Monday, October 22, 2018

outcast: part two

Jaypaw and Leafpool travel to the Moonpool. Jaypaw hopes to finally speak to Rock. When he dreams Tock does come to him, but is evasive in his answers. He does imply that there are cats from before the Tribe and Clans and he tells Jaypaw that he can get the answers to his questions in the mountains. Jaypaw spots Leafpool, and Leafpool points Feathertail out to him. Feathertail tells Leafpool she cannot speak right now and takes her prey to the Tribe's ancestors, implying that the Tribe might be in trouble. Jaypaw is frustrated that he did not get to ask Feathertail any questions. He watches as Rock follows Feathertail and feels that all the cats are connected somehow. When they wake he asks Leafpool if she will tell Firestar about her dream but she is unsure if she should, since it is the tribe's problem and not theirs.

Lionpaw is practicing moves with Cinderpaw while Berrynose makes negative comments from the side. Unable to take it anymore Lionpaw makes a comment about Berrynose's fight with ShadowClan. Berrynose becomes furious with Lionpaw, and Lionpaw is tempted to attack him but knows he would be in huge trouble if he does. Instead he stomps off, running into Stormfur who he realizes overhead everything. Lionpaw finds himself confiding his frustrations and fears to Stormfur, as well as the feeling of expectation he gets from his clan for being related to Firestar and Brambleclaw. Stormfur points out that he probably also struggles with being related to Tigerstar, and tells him that Brambleclaw used to struggle with that too. However, Lionpaw never thought of that before now, though he does not say this to Stormfur. As they talk of the clan and Lionpaw's feelings, Lionpaw begins to feel better. Stormfur tells him about the journey and meeting Brook, not living with his clan, and going home once Brook is ready. After Stormfur leaves Lionpaw realizes that he would never have been happy living with WindClan and Heatherpaw would never have been happy living with ThunderClan. He wishes to visit the mountains, and feels as if they are calling to him, but he knows he cannot go.

Obsessed with the warrior code and being the best warrior ever, Hollypaw decides to focus on one thing at a time while training so she can master each skill individually. Cinderpaw thinks it is a bad idea but Hollypaw is determined. The warriors take their apprentices to the training grounds. Lionpaw wants to try some advanced moves and pushes Ashfur to teach him some. Ashfur tells him it is too advanced but he can try if he wants. Lionpaw does the move perfectly, much to Hollypaw's shock, and asks Ashfur to be tougher on him. Ashfur gets an odd look in his eyes as he tells Lionpaw to be careful what he wishes for. He attacks Lionpaw and Hollypaw watches as the two of them actually fight, claws unsheathed, drawing blood. Shocked, Brackenfur puts an end to the fight. Ashfur brushes it off, telling Lionpaw that he fought like a warrior and telling the other apprentices that they should hope to be as good as Lionpaw one day. The two leave and everyone watches them go, shaken by what they just witnessed. After the training session Hollypaw seeks out Brambleclaw to tell him about the fight, but he already knows. He said Ashfur already told him about it, and about how proud he was of Lionpaw. Hollypaw feels that Brambleclaw is not really listening to her but she can't argue with Brambleclaw. He invites her to go hunting with him, Sandstorm, and Honeypaw. While out hunting they scent a strange cat smell. Brambleclaw sends Hollypaw and Honeypaw back to camp to report to Firestar and get more warriors but when they get there they find Graystripe arriving with intruders.

Jaypaw listens to the cats racing to see what is going on and hears Graystripe demand to know why the strange cats are here. Brook arrives and recognizes Talon and Night from her tribe immediately. Jaypaw senses that the tribe cats don't want to be here but feel they have no choice. Firestar, recognizing the cats, asks them why they are here and tells Brook to greet her friends but Brook and Stormfur clearly feel uncomfortable. As Jaypaw listens on he has a vision of the tribe getting invaded by a group of rogues, of Stormfur convincing the tribe to fight and stand their ground, of the fight going horribly wrong, and of Stormfur getting banished and Brook following him.

Jaypaw listens on as Talon and Night ask for Stormfur and Brook to return. The cats are angry that the tribe would ask them to come back. The whole story comes out, including Stormfur and Brook's banishment but Jaypaw only half listens since he already knows all of this. In the end Brook and Stormfur agree to return, and Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight ask Firestar for permission to go too. Firestar gives it and Jaypaw wonders if there is a way he can go too.

So, two things. First of all, I am now 100% convinced Ashfur is a bad guy. I mean, I was pretty much settled on it after the way Berrynose was treating Lionpaw when they were out together, but now I am firmly decided. I don't want to get sidetracked by Berrynose here, but I think Ashfur is encouraging Berrynose, and Berrynose is influencing Birchfall. I hope Birchfall has come to his senses. But I am getting the distinct impression that Ashfur actually hates Lionpaw. Which is odd, because he also protects Lionpaw at times (like when they were fighting the dogs). Lionpaw always feels like Ashfur is holding him back, Ashfur is very negative towards Lionpaw - but, in his defense, not necessarily unduly negative. After all, Lionpaw was slacking for a bit there. On one hand their relationship is very negative. But, sometimes, Ashfur does really come through for Lionpaw and seem to genuinely care for him. I wonder if sometimes he has a hard time separating Lionpaw from his parents.

I keep coming back to it had to have been Ashfur who betrayed Firestar. There is no other cat (except for Birchfall, but he was an apprentice and was sent away immediately). And now Ashfur actually drew blood while fighting with Lionpaw. Don't get me wrong, Lionpaw is turning into as difficult and rage filled as Jaypaw seems to be at times. And he really needs to stop meeting with Tigerstar. He cannot be an easy apprentice to have. But Ashfur flat out attacked Lionpaw and it quickly turned into with the intent to wound. Ashfur tried to brush it off, but no one was buying it. I have a feeling something bad is going to happen here. It makes me sad too, because at times it seems as if Ashfur has put the past behind between him and Brambleclaw. And, like I said, sometimes he seems to genuinely like Lionpaw. But other times it seems as if something is seething beneath the surface. And right now I feel like it just came out full force.

The second thing is we are finally finding out what is happening with Brook and Stormfur. And all three apprentices are hearing the call of the mountains. I imagine they will get to go with Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight. I just hope they don't try to sneak out of camp and follow them and instead get permission - but I'm not sure how they could finagle that.

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