Eclipse/Chapter 9

"I'm swimming! [..] And it works. It really works! I'm floating!

— Cinderpaw telling Jaypaw how she is swimming in Eclipse, pages 135-136

Eclipse
Chapter number:	9 (of 25)
Page numbers:	130-144
Point of View:	Jaypaw
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 9 (of 25)

Page Numbers: 130-144

Chapter description

Opening his eyes, Jaypaw senses Leafpool stretching in her nest, so he deduces that it must be dawn. Moments later, Cinderpaw calls out to Jaypaw that Leafpool has gone, but she tells him that Leafpool will be back soon and that they should postpone the swimming idea to later. The blind tabby tom states that if they hurry, they will get there before Leafpool gets back. Sighing, Cinderpaw struggles to get up, so she asks Jaypaw for poppy seeds. The medicine cat apprentice states that the seeds will make her tired, and she needs her wits for swimming.

Upon leaving the medicine cat den, Jaypaw senses Squirrelflight, who is returning to the warrior's den searching for a replacement to guard the camp. The duo hobble across camp, and as they make it towards the thorn entrance, Jaypaw scents Leafpool returning from the dirtplace. The blind tabby tom shoves Cinderpaw out of sight and silences her gasp with his tail. After the brown tabby she-cat passes, Jaypaw and Cinderpaw hurry forward, while Jaypaw scouts for the best route. He comments that Cinderpaw's leg is doing real nicely, and tries to motivate her by getting her to imagine that she is saving a drowning kit. Cinderpaw lifts her head as she heaves herself to her paws while jokingly commenting how the blind cat is in the lead.

The gray tabby she-cat asks Jaypaw if he thinks the swimming will actually help her leg. The blind tabby medicine cat assures the ThunderClan apprentice, hoping to himself that his plan will work. Jaypaw tells Cinderpaw that the water isn't too cold, noting that he will have to wade in the water with her. The medicine cat apprentice instructs the warrior apprentice to keep walking until she cannot feel the stones under her. Cinderpaw tells Jaypaw that she can't, so he asks her if she really wants to be a warrior. Squeaking, Cinderpaw argues that Jaypaw told her the water wasn't cold, so he defends himself. Soon, Cinderpaw yowls that she can't reach the bottom, screaming for help. Afraid that he had drowned her, Jaypaw asks if she is okay, and Cinderpaw replies that she is swimming.

Leafpool approaches them, intrigued by Jaypaw's idea. She asks what the intentions were behind getting Cinderpaw to swim, so the ThunderClan medicine cat apprentice replies that he thought the water would support her, allowing her to strengthen her leg without putting too much perssure on it. Leafpool congratulates him, telling Cinderpaw to leave the water soon. The brown tabby medicine cat reminds Jaypaw of the half-moon meeting at the Moonpool, stating that they will both go. In camp, Sorreltail and Hollypaw question why Cinderpaw is wet, so the gray apprentice answers that Jaypaw had taught her how to swim, with the blind tabby adding that she will do it every day to strengthen her leg.

In following hours at the half-moon meeting, Jaypaw and Leafpool walk alongside the rest of the medicine cats down the path to the sacred pool. He senses the tension between Leafpool and Barkface, and remembers how the WindClan medicine cat had stated that Kestrelpaw could not make it because of a thorn in his paw, which Jaypaw did not believe. Willowpaw, Mothwing, and Littlecloud discuss if the ShadowClan medicine cat has chose his apprentice. He replies that he has someone in mind, causing Jaypaw to wonder if Leafpool wished for a medicine cat who wanted to be a medicine cat, or one with the ability to see.

Mothwing announces that before they start, she wants to give Willowpaw her full medicine cat name. This prompts Jaypaw to wonder how great it would be to have his full name, and when Leafpool will give him his full name. The medicine cat apprentice wonders how StarClan will hear Mothwing when she doesn't believe in StarClan. Leafpool guesses his thoughts, stating that StarClan will hear her. Mothwing performs the ceremony, and Willowpaw agrees to the oath. The RiverClan medicine cat gives her apprentice the name of Willowshine, followed by chanting from all the medicine cats. Lying down beside the Moonpool, Jaypaw indignantly replies that he will not spy on Willowshine's dream when told by Leafpool.

Into a dream, he notices a tabby cat grooming a tortoiseshell, noting that they are from a different Clan. Littlecloud walks into the clearing, prompting Jaypaw to realize that without even meaning it, he had woke up in the ShadowClan medicine cat's dream. Littlecloud greets a tom named Runningnose, who asks how things are in ShadowClan. Picking up on Littlecloud's hesitance, Runningnose barrages him with a series of questions, asking him if there was a problem with Twolegs or Tawnypelt's kits. Littecloud responds that Blackstar was the problem, citing that he seemed distracted, letting Russetfur organize every patrol. Runningnose asks if there's anything else out of the ordinary with Blackstar, so the small brown tabby tom replies that the ShadowClan leader has started to question StarClan's rightfulness in bringing the Clans to the lake.

Runningnose gives Littlecloud the grave news that Blackstar is losing his faith in StarClan, giving the ShadowClan medicine cat the important task of reawakening his leader's faith. Littlecloud begs for help, unsure of how to help Blackstar find his faith, but the dream ends. Leafpool asks Jaypaw if he had dreamed, but the blind medicine cat apprentice responds that he hadn't dreamed of anything important.

Characters

Major

• Jaypaw
• Cinderpaw
• Leafpool

Minor

• Squirrelflight
• Cinderpelt (Vision or Dream)
• Sorreltail
• Hollypaw
• Barkface
• Mothwing
• Willowpaw/shine
• Littlecloud
• StarClan tabby
• StarClan tortoiseshell
• StarClan black-and-white cat
• Runningnose

Mentioned

• Kestrelpaw
• Tawnypelt (Vision or Dream)
• Dawnkit (Unnamed) (Vision or Dream)
• Flamekit (Unnamed) (Vision or Dream)
• Tigerkit (Unnamed) (Vision or Dream)

Important Events

Ceremonies

• Willowshine becomes a full medicine cat.

Willowshine's medicine cat ceremony

Mothwing: I, Mothwing, medicine cat of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help she will serve her Clan for many moons. Willowpaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life? Willowpaw: I do. Mothwing: Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Willowpaw, from this moment you will be known as Willowshine. StarClan honors your loyalty and your compassion. May you use them to serve your Clan for endless moons. Everyone: Willowshine! Willowshine! Reference: Eclipse, pages 140-141