cloudstar's journey: part two

Cloudstar stands with the other leaders on the Great Rock. He lies, and tells them things are going great in his clan. He says the twolegs and their monsters are on the edge of his territory, but they will leave. As the gathering breaks up Fawnstep tells him that the other medicine cats have had visions of SkyClan's destruction. 

Cloudstar lay with the elder Petalfall, who is dying. He leaves to go survey the damage that the twolegs have done, only to discover they are building nests. He returns to camp to find out Petalfall has died while he was gone. Later on Buzzardtail sends out a hunting patrol near the twoleg border. Oakpaw fell into a hole while chasing a squirrel. Cloudstar tells Buzzardtail they must not risk hunting there anymore as it is no longer safe for the SkyClan cats. 

Cloudstar has Buzzardtail focus on fighting instead of hunting. He has decided they must take the territory back from ThunderClan or they will all starve to death. After a day spent training they attack ThunderClan, but they are so weak from hunger that ThunderClan easily overpowers them. Cloudstar is forced to call a retreat.

Back at camp Cloudstar tells his warriors that ThunderClan wanted the land more than they did and next time they must try harder. He feels guilty for laying the blame on his starving clan, but he hopes that by doing this next time they will win. That night while he sleeps Fawnstep wakes him. She has had a dream that at the next gathering their territory will be completely destroyed and the other clans will drive them from the forest.

Birdflight gives birth to their kits. Cloudstar feels this should be the happiest day of his life, but it is not. Their territory is completely destroyed. All that is left is their camp. He dreams of StarClan but no cat will speak to him. He takes his entire clan to the next Gathering, to the shock of everyone as even kits and sickly elders show up. He begs the leaders for territory but they turn him away. Redstar and Swiftstar (the WindClan leader) tell them to leave, and even Molepelt (ShadowClan's medicine cat) sides with them. Other medicine cats speak out against this, but since the leaders will not change their stance Cloudstar has no choice. Birdflight tells Cloudstar that their kits will not make the journey. Cloudstar feels despair as Kestrelwing, the ThunderClan medicine cat, says his clan will take them. Cloudstar realizes that if he wasn't the leader he could abandon his clan to be with Birdflight as loners. Having lost his home, his mate, and his kits Cloudstar leads the remained of his clan away. Redstar calls out for StarClan to go with them, but Cloudstar feels StarClan and the warrior code has betrayed them, and vows his cats will have nothing to do with StarClan anymore.

Even though I knew how this story would end it was still so sad. Cloudstar lost everything, even his faith in the warrior code and StarClan. The only thing he has left is being leader of a dying clan. Reading his story it is easy to see why the other clans were ashamed of their part in this story and chose to pretend that SkyClan never existed. 

I feel like I already read this story, but the other stories were not familiar to me. I did find an excerpt from it in Battles of the Clans, so maybe it is that. But I wonder if maybe when I bought the book over a year ago if I skimmed the ending. Short of rereading the field guides I guess I won't know.

cloudstar's journey: part one

Cloudstar and Buzzardtail, his deputy, are out patrolling the SkyClan/ThunderClan border. Seedpelt, ThunderClan's deputy, catches them and mocks Cloudstar for doing the patrol himself. Buzzardtail is upset with the way Seedpelt is talking to his leader, but Cloudstar smooths things over. Buzzardtail bemoans how Duskstar gave away part of their territory to ThunderClan. Cloudstar stands by their former leaders decision, stating he had his reasons and ThunderClan might have starved if Duskstar had not done it - and there needs to be five clans. Back at the camp the hunting patrol returns with only one squirrel. They are upset, blaming the twolegs and their monsters on the edge of the territory for scaring away the prey. Stoatfur tells Cloudstar that he thinks they shouldn't hunt by the monsters anymore. Cloudstar assures them it was just a bad hunt and things will be better tomorrow.

Cloudstar dreams of StarClan and three SkyClan leaders who have passed over - Maplestar, Rowanstar, and Duskstar. He questions Duskstar's decision to give away the land. Duskstar states he could not let ThunderClan starve, and it is the duty of a leader to preserve the five clans. The cats tell him that SkyClan will endure forever. Fawnstep wakes Cloudstar, wishing to speak with him in private. The medicine cat tells him of signs she has read, speaking of problems for their clan. Cloudstar tells her not to worry, that StarClan visited him in his dreams, assuring him that the clan is going to be fine. 

Cloudstar takes the apprentices out to train them on climbing trees and jumping from branch to branch. They move through the trees and find themselves by the twolegs and their monsters. Cloudstar orders them to turn back but before they can the tree they are in is attacked and falls down. Cloudstar protects the apprentices then helps pull them from the rubble. Mintpaw is injured. Cloudstar carries her as everyone runs back to camp. 

