#reflected on featherpaw

[bonefall]

question! if graystripe wanted to name featherkit after silverstream, is that still a dishonor title?

Dishonor Titles are very much about intent. Naming a kitten after a parent, relative, or someone close to you is an act of love... even if, in cases like Nightheart, that name hurt them.

That's not a dishonor title.

Tigerstar announcing that Featherpaw and Stormpaw are brood parasites, that their mother died giving birth to them as divine punishment, and that Graystripe defected because he couldn't pay for his own mistakes, changing their names to reflect that "reality"...

That's cruelty. It's stripping them of their names to hurt them. It's evil.

And that makes it a Dishonor Title. That it was intended as a punishment.

[mallowstep]

The more information that comes from your Misty AU, the more I wish Thunderclan had fought for those kits. I hope Crookedstar gives Leopardstar the what for when she dies.

lmao.

then the misty au wouldn't exist! and we wouldn't get scenes like this:

He hears her voice on a border patrol. He didn't think RiverClan swam for fun so close to the border, but that's Feathertail, even if he can't make out what she's saying. "I'll catch up," he says, waving the patrol forward. "Feathertail?" he asks. The chatter slows, then stops. "It's me, Greystripe," he adds. "I heard you talking." He pushes forward, to where Feathertail is sitting on the other side of the bank. Mistyfoot is next to her, along with a black she-cat Greystripe doesn't recognize. "Hey," she says. "I just wanted to say hi." It feels silly, now. Feathertail was happy; he interrupted them. "It's good to see you," she says. She glances at Mistyfoot. "Can he...?" "If you can cross the river," Mistyfoot says, "you can come here." Greystripe doesn't hesitate. The water is freezing, but he still remembers how to swim. Feathertail's ear twitches. "How's ThunderClan?"

it's not hurt comfort if there's no hurt lmao.

i mean leopardstar is. very much not the worst actor here.

like. okay. not to be a misty au leopardstar apologist, but. her thought process is very much, "if i try to intervene on mistyfoot and featherpaw's behalf, tigerstar might just straight up start murdering my clan."

is that. a good way of looking at the situation? no. no it is not. but she does act (or not act) out of. some kind of care.

tigerstar already killed her deputy and best friend.

anyway.

mudfur gives her enough about it. i don't know what exactly their relationship looks like but. it's not great.

fwiw, she does manage to pull riverclan together afterwords. it's not like. she doesn't ever really win their favour and trust. or to an extent. it's Complicated. but she manages to unify them, and that's a lot.

anyway, leopardstar ranks fairly low on my list of Cats to Hate in this au. maybe i'll write some leopard pov to explain why.

<3

[pigeonclaw]

Leopardstar's Honor really... added nothing substantial to the overall story, and is probably the first super edition I've read that felt like a bit of a slog to read? I think this is because the majority of it was just recapping events that happened in multiple other books — books which I'd rather be reading — but I got a few laughs out of it so... there's that. It had its moments, for sure. Leopardfur’s distrust and dislike of ThunderClan stemming partly from them being involved in the deaths of multiple cats she was close to was a nice touch. I liked seeing her relationships with various members of RiverClan, but not enough time was given to anyone other than Frogleap. I would have liked to see more of her bond with Sunfish and Whiteclaw, because despite how important they were to her, I felt like I barely knew them at all by the time they died.

Here on this blog I purposefully avoid being overly negative about the series because, well, I love Warriors so clearly my feelings aren't too negative overall anyway, but also because there is plenty of that everywhere else and I don't personally enjoy nitpicking or seeking out things I dislike in media. There is still an important place for thoughtful criticism, however.

So, bearing that in mind... I feel like this book represents a huge chunk of the growing problems within the series that become more disheartening with time. Like huge chronology errors — in this case, to the point where the allegiances are incomprehensible and useless and a couple scenes are even placed out of order (Featherpaw and Stormpaw becoming apprentices and then being kits again a couple chapters later — and that's only one of the issues with those scenes). There's also just some weird stuff like inconsistent chapter length, scenes being very short and jumping rapidly across days or even months multiple times within the same chapter, and sentences that are just? worded strangely?

If the book was about Leopardstar reflecting on her whole life in her final days or even in the days before the battle with BloodClan, then this sort of setup would make total sense. But we are given zero indication that this is the case, which leaves us knowing that this is just... how the book was written. And as far as I can tell, barely edited or proofread.

It just kinda leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Obviously mistakes and even poorly written books are nothing new to the series. This isn’t even the first book that I’ve read and then decided to skip on future series rereads. But it is the first non-novella book to feel this way to me. It just brings nothing new to the table, and instead distracts me from the main story. That’s partly my fault for reading these books chronologically — which is not really the intended way to go — but taking breaks partway through an arc to read a giant super edition has never broken my flow like this before, it's baffling. It feels like 500+ pages of filler.

I have to wonder if anyone even had any real idea for what to write a Leopardstar book about. Or if they just figured, eh, copy down every scene from TPB with Leopardstar in them and throw some filler stuff in between there and call it a day so we have something to put out there. Is this the case with every cat that winds up on the polls? Do the authors have ideas for them or are they just put there because they’re popular?

I know plenty of people did enjoy this book, and that’s valid and I’m glad for you if you did! It just didn’t work for me.

[leporellian]

warrior cats rewrite: the darkest hour

finally!

- in the prologue, we are back at the prologue of the first book- smudge and rusty, as kits, being watched over by henry.

- one of them inquisitively asks henry what would they do if they were ever caught up in the war of the stars that happens every few hundred moons. what would happen? where would they go? what would they do?

- know that whatever happens, you were, you are, and you will always be loved, responds henry.

- back in the present. firestar gets his nine lives from redtail, gorseleap, runningwind, swiftpaw, brindleface, speckletail, cinderfur, yellowfang and bluestar

- firestar appoints lionheart as deputy. it’s noted that they feel as though someone is watching the camp

- next day turns out someone IS watching- darkstripe has poisoned willowpelt’s kit, but was stopped at the border by graystripe. darkstripe is furious at sorrelkit bc he views her as a ‘replacement’ for him and gray, but gray views it otherwise. well also find out gray and silver are now amicable exes. darkstripe, badly wounded, leaves

- lostface is officially renamed brightheart as in canon.

- gathering happens, and scourge appears instead of an official riverclan or shadowclan leader- apparently, both now face infighting over who the next leader will be. tawnypaw is drawn towards shadowclan and feels pity for them.

- scourge announces that he wants the forests for bloodclan- supposedly for their safety, but he and fire know that it’s Personal. he announces that he has taken riverclan and shadowclan’s land for bloodclan and will get to work on wind and fire Soon.

- firestar sees the roaring lion in his reflection in the moonlight. he hears a voice- take heed of what you have seen. know what you must be.

- graystripe rushes over later after the gathering and pleads for help. they go over to riverclan and find out that scourge has taken hold of featherpaw, stormpaw, silverstream, leopardfur, mistyfoot, and stonefur. scourge is holding up the latter three bc they worked with tiger, and feather storm and silver because they are crookedstar’s kin and likely candidates to challenge him as they’re familiar with leadership.

