Jaypaw goes about his chores after Hollypaw leaves. Cinderpaw admits to Jaypaw that she had a dream about him where he could see. Realizing she is remembering him enter her dream he asks what else she remembers but the rest of the dream is vague to her. He decides to test her by giving her the wrong herbs for healing her broken leg. Leafpool catches him and is upset. She doesn't believe Jaypaw when he tells her he got the herbs mixed up so he admits what he was trying to do. Leafpool tells him Cinderpaw's memories are in the paws of StarClan and to leave it be - but Jaypaw feels that just because their warrior ancestors are dead that doesn't automatically make them smart. Later, Cinderpaw asks Jaypaw to play with her. As they play she asks him about being blind. He tells her to him it is normal and it only upsets him when he is treated differently because of it. Leafpool comes back to the den and catches them playing. She is furious with Jaypaw. She angrily insists to him that Cinderpaw must become a warrior this time. He counters why would it be so bad to take a different path - and points out that he has had to. Leafpool tells him he is blind and Jaypaw becomes upset, feeling that Leafpool feels he is a lost cause. He leaves the den and Leafpool follows him, telling him they need to collect herbs. He tries to look into her mind to see how she feels after their fight but her thoughts are guarded. Leafpool tries to talk to him about medicine cat duties and Jaypaw allows himself to become drawn in. She tests him on some herbs, much to his annoyance since he already knows the answers. Hearing prey he catches it and throws it at Leafpool's feet, asking her if she now believes he doesn't need his eyes to see. He expects Leafpool to be angry with him but instead is shocked at the strong caring emotion coming off of her. He realizes they are near the stick and he pulls it out. Leafpool asks him why he is so interested in it and he responds that it is important. A sudden rain storm breaks out and they have to run back to camp, leaving the stick on the ground. After the storm passes Jaypaw decides to go back and find the stick. He catches Lionpaw sneaking back into camp and knows he is lying about where he was. He asks Lionpaw for help and he agrees - and Jaypaw realizes Lionpaw feels to guilty to refuse. He takes him to where the stick was, but much to Jaypaw's panic they cannot find it. Suddenly Jaypaw hears the stick calling to him from out in the water. He swims out and tries to drag it back to shore but it is too heavy. Lionpaw helps him and Jaypaw stores the stick safely away again while hearing voices thanking him.
Lionpaw is out hunting with Ashfur, but he is so tired he keeps making mistakes. At first Ashfur is angry with him and keeps criticizing his mistakes, but as they continue Ashfur refuses to say anything, sitting in silent disappointment. When they get back to camp Ashfur has prey but Lionpaw has none. Brambleclaw comments on this and Lionpaw worries what his mentor will say but Ashfur covers for him. Lionpaw admits to himself that he has been screwing up for days and wonders why no one seems to care about him and his training. He asks Ashfur what they are doing next but Ashfur tells him to eat and rest and then leaves him. Too tired to eat Lionpaw heads to his den, wondering if Ashfur has given up on him. Later he, Ashfur, Brambleclaw, and Berrypaw go to train battle moves together. Lionpaw does awful, causing him and Ashfur to get into a fight. Brambleclaw tells Lionpaw that a real warrior would not blame other cats for his mistakes, then takes Berrypaw away so Ashfur can talk to Lionpaw alone. Lionpaw apologizes but Ashfur tells him it is like Lionpaw no longer hears anything he says. He warns Lionpaw that at this rate Icekit and Foxkit will be warriors before him. Ashfur has him practice moves while he goes to help Brambleclaw train Berrypaw. Tigerstar shows up and helps Lionpaw with his moves, even giving him advice on how to do them better. Ashfur is pleased with his progress but Brambleclaw seems disturbed by Lionpaw's addition to the moves. Lionpaw worries that his father recognizes Tigerstar's help but Brambleclaw says nothing. The cats head back and Lionpaw quickly thanks Tigerstar for his help.
Hollypaw is upset as her clan prepares for a battle. She feels that if they could just find out what is happening with RiverClan maybe help could be offered. She turns to both Firestar and Leafpool bit both turn her away, with Leafpool even telling her it is no longer appropriate for her to be so close to Willowpaw. Feeling like no one is listening she sneaks away to RiverClan land to find out what is going on. She sneaks onto the island and finds Willowpaw. Mothwing catches them talking and tells Willowpaw to show Hollypaw the truth.
Willowpaw shows her their old camp, and explains that Twoleg kits keep attacking it, so they are fortifying it to drive them away. She promises they will be off the island by the next Gathering. As Willowpaw brings her to the border a RiverClan patrol comes along and a dog attacks. Swept up with the patrol they wind up on WindClan land where another patrol finds them. Heated words are exchanged but the RiverClan cats are allowed to leave without a fight. After they leave it is realized Hollypaw is with them. They take her to Leopardstar who at first is amused. But when she finds out Hollypaw has seen their old camp and knows the full extent of their problems she decrees that Hollypaw cannot leave yet, insisting it is unsafe after the recent altercation with WindClan. Hollypaw realizes the real reason Leopardstar will not let her leave is she knows too much. As she settles in the medicine den she realizes just how much trouble she is actually in.
Jaypaw's obsession with the stick must have a reason. Clearly these cats version of StarClan is talking to him, but why? I wonder, since the stick is so large, maybe these cats were bigger? However the entrance into the tunnels is only in a fox den, so maybe not.
Lionpaw really needs to stop seeing Heatherpaw. It is starting to hurt him and his clan, since he is unable to perform his duties. Everytime I start to think Ashfur is a traitor he does something that changes my mind. I think he is genuinely upset with Lionpaw, but if he was a traitor wouldn't he rejoice in Brambleclaw's son failing? I just don't know. But talking to Tigerstar is a bad idea, and Brambleclaw clearly realized that Lionpaw was using Tigerstar's fighting moves. Does he suspect his father of speaking to his children? All I know is I want to know who the traitor is, already! Of course, maybe there is no traitor... Hawkfrost certainly could have been lying.
As for Hollypaw, she is in huge trouble. But, she does have information that could avert needless battles so hopefully she can do that. But Leafpool is right - Hollypaw is too close to Willowpaw. And Hollypaw is right in insisting it is a different closeness then Lionpaw shares with Heatherpaw. Hollypaw is not in love and Willowpaw is a medicine cat, so the rules are slightly different here, but I do think Leafpoolnis right that Hollypaw needs to let go of the closeness of her friendship. Time and again we have seen that end in heartbreak.
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