Jaypaw tells Lionpaw and Hollypaw that he is going to bed early, but really he is tired of hearing Lionpaw talk about the fight. Jaypaw wants to help his clan too, but he doesn't see healing their wounds as real enough - only fighting is. At the den Leafpool speaks of gathering herbs by the next full moon. Jaypaw thinks they should gather them earlier because he can smell a frost coming, but he doesn't say this to Leafpool, feeling that she will just blow him off like Firestar did with the news of the dog attack. In the morning frost covers everything and Leafpool worries about their herb supply. Jaypaw's anxiety disappears to be replaced with irritation when Longtail shows up, speaking of Mousefur wheezing. Jaypaw is annoyed that he has to keep treating Mousefur - and she is using up their supplies. He brings some herbs to her and notices that she is shivering yet feels hot. As he leaves he realizes Mousefur accepted his help too easily. He races to Leafpool to tell her that Mousefur has greencough. They have no catmint so Leafpool asks Cloudtail to take Jaypaw to get some. Cinderpaw goes too and the cats race off, Jaypaw feeling guilty that he hadn't been listening all the times Longtail tried to tell him there was something wrong with Mousefur. They find the catmint but it is dead, so Jaypaw digs down deeper to find some. He is lucky but isn't sure it is enough and they head back. Leafpool gives the catmint to Mousefur, but Daisy arrives to say Ferncloud is sick. Mousefur admits she went to visit the kits. She refuses the catmint, saying Ferncloud's kits needs it more then she, but the kits are fine. Mousefur and Ferncloud are moved to the medicine den and more sick cats follow. Jaypaw is upset that StarClan has no problem interfering in his dreams, but they didn't warn him about the greencough. The dawn patrol returns and Jaypaw asks after fresh-kill, hoping to feed the clan well so they don't all get sick, but Hollypaw tells him it is too cold and all the prey are deep underground.
Poppypaw is incredibly sick and Jaypaw is worried for her. Leafpool sends him outside for some fresh air and he hears Firestar and Brambleclaw dividing up chores for the cats. He senses dread coming from Firestar and realizes his leader is terrified for his clan. When the hunting party comes back they have almost no food. Jaypaw goes to bring some to the medicine den but stops when he smells WindClan. Weaselfur has brought Kestrelpaw to ask Leafpool for catmint. Leafpool admits she has none, but says Mothwing might be able to spare some. She doesn't seem to want to ask Mothwing but Jaypaw convinces her by pointing out cats might die and how would Mothwing feel knowing she could have helped. He feels a memory in Leafpool that causes her to recoil and she agrees to go. Jaypaw, knowing that Leafpool can travel faster without him, offers to stay behind. Leafpool tells him if he needs help to ask Brightheart and then she leaves with the WindClan cats and some of their own warriors. Jaypaw goes back to their den to help the cats and Brightheart shows up to help him. He can sense no anger from her and she helps as he tries to get Poppypaw's fever down. Jaypaw wakes up, realizing dozed off. He checks on the cats to find that Poppypaw has almost stopped breathing. Desperate, he closes his eyes and slows his breathing to hers. He finds himself next to Poppypaw in StarClan's hunting grounds. He tries to get her to leave but as Poppypaw explores she suddenly realizes where she is. Spottedleaf shows up and tells Jaypaw that he was brave to follow Poppypaw, and she tells Poppypaw it is not her time yet. Jaypaw wakes up to Brightheart who was worried that he too had fallen ill. Poppypaw wakes up, and asks Jaypaw about what happened but he insists to her it was just a dream. Leafpool returns with catmint and news that all the clans are sick - and some cats feel that this is more then just bad luck. Jaypaw reaches out and can feel all the cats of the clans panicking, wondering if this is where StarClan actually wants them and wondering what they will do if the sickness spreads.