- naturally a fight erupts as the 6 try to escape. silverstream is killed fighting to her last breath. stonefur, knowing what he must do, distracts the bloodclan guards so misty and leopard can escape with feather and storm. he manages to take out one of the bloodclan guards but is quickly killed afterwards

- the riverclan cats take shelter in camp. tawnypaw leaves for shadowclan because it is one of the two clans her father’s legacy has not touched and she wants a fresh start.

- we also find out that bloodclan is attacking windclan.

- next day, firestar and scourge agree to meet. scourge gives the clan cats three days to leave or fight him at fourtrees, and expresses his anger at firestar. everyone else is like wait these 2 KNOW each other!?! firestar feels grief at what smudge has become. he also notices darkstripe among bloodclan.

- the clan cats start training- thunderclan and riverclan together and windclan and shadowclan together. firestar realizes scourge’s weakness- he does not know of the strategy and discipline the clan cats have, which he regards with an odd pity.

- eventually, the four clans join together and dub themselves lionclan. leopardfur is tasked with riverclan (the position is originally given to mistyfoot but she declines), having had her Character Arc. flintfang of shadowclan is given leadership duties. tallstar naturally leads windclan.

- the cats choose to have firestar at the front of the battle- both because he knows scourge and the bloodclan cats (his once-weakness has become his greatest asset) and because they begin to realize he is the newest incarnation of the fire that will lead the clans through the future war of starclan.

- the cats leave for fourtrees for the battle. lionheart thinks he will die in the battle.

- firestar gives scourge one last chance to give up and leave in peace. scourge doesn’t. the fight begins

- darkstripe tries to attack firestar, but longtail and graystripe kill him. firestar regards darkstripe with an odd sense of pity, remembering what darkstripe once had been

- lionheart is killed by bone. firestar appoints longtail as deputy.

- it’s noted bloodclan attacks by climbing up trees and launching themselves down

- tallstar loses a couple of lives. it’s mentioned mudclaw fights with tears in his eyes alongside his mother morningflower, and they chant gorsetail’s name over and over. firestar does not see onewhisker but knows onewhisker must be in there somewhere.

- goldenflower is killed saving kits.

- ravenwing is nearly killed when scourge attacks him, but firestar intervenes and takes on scourge for himself. the two fight brutally, and firestar realizes that he can take scourge by surprise by using his nine lives. purposely, he lets scourge kill him.

- fire wakes in starclan, and sees his first life join their ranks. he sees stonefur, silverstream, goldenflower, and lionheart in starclan’s ranks, and they tell him that there were five clans in the forest.

- what do you mean, asks firestar, there’s five? look to your attackers. do you not see how they climb? they were your kin once, just as smudge was. embrace what you will find in their shadows.

- firestar doesn’t know what they mean, and wakes up. he sees scourge attacking graystripe and throws himself at scourge. the two continue fighting, but scourge is discombobulated. firestar rips apart scourge’s collar and slashes his neck open.

- the battle slows to a stop as cats realize what’s happening. scourge- no, smudge-’s breaths grow tiny and light. he becomes delirious- or perhaps comforted by starclan?- as he dies, and his pale eyes suddenly become dark blue and speckled with light. rusty, he asks firestar, do you see the falling star? beyond the fence, near those four tallest oak trees.

- i do, responds firestar, still too attached to smudge to let him die alone.

- the trees. they’re on fire now. and you’re there, and your friends are there, and your children and grandchildren... they’re all there. but it’s okay, everything’s okay. ...rusty, did we do alright, for a couple of kittypets?

- we did just fine, says firestar. you were, you are, and will always be loved. that is how it always has been...

- smudge dies, bloodclan leaves, and the clan becomes four again.

- firestar returns to the spot on the fence where the series began, carefully in the early morning so his former owners do not recognize him. he sees they have a new housecat now- life goes on. he thinks of all who he had initially met, that first night in the woods- graystripe was in another clan now, tigerclaw and bluestar and the old way of things was dead... but there was something new in the horizon, and firestar remembers how he had been told of the comet that signaled his arrival. perhaps only now was it truly coming to fruition.

- he buries smudge just beyond the fence, where the tulips were beginning to sprout. he looks at the sky and knows what must be. there will be a war of the stars, and all he can do is embrace that. for that is how it always has been...

- the dawn, he notes, had never looked brighter.

[apartment-upstairs]

CROWFEATHER’S TRIAL

Ok, after reading CROWFEATHER's TRIAL last night... I have a few thoughts for anyone who is considering reading it. Take note that it took me about 4 hours or so to read the whole thing, and I was reading really, really fast. Also take note that the last Warrior Cat books I have had time to read was the OMEN OF THE STARS series

Albeit a little bit slow in parts, I really, really enjoyed reading this book. No, it wasn't perfect- I will state that now, but it was a very good read that I recommend to anyone in the WC community.

I was very hesitant to read a book about Crowfeather and Breezepelt- neither are really my favorite characters but I knew it would be an interesting read- I was not wrong

Being able to have a full book from Crowfeather's POV was really helpful to understanding his short-tempered behavior and what goes on in his mind.

Crowfeather reflecting on Breezepelt when he was younger and how he used to be so close to him but then completely drifted away was beautiful

Crowfeather’s interactions with Ashfoot were beautiful

Crowfeather trying to make amends with Jayfeather and Lionblaze was beautiful

Lionblaze stating that Bramblestar would always be his father was beautiful

Crowfeather trying to avenge Hollyleaf in his dreams

Ivypool telling Bumblestripe to shut up was beautiful

Crowfeather understanding that he fell out of love with Leafpool was beautiful 

Crowfeather awkwardly asking Nightcloud if they should be mates again, only for her to shut him down, and then for him to realize that they should be friends for Breezepelt’s sake was beautiful 

Honestly though, this was just a great statement to be made. Lots of children have parents that divorce and for these two to understand that they should be friends for their child’s sake really says a lot. My parents divorced but remained on friendly terms for my sake, and this portion of the book really reminded me of my own life situations

Crowfeather dragging Onestar and calling him out for his bullshit was amazing. Respected is earned and should not freely be given- I loved Crowfeather calling out Onestar

Crowfeather biting his pride and asking ThunderClan for help against his leader’s orders was great

Pickle

Heathertail’s relationship with Breezepelt is explained and even justified which makes everything more understandable and less confusing 

The entire clan thinking Breezepelt murdered Nightcloud really, really hurt my heart? Breezepelt showing emotion at the Gathering about this topic was really nice

Feathertail calling Crowfeather out about his shit parenting

Breezepelt actually being humanized not to the point of forgiveness (because you shouldn’t murder people) but having some redemption

CROWFEATHER’S DREAM ABOUT HIS HAPPY GRANDKIDS

CONS

Onestar also demands unquestionable loyalty- honestly though, I absolutely hate this character someone kill him oh wait

Onestar in general

Why did everyone blame Crowfeather for Featherpaw’s injuries? That was unjustified 

Stoats? Really?

