| "With this life, I give you unity. Do all you can to make sure every Clan is strong. Because if one Clan falls, all the Clans will be lost." |
| — Gray Wing giving Blackfoot a life in Blackfoot's Reckoning, chapter 6 |
- Below contains in-depth information for chapter six of Blackfoot's Reckoning. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.
- Chapter Number: 6 (of 10)
- Page Numbers: N/A
Chapter description[]
- As Blackfoot's previous memory fades, he notes that ShadowClan did in fact need extra territory for their own survival. However, as he says this, he also feels guilty and wonders if it was unjustified for ShadowClan to drive WindClan out, and whether StarClan thinks of him in the wrong. Gray Wing sympathetically says that it can be hard to relive the past. When the gray tom asks if he wants this life, Blackfoot manages to rasp out a yes. Gray Wing gives him a life for unity, and Blackfoot feels another spike of pain. As he opens his eyes, he sees Rosetail, whom he killed. She regards him coldly, and not blaming her for her attitude, Blackfoot allows the past to take him back.
- In his memories, Blackfoot organizes his patrol to raid ThunderClan's nursery. The ShadowClan warriors beside him, Ratscar, Stumpytail, and Clawface, show their eagerness. To his other warriors, Blackfoot instructs them to enter the enemy's camp via the gorse tunnel. The deputy reasons that they would meet little opposition, as only queens and elders remain in the camp just after sunhigh. Lizardstripe asks if Yellowfang is with ThunderClan, which Blackfoot doubts. Thinking about Yellowfang being exiled for murdering kits, he feels a sense of righteousness in initiating the raid.
- When Blackfoot decides that it is time to carry out the plan, the ShadowClan warriors dig through the brambles. Hearing cats cheerfully chatting in the camp, Blackfoot feels guilty but nevertheless gives the command to charge. The ShadowClan cats leap into the clearing, and Lionheart, a formidable warrior, yowls to defend the camp. The patrol disperses, and Blackfoot hurries towards the nursery. Behind him, Bluestar, Tigerclaw, and a few apprentices arrive. Hurrying, he reaches for the kits when a cat slams into him. He quickly retaliates and recognizes his attacker as Rosetail. She attempts to fend him off, but Blackfoot reasons that her age has made her weaker. Rosetail refuses to retreat, and reasoning that he is doing it for ShadowClan, Blackfoot kills her. He manages to grab two young kits, but as he reaches for the third, he is attacked again. Blackfoot realizes with shock that it is Yellowfang. He tries to call her a murderer for killing kits. They engage in a fight, but Yellowfang gains the upper hand, and the rest of the ShadowClan patrol retreats. The deputy feels sick with dread, for they have failed, and Rosetail died for nothing.
- The memory fades away as Blackfoot feels nothing but shame, thinking that he was also to blame for the terror Brokenstar inflicted on all the Clans. Rosetail pads toward him slowly, blankly stating that she gives him a life for compassion. Pain courses through Blackfoot as he feels Rosetail's fear and the kits' terror. The sensation gives away, and tiredness overcomes him.
Characters[]
Major[]
Minor[]
- Gray Wing[1]
- Sagewhisker[1]
- Ratscar[1]
- Stumpytail[1]
- Clawface[1]
- Lizardstripe[1]
- Deerfoot[1]
- Russetfur[1]
- Boulder[1]
- Lionheart[1]
- Scorchwind[1]
- Frostfur[1]
- Brindleface[1] (Unnamed)
- Bluestar[1]
- Tigerclaw[1]
- Graypaw[1] (Unnamed)
- Ravenpaw[1] (Unnamed)
- Firepaw[1] (Unnamed)
- Brightkit[1] (Unnamed)
- Cinderkit[1] (Unnamed)
Mentioned[]
- Raggedstar[1]
- Brokenstar[1]
- Deadfoot[1]
- Marigoldkit[1] (Unnamed)
- Mintkit[1] (Unnamed)
- Brightflower[1]
Important events[]
Deaths[]
Other[]
- Blackfoot receives his fourth life from Gray Wing for unity, and his fifth life from Rosetail for compassion.[1]
Trivia[]
- This chapter aligns with chapter seventeen of Into the Wild and and part two of The Prophecies Begin (volume 1).[2][3]
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 | |