Back at camp Cloudstar tells everyone what happened while Fawnstep treats everyone. Buzzardtail asks if they have lost that border and Cloudstar tells him they have. Everyone is panicking over the future of their clan. Cloudstar calms them down and that night he takes a patrol to assess the damage, which is extensive. The warriors in the patrol are afraid of what will happen next. Cloudstar insists that everything will be fine and stays to watch the border during the night.

Cloudstar returns to camp the next day, informing everyone that the twolegs are now dragging the trees away. He asks Fawnstep if she has had any more omens, finally acknowledging that there might be a problem, but she has had none. Later he has to go on a patrol along the ThunderClan border with Stoatfur. Redstar, the ThunderClan leader, sees Cloudstar and tries to get information out of him about the monsters and why Cloudstar is leading a patrol, but Cloudstar gives the rude leader nothing. When they leave Redstar, Stoatfur suggests asking for their territory back but Cloudstar feels that would be disrespectful to Duskstar. He assures his cats everything will go back to normal soon. However, when they get back to camp Cloudstar sees how little prey there is. He goes out hunting by himself but isn't able to catch much. He decrees that cats can only eat once a day now, as prey is too scarce. Buzzardtail is upset with this decision as it means the cats might starve. Upset, Cloudstar snaps at his deputy then retreats to his den.

Poor Cloudstar. He has such faith in StarClan to solve their problems but it isn't going to work. On the other hand it is interesting to see ThunderClan as the bad guys for once. Redstar and Seedpelt are pretty disrespectful towards Cloudstar, who just wants to keep the peace. They seem the vultures waiting to pounce the moment SkyClan falls. I suppose they know SkyClan's territory will become their own. One would think, however, that they would fear being the next to be driven away. After all, why stop with just SkyClan's territory? ThunderClan is right next door. It doesn't work out that way, though. ThunderClan will get to expand.

mistystar's omen: part two

Mistystar defends Peeblefoot, but Antpelt is uninterested in their excuses. Ashfoot, the WindClan deputy, defuses the situation while making it clear Mistyfoot and her cats are in the wrong. Reedwhisker is upset with how Ashfoot handled the situation but Mistystar defends the WindClan deputy. Days later it is time for the meeting at the moonpool. Mothwing sends Willowshine in her place and Mistystar realizes that Leopardstar should have realized something was wrong with Mothwing. The next day Mistystar reaches her decision. She tells Mothwing that she will retire to the elders den and Willowshine will take over all medicine cat duties. The two medicine cats are upset but they have no choice but to agree.

Mistystar decides maybe it is time to expand their territory, since food is so scarce. Before she leaves on a patrol to search for new hunting grounds Mothwing tries to talk to her about Rushpaw and Hollowpaw and how they keep disappearing, but Mistystar is dismissive of her concerns. Mistystar's patrol finds a nest of baby mice, which they bring back to the camp. Rushpaw and Hollowpaw eventually return. They are offered the mice but they turn them down, saying they are not hungry.

Beetlewhisker mentions to Mistystar that some of the big fish are coming back, but Mothwing has told them not to hunt them yet so they can lay eggs to repopulate the water. Upset, Mistystar confronts Mothwing about this even though she agrees with he logic. Mothwing accuses her of not trusting her judgement in anything and Mistystar confirms this. She leaves her and runs into Reedwhisker, who tells her Hollowpaw and Rushpaw are trapped by some dogs. Mistystar races with him to join his patrol save the apprentices. They are able to save the apprentices but Reedwhisker gets badly injured in the process.

They rescue Reedwhisker and the apprentices admit they were eating kittypet food. They felt it would help save the clan if they didn't have to eat. They get Reedwhisker back to camp. Mothwing starts to treat him when Mistystar forces her to step down. Mistystar feels Reedwhisker needs StarClan's help and Mothwing cannot offer that. Willowshine is forced to care for Reedwhisker alone while an upset clan watches on. Unable to watch, Mistystar leaves. Stonefur visits her and tries to explain to her that being a clan cat isn't just about StarClan, but also instinct. He leaves her and Mistystar watches as a moth hatches from it's cocoon and takes fight on its own, by instinct. Mistystar realizes that Stonefur is trying to tell her to let Mothwing be the medicine cat she is supposed to be.

Mistystar returns to camp and asks Mothwing to leave the elders demand return to the medicine den. She admits she was wrong in forcing Mothwing to step down. She leaves the camp to go to the moonpool. On the way she tells Beetlewhisker that RiverClan is blessed to have two medicine cats, knowing this will spread. At the moonpool Mudfur, Mothwing's mentor, comes to her. He tells her he knew Mothwing did not believe but it did not matter because she loves her clan and wishes to care for them, and that is all that matters. Mudfur leaves her and Mothwing comes, and the two cats make peace.