Onestar

[twilights-800-cats]

<< Allegiances | Chapter 21 | Chapter 22 | Chapter 23 | From the Beginning >>

Chapter 22

Tinystar’s sleep was disturbed with fretful dreams – none of which really related to what was coming when he woke, but were filled with a growing ominous presence that made Tinystar feel uncomfortable and unsafe nonetheless.

“Fire is coming” – Redtail’s words echoed in the breeze of his dreams, and when Tinystar woke the words filled his ears.

Is Fire the battle to come? He wondered.

Tinystar yawned and did his best to stretch without disturbing Sandstorm. He’d let her sleep a little while longer – at least her dreams looked peaceful. He slipped out of their nest and out into the clearing.

Dawn would not break for some time yet. Tinystar looked up at the position of the moon and stars. There was still a good amount of time for preparation, and for the trip to Fourtrees. The entire forest was blanketed in the quiet of night – though the world didn’t really know what was going to happen today, Tinystar wondered if all of nature was holding its breath.

He found Whitestorm easily. There weren’t many warriors up and about even at this time. The white warrior’s pelt glowed in the night like a small moon.

“You won’t be coming with us today,” Tinystar declared.

Whitestorm’s ear flicked. “Oh?”

“I want you here,” Tinystar went on. He stared into the big white tom’s pale yellow eyes, ringed with age. “Someone has to get the kits and elders out of here if things go badly.”

Whitestorm’s eyes darkened. “I am old, Tinystar; but I do still have claws.”

Tinystar frowned. “ThunderClan wouldn’t survive without you,” he breathed, desperate for the humble old deputy to understand. “They need you!”

Whitestorm’s tail touched Tinystar’s shoulder. “ThunderClan is not just one cat, Tinystar – it is all of us, together, fighting and hunting and lending our strength to one another as warriors and comrades and families.”

Tinystar’s whiskers twitched, touched by the wise warrior’s words.

“Take all the strength you need,” Whitestorm went on. “The queens still have claws to fight with – even the elders would join you. Brightheart and Swiftfoot are a formidable pair. This camp will be well defended with us.”

Tinystar brushed his forehead against Whitestorm’s chin, purring. “Thank you, Whitestorm,” he meowed. “For this, and for everything.”

He pulled away from the deputy. Time was passing, and warriors and apprentices were beginning to stir more fervently. Longtail appeared from the warrior’s den, crossed the clearing, and began to dole out what prey was left from the pile. ThunderClan lined up silently for their share, their eyes all filled with determination.

Tinystar crossed the clearing to the medicine cat’s den, pushing aside the ferns with his shoulders. Brackenfur and Mosspaw were inside, surrounded by piles of herbs and strips of bark and leaves. Mosspaw was reciting herbs and their uses as she passed them to Brackenfur to put into packages.

“Horsetail for infection,” Mosspaw mewed, pushing a bundle of stalks towards Brackenfur. “We’d normally use marigold, but we’re out for the season.”

Brackenfur nodded. “Dock, next,” he mewed.

“We’re very short on it,” Mosspaw warned, pulled over a pile of broad leaves.

“We’ll just have to stretch it thin, then,” Brackenfur decided. “Something is better than nothing.”

“Are you prepared?” Tinystar wondered.

Brackenfur did not look up from his attentive bundling. “There’s no such thing as being fully prepared,” he answered. “There isn’t enough cobweb in the forest for what’s to come. But we’re getting everything we can together for the wounded.”

“You’ll have Barkface’s help, too,” Tinystar pointed out.

“Yes,” Brackenfur agreed, “but I’m not expecting him to have as good a stock as we do, after that ambush.”

Tinystar winced. Brackenfur was right – WindClan would be leaning on not just Tinystar’s warriors for support, but Brackenfur too. How much supply did Barkface use on their wounded? And there certainly weren’t many cats fit to go and collect herbs that Tinystar saw.

“Redtail spoke to me last night,” Tinystar declared.

“Oh?” Brackenfur mused.

“Oh?!” Mosspaw breathed, her eyes wide with astonishment. “Really?”

Brackenfur shot her a warning look, and Mosspaw lowered her head to her task. Tinystar frowned. There was no time to wait for Brackenfur to send Mosspaw away so that they could speak in private. The medicine cat finished tying up the dock and moved on to what looked like comfry. “What did he say?”

“Fire is coming,” Tinystar recited.

Brackenfur paused. “This, then, is your test,” he decided quietly.

Tinystar nodded, swallowing. “Ready or not… I’ll have to face it.”

———————————————————-

Below Tinystar’s paws, Fourtrees sat quiet and empty. The four leafless oaks rocked gently in the cold dawn, the very topmost of their branches rattling. Birdsong sprang up from the forest here and there – muted, tired chirps of creatures oblivious to what was going to happen at the heart of their lands.

Tinystar looked up at the sky. The sun was not yet visible on the horizon – just the orange-red streaks of light heralding its coming. It lit the night world up in flames, and Tinystar tried to ignore how it made him think of the prophecy.

“What are we waiting for?” hissed Cloudtail.

“I’m erring on the side of caution, Cloudtail,” Tinystar replied, looking back at her and his Clanmates. He had left Whitestorm and Oakheart and brought with him nearly every warrior and apprentice ThunderClan could spare. “I don’t want to go down yet in case there’s a trap.”

Cloudtail shrugged. “Wouldn’t put it past those LionClan flea-bags,” she huffed.

Beside her, Fernpaw huddled closer to Ashpaw. Her eyes were sharp with determination, but Tinystar knew that she had a gentler heart than her brother, whose claws were already unsheathed as if LionClan cats were under them.

Close to the two, but not too close, stood Mistypaw with Snowpaw. Tinystar had insisted on the deaf apprentice being included in the battle, knowing that Mistypaw and the other apprentices would be supporting one another. Mistypaw’s fur was fluffed up against the morning chill, her expression unreadable. Snowpaw’s claws were unsheathed, his eyes darting around as if LionClan cats were everywhere.

Nearby, Dustpelt and Cinderpelt stood shoulder-to-shoulder. Tinystar couldn’t help but be warmed by how the two wouldn’t leave one another’s side. Frostfur was near them, her eyes burning – she had insisted on coming, declaring that she would be fighting for all ThunderClan queens… and she looked it.

Mousefur and Longtail, warriors who had heavily doubted Tinystar’s ability to lead, showed no sign of any doubt now – both looking ahead, their pelts lit to flame by the coming dawn. Longtail’s pale eyes were intense, and Mousefur’s short tail couldn’t help but tremble despite the stocky she-cat’s efforts to remain calm.

Beside them were the RiverClan cats – Tawnypelt, Silverstream, Featherpaw, and Stormpaw. They hadn’t had enough time to fill out their frames, but their fur was smooth and sleek and their eyes were bright with alertness, not sickness. They were ready to fight this battle, even if it would be their last.

Finally Tinystar looked upon Graystripe, his best friend, Sandstorm, his love and mate, and Cloudtail, his niece. Cats who would never betray him, who would follow him to StarClan and back if they could. Seeing the faith and determination in their eyes threatened to overwhelm Tinystar.

