The Rescue/Part 1

Chapter Summary
Leafstar's PoV
 * The book starts with Leafstar introducing herself to the reader as the leader of SkyClan. She explains that SkyClan hasn't existed for that long, and are now stable, but it hadn't been easy getting to that b=point. Leafstar lies on the floor, a ginger-and-white tom standing beside her. She says that her mate, Billystorm, is with her, and that he is a Daylight warrior, meaning that he's a SkyClan warrior in the day, but stays with his Twolegs at night. The two walk through the forest, and Leafstar thinks that she wouldn't be where she is today without his help.


 * They come to the edge of a gorge, and Leafstar tells the reader that below them is the SkyClan camp. Some cats lounge on large rocks, others are seen sitting together or drinking from the river. Rabbitleap crouches on a rock, three young cats watching him, and instructs them on how to jump. Lichenfur says that it's ridiculous how they bounce about all over the place, and that they are cats, not rabbits. Rabbitleap still jumps onto a higher ledge. Leafstar explains that Lichenfur, the elder hardly has pleasant words, but she means no harm. The old she-cat grumbles what he plans to do, land on prey and squash it to death. Waspwhisker tells her that there's no need to be rude, and that his son's skill is something to be proud of. Leafstar thinks that it's still good to see him stand up to her.


 * The three young cats who had watched Rabbitleap get excited and start jumping. Leafstar introduces them as apprentices, Birdpaw, Honeypaw, and Sandypaw. Clovertail is seen walking and watching them, and Leafstar notes that she chose not to be a warrior, and instead takes care of the Clan's little ones. She warns the kits not to get on top of the rock and fall off. Leafstar is afraid that Clovertail has more patience than she does. The three apprentices get on the rock anyways, and Birdpaw, who stands on the edge, comforts her mother that they're being careful, but slips and falls, and hits her head against a jutting stone. She crouches down, one eye closed. Clovertail asks her to say something, though she literally replies saying something. Clovertail chastises her by saying that she just warned her not to go up there. Waspwhisker scolds his son for not realizing how young they are and pushing them too much. Rabbitleap apologizes.


 * A tabby she-cat says that she heard someone bump her head, and Leafstar introdcues Echosong, by saying that she is their Medicine Cat, and that SkyClan is lucky to have her. Echosong looks at Birdpaw's eye, and says that it looks like a simple scrape. She tells him to come along, and she'll have him feeling better soon. Meanwhile, still on the rock, Honeypaw bets to Sandypaw that she won't fall off, and Sandypaw replies that he bet she will. They go back and forth, but a dark ginger tom approaches them and says they had enough jumping for one day. He tells he'll find something else to keep them occupied, though the apprentices complain. Leafstar thinks that Sharpclaw is her deputy, and that his dedication to his duty is solid.


 * A tabby she-cat, a black tom, and a black she-cat with a collar come down into the gorge. Leafstar notes to herself that there's one of the Clan's patrols, returning from making sure that their territory is safe. Sharpclaw greets Mintfur, Shrewtooth, and Ebonyclaw, and asks if they have anything to report from their patrol. Mintfur responds that they came across fox-scent, but that the trail is old. She guesses it's from near the beginning of newleaf. Shrewtooth puts in that they marked how far into SkyClan territory the scent came by bending down small branches on some of the trees. Sharpclaw compliments Shrewtooth, saying that that's a very good tactic. Mintfur says that it was Ebonyclaw's idea, and Lichenfur sniffs that it's not bad for a daylight-warrior. A tortoiseshell she-cat compliments Ebonyclaw that any warrior would be proud to think of something like that, daylight or otherwise. Ebonyclaw modestly says that it was nothing, and that she saw her Twolegs do something similar.


 * From the top of the gorge, Billystorm compliments Leafstar that she's done an amazing thing. Leafstar says that she doesn't know, but Billystorm replies that he she united the Clan, and that although it's only a few seasons old, they're strong now. He adds that SkyClan's future looks secure at last. The two go into the gorge, and Leafstar thinks that she sometimes can scarcely believe that everything works, flowing together, pure Clan warriors and daylight-warriors in harmony, side-by-side.

Minor
{{mclist|2| {{CS|m}} }}
 * Billystorm{{r|ss1|7}}
 * Rabbitleap{{r|ss1|8}}
 * Birdpaw{{r|ss1|8}}
 * Honeypaw{{r|ss1|8}}
 * Sandypaw{{r|ss1|8}}
 * Lichenfur{{r|ss1|9}}
 * Waspwhisker{{r|ss1|10}}
 * Clovertail{{r|ss1|10}}
 * Echosong{{r|ss1|12}}
 * Sharpclaw{{r|ss1|12}}
 * Mintfur{{r|ss1|13}
 * Ebonyclaw{{r|ss1|13}}
 * Shrewtooth{{r|ss1|13}}