Midnight (Hunter novel)

Midnight is a fantasy novel and the first book in Erin Hunter's *Warriors: The New Prophecy* series. Published on 10 May 2005, it continues the story of feral cats organized into four Clans: ThunderClan, RiverClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan. The plot follows a group of cats who embark on a journey to find a being named Midnight, who holds crucial information about their future.

The story takes place more than a year after the events of *The Darkest Hour*. Bramblepaw, son of the villainous Tigerstar, has earned his warrior name, Brambleclaw. Firestar and Sandstorm have had two kits, Squirrelkit and Leafkit, who are now apprentices: Squirrelpaw trains with Dustpelt, while Leafpaw studies under Cinderpelt to become a medicine cat. While gathering herbs, Cinderpelt receives a vision from StarClan—burning bracken showing a tiger running through fire—which she interprets as a warning that fire and tiger will destroy the forest. She believes this refers to Squirrelpaw (Firestar’s daughter) and Brambleclaw (Tigerstar’s son). Firestar decides to keep the two apprentices apart.

In a dream, StarClan instructs Brambleclaw, Feathertail, Crowpaw, and Tawnypelt to listen to what "midnight" has to say. They begin traveling toward the setting sun. Squirrelpaw follows them, and Stormfur joins to protect his sister Feathertail. The six cats encounter an old loner named Purdy, who guides them to the "sun-drown place" (the Atlantic Ocean). There, they find a cave inhabited by a highly intelligent badger named Midnight, who can speak the languages of cats, foxes, and badgers. Midnight reveals that humans will destroy the forest, and the cats must leave or die. She also tells them that a dying warrior will lead the Clans to a new home. The book ends with an epilogue showing humans beginning to destroy ThunderClan’s territory.

*Midnight* was first released in hardcover in the US and Canada on 10 May 2005, in the UK on 25 October 2006, and in paperback on 4 April 2006. A Kindle edition followed on 6 November 2007.

Critical reception was mixed. *Children’s Literature* gave a negative review, criticizing Firestar’s reduced role, the large number of characters, and the traveling cats as "wimpy," though it praised Squirrelpaw. *Kirkus Reviews* called the novel "structurally solid," and *BookLoons* described the new generation as "engaging."

The forest setting is based on New Forest