Eclipse/Chapter 17

"Please don't let this battle take [Squirrelflight] away from me."

— Hollypaw willing for Squirrelflight to live in Eclipse, page 242

Eclipse
Chapter number:	17 (of 25)
Page numbers:	229-242
Point of View:	Hollypaw
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 17 (of 25)

Page Numbers: 229-242

Chapter description

Hollypaw sits next to her siblings, and despite everything in the forest returning to normal, she shivers. She is about to ask Jaypaw about the sun's disappearance, but he dashes to Leafpool, who is treating Brackenfur. She informs him that his shoulder is wrenched, instrucing him to go to halfrock, and she then inspects a bloodied Whitewing. Upon learning that she only has scratches, Leafpool tells her to wait outside the warriors' den. Jaypaw says that Thornclaw sprained his paw, and he is ordered to bring him to where Brackenfur is. Hazeltail, Poppyfrost, and Whitewing discuss the sun's disappearance, but Leafpool snaps at them to clean their wounds instead of gossiping. Birchfall complains about StarClan hiding the sun, with Berrynose adding that it serves WindClan right for causing the battle. Hollypaw inquires if Jaypaw is alright, to which he replies that he's fine, and Lionpaw suggests helping the queens get down from Highledge. Surprised by how much strength her brother has left, Hollypaw follows him to Highledge. Daisy jumps down with Toadkit in her mouth, and Lionpaw helps to support Millie as she makes her way to the clearing with Briarkit. Daisy thanks the apprentice for his help, and warns Toadkit to watch where he is going; Graystripe manages to avoid the kit and tells him to make sure Millie's nest is full of moss. Graystripe then comments that Toadkit isn't too shaken from the battle, thinking it's better that way for him. He and Millie head into the nursery, and Lionpaw and Hollypaw scramble up into Firestar's dark den, where the rest of Millie's kits and Rosekit are with Longtail and Mousefur.

Longtail tries to hush Bumblekit, and Mousefur waves Hollypaw away, wanting Blossomkit to be retrieved later. The elders ask about the sun vanishing, with Mousefur questioning what Jaypaw thinks about it, though Lionpaw says that he doesn't always share what StarClan reveals to him, and Hollypaw wonders if he believes Jaypaw knows what it means if they are more powerful than their ancestors. She grabs Bumblekit, surprising him, and Lionpaw picks up a stubborn Rosekit. They return the kits to Graystripe outside the nursery, explaining to him that he can take Blossomkit back later. Leafpool calls to Lionpaw, requesting that he finds cobwebs with Foxpaw, and she continues applying pulp to one of Honeyfern's wounds. Hearing his name, Foxpaw mentions a log filled with cobwebs near the hollow, and Lionpaw turns to Brambleclaw, who is having Jaypaw tend to one of his wounds. The deputy allows them to go, but warns them to be careful, and they head off. Leafpool glances at Hollypaw, instructing her to take herbs to Whitewing and the others, knowing that she'll be able to chew them up properly. Cinderpaw interjects that she knows how to chew the herbs as well, and believing she has picked this up from being in the medicine den, Leafpool assigns her to help Hollypaw. As they prepare to get the herbs, Hollypaw notices that Cinderpaw is hardly limping; she says that she's doing better and the swimming helped her leg.

