So quite a bit happened in chapters ten to thirteen.
Firepaw resumes trainign and he, Graypaw, and Ravenpaw are assessed as apprentices and Tigerclaw does the assessing. He sends the three of them on a task to catch as much prey as possible for the clan. He sends the three of them off with Ravenpaw towards snakerocks, mocking him saying in such easy territory he should have no problem catching prey. He sends Firepaw towards the Twolegs homes and Graypaw in the other direction. He warns all three that he will be watching them. Firepaw and Graypaw are confused by Tigerclaw's comments to Ravenpaw. Snakerocks is a dangerous place to hunt as it is full of quick, poisonous snakes. While out Firepaw meets his old friend Smudge (who was in the first couple of chapters). At first he attacks him as an enemy cat in his territory, but once he realizes who he is he is friendly towards him. He tells Smudge that he is happy in his new home and they affectionately part ways.
Back at the camp Tigerclaw makes his report to Bluestar who summons Firepaw. She is angry with him for being affectionate with Smudge and questions his loyalty to the clan. Firepaw insists that Smudge is a part of his old life and that the clan is his true home - and that seeing Smudge drove this home to him. Bluestar accepts his answers but seems worried. She tells Firepaw that Tigerclaw was very impressed with all three apprentices hunting skills and reported that they all did good. Then she tells him that all three will accompany the clan to the next meeting with all the clans called The Gathering.
At The Gathering things do not go as planned. ShadowClan's young apprentices appear to be too young - noted by Lionheart. Ravenpaw tells the story of taking back Sunning Rocks to other apprentices but in his version Redtail kills Oakheart. WindClan never shows. ShadowClan demands hunting rights in everyone's territories and admits to driving WindClan away because they would not share. RiverClan's leader, Crookedstar, admits to giving hunting rights to ShadowClan to keep the peace - much to the fury of his clan. Lastly, ShadowClan's leader, Brokenstar, speaks of a cat of theirs gone rouge - a cat who kills kits. Realizing what he means, Firepaw races from The Gathering to go warn Yellowfang, who he has begun to grow affectionate towards and who is also beginning to grow affectionate to him in return, before his clan comes home.
He beats everyone home but Yellowfang refuses to leave. She feels Bluestar is a fair leader and insists she will accept her judgement, no matter what it is. The cats return in a frenzy to check on the kits and attack Yellowfang in the hopes that Bluestar will pass a death sentence on her. Bluestar is shocked by their behavior and points out that Yellowfang has done no wrong, but Brokenstar has done plenty wrong and is the true enemy. She also says she will go to Moonstone to ask StarClan for guidance. Firepaw sees Tigerclaw with Ravenpaw and worries for his friend because Tigerclaw is clearly angry with him. Lionheart tells Firepaw that he, Graypaw, and Ravenpaw will travel to Moonstone with Bluestar so they need their rest.
MUCH happened in these four chapters. First of all is Tigerclaw and Ravenpaw. Tigerclaw sending Ravenpaw to the most dangerous territory to hunt, while mocking Ravenpaw and claiming to send him to the easiest place makes no sense. But when Ravenpaw tells a different story about Sunning Rocks then Tigerclaw, things start to fall into place. Clearly Tigerclaw is lying about something - Redtail's death if nothing else. Redtail killed Oakheart, not the other way around. Tigerclaw clearly didn't avenge Redtail's death. And just how did Redtail die if not by Oakheart? Claiming a victory that was not his - killing Oakheart - because the true victor is not alive to contradict you is one thing. But this is more then that since Oakheart supposedly killed Redtail yet clearly didn't. No matter what, this starts to explain Ravenpaw's fear and Tigerclaw's hatred. Ravenpaw clearly knows a secret that Tigerclaw does not want exposed.
However, despite what is going on between them Tigerclaw clearly seems to care about the clan and even the apprentices. He goes back and forth between mocking them and praising them. He might have gotten Firepaw in trouble with Bluestar but it could have been a genuine question of Firepaw's loyalties. After all, he fed and brought an enemy cat to their camp instead of killing her and let the kittypet Smudge live. Yet despite this he admitted to Bluestar that Firepaw - along with his two friends - did very good on their hunt.
A final three points.
Spottedleaf is clearly developing feelings for Firepaw as well. She was very affectionate to him when he went to her for herbs to bring to bring on their trip to the Moonstone. And about the Moonstone, Graypaw said it is where the clan leaders go to receive dream visions, change their name to star, and receive their nine lives when they are named clan leader. Finally, the cats feel they are descended from the great cat clans from long ago. LeopardClan gave them their swiftness and hunting skills, TigerClan gave them the ability to hunt at night, and LionClan gave them their love for the sun. And while some cats mourn the passing of these cats because they would teach the Twolegs a lesson, Spottedleaf points out that if they ruled the woods there would be no home for their small clans.
More chapters later!
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