Clear Sky's group consists largely of cats who are adept at hunting in the undergrowth and a few who fish and swim (such as Falling Feather). The main characters live in two groups, each led by one of two brothers: Clear Sky or Gray Wing. Some other sources of inspiration for the series include the works of authors such as J. With the exception of a disused mine, the forest in which the cats live is based largely on New Forest. Thunder Rising takes place in several locations inspired by similar locales in the United Kingdom.
After seeing that Clear Sky is power-hungry and uncaring about the needs of his cats, Thunder leaves and returns to Gray Wing and his group. Thunder accepts the offer, wanting to get to know his father, and he stays with Clear Sky for a short while. While staying with Gray Wing, Clear Sky asks Thunder if he wants to live in the forest with him instead. A forest fire rages through Clear Sky's territory, forcing him and his group to temporarily seek shelter with Gray Wing. Thunder, the son of Clear Sky and Storm, a rogue cat who lived in the forest before the Tribe cats arrived, is being raised by his uncle, Gray Wing, after his mother died and his father rejected him. A few months following the events of The Sun Trail, the cats formerly from the Tribe of Rushing Water have settled in to their new home.
