Lionpaw is in the apprentice's den when Firestar calls a meeting. Everyone comes out to find out who the new deputy will be. Hollypaw says that Firestar will name Graystripe but Jaypaw tells her to wait. Firestar names Brambleclaw, much to some cats shock. Squirrelflight starts the cheer for him and Ashfur immediately jumps in, causing Squirrelflight to look at him in surprise. The choice upsets Hollypaw, who feels that the warrior code must be followed and she and Lionpaw argue back and forth. Brambleclaw, Berrypaw, Brightheart, and Jaypaw are going hunting. Ashfur invites himself and Lionpaw along. A decision is made for Berrypaw and Lionpaw to have a competition. Hollypaw is sent to Leafpool's den, much to her disappointment. But she comes right back saying Leafpool wishes her to collect herbs and wants her to join the patrol. Graystripe asks to join too and the cats head off. Lionpaw overhears Jaypaw giving Hollypaw hints as to which herbs she is looking for and is confused, since Hollypaw should know this. As they are out they notice that ShadowClan has marked some of their territory. Jaypaw warns them that ShadowClan is close when suddenly it seems as if all of ShadowClan is there. ShadowClan claims that ThunderClan is no longer a real clan, so they are entitled to the territory.
Graystripe sends Lionpaw to get help as a fight breaks out. He almost gets caught by a ShadowClan warrior but Squirrelflight saves him. He reports to Firestar and a large group sets off to help their cats. During the fight Lionpaw finds Jaypaw being toyed with by Owlpaw. He wants to help but knows his brother would be upset so instead he helps his brother by telling him where to expect Owlpaw's attacks. Jaypaw beats Owlpaw. Owlpaw goes back to attack again but Lionpaw stops him. They defeat the ShadowClan cats and head back to camp, leaving Brambleclaw, Ashfur, and Birchfall to remark the border. Hollypaw is elated from the battle. Leafpool reaches their group and asks Hollypaw if anyone is injured but Hollypaw does not know. When Leafpool asks her for the herbs Hollypaw is forced to admit she never picked them. Leafpool asks her to look out for herbs on the way back to camp and Jaypaw had to tell her which are the best ones to collect. Jaypaw is upset, thinking that maybe he really cannot be a warrior. Lionpaw and Hollypaw try to cheer him up. Leafpool calls Hollypaw away. Lionpaw doesn't know how to help Jaypaw and as he watches Hollypaw reluctantly help the injured cats he finds himself wondering if Hollypaw really wants to be a medicine cat.
Jaypaw listens as Firestar gives his orders. He worries that maybe he really isn't cut out to be a warrior and that StarClan has a different destiny in mind for him. He listens as Brambleclaw gives his report and can feel Brambleclaw's unease during it. ShadowClan feels they ThunderClan is too tainted by taking in so many outsiders. Many cats are quick to point out that loyalty is what matters, not birth. While most everyone agrees with them a few are worried that ShadowClan has a point. That night Jaypaw decides he needs to speak with StarClan. He worries Brackenfur, who is guarding the entrance, will not let him leave but he does. At the Moonpool Jaypaw senses the invisible cats again. They welcome him. He dreams but no one comes to him. Feeling frustrated he decides to run and explore. As he goes on the trees start to change and he senses an emptiness. Feeling uneasy he slows down. A voice calls out to him and he follows it to Tigerstar and Hawkfrost. Tigerstar and Hawkfrost offer to train him to be a better warrior. He admits that he is having second thoughts about being one but Tigerstar insists that his path is correct. He bemoans Mothwing's refusal to be a warrior and expresses relief that Hollypaw is starting to change her mind. Jaypaw is unsure about their advice. He wishes to be a warrior but when he tries to get a sense of them he feels only darkness. Spottedleaf arrives to take Jaypaw away, saying he does not belong there. Tigerstar responds by telling her that she does not belong there. As Spottedleaf leaves Jaypaw realizes he must pick between a cat he trusts and two that he does not. Even though he wants what they offer he follows Spottedleaf. Once they are safely away Spottedleaf tells him he must never go there again. Jaypaw tries to get answers about himself out of Spottedleaf but she is evasive. When he calls her out on it she admits it is because StarClan fears for him. Feeling that even StarClan is treating him like a kit he responds that Tigerstar and Hawkfrost are different. But when Spottedleaf asks him if he trusts them he admits he does not. He tries to read Spottedleaf and as he digs he realizes she is in love with Firestar. Spottedleaf tells him he has an incredible gift, that he can go where even StarClan cannot, and that he must become a medicine cat and use his gift for the good of his clan. Spottedleaf leaves him and he realizes he cannot escape his destiny.