Hollypaw wakes up to Newleaf. Now that prey will be coming out she wishes to go hunting but she is forced to stay in camp to conserve her strength since she is going to the Gathering that night. Jaypaw has to stay behind because Mousefur and Poppypaw are still sick, but Hollypaw and Lionpaw head out with the other cats. They excitedly head for the island but when they get there everyone is very quiet and subdued. When the leaders speak they talk of the sickness sweeping through their camps. An argument breaks out between the clans. Some cats feel that maybe they should leave and find a new home, that the sickness was a sign from StarClan and Leopardstar voices these thoughts. The medicine cats insist they have received no sign stating that. Blackstar hints that the sicknesses were brought on by taking in too many cats from outside the clans. Firestar argues back that life us full of ups and downs and that StarClan would never give them an easy life because a life with hardships is what makes them warriors. Onestar sides with Firestar, accusing Blackstar of only wanting blessings and the spoiled life of a kittypet from StarClan. During these arguments both Squirrelflight and Ashfur speak up in defense of their clan, their choices, and their way of life. Squirrelflight puts forward the idea to hold a Gathering during the day where the apprentices from the clans can compete against each other. As she speaks the clouds that had started to cover the moon sweep away, making cats believe that StarClan supports her words. Firestar offers ThunderClan land for this gathering, so long as everyone brings their own prey. Everyone gets swept up in the excitement of the idea, but Hollypaw is worried. She knows that this has only smoothed things over for now, but the next time something bad happens ThunderClan could very well get the blame again. Lionpaw is excited about the gathering and cannot wait to tell Jaypaw, but Hollypaw worries how their blind brother can compete and points out that maybe medicine cats will not be able to join in.
All the cats are getting ready for the daytime Gathering and Jaypaw is upset. Leafpool tries to tell Jaypaw that she needs his help but he counters that Firestar doesn't want a blind cat embarrassing the clan. Leafpool insists that is not true and that it is because Jaypaw hasn't had enough training yet thanks to the outbreak of greencough. Jaypaw doesn't believe her since Hollypaw received battle training from Leafpool and he suspects Leafpool feels it would be a waste of time to train him. The clans arrive and ThunderClan goes off to join them. Leafpool invites Jaypaw to join her but he turns her down, choosing to stay in camp. She does not push him. Suddenly he feels like he is choking on dirt and he knows that Lionpaw is in danger. He leaves the camp and tries to find his brother. He scents him and Breezepaw and races towards them. He hears them cry out for help and desperately tries to find them. He finds the ground they sank into and cries for help while he digs them out. Crowfeather arrives and helps and soon other cats come. Leafpool arrives and helps him care for the cats. Crowfeather thanks Leafpool and she tells him she would give anything to save his son's life, much to Nightcloud's annoyance. Nightcloud stays with the two apprentices in Leafpool's den. Hollypaw praises Jaypaw, much to his embarrassment. Crowfeather had acted the same way, telling Jaypaw that he acted like a warrior - but Jaypaw does not feel that way. He feels that if it wasn't for his blindness he could have warned his brother and prevented it from happening. He admits to Hollypaw that he had a vision and saw Lionpaw. She realizes he means he actually saw Jaypaw and he regrets confiding in her. She keeps his secret and tells him that he will be a great medicine cat. The cats head back to the Gathering and Leafpool offers to stay with the apprentices, making Jaypaw go. As the leaders name who won each contest Firestar names Jaypaw for saving Lionpaw and Breezepaw. As everyone cheers for him he begins to wonder if he could be a hero after all, but when Firestar speaks of how they are all true warriors Jaypaw despairs, feeling that it doesn't matter if he is a hero because he will never be a warrior. Jaypaw goes back to the den and Leafpool brings him dinner. She smells wary of him and Jaypaw feels he must be mistaken. He dreams of Firestar talking to an old cat. He listens in as the cat tells Firestar of a prophecy, of kin of his kin who will hold the power of the stars in their hands. He feels dread as he realizes the prophecy is about himself, Hollypaw, and Lionpaw. But as he thinks on it he realizes Leafpool is right to be wary of him because he and his siblings will be powerful enough to command StarClan.
So I am not going to speak of Blackstar and his prejudice again. Instead, Jaypaw being able to find Poppypaw and bring her back from the brink of death was freaky. I don't blame him for wanting to hide this information from everyone. I also wonder how he wound up in Firestar's dream since he wasn't trying to go there. Was this StarClan's way of trying to tell him the prophecy? His response to the information was disappointing but not unexpected. In his desperation to see he would think of power first.
All in all I really enjoyed this book. I do feel that it is more of Jaypaw's story then anyone else's - but that is also because so far his character is the most complex. And I do agree with Hollypaw - ShadowClan is not going to drop the mixed blood debate anytime soon.
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