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Below contains in-depth information for chapter fourteen of Crookedstar's Promise. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.
Crookedpaw's fishing is interrupted by Hailstar's call for a Clan meeting. It's been two days since the Gathering, and the sun sinks low in the sky as Crookedpaw hurries to the edge of the clearing from where he'd been hooking minnows by the reeds. Oakheart trots over to meet him, and Crookedpaw sees Shellheart standing beside Hailstar at the head of the clearing. Crookedpaw asks what's going on, and Oakheart replies that he doesn't know, but Hailstar's been meeting with the senior warriors all afternoon. Oakheart whispers that even Brambleberry's been called, even though no one's really sick.
Hailstar announces that RiverClan will be taking back Sunningrocks. The warriors cheer and prepare for battle. Shellheart announces the cats that will be in the battle patrol; Timberfur, Rippleclaw, Owlfur, Ottersplash, Oakheart, Beetlenose, Petaldust, Whitefang, Shimmerpelt, Softwing, Piketooth, Rainflower, Voleclaw, Cedarpelt, and Crookedpaw. Crookedpaw excitedly darts after his mentor, but Brambleberry blocks him and begs him not to go. Crookedpaw determinedly marches past her and ducks out of camp.
The patrols heads out onto the ice of the river, Crookedpaw following, and stop at the foot of Sunningrocks. The RiverClan warriors climb the rocks, and Hailstar prepares his cats for battle. Crookedpaw and his Clanmates spread out along the rocks, and soon, the approaching thrumming of paws is heard. A ThunderClan patrol bursts through the trees, pulsing with rage. Hailstar announces that the rocks are RiverClan's again, but Pinestar growls never and orders his warriors to attack.
The two patrols surge into each other, and Crookedpaw whirls around, confused and scared. Paws slam into him and Crookedpaw falls off the rocks. Claws slash his cheek, and Crookedpaw hears Mapleshade telling him to fight. Crookedpaw dashes around the foot of the rock, determined to get to his Clanmates, but a blue-gray pelt stands in his way. Crookedpaw recognizes her as Bluepaw, and the ThunderClan she-cat sighs in relief. Crookedpaw remembers Mapleshade's words and drops into a battle stance, hissing that they're enemies now. Bluepaw blinks in surprise, and Crookedpaw leaps forward and knocks her into the snow. The two apprentices claw and bite at each other, and Crookedpaw begins to gain the upper hand.
Suddenly, Snowpaw appears and begins to fight alongside her sister. Crookedpaw falls beneath the two cats, and retreats to the river. Having reached RiverClan territory safely, Crookedpaw watches in shock as more RiverClan warriors stream past him in retreat, including Hailstar. Shellheart pulls up beside his son and nudges him toward camp, telling him to get treatment from Brambleberry.
Dawn colors the sky as Crookedpaw relaxes beside Oakheart, letting Brambleberry's herbs soothe his wounds. Many warriors begin complaining about the loss, blaming Hailstar for leading RiverClan into defeat. Timberfur glances at the medicine den, and Crookedpaw remembers how Hailstar's wounds had been so deep that Brambleberry had to remove him from the clearing. Petaldust tells them to shut up, as Hailstar could be losing a life. Crookedpaw gets up and says that he's taking fresh-kill to Brambleberry, when in reality he wants to see how bad Hailstar's condition is. He quickly catches some minnows and heads for the medicine den, and Rainflower looks up as he passes and tells him well done. Crookedpaw is surprised by his mother's praise, but happy.
Crookedpaw ducks into the medicine den and sees Echomist sitting beside Hailstar, who's flanks are hardly moving. Brambleberry murmurs that he lost a lot of blood, and Echomist suddenly stiffens and says he's not moving. Brambleberry darts to Hailstar's side and presses her ear to his chest, and after a moment, sadly announces that he lost a life. Echomist breaths that he's on his ninth, and Brambleberry thanks Crookedpaw for the fish, but tells him that he should go. Crookedpaw nods and exits the den.
Crookedpaw watches his Clanmates as they recover from the battle, and thinks that none of them know that their leader just lost a life. He knows that Brambleberry or Hailstar himself will tell them, and wishes with a rush of frustration that he had fought better, thinking that Mapleshade will never think he's fit to be leader now. Crookedpaw tells himself that next time he'll fight like a StarClan warrior and won't let his Clanmates down.