Hollypaw wakes up and finds herself speaking with Brook, who is pacing the entrance as she guards it. As they talk Hollypaw admits she doesn't think she is cut out to be a medicine cat and Brook tells her she must speak with Leafpool. Resolving herself, she heads for Leafpool's den. Leafpool listens as Hollypaw explains her feelings. Leafpool worries she has let Hollypaw down but Hollypaw insists that is not so. Together they go to Firestar to ask him to release Hollypaw and give her another mentor. Hollypaw goes to leave and sees Brook looking relived at Jaypaw's return. She tells Jaypaw to get some sleep but he insists he must speak to Firestar and Leafpool at once. She helps Jaypaw into Firestar's den where he announces that he must train to be a medicine cat.
I know I am probably beating a dead horse here, but I am glad Firestar has chosen Brambleclaw to remain his deputy. Graystripe has no idea what is going on with the clans settling in and the current politics, and Brambleclaw took the cats on their journey to their new home and has been protecting them ever since. Plus, I just don't like Graystripe as a deputy, even though I do like him as a loyal friend. But he doesn't scream "clan leader" to me. I find it interesting, though, that Hollypaw and Lionpaw are divided on this. I understand loyalty to the warrior code and the desire to follow it, but rules should also be applied logically. There will be times when the warrior code has no answer, because it cannot possibly anticipate everything, and in those times you have to do what you feel is best in that moment.
I still feel like there is something going on with Ashfur. His support of Brambleclaw shocked Squirrelflight - and me. I cannot let go of the fact that I suspect he is the traitor, despite how loyal he appears to be.
I am also glad that the clan is treating Jaypaw better - whether he sees it or not. Brackenfur trusted him to leave the camp and while Brook was clearly worried for Jaypaw she let him return on his own instead of sending out a search party.
On a different note, I would like to take a moment to point out that I like the mythology of these books. I actually meant to say something on this when Brambleclaw was meeting with Tigerstar in his dreams, and even more so when Darkstripe was given a prologue and scented Brokentail in it. Everything has always focused on StarClan. It is interesting that there are other versions of StarClan - like The Tribe Of Endless Hunting - and that there is even a version of purgatory or hell in the form of a cold, lifeless, shadowy world for the Tigerstar's of the clans to wander around alone, forbidden from speaking to another cat. What is interesting is that Spottedleaf needed StarClan's permission to enter that world to save Jaypaw. It is also interesting that Tigerstar and Hawkfrost are able to be there together. Tigerstar said to Darkstripe it was a world where you have to exist alone, and he left Darkstripe to it. But clearly he has found a way to Hawkfrost (or Hawkfrost found a way to him) and I would imagine that they have to almost actively stay together now that they have found each other. On a final note on this, Hawkfrost's threat that this wasn't over now has two meanings. There is the traitor within ThunderClan, and they are trying to sway Jaypaw. I imagine the young cat, bursting with StarClan power, and also very bitter over his blindness, would be a wonderful prize to snatch away from Brambleclaw. It is interesting to note that Jaypaw's powers do not work on the two cats. I wonder if that is because there is only darkness inside or because StarClan has no power in that world.
I am glad that Hollypaw and Jaypaw are on their correct paths now, but I worry for both of them. Hollypaw clearly struggles with the warrior code - both with who is the correct deputy and with whether or not she could become a warrior after picking medicine cat. Strict adherence to any set of rules does not bode well. And Jaypaw because he is so clearly full of anger and bitterness which will make him very susceptible to Tigerstar.
On a final note, Blackstar's sudden purist ideals do amuse me since half his clan is former rogues. Yes, no one would dispute now that they are not pure ShadowClan cats, but I find it amusing that he will not give another clan what he himself has. He took the remnants of ShadowClan and the rogues and built a powerful clan from it - and now he criticizes ThunderClan from doing the same. Granted, they are cats with kittypet roots, but Firestar was a kittypet and is now a very powerful leader - which Blackstar knows and fears.
No comments:
Post a Comment