They walk past Squirrelflight, who sits awkwardly and unemotionally stares back at her daughter. This makes Hollypaw uneasy, and she inquires if Leafpool has checked her, to which Squirrelflight tauntly replies that she hasn't yet. Suddenly, Hollypaw notices that the sand around her mother is stained with her blood, and with new energy, she discovers blood oozing from her chest. Squirrelflight falls to a crouch, groaning in pain, and Sandstorm worriedly asks what happened. Squirrelflight then rolls onto her side, revealing her entire belly to be stained with blood, and horrified, Sandstorm tells Hollypaw to fetch Leafpool, shoving her away. The apprentice blurts out that she's hurt, and Leafpool appears in an instant, dashing up to her sister. She parts the fur on her belly, and Hollypaw finds a deep gash stretching from Squirrelflight's chest to her hind leg. She comments that she's hardly breathing, and when she tries to shut her eyes, Hollypaw urges her to stay awake. Seeing that Lionpaw and Foxpaw have returned to camp with the cobwebs, she calls them to her, and Leafpool takes the cobwebs, stuffing them into Squirrelflight's wound. She then orders the two apprentices to quickly fetch wet moss. Jaypaw, having heard the situation, rushes to the side of his mother, with Brambleclaw joining him seconds later. Hollypaw explains that Squirrelflight has a belly gash, and Sandstorm adds that she never went down fighting while on the shore. Brambleclaw squats down to his mate, reassuring her that Leafpool will save her; the medicine cat is hard at work tending to Squirrelflight's wound, and Jaypaw assists her. Brambleclaw licks the cheek of the unconscious Squirrelflight, telling her to sleep and referring to her as his lovely.

Firestar makes his way to the group of cats, demanding what's going on, and Leafpool snarls at them to step back. Fearing that Squirrelflight will die, Hollypaw backs up, and Leafpool instructs her to get oak leaves. She dashes inside the den, obtaining a pawful of the leaves, and she carries them back to Leafpool. She offers to chew them up, but Leafpool says that Jaypaw can do that, and the black she-cat moves out of her way. Sandstorm presses against Hollypaw, saying that Leafpool will save Squirrelflight, and the medicine cats complete patching up her wound. Leafpool announces that she has done all she can, giving her sister water, which she swallows. She explains that she needs a nest, telling Lionpaw and Hollypaw to build one, and assigning Jaypaw to watch Squirrelflight while she helps Brightheart manage everyone else. Firestar expresses how proud he is of Leafpool, and he advises Sandstorm to rest, though she refuses to leave the side of Squirrelflight. Lionpaw states that they need to build the nest, and Foxpaw asks if he and Icepaw can help, to which he responds that they can find anything soft and warm. She hears Firestar and Brambleclaw talking with Graystripe, Dustpelt, and Thornclaw, wondering what is left to even talk about, and Lionpaw suggests that WindClan could finish the fight now that the sun has returned, shocking Hollypaw.

Foxpaw comes back with a large feather, and Lionpaw comments that it's a start, but they need more materials. Hollypaw turns to Squirrelflight, who is barely breathing, and Jaypaw remains close to her. Heading out into the forest, Hollypaw is stunned to find it peaceful, and she notes that leaf-fall is coming closer each day, but the place is filled with signs of battle. Lionpaw yanks a patch of ferns out from the ground, and Hollypaw helps him, gathering a pile. Foxpaw and Icepaw appear with moss in their jaws, and deciding that's enough, the apprentices haul their materials back to camp. Avoiding a blood trail, Hollypaw thinks that every Clan lost something, but doesn't know what. They reach Squirrelflight, and Jaypaw instructs them to put the moss underneath her. Hollypaw places the moss bundles around her mother's bloody belly area, then covers her body in feathers. Brambleclaw invites them to come eat what is left on the fresh-kill pile, but Hollypaw is not interested, instead wanting to stay by the side of her mother like Jaypaw is doing. She curls up against Squirrelflight, and shutting her eyes, Hollypaw begs for the battle to not take her mother's life.

Characters

Major

• Hollypaw
• Squirrelflight

Minor

• Lionpaw
• Jaypaw
• Leafpool
• Brackenfur
• Whitewing
• Hazeltail
• Poppyfrost
• Birchfall
• Berrynose
• Thornclaw
• Millie
• Briarkit
• Daisy
• Toadkit
• Graystripe
• Rosekit
• Longtail
• Bumblekit
• Blossomkit
• Mousefur
• Cinderpaw
• Honeyfern
• Foxpaw
• Brambleclaw
• Sandstorm
• Firestar
• Brightheart
• Icepaw
• Dustpelt

Errors

• Briarkit is mistakenly called a tom.