Leafpool tries to concentrate on her duties but isn't doing so well. Mosspelt arrives, asking her to help Mothwing. Leafpool seeks out Cinderpelt who tells her she may go if Firestar gives his permission. Firestar does and Cinderpelt comments that ThunderClan is lucky to have two medicine cats - but she seems off as she says this. Brightheart offers to help Cinderpelt in Leafpool's absence. As Mosspelt leads Leafpool to RiverClan they pass through WindClan territory. A patrol sees them but gives them no problem. Crowfeather is there and asks Leafpool to meet him that night on the island. Leafpool agrees. At the RiverClan camp she helps Mothwing with the sick cats. They discover the source of the poison and Hawkfrost implies that it is Mistyfoot's fault the cats are sick - his argument being that since she is deputy she should have known about the poison. Leafpool is shocked both at Hawkfrost's unfair comments and that he would be so bold as to say them publicly for anyone to hear. Back at the camp the sick cats are all recovering, though one kit dies. Leafpool also meets Willowkit who enjoys helping Mothwing. After everything settled down for the night Leafpool realizes she forgot to meet with Crowfeather.
Ashfur and Squirrelflight go to take Birchpaw training, which causes yet another fight between Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw. Ashfur goes on alone to train Birchpaw and Squirrelflight heads off to clear her head. She sees Tawnypelt fighting with one of the kittypets they got into a fight with when they were first scouting the area. She helps Tawnypelt out and, after getting more information from her about how the kittypets are terrorizing her clan, offers to help. She goes back to Firestar who agrees to let some cats offer Blackstar help. Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight are among the cats picked - but Ashfur is not since he is supposed to be training - and they leave for ShadowClan.
They arrive at the ShadowClan camp and at first Blackstar is mad at Tawnypelt for turning to ThunderClan for help, but his warriors quickly speak up in her defense. The kittypets are terrorizing them and have already killed an apprentice. Some of the ShadowClan cats want to kill the kittypets but ThunderClan objects, pointing out how this will only anger the Twolegs. Blackstar sends some of his cats with the ThunderClan warriors and places Russetfur in charge of their group. The decision is made to use Tawnypelt as bait since she is already injured. The other cats hide and when the kittypets come out to attack Tawnypelt the clan cats corner them. The fight is over quickly with the clan cats winning and the kittypets agreeing to leave them alone. Squirrelflight goes up to Brambleclaw to tell him how he fought well but he is distant and cold. After reporting back to Blackstar the ThunderClan cats go home - with Squirrelflight upset that she and Brambleclaw can't seem to get along.
Leafpool finally leaves RiverClan for home. As she passes through WindClan territory she hopes to see Crowfeather but never does. She reports to Firestar and then excitedly hurries to Cinderpelt's den, but when she gets there she sees Brightheart acting like Cinderpelt's new apprentice. Upset, she goes off to eat where she finds Squirrelflight and Ashfur returning from hunting. She is upset by the closeness between the two cats, knowing she can never have anything like that with Crowfeather. That night Leafpool dreams of a shadowy world. She calls out to Spottedleaf but no one answers. Fearful that StarClan is punishing her for her love for Crowfeather she runs around trying to find anything. Seeing a sickly light ahead she follows it and comes across a clearing with Hawkfrost, Brambleclaw, and Tigerstar in it.
Leafpool listens on as Tigerstar gives his sons advice on how to become leaders. Hawkfrost's enthusiasm scares her. She runs away and wakes up to Brambleclaw standing over her. He tells her Firestar wants her for the Gathering that night. After Brambleclaw leaves she wonders if he chose to visit his father - and just what Tigerstar will make Brambleclaw do to become leader. As Leafpool goes about her duties she is upset by Brightheart helping. Cinderpelt asks her what is wrong and she responds that there are too many medicine cats. Cinderpelt sadly tells her that sometimes courage is needed to accept what StarClan sends, no matter how hard it is. Leafpool wonders if those words are meant for Brightheart - since Cloudtail is spending so much time with Daisy - or for herself, meaning that Brightheart is going to replace her. As Mousefur goes to Brightheart for help Leafpool is afriad that ThunderClan no longer needs her.
So, I can't help but wonder if Cinderpelt fears Leafpool leaving the life of a medicine cat - and that is why she made the comment about ThunderClan being lucky to have two medicine cats. And, later on, Leafpool echoes those thoughts when she realizes that Brightheart might be replacing her.
I do not think Leafpool going to the shadowy realm is a punishment - I think StarClan wants her to see it. Brambleclaw needs help so he does not follow down his father's dark path - a path that Hawkfrost has clearly decided to accept - and I think StarClan is trying to arm her with this knowledge. Which, about Hawkfrost, I feel like this is so wrong. He is turning into another Tigerclaw when he was so determined to be so different. However, Brambleclaw too is falling under the sway of trying to find the good in Tigerstar. But I really do think Brambleclaw sees this as a way to be a better warrior whereas Hawkfrost only sees his own ambition.
As for Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight - those two seem to be willing to fight over anything, no matter how trivial. I really wish they would stop and actually talk about things.
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