How strange it was, Tinystar reflected, that each of these cats had at one point doubted him for his kittypet heritage. Now they followed him into battle without question, and Tinystar had no idea what he’d do without their support.

I have brought all of you to fight, Tinystar thought. One way or another, Bluestar will not get her way.

Tinystar looked back out to the horizon – and then down at Fourtrees. Movement stirred on the opposite end of the clearing, and a long, thin cat padded into the light. Tallstar raised his long tail in greeting. Tinystar raised his in return, and both Clans streamed down the slopes and into the hollow.

ThunderClan and WindClan melded together seamlessly – even the RiverClan cats were welcomed. The greetings were quiet and hushed, and all eyes were darting around to the outskirts, wary of ambush. Tinystar and Tallstar met before the Great Rock.

“You brought all of them,” Tinystar breathed, looking out at the WindClan crowd. Every cat there bore fresh wounds from the LionClan attack, most barely even healed over. The red and angry wounds didn’t seem to bother the WindClan cats – they hopped from paw to paw, their claws gleaming as they flexed anxiously.

“None of us will surrender,” Tallstar breathed. There was a great amount of pride in his tone, so much that Tinystar knew Tallstar hadn’t managed to quash all of it. “We are ready to fight.”

Tinystar blinked. Tallstar’s eyes were intense as they focused on Tinystar, and Tinystar realized, his pelt growing hot, that Tallstar was deferring to him to lead. In fact, as Tinystar looked out at the crowd, all the cats there were looking at him.

Tinystar swallowed. Nervousness had no place here – he raised his tail. “TigerClan! Together!”

They obeyed – the cats fanned out into a semi circle two cats deep, WindClan cats bumping shoulders and flanks with ThunderClanners. The apprentices were closer to the center, the older cats at the head of the pack, standing beside Tallstar and Tinystar. Tinystar was in awe of the instinctive coordination – as if some force had told each cat where to go, or how best to defend the heart of their lands.

Fur rose as LionClan scent cloyed the air. The circle bowed inward as LionClan cats stalked into the clearing from the RiverClan side, Bluestar, Leopardstar, and Russetfur at their head. The mass of cats were bristling with teeth and claws and eyes full of hate.

They just barely outnumber us, Tinystar thought, trying to count them all. We can handle this if we play it smart and don’t get overwhelmed. He shared a glance with Tallstar, who seemed to be on the same train of thought.

A strip of grass lay untouched between LionClan and TigerClan. Bluestar took the first steps into the unspoken neutral zone, her tail up high. Leopardstar followed, and then Russetfur after. It was clear by how they positioned themselves that LionClan was Bluestar’s, and Bluestar’s alone – Leopardstar and Russetfur were always a pace behind the cool-headed blue-gray she-cat.

Tallstar and Tinystar approached as well, Tinystar making an effort to walk side-by-side, as equals. Some warriors attempted to come with them – but Tinystar signaled with his tail for them to hold their line. The two leaders stopped a stride away from the LionClan leaders.

“Here we are.” Bluestar meowed into the silence. “There is no need for further formality – will you join LionClan and accept our prosperity, or refuse and face the consequences?”

“No,” Tallstar stated.

“Never,” hissed Tinystar.

Bluestar curled her lip. The warriors behind her shifted, their eyes narrowing to slits. “I urge you to reconsider,” she said, her voice smooth. Her eyes were like blue flames. “Within LionClan there can be nothing but peace and prosperity. Without there will be nothing but strife and death.”

Tinystar stepped forward until his whiskers touched Bluestar’s. The blue-gray she-cat bristled, as if she were offended Tinystar would come so close to her. Tinystar bared his teeth.

“I will never serve you,” he spat, “nor would a single one of the cats behind me.”

Tinystar could feel Bluestar’s breathing quicken. “You will regret that decision, Tinystar,” she meowed, quietly. “Until the last breath you take.”

“Try me,” Tinystar seethed.

Bluestar raised her tail. Tinystar stepped back beside Tallstar, raising his tail as well. Warriors of both TigerClan and LionClan began to move forward, closing the small gap between them with careful pawsteps. Warriors locked eyes. Pelts bristled. Tails lashed. Tension thickened the air as the sun began to rise.

“Stonepaw!”

Mistypaw surged forward, pushing between Dustpelt and Tornear. Her blue eyes were huge. Across the clearing Tinystar spotted Stonepaw, half-hidden by Russetfur. The stocky gray tom had flinched at his sister’s voice, his eyes wide.

Before Tinystar could order her back, Mistypaw was at his side. “You did kidnap him!” she hissed to Bluestar. “You monster!”

Bluestar’s ear twitched. “Stonepaw did not come to LionClan unwillingly, Mistypaw,” she meowed, her voice cool. “He wanted to be with us, where he could live happy and unjudged. You and your sister can join us, too. There is always a place for you here.”

“Never!”

Tinystar was surprised at the amount of venom in the young cat’s voice. Mistypaw had puffed herself up, her tail like a furious storm cloud and her eyes like lightning.

“G-Go? To you?” she snarled. “You were never a mother to us! You never cared about us! Oakheart raised us, and Tinystar too!” Mistypaw puffed out her chest. “I will grow to be everything you could have been – a loyal, true ThunderClan warrior, with StarClan in my heart and the warrior code in my bones!”

By the end of her speech, Mistypaw had been screaming. Tinystar could feel just how much the young cat was shaking. He was stunned by the strength of her conviction – her eyes blazed with fire like Bluestar’s, yes, but it was clear that Mistypaw would outlast her mother, and was determined to burn in a brighter direction.

Bluestar’s entire body rippled with rage. “Fine!” she spat, her voice hoarse. Stonepaw flinched in the crowd at the sound of his mother’s hate-filled voice. “Die, then, with the rest of this worthless, filthy lot!”

Russetfur let out a yowl. All of TigerClan tensed, ready for the wave of battle to wash over them – but none of the LionClan warriors moved. Bluestar stood, her shoulders bristling and her eyes blazing with cold, cold hatred. A murmur of anxiety spread through the TigerClan cats – what was happening?

“You will all die,” seethed Bluestar. She raised her head, her fur smoothing. “You will die, and then the forest will be cleansed and reborn anew beneath my paws. It was always my destiny to be the Lion - the fire that would return the forest Clans to greatness.”

Suddenly more cats began to flood into the clearing. TigerClan shifted again as they streamed in from the forest side, from the direction of the Thunderpath. Tinystar’s heart beat in his ears – now there was no doubt, he thought as the new, strange-smelling cats pressed themselves against LionClan: TigerClan was vastly outnumbered.

“Who are they?” whispered Graystripe, stunned.

Tinystar had no answer. The cats bore an unfamiliar scent, like the reek of the Thunderpath but something much worse – and more than that, their eyes were cold and pitiless despite their skinny, haggard appearances. Their claws flashed wickedly, some long and almost unnaturally twisted.

