The Forgotten Warrior/Chapter 17


 * Below contains in-depth information for chapter eighteen of The Forgotten Warrior. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.


 * Chapter Number: 18 (of 25)
 * Page Numbers: 202-219

Chapter Summary
Jayfeather's POV


 * Jayfeather is entering the camp after visiting the Moonpool. Mousefur calls him over and tells him that Hollyleaf took Purdy for a walk, but her legs were aching to much. Jayfeather offers to get her some daisy leaves, but Mousefur snaps that that wasn’t why she called him over. She tells him what Hollyleaf and Brambleclaw had said about Ashfur that morning and asks him if he knew about it all along. Jayfeather nods and tells her that the situation was complicated and that Ashfur had threatened him, too. Mousefur sniffs that it Ashfur’s death suited him and Jayfeather replies that it suited the whole Clan. She says that harm has been done to Ashfur, Hollyleaf, Brambleclaw, and Jayfeather and tells him that the Clan now has to carry on as normal. Jayfeather tells her that he thinks there are bigger things to worry about than a cat who died moons ago. As Jayfeather starts to leave, Mousefur asks if there is darkness coming. Jayfeather asks her what she knows and she replies that her dreams have been trouble, but she doesn’t know anything useful. When Mousefur says she never thought she’d see the end of the Clans, Jayfeather promises that it won’t be as long as he is alive and sits by her until she falls asleep. He comments on how old she is and wonders if she knows what she’s saying.


 * Hollyleaf returns with Purdy, who is telling her a story about a fox. Jayfeather approaches and tells Hollyleaf he needs to talk to her. Purdy complains that they were talking and that young cats don’t have any manners anymore. Hollyleaf guesses correctly that he knew about what had happened that morning and Jayfeather replies that Mousefur had told her. He asks if she understands what Brambleclaw did for her, realizing how much Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight must still love them. Hollyleaf murmurs that they all know she killed a cat and whispers that it wasn’t when Jayfeather says that it was an accident. Jayfeather thinks of Mousefur’s words about harm actually had been done. Jayfeather says that they’ll have to live with what happened and tells her that he’s glad she’s back. Hollyleaf replies that she missed him, too, and wonders if it had been better if she’d never came back at all and they had forgotten her. Jayfeather replies that they never would have and the siblings fall silent.


 * The silence is broken by Lionblaze’s patrol coming back. Cinderheart tells Molepaw and Cherrypaw to calm down and to take their kills to the elders and the fresh-kill pile. Jayfeather comments on how natural a mentor she is and StarClan made the right decision in giving her a second life. Suddenly, Lionblaze’s grief pierces Jayfeather, and he asks his brother what is wrong. Lionblaze snaps that he wouldn’t understand and all he cares about is the prophecy. Jayfeather tells his brother to try him and Lionblaze explains that he knows Cinderheart wants to be with him, but she won’t because she thinks he’s too important. He stalks away and Jayfeather thinks of Half Moon and knows what Lionblaze feels like. He resolves to make sure Cinderheart knows that Lionblaze isn’t the only important cat.


 * That night Jayfeather walks in Cinderheart’s dreams. He finds her as she just misses catching a piece of prey. Cinderheart greets Jayfeather and worries that she is in StarClan. Jayfeather assures her that she is still dreaming and tells her that he has something to show her. Jayfeather brings up the old ThunderClan camp in the forest and leads Cinderheart to it.


 * The two cats find a patrol made up of younger Firestar, Graystripe, and Sandstorm. Sandstorm teases a young gray she-cat about picking herbs, and the young cat tells her that she can bring it up with Yellowfang. Sandstorm mocks alarm and Graystripe meows that she doesn’t want her ears clawed. Firestar suggests that they go hunting to find something that will put Yellowfang in a good mood and the young cat calls that Yellowfang’s favorite at the moment was squirrel.


 * Cinderheart is staring at the young cat in astonishment, saying that she looks just like her. Jayfeather tells her that it isn’t her yet. They follow the gray cat to the clearing and Cinderheart asks if she knows that they were following, to which Jayfeather replies that they aren’t really there. They emerge into the old camp and Cinderheart comments on how weird it is. Cinderpelt limps to the old medicine cat den and Jayfeather notes that Yellowfang looks the same as she does when she speaks to him. Yellowfang sniffs Cinderpelt’s bundle and tells her that some of the leaves are wilted. Cinderpelt points out that they can use those first. Yellowfang snorts and tells her to put them away before they see to Whitestorm, who is also in the den. Cinderheart comments that Cinderpelt is a great medicine cat and Jayfeather agrees. He says that he didn’t know her then when Cinderhearts asks since it is before the Clans came to the lake and that this is the past. Jayfeather tells her that the apprentice’s name is Cinderpelt. Cinderheart doesn’t interrupt but Jayfeather notes that she is surprised at the similarities in their names. Jayfeather explains how Cinderpelt was injured and had to become a medicine cat. Cinderheart says that she had heard of her, and that she had saved her mother. Jayfeather replies that her death meant more than that.


 * The scenery changes and they are on a hillside with cats from WindClan, ThunderClan, RiverClan, and ShadowClan. Cinderheart exclaims that it is the Great Journey and asks Jayfeather why they are here. Jayfeather promises she’ll find out and points out Cinderpelt helping Mousefur with her paws and promising Applekit she’ll help her get burrs out of her pelt. A blizzard starts and they are abruptly taken back to the stone hollow. Cinderheart disappointedly asks if they are back yet and Jayfeather replies that they aren’t. It suddenly grows darker and the badgers attack. Jayfeather assures her that they can’t hurt them and apologizes as he heads to the nursery. They pass by Squirrelflight to find Sorreltail giving birth, Cinderpelt beside her. A badger starts to swipe at Sorreltail but Cinderpelt coming in between. Leafpool and Crowfeather burst in and drive the badger back to the clearing, but Cinderpelt is already dying. Jayfeather and Cinderheart watch her speak a few words to Leafpool and she dies. Cinderheart is horrified, asking Jayfeather if the medicine cat will be okay. Jayfeather just tells her to look at the kit.


 * Cinderheart murmurs that the kit is her and this was how she was born. She says that Cinderpelt must have given her life to save hers, but Jayfeather replies that that’s not exactly what happened. When Cinderheart exclaims that he had said she died, Jayfeather replies that only did for a heartbeat before given a new life. Cinderheart realizes that the new life was her and her memories surge back. She describes becoming an apprentice, her accident, learning to become a medicine cat, Yellowfang’s death, Firestar while receiving his nine lives, finding the lake, learning about her death, and Leafpool leaving.


 * Finally, Cinderheart falls silent and stares at Jayfeather. She asks him who she is what she is supposed to be. Jayfeather steps forward and tells her that she is Cinderheart, and StarClan granted her another life so she can lead it how she is meant to: as a warrior. Cinderheart asks who else knows and Jayfeather replies that only Leafpool does and no one else needs to. He tells her that she is not an echo of Cinderpelt, but her own cat. Cinderheart gazes around the nursery before approaching Cinderpelt and thanking her for living her first live. Jayfeather tells her it is time to go home.

Major

 * Cinderheart