| "Badgerpaw's meow was weak. "I'd like to be called Badgerfang. Like you, because you were such a great mentor."' |
| — Badgerpaw's last request to be called Badgerfang in Blackfoot's Reckoning, chapter 4 |
- Below contains in-depth information for chapter four of Blackfoot's Reckoning. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.
- Chapter Number: 4 (of 10)
- Page Numbers: N/A
Chapter description[]
- Blackfoot spots Badgerfang weaving his way out of the crowd, and his chest tightens at seeing Fernshade's only kit. The kit's tail lashes with excitement, and he crouches so Badgerfang could reach his face. He feels himself falling into the past once again by the StarClan cat's touch.
- Blackfoot is getting ready to sleep, but Brokenstar's yowl makes him hurry over to the Clanrock. Since Raggedstar had been murdered by WindClan, they'd been focused on taking revenge, and he'd become deputy. Dawnpaw stands beside him as Brokenstar makes a speech about how strong they are, and that all the cats in the forests fear them. Blackfoot and the rest chant enthusiastically to their leader's words. Brokenstar continues that the youngest members have shown themselves to be especially honorable.
- Yellowfang and Runningnose look at each other, concerned, but he doesn't think much of it. The Clan had gotten stronger. Blackfoot feels sick when he thinks about Mosspaw, and Volepaw, who had died. But they hadn't died because they were young. It wasn't fair to keep cats wanting to be warriors cooped up in the nursery. Brokenstar tells Badgerkit to come forward. Fernshade and Wolfstep look stricken, but he brushes it off. Brokenstar announces that he will now be known as Badgerpaw, and that Flintfang would be his mentor. Blackfoot relaxes, trusting his brother to keep the apprentice safe.
- As Badgerpaw was accepting the congratulations, Fernshade confronts her littermates, bristling with anger. Fernshade meows that Badgerpaw is too young, Blackfoot retorting that Brokenstar was thinking of his Clan and that she should be proud. Flintfang stares at his paws, saying that he can't change anything. His sister gives up, saying that she is so proud of Badgerpaw, but that she didn't want to regret anything.
- Sometime later, Blackfoot attacks Tornear, calling him a fox-heart as he thinks about how WindClan had murdered Raggedstar. Triumphantly, he thinks that they would drive WindClan out of the forest. The WindClan patrol's leader yowls for retreat, and as he surveys his cats, he sees that they are safe, but wonders where Flintfang and Badgerpaw was. The newly made apprentice had been very excited about his first battle.
- His heart drops to his stomach when he sees Flintfang huddled over Badgerpaw, the kit's fur matted in blood. He could hear them now, and Badgerpaw tells Flintfang that he would be liked to be named Badgerfang in honor of his mentor. Flintfang roughly says that it would be an honor, and that Badgerfang would watch over them from StarClan. Everything stills, and the silence deafening, Badgerfang takes his last breath. His brother is whispering, and as Blackfoot approaches, Flintfang's face is proof of the reality. Blackfoot starts to hyperventilate, and terrifying thoughts of defying his leader cross his mind. Thinking he hates it, he lies to himself that it must the way things have to be.
Characters[]
Major[]
- Blackfoot[1] (Flashback and present)
- Badgerfang[note 1] (Flashback and present)
Minor[]
- Fernshade[1] (Flashback only)
- Brokenstar[1] (Flashback only)
- Dawnpaw[1] (Flashback only)
- Wetpaw[1] (Flashback only)
- Yellowfang[1] (Flashback only)
- Runningnose[1] (Flashback only)
- Wolfstep[1] (Flashback only)
- Flintfang[1] (Flashback only)
- Tornear[1] (Flashback only)
- Littlepaw[1] (Flashback only)
- Clawface[1] (Flashback only)
- Scorchwind[1] (Flashback only)
- Boulder[1] (Flashback only)
Mentioned[]
Important events[]
- Badgerkit is named Badgerpaw, and Flintfang is assigned to be his mentor.[1]
- Badgerpaw/Badgerfang is killed in a battle.[1]
Ceremonies[]
| Badgerpaw's apprentice ceremony | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
Trivia[]
- This chapter aligns with chapter thirty-eight of Yellowfang's Secret.[2]
Notes[]
Notes and references[]
| Blackfoot's Reckoning chapters | |
|---|---|
| Chapter 1 • Chapter 2 • Chapter 3 • Chapter 4 • Chapter 5 • Chapter 6 • Chapter 7 • Chapter 8 • Chapter 9 • Chapter 10 | |