A cat made their way to the head of the pack. Tinystar could not take his eyes off of them, not even as Bluestar went on about her great destiny. He simply couldn’t hear her. His eyes were fixed on the sleek ginger tabby tom that had emerged from the throng of cats, on the nick in his ear and the jagged scar down his shoulder.

“You be careful if you’re thinking of going into the woods, Shoe.” The ginger tom’s voice rose in Tinystar’s mind on a tidal wave of memories. The lump in Tinystar’s throat threatened to choke him. “I’d hate to see you get hurt.”

The leader of these horrible cats… was Rusty.

[staircasttext]

Episode 53: Chapters 28-30

Chapter 28

As they near Fourtrees, Firestar reflects on how much the cats in ThunderClan mean to him. RiverClan and ShadowClan show up together, their medicine cats Mudfur and Runningnose surprisingly alive, followed by WindClan, as well as Barley and Ravenpaw. As they talk among each other, they also keep an eye (and nose) out for BloodClan. Scourge and BloodClan appear, demanding an answer. Both Leopardstar and Tallstar urge Firestar to take the lead, and he offers Scourge a chance to not fight and for BloodClan to leave in peace. When Scourge refuses, BloodClan and LionClan attack each other.

Firestar loses sight of Scourge immediately and tries to find him in the fray. There is a lot of fighting. (Angrily) Meow meow meow. Onewhisker is there! Firestar is briefly rescued from a BloodClan warrior about to kill him by Darkstripe, who wants to kill him also. Graystripe pops up and kills Darkstripe, finally. They both see Bone, the BloodClan deputy, killing Whitestorm. Bone is destroyed by a giant pile of devastated teen cats. Whitestorm, with his last dying breath, says that Graystripe should be deputy. Tawnypaw rescues Bramblepaw at some point from a BloodClan cat. 

Firestar realizes they are losing and resolves to find Scourge. To his horror, he sees Scourge fighting a wounded Onewhisker and swoops in to save him. As Onewhisker escapes, Scourge and Firestar have their fight, which is short because Scourge immediately kills him.

Chapter 29

Firestar awakens in a StarClan version of Fourtrees, faced with the cats who’d given him his nine lives as leader, plus the newly-dead Whitestorm (no longer hit with the old ray). Bluestar points out the image of Firestar’s physical body, still bleeding and attempting to revive from losing a life, which is understandably horrifying to Firestar. As he begs to be sent back, Bluestar says he needs time to heal first. Firestar questions his faith more as Bluestar gives some vague StarClan assurances about his character growth and StarClan’s will. Firestar’s faith is restored when Bluestar tells him that there aren’t four clans in the forest but five, including StarClan, which is always with him ready to take the feline wheel. 

Firestar wakes the fuck up to see Cloudtail gamely chomping down on Scourge’s leg. He yells at Scourge to face him, which shocks Scourge who believed that he’d killed Firestar for good. Firestar says he has the power of StarClan and anime behind him because he has nine lives. They launch into another bloody fight and Firestar beats Scourge by recalling his old trick from his time as an apprentice: pretending to surrender so he can bounce Scourge off his back like a cat-shaped trampoline. He catches Scourge off guard and kills him. Once the other BloodClan cats see that their leader is dead, they immediately scatter and the forest cats emerge victorious.

Chapter 30

Firestar sends Cloudtail to have Cinderpelt help with his wounds. He notices that LionClan is already breaking up into the four individual clans again as things wind down. He’s relieved to see that Sandstorm is alive and well and they go to see Cinderpelt together. As Firestar is being seen to, Leopardstar comes up to him and says RiverClan and ShadowClan are returning to their respective homes. Mistyfoot announces she is going home to RiverClan as deputy with Featherpaw and Stormpaw in tow. Firestar gives a parting warning to the ShadowClan deputy, soon to be leader, as he leaves. Bramblepaw gives his goodbyes to Tawnypaw. Barley and Ravenpaw say goodbye before leaving, and Firestar extends a standing welcome to them from ThunderClan as they offer the same welcome from their farm.

To Firestar’s relief, Tallstar emerges from some bushes, proudly declaring that WindClan chased the rest of BloodClan out of the area. They say their goodbyes respectfully. As Firestar looks over the battlefield, he thanks StarClan for having his back. And then he smells a familiar smell that could only be Spottedleaf, who bizarrely promises that he will never be alone because she will watch over him forever. I GUESS. As Spottedleaf’s signature scent fades, his current actual girlfriend Sandstorm, as well as his pleasantly ambiguous on again off again bro Graystripe emerge to sit beside him, plus Bramblepaw. They watch the sunrise over the clearing together. THE END 🐈!

[ch4051nth3k1tch3n]

The Chosen - Shallowswipe’s Prophecy

this is my old as shit unfinished warriors fic. this is not a reflection of my skills as a writer now. im posting it bc funny

ALLEGIANCES

THISTLECLAN

LEADER:

 THORNSTAR

DEPUTY: 

DARKFLAME

MEDICINE CAT:

FLASHWING

WARRIORS:

NIGHTBIRD (APPRENTICE: FEATHERPAW)

SONGTREE

WETBRANCH (APPRENTICE: PLANTPAW)

LIGHTCLOUD (APPRENTICE: CREAMPAW)

FLOWERSORROW

APPRENTICES:

PLANTPAW CREAMPAW FEATHERPAW

QUEENS:

WOODCROW (KITS: SHALLOWKIT, BROWNKIT) ELDERS: BLACKWIND RAGGEDSNOW

SUNCLAN

LEADER:

PINESTAR DEPUTY:

SLEEKWIND

MEDICINE CAT: DIMWILLOW

WARRIORS:

DARKWILLOW

BURNSPOT (APPRENTICE: STORKPAW)

WHITELILY (APPRENTICE: AIRPAW) YELLOWEYE

APPRENTICES:

STORKPAW

AIRPAW QUEENS:

CORNBREEZE

GREYPLUM (KITS: STORMKIT) ELDERS:

WIZENEDWOLF

SPIKEFISH

ICECLAN

LEADER:

SLIVERSTAR

DEPUTY: NIGHTWING MEDICINE CAT:

NIGHTBLOOM WARRIORS:

REDPATCH (APPRENTICE: WORMPAW BLACKBUSH SMALLFOOT (APPRENTICE: SILVERPAW WIDESTEP APPRENTICES:

SILVERPAW WORMPAW QUEENS:

NUTRAIN ELDERS:

PROLOGUE

I looked out of the cool, damp cave I stood in, and wondered where I was. I saw a faint, glittering shape rising from the mist. In fact, she looked like she was the mist. She spoke to me, warning me about the dark evil approaching. The living cats are already being swallowed up by the demon warriors lodging their slimy, rank bodies inside the earth. She introduced herself as Moongrass, one of the ancient cats that once roamed the territory of the clans. She had died long ago, and she tried to tell me the secret of the demons. But it was too late…

CHAPTER ONE

I woke up, breathing heavily. It felt like the entire world was pressed down against my chest. My mother looked at me worriedly, and asked if I was okay. I said I was fine, and curled up in the nest and tried to forget the horrifying image that seemed to be permanently burned into the back of my eyelids. The wind howled in my ears, and I tried to grasp what Moongrass had said before the demons appeared and- wait, I really don’t want to say it. It was too much for my three moon old brain to understand. 