This story had a nice resolution, even though Mothwing was actually forced into the elders den for a few hours. I didn't realize Mothwing was that old. All too soon her time will pass... I would like to believe she will find StarClan then, but I doubt it.

mistystar's omen: part one

Mistyfoot watches the water. The damn has been destroyed, but the fish have not returned. Leopardstar joins her, upset that the danger has passed but nothing has changed. They return to camp, but Leopardstar collapses on the way. Mistyfoot gets Mothwing. They get warriors to help Leopardstar return to her den. Mistyfoot says with her leader, who tells her this is her last life and she is dying. She apologized to Mistyfoot for what she did to her when she aligned herself with Tigerstar. Mistyfoot tells her that she blames Tigerstar and Blackfoot, not Leopardstar. Leopardstar tells Mistyfoot she wishes she had children, and that she views Mistyfoot as a daughter. Mistyfoot lays down with her her leader and tells her to sleep.

When Mistyfoot wakes Leopardstar is dead. She goes to the shore to think and Mothwing joins her. Mistyfoot is scared of the future and Mothwing comforts her. They return to the camp to let everyone know and plan for the future. Mistyfoot realizes she will have to pick a deputy. Willowshine offers to come to the moonpool with Mistyfoot and Mothwing, but Mistyfoot tells her that is not necessary. That night Mistyfoot names Reedwhisker as her deputy. As Mistyfoot sits vigil with Leopardstar her brother, Stonefur, comes to her. He tells her she will need courage for what lies ahead. Afraid, Mistyfoot wakes Mothwing and insists they go to the moonpool now instead of after Leopardstar is buried.

At the moonpool Mistyfoot dreams and receives her nine lives. When she wakes she realizes Mothwing wasn't there. She confronts her friend who admits she doesn't believe in StarClan.

Mistystar is upset, but Mothwing insists she can heal her clan and care for them without a belief in StarClan. They leave the moonpool and visit ThunderClan so Mistystar can tell Firestar what has happened. Mothwing gets some herbs from Jayfeather and they leave. Mistystar asks Mothwing is Jayfeather knows the truth about her lack of belief in StarClan and Mothwing tells her yes. Mistystar is upset with ho calm Mothwing is and privately she questions how good of a medicine cat can she be if she cannot interpret signs from StarClan. They pass a WindClan border and let them know what has happened. Back at camp Reedwhisker offers to take the news to Blackstar and Mistystar agrees. They bury Leopardstar. The next days she confronts Willowshine about Mothwing. Willowshine admits the truth but says it does not matter as Mothwing is a great medicine cat and Willowshine herself has received training from Leafpool on listening to StarClan. Mistystar feels this isn't enough, though, and confronts Mothwing, telling her she must step down as medicine cat.

Mothwing is upset with Mistystar's decision but she is unable to convince her friend not to do this. Mistystar tells Mothwing she needs time to think on this and joins a hunting patrol. While out hunting Pebblefoot accidentally crosses the WindClan border while chasing a squirrel and is caught by a passing WindClan patrol.

I know in the end Mothwing does not step down, but this story is very sad. Mothwing has had such a hard life. Her mother abandoned her and her brother because she thought is was the best for them. Then she thought she found acceptance and destiny inside the clan as a medicine cat just for her brother to destroy it and her belief in StarClan. The other medicine cats know the truth but treat her as an equal, but now her friend and clan leader is taking her place away from her. What will Mothwing's place be now? Will Mistystar force her back to being a warrior? Truth be told I'm surprised this hasn't come out sooner. Everyone knows how Cloudtail feels about StarClan. But I am surprised Mothwing hasn't found any faith. She knows clan leaders have nine lives. Where does she think that comes from? Then again, Cloudtail was able to justify that somehow so maybe it isn't so odd.    

hollyleaf's story: part two

Hollyleaf longs to be outside. Fallen Leaves catches her watching the woods from the tunnels. She wants him to leave the tunnels with her but he refuses. They argue and Fallen Leaves tells her to go if she wishes to. She says she will, feeling upset that he doesn't ask her to stay with him. On her own she makes a nest and hunts. She tries not to think about her clan but it is all she can think of. She comes across the fox kit she rescued and approaches him, thinking he will remember her. But he only sees prey and attacks. She escapes to a tree and sleeps. When she wakes, injured, she returns to the tunnels looking for Fallen Leaves.

Fallen Leaves cares for her again. When she is better she tells him about finding the fox and it attacking her. Fallen Leaves is both amused and upset with her story. She tells him she was just so lonely and wanted a friend. Fallen Leaves tells her that he is her friend. Later she asks him if he misses his family and he says yes, but he can barely remember them. Hollyleaf is shocked as she has forgotten nothing. Fallen Leaves tells her about his mother and Hollyleaf finds herself confessing that she has two mothers. She stops short of confessing to Ashfur's murder. Fallen Leaves realizes she misses her clan and tells her she should check on them.

