Darkest Night/Chapter 1

"You did a huge thing by bringing SkyClan here. [...] This is where they belong."

— Ivypool complimenting Twigpaw in Darkest Night, page 10

Darkest Night
Chapter number:	1 (of 23)
Page numbers:	3-18
Point of View:	Twigpaw
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 1 (of 23)

Page Numbers: 3-18

Chapter description

Ivypool tells Twigpaw to hurry up. Twigpaw, who is stalking a mouse, inwardly tells Ivypool to hush. The mouse freezes, hearing Ivypool calling out to Twigpaw. The gray apprentice doesn't move, waiting, and relaxes when her target goes back to sniffing around. Twigpaw pounces and catches the mouse, and then returns to the rest of the patrol. Ivypool has a thrush while Sparkpelt, Lionblaze, Cherryfall, and Fernsong sit there.

Sparkpelt talks to Lionblaze, saying she doesn't know what he's looking for, as the rogues are gone, and all the other Clans have left the ThunderClan camp. Ivypool points out that it's not all the Clans who have gone, and Fernsong adds that ShadowClan had gone home days ago. Sparkpelt argues that they have still got half of RiverClan in the camp, and that she's sick of a Reedwhisker using her nest. Fernsong reminds her that Reedwhisker needs her nest, since he's still recovering from being held captive by Darktail. Ivypool says that he won't be there much longer, for Mistystar said that RiverClan had nearly finished rebuilding their camp, so they would be able to go home soon.

Sparkpelt asks whether SkyClan would go home, and Lionblaze answers that SkyClan would be gone soon too. Cherryfall stands up, asking where they can go. Lionblaze states that the leaders will decide at the next Gathering, and Sparkpelt bristles. The ginger warrior asks what StarClan can do, considering them inventing new territory for SkyClan. Cherryfall adds to this, saying that there is no room around the lake for SkyClan, while glancing at Twigpaw. Twigpaw worries that the ginger she-cat is blaming her for bringing SkyClan to the lake. Bringing back SkyClan had made her feel proud, but she had begun to second-guess herself after hearing her Clanmates' negative opinions. The ThunderClan camp was overcrowded, and she asks herself where SkyClan could go. Twigpaw then tells herself that her father, Hawkwing, is in SkyClan, and that she had a family now. Despite this happy thought, Twigpaw worries. She thinks perhaps she was selfish for bringing them to the lake.

Sparkpelt interjects Twigpaw's thoughts by demanding who would give up territory for SkyClan, and glares at Lionblaze. In answer, the golden tom shrugs and says to let StarClan decide. Cherryfall paws through the prey they had caught, meowing that if StarClan wanted them back, then StarClan would find them a place to live. Fernsong shifts on his feet and remarks that the prey is running, and that they'll have enough food to feed all the cats that night. Ivypool states that Bramblestar had sent out five hunting parties, and RiverClan would bring prey when they return from rebuilding their camp.

Sparkpelt sniffs, meowing that Mistystar might not return, as the night before the patrol had not come back at all. Twigpaw, irritated, says to Sparkpelt that she thought the ginger she-cat wanted RiverClan gone, and wonders why she is being so crabby, noting that she was usually positive about things. She should be happy that they didn't come back. Sparkpelt changes the subject and says that they should bring their prey back to camp. The patrol agrees, and start picking up their prey.

Twigpaw enters camp with her patrol. Cats crowd the clearing, chattering away. RiverClan and SkyClan scent mingled with ThunderClan's. SkyClan's warriors lay around the ThunderClan apprentice den. Twigpaw scans the SkyClan warriors, looking for Hawkwing, Blossomheart, and Violetpaw. Rowanstar had allowed Violetpaw to reside in ThunderClan for the time being to spend time with her family. Twigpaw loved sharing the camp with her kin, but when she couldn't spot them, Twigpaw couldn't let go of the fear that she might lose them again.

Leafstar, who is standing near SkyClan, catches Twigpaw's eye. The leader seems to have noticed her worry, reassuring her that Alderheart is checking on Hawkwing, and Violetpaw is with him. Twigpaw asks if he is okay, and Leafstar assures her that Hawkwing is fine, adding that Alderheart had checked all the SkyClan cats, and that she thinks that the ThunderClan medicine cat liked making them swallow herbs. Blossomheart, Hawkwing's littermate, lifts her head and remarks that Alderheart says it will help the cats build up their strength, but she thinks he just wants to see the disgusted look on their faces when the swallow the herbs. Tinycloud, who is outside the nursery, shudders, declaring that she's not swallowing herbs until she's kitted, for there's hardly room for the kits in her belly, even without herbs.