I yawned, and reached my outstretched paw out of the nursery, as our nest is closest to the door. There are other nests, but they are all empty because Flowersorrow and her kits Plantpaw, Creampaw ,and Featherpaw all left the nursery a moon ago. I cautiously, slowly stood up, and tripped over my own tail. Brownkit, as always, slept through the heavy thud of my body falling on the floor. Woodcrow, however, pricked her ears and said “Shallowkit, what are you doing? Get into the nest now.” I looked at her, alarmed, sheepishly hung my head, and crawled back into the nest feeling a bit embarrassed. 

CHAPTER TWO

Soon it was dawn, and the warriors slipped out of their dens effortlessly, like paws sliding around on wet leaves on the forest floor. My mother allowed my brother and I to explore camp, but that was all, we weren't allowed out of camp because there weren’t any warriors to look after us. We had seen some apprentices leave camp through a hole in the gorse wall surrounding the hollow, on our first day out of the nursery. I took a sneaky glance at the hole in the wall,  and made sure my mother wasn't looking.  I stealthily padded away, making as little noise as I could. On my way through the  gorse wall, my fur brushed against the thorns, alerting the Clan of my departure. I huddled down into a dip in the barrier, hiding myself as well as possible. My blue-grey fur stood out against the bush, but I was so absorbed in my task of hiding that I didn’t give a second thought about my fur. Woodcrow came up behind me, startling me out of my hole. She grabbed my scruff and dragged me back to the nursery, scolding me with her muffled voice, telling me that I was foolish and that if I had left camp it could’ve been dangerous.  

CHAPTER THREE

I was confined to the nursery for a quarter-moon, only allowed out if there was a warrior with me. It was embarrassing, making dirt with older cats staring at me, but I was forced to live with it until my punishment was over. Every day, I pretended I was asleep for as long as I could, so the warriors weren’t forced to look after me when they could be hunting or patrolling. When my punishment ended, however, the Clan was looking at me warily, wondering if I was going to plan a ‘daring’ escape again. Whenever a cat came to scold me about trying to leave, I would glare at them until they walked away. I obviously wasn’t intimidating at all, but I liked to think I scared off the big, powerful warriors by myself.

CHAPTER FOUR

Sometimes I think my mother, Woodcrow, named me because my brain seemingly couldn’t grasp the concept of ‘you can’t do this, but you can do that’. I mean, of course I understood! I was nearly four moons, after all!

[mallowstep]

Primrosepaw being very protective of Misty and Feather and Tiger seeing a use for it. On how to control both Feather and Misty. Primrosepaw being kept alive and she protects Feather. "TAKE ME INSTEAD, YOU MAGGOT PELTS! LEAVE HER ALONE!" Primrosepaw managing to convince Tigerstar she's the one who needs her claws removed--and he does. All of them, on one whole paw. Primrosepaw still willing to protect Feather as her paw bleeds endlessly, Feather trying to hide her brave sister underneath her and Misty is just begging Tiger to let Mudfur see Primrose. When Twanypaw 'trains,' with Feather it's Primrosepaw who jumps in, snarling and ready to fight. "You won't touch my mama or my sister!"

aw, prim my beloved <3

yeah so -- primrosepaw lives au...not that i'm explicitly talking about that, but tigerstar can't actually use featherpaw and primrosepaw against mistyfoot the way he uses featherpaw because basically, prim and feather have each other?

uh. yeah. like.

mistyfoot wants to see them, but they can -- clean each others wounds. that's about it, but it's a pretty big deal. the reason featherpaw's side gets so bad is because jaggedtooth intentionally gets a bunch of dirt in it.

if prim is there, that doesn't happen.

and yeah, tigerstar could separate feather and prim, but that's a lot of work, isn't it? so. he can try to turn them against each other, but his other option is. well he has many options, really. in this case, i imagine he plays up the big sister role.

(Tigerstar's paw is on her tail. "You're already doing so well, Primrose. Let her practice.")

and for featherpaw -- if she's punished for her own behaviour, it's reflected on primrosepaw.

see -- primrosepaw isn't involved in fights. she wishes she was -- she would do anything to fight in featherpaw's place. just once. but she's not.

no, uh, this is. hm. okay well, idea under the cut, but moving on.

so when featherpaw loses her claw, it's because of her own actions. and that means -- primrosepaw hasn't been a good role model. so she better be punished as well.

and -- i think somehow the cats would probably need to just. amputate the whole paw. at some point. don't ask me how. feathertail recovers from sepsis without antibiotics. i bend and break rules in this au that i usually consider sacred.

anyway, as for idea. uh. hm.

sometimes w cws like -- i don't know how to phrase 'em. i'm -- like i know. i don't know. i don't want the cw itself to be triggering, but i also don't always know how to say it succinctly. again, if i do things in a way that is bad for you, or you think i could do things better, please let me know. okay, back to:

cw: implied threats of sexual assault of a minor

anyway if i wanted to go like -- darker. and you know, this is -- not what the primrosepaw lives au is going to look like. that has a Different Plan that's not very misty au related.

but. if i wanted to like -- i think. see. i think tigerstar would--

("I can fight," she says. Featherpaw is hurt and scared and Primrosepaw knows it's not about the "training" but she wants it to be, wants to pretend it is.

"I know you can," Tigerstar says. "But there's no need for you to prove your worth.)

compare her to her mother.

effectively.

that is -- the most i think i would say about that. just that. it's a Realistic option.

[mallowstep]

In a dark(er) version of the Human Misty au, what do you think would have happened if Misty and Featherpaw never escaped and Tigerstar was never arrested? How do you think it would have played out for everyone? How different would the triplets be if they had grown up under Tigerstar's metaphorical claws?

hm. if they never Ever escape vs Escaping much later. i'm not partial to no happy ending (long term), but.

tigerstar would have had to change how he dealt with featherpaw. she would have died eventually. humans are resilient to a lot (and indeed altho human!feathertail has more chronic health problems*, she's never as close to death as cat!feathertail), she still would have eventually died.