Hollyleaf spies on her clan and leaves when she realizes Brambleclaw suspects someone is spying on the camp. She rushes back to Fallen Leaves and tells him everything she saw and heard. She ends up confessing to Fallen Leaves that she killed Ashfur. Fallen Leaves hints that maybe she should return, but Hollyleaf insists she cannot. Time passes and she spies again, hearing that the clan is running out of yarrow and Cherrykit needs it. Hollyleaf remembered where some yarrow is growing, not on any clan territory. She gathers it and leaves it by the camp entrance and runs away. 

Hollyleaf excitedly tells Fallen Leaves all about how Cherrykit is now cured, but he doesn't care about the news. Hollyleaf realizes he is probably jealous. She goes hunting for special prey to share with him, wondering if why he never eats is because he doesn't like any of the prey she tries to share. After eating half of a squirrel she leaves half of it for him (he will never eat it) and sleeps. He wakes her because two of her clanmates (Ivypool and Blossomfall) are trapped in the tunnels and he wants them gone. She finds them, and keeping to the shadows leads them about by an incredibly complicated route that doubles back on itself. She hopes by doing this they will never come into the tunnels again. Time passes and Hollyleaf tries to keep away from her clan. She knows her constant visits to watch her clanmates upsets Fallen Leaves. But she cannot keep away. She rescues some marigold from a hungry rabbit and saves Cherrypaw and Molepaw from a fox.

She confesses to Fallen Leaves that she wants to return home. He tells her that he wished she would stay but understands she cannot. She does not leave right away, unsure when the right time is. One day Fallen Leaves finds WindClan cats in the tunnels and realizes something bad is happening. Ivypool and Dovewing are also in the tunnel and Fallen Leaves tells her she must get her clanmates out and warn her clan. She approaches Ivypool and Dovewing, offering to lead them out so ThunderClan can be warned. But the two cats do not trust her and suspect her to be with the WindClan cats. Hollyleaf reveals herself to be Hollyleaf so she can gain their trust.

Poor Fallen Leaves. I wish he would find peace. At least Hollyleaf finds it in the end. She will return to her clan, fight against the Dark Forest, and die having made peace with Leafpool. I wonder if she goes to StarClan? Or back to the tunnels to wander them with Fallen Leaves? I imagine StarClan is the answer. I just wish Fallen Leaves would not be so alone.

hollyleaf's story: part one

Hollyleaf lies in the tunnels under some stones. As she slowly crawls her way out she remembers what happened - Ashfur trying to murder them, Squirrelflight revealing the truth that she wasn't their mother, murdering Ashfur, revealing the truth about everything at the Gathering. Hollyleaf tries to justify her actions while feeling distraught over them. Out from under the rocks, she tries to stand up. Her leg buckles beneath her and she passes out. 

Hollyleaf comes to and finds herself in the care of Fallen Leaves. He recognizes her as Hollypaw, not realizing her name has changed. She tells him she is now Hollyleaf. He tells her once she gets better she can return to her friends, but Hollyleaf rejects that idea, knowing she can never return home. As Hollyleaf heals she tries to question Fallen Leaves, believing him to possibly be a tribe cat, but he is evasive in his answers and insists the caves are his home now. 

Hollyleaf's leg mends, and she starts to build a friendship with Fallen Leaves. She finds it odd that he never seems to eat or sleep and how she cannot track his scent or feel any warmth from his body, but she enjoys his company. He teaches her how to maneuver around the tunnels and find her way in the dark.

Time passes and they settle into their new life, even having mock patrols, though they never go near the tunnels that lead to ThunderClan. Fallen Leaves speaks a bit more about his past and his training to be a sharpclaw. Hollyleaf tries to convince him to return to his kin but Fallen Leaves rejects that idea. He runs from Hollyleaf and she realizes she might not be the only one with a terrible secret. She leaves Fallen Leaves be and walks through the tunnels. She scents fox and finds a fox kit trapped in the tunnel, unable to leave because a dog is at the entrance, blocking it. She becomes trapped by the fox kit until a twoleg comes and takes the dog away.

Hollyleaf tries to sleep but cannot. The fox kit is lost in the tunnels and the noise he makes is keeping her awake. She finds the kit and it takes her a while but she is able to lead him out. she watches him run to his mother, who has been looking for him, and she feels sad, missing her family.

I wonder if Hollyleaf will puzzle together that Fallen Leaves is dead? He never eats, he never sleeps, he has no scent... Then again, why would she think she is living with a ghost cat? Poor Fallen Leaves. He is such a tragic character. Trapped in the tunnels until his kin returns, but they left and went to the mountains to become the Tribe of Rushing Water. Jayfeather knows his secret, but Jayfeather has moved on. He is no longer an adventurous kit or apprentice but a medicine cat now. His focus is on caring for his tribe not chasing ghost cat mysteries.