After the Flood/Part 2

"Leafstar, it's your kits! They've vanished!"

— Waspwhisker to Leafstar in After the Flood, page 49

After the Flood
Chapter number:	2 (of 3)
Page numbers:	40-74
Point of View:	Leafstar
Chronology

Below contains in-depth information for chapter two of After the Flood. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter Number: 2 (of 3)

Page Numbers: 40-74

Chapter description

Leafstar returns to her den after banishing Billystorm from camp. Her kits ask her when they're going to go to Twolegplace and live with their housefolk like Billystorm said they would, but Leafstar tells them that he was mistaken and they aren't going anywhere. She wonders if Billystorm was right when he said that their kits would be safer with his housefolk than in the gorge.

The next day, Billystorm is nowhere to be found. Leafstar asks everyone in camp if they've seen Billystorm, but none of them have seen him since the previous night. Leafstar asks Sol if he wants to get his warrior assessment done today in an attempt to distract herself. He eagerly says yes, and she leads him into the forest to hunt. He catches a squirrel on his second try, and although his form is a little sloppy, he's fast, strong and determined.

Next, Leafstar takes Sol to refresh the border markers, where they run into a bit of trouble. Sol scents an unfamiliar cat's scent trail, which leads all the way along SkyClan's border and fades near the old Twoleg nest. Sol asks Leafstar what this place is, and Leafstar tells him that this used to be the home of an old Twoleg who terrorized Shrewtooth and Petalnose. SkyClan attacked him and his dog one night to teach him a lesson. She tells him not to go near the nest, as there are bad memories there. Leafstar and Sol then head back to camp, and Leafstar tells Sol that they probably just scented a loner, but he should be extra vigilant on patrols just in case.

The next day, Billystorm once again doesn't show up. Harrykit, Stormkit, and Firekit ask Leafstar if Billystorm has stopped loving them, but Leafstar assures them that he loves them all very much. Echosong asks Leafstar if she would like to go hunting with her, and Leafstar accepts, telling her kits not to wander off. The two she-cats have a pleasant outing, and Echosong succeeds in distracting Leafstar from her duties for a little while, giving the Clan leader a bit of respite.

However, it doesn't last long, as when the two she-cats return to camp, Waspwhisker informs Leafstar that her kits have gone missing. A panicked Leafstar asks everyone if they've seen the kits, but none of them have seen them recently. She then asks if any of them have seen Billystorm, and when they say that they haven't, Leafstar wonders if she's really accusing her mate of stealing her kits. Sharpclaw organizes a couple search patrols, and tells Leafstar to stay in camp in case the kits come back. Leafstar returns to her den, and Echosong tells her that she'll be right outside if Leafstar needs her. Leafstar falls asleep, and when she wakes, night has fallen, but something is wrong.

Leafstar pokes her head out of her den to see Sharpclaw leading a patrol out of the gorge. Honeypaw tells Leafstar that Sharpclaw is taking a patrol to Billystorm's Twoleg nest to see if he has the kits. Leafstar dashes after the patrol, with Honeypaw following. She says she knows a shortcut, and tells Honeypaw to stay put, which she reluctantly does. Leafstar manages to arrive at Billystorm's den before the patrol does, and she hurriedly tells him to follow her. Billystorm is confused, but Leafstar says that there's no time to explain as she leads him onto the roof of the Twoleg den.

Sharpclaw's patrol arrives, and Leafstar tells them that Billystorm doesn't have the kits, as he is with her. Billystorm asks Leafstar if the kits are missing, and when she says yes, he urgently asks her why she isn't out looking for them, to which she replies that she was trying to protect him because some cats are jumping to conclusions. Billystorm sarcastically tells Sharpclaw that he can search his housefolk's nest if he wants, to which Sharpclaw awkwardly replies that he doesn't think that will be necessary at this point. The cats return to camp, along with Billystorm, who ignores Leafstar. Sol tells Leafstar that he won't rest until the kits are found, but it does little to comfort her. The cats decide to get some rest and start the search back up at dawn.

The next morning, Leafstar asks Plumwillow where Sol is, to which she replies that he went out searching on his own. Just then, Sol appears, and Leafstar asks him if he found anything, but he says that he didn't. Sharpclaw tells Leafstar that he's readying more search parties, but Leafstar tells him to call them off. Sharpclaw asks her if she's calling off the search, and she says that she's not, but she needs to take care of her Clan as well as her kits.

While Leafstar, Billystorm, and Echosong are out looking for the kits, Leafstar detects the same scent that Sol found when she and him were on patrol. She realizes that there are more of them now, and hurriedly follows the scent, which leads them to a large group of rogues on their way to attack SkyClan. Billystorm says that they need to warn the Clan before the rogues arrive and leads the she-cats down a steep shortcut into the gorge. Leafstar yowls that they're under attack by a large group of rogues, and organizes the Clan in preparation for battle. The rogues arrive, and their leader tells SkyClan to give up now. Leafstar says that this is the home of SkyClan, and they will defend it with their lives. The rogue leader orders his group to attack.

As SkyClan fights the intruders, Leafstar thinks that even though these rogues are deadly, SkyClan has an advantage, as they have something worth fighting for. It turns out they have another advantage in the element of surprise, as Sharpclaw returns with his patrol, turning the tide in SkyClan's favor. The rogues begin to retreat, and Leafstar sends the leader off with a bite to his tail. The leader asks SkyClan if they're too scared to finish them off, and Sharpclaw tells him that the warrior code states that a warrior does not need to kill to win. The rogue leader asks what the warrior code is, and Petalnose and Sparrowpelt tell him that the warrior code is what they all live by, with pride and honor, and with StarClan watching over them. The leader says that he's certain that they've all lost their minds before he and his rogues disappear.

The Clan cheers their victory. Leafstar tells Patchfoot, Petalnose, and Fallowfern that they've shown what a loss it will be if they leave. The three cats respond that they've changed their minds about leaving and have decided that they belong in the gorge. Leafstar is happy for a moment, but then remembers that the gorge is her kits' home too, and hopelessly wonders where they are.

Characters

Major

• Leafstar
• Firekit
• Stormkit
• Harrykit

Minor

• Clovertail
• Birdpaw
• Honeypaw
• Echosong
• Sol
• Waspwhisker
• Sharpclaw
• Shrewtooth
• Harveymoon
• Fallowfern
• Sandypaw
• Nettlesplash
• Billystorm
• Plumwillow
• Red-brown tabby tom with a spiky black tail and ears
• Tortoiseshell with ice-blue eyes
• Pale brown cat with a scratched eye
• Black cat with a white belly
• Gray cat with darker parts
• Yellow tabby
• Black cat with a white tail-tip
• Red tabby with a paler muzzle
• Cherrytail
• Mintfur
• Sparrowpelt
• Petalnose
• Patchfoot

Important events

• Leafstar's kits go missing.

Notes and references

After the Flood chapters
Part1 • Part2 • Part3