Blossomfall says to the SkyClan she-cat that her kits will come soon. Her kits, Stemkit and Eaglekit, scramble over her and hurtle themselves after Plumkit and Shellkit, who are darting among the other cats as they play warrior and prey. The RiverClan cats, Mintfur, Brackenpelt, Reedwhisker, and Icewing, who had been held captive by the rogues, sit below the Highledge, eyes hollow. Lakeheart and Mallownose sit protectively around them, while Willowshine tends to Mintfur.

Twigpaw reaches the fresh-kill pile, and hears Molewhisker stating that RiverClan brought back frogs. Cherryfall suggests that they at least brought something back, glancing at the SkyClan cats. An argument breaks out when Cherryfall brings up that SkyClan may be a bunch of rogues. Fernsong states that Bramblestar said that SkyClan is a Clan like the rest. Molewhisker asks why only Bramblestar knew, and Ivypool crossly tells him that StarClan knew, asking him if he was contradicting their ancestors. Cherryfall blames Twigpaw for bringing them here, and while Lionblaze defends her, Twigpaw leaves the conversing cats.

Ivypool runs after her, and tells her that she did a huge thing in bringing SkyClan back. Twigpaw asks her why she didn't support her, and Ivypool replies that she didn't think it was a good idea for Tigerheart and Dovewing to be part of the search together. Ivypool comforts her apprentice, and states that Violetpaw might want her.

Twigpaw turns around to see Violetpaw staring at her, and asks her what is wrong. Jayfeather looks up and tells her that Alderheart has decided that SkyClan needs more attention than the other Clans. Twigpaw defends Alderheart, stating that he is just being a good medicine cat like Jayfeather had taught him to be, to Jayfeather's surprise. Violetpaw invites Twigpaw inside the medicine den, and they watch Alderheart tell Hawkwing that he should rest for a few days. Hawkwing, Twigpaw, and Violetpaw talk about how much fun they will have when they can hunt together. Hawkwing compliments them, telling them that Twigpaw and Violetpaw had turned into fine cats. He then glances at Alderheart, and thanks him for finding his kits. Alderheart shyly acknowledges it. Twigpaw exits the den to find something to eat.

She hears Owlnose angrily ask Cloudtail what Mosspelt is supposed to eat. Graystripe looks up from his meal, and asks if any cat has gone hungry. Owlnose reports that Mosspelt has, and Graystripe informs him that Mosspelt was asleep, and he didn't want to wake her up. Millie invites the RiverClan elder to eat with them, and while Mosspelt self-consciously walks to her, Owlnose grunts that all RiverClan gets is ThunderClan's leftovers. Molewhisker chimes that if RiverClan had hunted more, they might have got more. Twigpaw notes to herself that there is enough prey for everyone, and that the toms should not make such a fuss.

At that moment, Mistystar enters with her patrol, and asks what is happening. She states that her warriors should be paying respect to ThunderClan, and the RiverClan warriors look away shyly. Mistystar tells Bramblestar that she thinks that it is time for them to go, but is convinced to share prey for one last meal. Twigpaw picks a spot for her kin to eat. She sees Ivypool happily trotting over. Ivypool exclaims that she has spoken to Bramblestar, and that they both think that Twigpaw is ready for her warrior assessment. Twigpaw is very happy about this, but soon wonders if she really wants to become a ThunderClan warrior.

Characters

Major

• Twigpaw
• Ivypool

Minor

• Sparkpelt
• Fernsong
• Cherryfall
• Lionblaze
• Reedpaw
• Birchfall
• Whitewing
• Berrynose
• Poppyfrost
• Finpaw
• Dewpaw
• Blossomfall
• Brightheart
• Cloudtail
• Tinycloud
• Willowshine
• Leafstar
• Eaglekit
• Shellkit
• Plumkit
• Stemkit
• Mintfur
• Brackenpelt
• Reedwhisker
• Icewing
• Lakeheart
• Mallownose
• Graystripe
• Mosspelt
• Bramblestar
• Molewhisker

Mentioned

• Reedwhisker
• Mistystar
• Bramblestar
• Hawkwing
• Blossomheart
• Violetpaw
• Rowanstar
• Darktail
• The Kin members

Quotes

"This fact, which had made [Twigpaw] so proud initially, had begun to peck at her like a crow."

―Narrator on Twigpaw's thoughts of bringing back SkyClan to the lake ^{Darkest Night, page 4}

"That's not fair! He's just being a good medicine cat. Like you taught him to be."

―Ivypool reassuring Twigpaw about bringing SkyClan back ^{Darkest Night, page 5}