| "I am glad Millie has chosen to keep her name. I am no warrior, but I am a ThunderClan cat. I stay in the nursery rather than hunt and fight because that is what I do best. I care for our young as though each kit were my own. This is my gift to the Clan, but I do it in my chosen name." |
| — Daisy about Millie choosing to keep her name in Dark River, page 87 |
- Below contains in-depth information for chapter six of Dark River. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.
- Chapter Number: 6 (of 21)
- Page Numbers: 81-98
Chapter description[]
- Yawning, Hollypaw emerges from the apprentices' den and sees her denmate, Cinderpaw, near the fresh-kill pile. She calls out a greeting and asks Cinderpaw if there is anything good on the fresh-kill pile, to which the tabby she-cat says there is a slightly stale mouse there. She says that it is not that bad-tasting, and offers it to Daisy, Icekit, and Foxkit. Daisy declines, saying that Foxkit is ill and she would rather he and Icekit eat warm prey and will wait until the next hunting patrol returns. Daisy mews that she will be happy once Foxkit and Icekit are apprentices, due to their constant energy. Hollypaw wonders what Daisy would do if there were no kits in the Clan, but her thoughts are broken by Leafpool.
- The medicine cat calls to Cinderpaw and Hollypaw, looking for help in taking care of the elders. Hollypaw and Cinderpaw both agree to help, with Hollypaw going to look for fresh moss behind the medicine den. As Hollypaw arrives in the elders' den with fresh moss, Leafpool looks up and explains that she is taking care of Longtail, who has an infected rat bite. She mews that she is putting a poultice on it, and she wants fresh bedding so the tabby elder does not get another infected wound. Longtail winces at Leafpool's medicine, and wistfully says that he wants to go out into the forest to take in the smells again. Mousefur, upon hearing Longtail, says that he can go if she is allowed to go with him to keep an eye out for foxes.
- Cinderpaw tells Hollypaw that foxes are not too bad, at least when you compare them to badgers. Hollypaw sits up and tells Cinderpaw that she has not seen nor met a badger in her lifetime. Confused, Cinderpaw chirps that she must have dreamed it, but Leafpool is shocked that Cinderpaw would remember a badger. Longtail interrupts Leafpool's trance, asking if she is done. She replies that she is almost done, but she is unable to finish before they are summoned to a Clan meeting by Firestar, the leader of ThunderClan. Mousefur narrows her eyes warily and hopes that everything will be okay, confused as to why Firestar is calling a meeting. Hollypaw muses that perhaps the dawn patrol had something to report.
- In the clearing, Hollypaw notices that Stormfur, Brook, Graystripe, and Millie are present. She continues to look and sees her parents, Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight, sitting together near the shadows of the Highledge. Hollypaw's brother, Lionpaw, joins his mentor, Ashfur, and Daisy and the kits are seen by the nursery. Hollypaw whispers to Cinderpaw that it does not look very urgent, noticing the shine in Firestar's eyes. Suddenly, Firestar exclaims that it is time to make Millie, the mate of Graystripe, a full warrior of ThunderClan. Approving calls echo throughout the camp, although Hollypaw is confused and wonders if Millie even believes in StarClan. Birchfall supports this as well, saying that Millie has the heart of a warrior.
- Firestar beckons Millie forward and begins to praise her bravery and skills, noting how she made sure her Clan did not go hungry. Firestar continues and is about to reveal her warrior name, but Millie herself interrupts the ceremony. Gazing steadily, Millie addresses Firestar, Graystripe, and ThunderClan. She wishes to keep her kittypet name, as she has always been Millie. Some cats, like Dustpelt, Spiderleg, and Thornclaw, call into question her choices, with Thornclaw in particular wanting to know what the other Clans would say. Firestar calls for silence, and is in disbelief that his Clanmates would want him to throw cats out because of the names they are called. Despite the protests, there is overwhelming support for Millie and her choice, including from Brook, Daisy, Graystripe, Berrypaw, Mousepaw, and Hazelpaw. Firestar accepts Millie's choice and welcomes her as a full member of ThunderClan.
- After the cheering has died down, Hollypaw is approached by Squirrelflight, and the young black cat frets that StarClan would not accept Millie because of her name. Squirrelflight mews that StarClan is not that narrow-minded, although Hollypaw still believes that Brambleclaw should have spoken up and forced Millie to change her name. Squirrelflight's eyes glitter as she states that Brambleclaw must support Firestar as Clan deputy, and reminds Hollypaw that Firestar was once a kittypet as well. Their discussion is cut short as Brackenfur approaches, wanting to asses the apprentices and their progress. He tells Hollypaw that she is to join Mousepaw and Cinderpaw, and the three apprentices are to bring back as much prey as they can handle.
- Cinderpaw frets over which cat to impress more—her mentor, Cloudtail, or her father, Brackenfur. Mousepaw vows to catch as much as he can to impress Spiderleg, and Hollypaw does not want to let Brackenfur down either. The three apprentices separate, with Cinderpaw hunting near the ShadowClan border. Hollypaw and Mousepaw opt to stay in the undergrowth, as they find it easier and useful for hunting. The apprentices try their best to not be phased by being assessed and are told not to focus on the fact that their mentors are watching them. Before too long, Hollypaw is able to return with two shrews and a mouse, Mousepaw has two mice, and Cinderpaw has four water voles. Mousepaw opts to climb the Sky Oak in an attempt to catch a squirrel, although Cloudtail and Brackenfur are not amused by this. They urge Spiderleg, Mousepaw's mentor, to recall him and order him to get down as it is not safe. The squirrel gets away briefly, and Mousepaw is left stuck in the tree.
- Cloudtail offers to go and fetch Mousepaw, but Cinderpaw speaks up before he is able to finish speaking. Cinderpaw mews that she will go slow and give up if she is too uncomfortable. Brackenfur, Cinderpaw's father, is wracked with anxiety and fear at watching his daughter up so high. Suddenly, Mousepaw and Cinderpaw are spooked by a bird's caw, and Mousepaw slips and almost falls down from the tree. Cinderpaw is able to save Mousepaw, but she falls instead and crashes to the ground with a thud. Brackenfur cries out and immediately rushes to his daughter, while Spiderleg orders Hollypaw to make a dash for camp to fetch Leafpool. The black apprentice takes one look at Cinderpaw, prays she is not dead, and runs through the trees back to ThunderClan's camp.
Characters[]
Major[]
Minor[]
Mentioned[]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Revealed in Dark River, page 81
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Revealed in Dark River, page 89
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Revealed in Dark River, page 82
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Revealed in Dark River, page 84
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Revealed in Dark River, page 85
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Revealed in Dark River, page 87
- ↑ Revealed in Dark River, page 88
- ↑ Revealed in Dark River, page 86
| Dark River chapters | |
|---|---|
| Prologue • Chapter 1 • Chapter 2 • Chapter 3 • Chapter 4 • Chapter 5 • Chapter 6 • Chapter 7 • Chapter 8 • Chapter 9 • Chapter 10 • Chapter 11 • Chapter 12 • Chapter 13 • Chapter 14 • Chapter 15 • Chapter 16 • Chapter 17 • Chapter 18 • Chapter 19 • Chapter 20 • Chapter 21 | |