience life outside the Clans again?

Daisy’s ties to ThunderClan are strong. She is loyal to the Clan Firestar welcomed her into, and her surviving kits have all blossomed into strong ThunderClan warriors. But things change rapidly in the Clans: relationships, health, loyalties, leaders. Would Daisy ever consider cutting those ties?

The story team really enjoyed brainstorming Daisy’s adventure, and thinking about who Daisy is and what she would choose. After weeks of discussion and plotting, we think we have the answer. But what do you think?

Daisy’s Kin will be the first novella in the collection that publishes in 2021. And you can follow her adventures in The Broken Code with the publication of The Silent Thaw this autumn!