* re. post tigerclan. there's no second Event in the human version, so she gets to the same point in one event.

after the triplets are born, he'd separate them from mistyfoot. (i'm circling back to featherpaw don't worry.) mistyfoot needs recovery time, and tigerstar pats her on the head and says don't Worry she'll have more kids soon and if she's good this time, maybe she can hold them. wouldn't that be nice?

the triplets are raised...idk. mosspelt, maybe? there are Ambiguous Other Children around lmao. anyway, they're raised and. oh man is it a lot. here feels like a good place to put a cut.

cw: child abuse, sexual assault

so -- by the time they're five, because i don't feel like figuring out what they figure out when, but by the time they're five, they know a few things about their world.

tigerstar is their father.

mistyfoot is their mother.

if they have other full siblings, they don't know them.

mistyfoot is not on equal Level with the other women.

by now, featherpaw and tawnypaw, now feather...idk. we'll keep it feathertail for my sanity. tigerstar has to have leopardstar file that paperwork to avoid questions. anyway, feathertail and tawnypelt are now twenty.

what's up with them?

well, now's a good time to backtrack.

so, after mistyfoot gives birth, tigerstar is a little distracted, and featherpaw has a few months of being By Herself Mostly Ignored and vibing, and she starts to get somewhat better. she figures out after a few weeks that she's not going to see mistyfoot any time soon, if ever.

on tawnypaw's fifteenth birthday, tigerstar changes her name to tawnypelt and marries her to someone. rowanclaw is fine idrc.

tigerstar now has a problem. he doesn't really have anything to do with featherpaw.

see, here's the Thing: tawnypelt is now under rowanclaw's authority. tigerstar has opinions, of course, but she's rowanclaw's wife and his responsibility to manage as he sees fit. any infractions on tawnypelt's part are no longer directly reflected on her, but on rowanclaw.

and. tigerstar decides mistyfoot is Broken In and Obedient. um. it's. i'd say it's depression but it's actually a very reasonable and normal reaction to having four children taken from you. tigerstar literally didn't let her hold the newborns. would go as far as saying if he could keep her from seeing them, he did.

she's exhausted, weak (tigerstar had her on Complete Bed Rest for a long time), and grieving. she hasn't seen featherpaw in months. she thinks featherpaw might be dead.

so tigerstar doesn't like. need featherpaw to control mistyfoot, because mistyfoot has pretty much Given Up fighting. it's terrible, but.

featherpaw is healthier, bc she's not like. being regularly starved and beaten. and she's pretty nonfunctional at Being a Person.

and tigerstar is kind of bored.

so he decides to focus his manipulations on featherpaw. he has plans to have children with her when she's older, so he decides you know. wouldn't it be a Fun Game to see how deeply he can ingrain certain ideas into her brain.

there's -- in one thing i wrote with mistyfoot,

There are times when she feels more like a pet than a person. Tigerstar pushes her head on his shoulder and strokes her hair, and maybe he's right about something, because all the words he's saying to someone else sound like static.

he'd like to get featherpaw to that place. that -- instant and unquestionable compliance. and he has plenty of time to do it. she's fifteen, he wouldn't have children with her for at least five more years, likely ten. maybe he'd give her to someone else first.

but first: he wants to see if he can "break" her.

he moves her to a new room (still no windows, and with a lock to keep her in), and graduates her to new clothing. i'm thinking a plain white shift. it still comes above her knees, and the sleeves end before her elbows, and the collar doesn't come up to her neck, but it's objectively more clothing.

and then he just calls her over to him more and more. stand over there. no, it's alright, you don't have to face the corner. actually, why don't you stand behind me.

he's still violently beating her for minor to imagined infractions, but that's now contrasted with a kindness that she does not understand.

anyway, he eventually starts having her kneel beside him ("you're looking tired, feather"), and he occasionally pats her head or runs her hand through her hair.

and while this is happening, he assigns tawnypelt to "take care" of her. make sure she brushes her teeth. bathe her. wash her hair. that sort of thing.

and if she resists, well. tawnypelt's perfectly capable of delivering a punishment.

so feathertail is about twenty, the kids are five, mistyfoot has been pregnant once but failed to carry the child to term, tigerstar had mudfur give her the hormones again, (a) because it fucks with her emotions and he can manipulate her with that, and (b) because why not have triplets again?

mistyfoot makes very few public appearances these days.

tigerstar now is trying to get feathertail to want to have children with him. because he wants the power trip of (a) getting her to want his children and (b) getting her to agree to have someone else's children first to accomplish that.

and the kids are five.

they're coming by the main house more and more -- they won't move in until they're a bit older -- and i mean. they're raised in this dynamic. mothkit understands she will be someone's wife, etc., etc.

mistyfoot gets pregnant again, feathertail is following tigerstar around because ever since mistyfoot "left her," he's the only person who's shown her any kindness, and the kids are very confused bc like.

mistyfoot is a Pitiable soul in some sense. an example of why women should just submit from the start. it's not good on their poor minds and bodies to rebel for too long.

anyway bc i don't like no happy endings this is probably when i'd have everyone get rescued and it'd b a very different story with a very different recovery.

[staircasttext]

Episode 49: Chapters 13-16

Chapter 13

After the storm, Firestar leads everyone back to camp and is relieved to see that Tigerstar hasn't attacked yet. He tells Whitestorm and some other warriors what happened with Tigerstar and his new TigerClan. When Firestar orders extra patrols as a precaution, Cloudtail is eager to volunteer. Firestar also asks Cinderpelt if she really thinks the storm was a sign from StarClan, which she doesn't believe.

Later on, Firestar is training Bramblepaw and is happy with how he is progressing. Then Bramblepaw asks why it's such a bad idea to join into one big Clan like TigerClan, which upsets Firestar. He explains to Bramblepaw that Tigerstar wouldn't share but would control everyone instead. The question worries him and makes him wonder if Bramblepaw is as loyal as he'd been starting to hope.

Some time later, Cloudtail asks Firestar to observe how his and Brightheart's training has been going. Firestar is initially and internally skeptical, but quickly changes his tune when he sees how well Brightheart is doing as even joins in the training himself. He encourages her to keep practicing and says she might be able to teach something to the clan in the future.

After the storm, food is hard to find. While out in the forest, Firestar sees a vision in a stream of a lion in his own reflection and then a vision of Spottedleaf. He is confused and in disbelief, wondering if StarClan means for a new clan to arise, like the great clans of legend, and for him to lead it.

Chapter 14

Graystripe is about to ask Firestar something when he sees Tawnypaw storm out of the elders den, followed by a worried-looking Bramblepaw. When Firestar asks her what's wrong, Tawnypaw says that Smallear bullies her because Tigerstar is her father. Firestar tries to calm her down with mixed success. When she storms off again, he promises Bramblepaw that he'll talk to Smallear later.

Afterward, Graystripe speaks to him again and says he needs to check on his kits because Tigerstar has taken over RiverClan. Firestar knows it's a bad idea and instead proposes a worse idea: he, the new leader of an enemy clan, will go with Graystripe too. In secret, without telling anyone. As they head out, they bump into Ravenpaw who has come to the camp to pay his respects to Bluestar. They instantly tell him their plan as well as the TigerClan update, and Ravenpaw immediately decides to help them.

The three of them sneak into RiverClan territory and encounter rotting freshkill leading to an unknown clearing. In the clearing is the hill of bones from Firestar's dream, surrounded by ShadowClan cats and carrion. Tigerstar leaps onto the bone hill to call a meeting, ordering for the "prisoners" to be brought out: Stonefur and Graystripe's kits, Featherpaw and Stormpaw.

Chapter 15

Graystripe is horrified and wants to jump in and save his kits, but Firestar and Ravenpaw hold him back. Tigerstar makes a grand speech about loyalty and how half-Clan cats like Stonefur and the two apprentices could never be loyal, which Stonefur furiously protests, saying he has always been loyal to RiverClan. Tigerstar says he can prove it by killing Graystripe's kits. Leopardstar is there and seems in over her head, unable and unwilling to defend her deputy. Stonefur refuses and Tigerstar orders Darkstripe to kill him. Even weakened, Stonefur puts up a good fight but when Tigerstar orders his own deputy to help, he is finally killed.

Chapter 16

Tigerstar mocks Darkstripe for not being able to kill Stonefur on his own and decides to keep Featherpaw and Stormpaw alive for now. The meeting ends and the apprentices are taken back to their prison. Graystripe wants to rescue them right away, but the others convince him to follow a plan instead. Ravenpaw suggests they roll in some rotten fresh kill to disguise their scent. They find that the kits are being held in a hole guarded by Jaggedtooth, and Ravenpaw pretends to be a RiverClan warrior with a message from Tigerstar to send Jaggedtooth away. They manage to sneak Graystripe's kits and Mistyfoot out but their escape is soon noticed.

[staircasttext]

Episode 42: Chapters 21-24

Chapter 21

Fireheart and Brackenfur take Bramblepaw and Tawnypaw out to introduce them to ThunderClan territory, ending up by the Thunderpath and near ShadowClan’s border. The apprentices ask about why their father Tigerstar left ThunderClan for ShadowClan, and Fireheart remembers his promise to Goldenflower to explain what happened to them. Bramblepaw and Tawnypaw are both shocked and distressed to hear that their father was a traitor, though Fireheart tries to reassure them that the Clan is still proud of them. Bramblepaw becomes angry at Fireheart for the first time, coming to the correct conclusion that the source of Fireheart’s visible dislike for a baby kitten (himself) has been because of Tigerstar this whole time. Fireheart hopes that the truth about Tigerstar doesn’t push the two apprentices further from the Clan.

When they return to camp, Fireheart is sad because Sandstorm is still upset with him. He visits Brightpaw, who is currently recovering in Cinderpelt’s den, to try and ask her what attacked her. Cloudtail is keeping her company and taking care of her.  They all ask Brightpaw if she could stay in the elders’ den to look after Speckletail who just lost her kit, ostensibly so they can all take care of each other and feel more useful as they recover. Cloudtail also promises to help her train again so she can be a warrior. She seems hopeful but becomes distressed when Fireheart asks her what attacked her, since she can’t remember.

Chapter 22

Bluestar leads the group to the next Gathering, not trusting Fireheart to do it. Graystripe begs to come so that he can get news of his kits, Featherpaw and Stormpaw. While there, Fireheart sees Tigerstar and Leopardstar hanging out again and the latter comments on how strong the ShadowClan apprentices look. He and Graystripe meet with Mosspelt, a RiverClan cat, who reassures Graystripe that his kits are fine, glad that their father is alive, and have been apprenticed to Stonefur and Mistyfoot. She also says no one is surprised by his departure, since he always seemed so homesick. Graystripe seems happy about who will mentor his kits, but Fireheart is worried that Mistyfoot and Stonefur might turn the kits against Graystripe after what happened with Bluestar.

Tigerstar later makes a public request to have Bramblepaw and Tawnypaw given to ShadowClan because they’re his kits. The ThunderClan cats are outraged and Bluestar tries to stay firm, but Tigerstar mentions how bad ThunderClan has been recently at caring for its kits, like Snowkit and Swiftpaw. Fireheart realizes then that Darkstripe must have snitched to him. Tigerstar also makes an implicit threat about how ThunderClan has given its kits away before--hinting that he means Bluestar’s kits, not just Graystripe’s. Bluestar seems shaken and says she’ll give an answer at their next Gathering.

Chapter 23

Fireheart, Graystripe, Brightpaw, and Cloudtail are all going to visit Cloudtail’s mother, Princess. Everyone is alert and on edge because of how dangerous the forest has become. Cloudtail is encouraging and gentle with Brightpaw, who is nervous but growing more confident. When they reach Princess, she is elated that Cloudtail has become a warrior, though she becomes distressed when Fireheart warns her to stay in her yard because of the dog. She worries about how dangerous their lives are, as starving, feral, easily killed stray cats. Although Fireheart tells Princess to be kind to Brightpaw, she makes some insensitive and probing comments, which upsets Brightpaw. After they leave Princess, Brightpaw asks to see her reflection in a puddle while Cloudtail reassures her. He says it was cruel of Bluestar to name her “Lostface” and Fireheart inwardly agrees but takes a weird centrist position about it.

Later, Fireheart dreams of Spottedleaf, who again warns him about an “enemy that never sleeps,” which makes him think of Tigerstar. When he’s awake, he goes to check on Brightpaw and the elders, who all seem to be doing well. Cloudtail readies to go hunting with Sandstorm; his foster mother, Brindleface, tells him to be careful in wake of all the recent dangers.

Afterward, a shaken-looking Longtail tells Fireheart that he went to Snakerocks and saw Tigerstar there. Fireheart is furious and suspicious, accusing Longtail of conspiring with Tigerstar and Darkstripe, and refuses to listen to him at first. After Cinderpelt points out that he’s acting like Bluestar, Fireheart returns to Longtail, who tells him and Whitestorm about seeing a pack of dogs living at Snakerocks and Tigerstar leaving fresh-kill for them. Fireheart realizes the pack is the danger that was haunting the forest and they decide to lead a patrol to Snakerocks tomorrow.

Chapter 24

Later, Fireheart cautiously decides to go talk to Sandstorm, wanting her to be with him during the dog investigation. Fireheart explains this to her and they have a conversation where they discuss their motivations and feelings towards the warrior code. Fireheart finally admits that he loves her, and apologizes for his behavior. Fireheart breathes in her sweet scent. Sandstorm returns his feelings, and agrees to come with him to Snakerocks.

Fireheart is standing vigil during the night when Cinderpelt comes to talk to him. She encourages him to get some sleep, but Fireheart is on edge. Cinderpelt reassures him that Starclan is not punishing the clan, and that the entire Clan is with him. They both agree to not tell Bluestar about where they are going tomorrow. Fireheart is eventually convinced to go to sleep, and has troubling dreams. He thinks that he could likely die tomorrow.

He gathers the patrol he chose to go investigate– Sandstorm. Cloudtail, Whitestorm, Graystripe, and Longtail. Both Graystripe and Longtail are determined to prove their loyalty to Thunderclan. Fireheart also gives everyone permission to attack Tigerstar on sight. 

On the way to Snakerocks, Graystripe finds a dead rabbit. After some investigating, the group discovers Tigerstar killed several rabbits to lay a trail for the dogs straight to Thunderclan’s camp. Panicked, Fireheart orders the patrol to collect the rabbits to disrupt the trail although Whitestorm points out the scent of the rabbits will still linger. The patrol throws all the rabbits in a pile in a ravine, hoping it will at least distract the dogs, and then rush back to camp. However, when they arrive back, they discover the body of a cat– it’s Cloudtail’s adoptive mother, Brindleface, killed by Tigerstar to act as bait.