Fading Echoes/Chapter 5

"The quest is over. You must respect boundaries. Your loyalty should be with your own Clan."

— Whitetail to Dovepaw in Fading Echoes, page 66

Fading Echoes
Chapter number:	5 (of 24)
Page numbers:	55-70
Point of View:	Dovepaw
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 5 (of 24)

Page Numbers: 55-70

Chapter description

Dovepaw finds herself unable to sleep, as she can't stop thinking about the possibility of Sedgewhisker being badly injured by dogs. She's able to smell the blood crusting over her wound, which worries her further. Concerned, Ivypaw asks if her earlier fall had hurt her, to which Dovepaw replies that it hadn't. She briefly wishes Lionblaze would respect her, like he does Jayfeather. Sensing her sister's restlessness, Ivypaw invites her to take a walk through the forest. As the apprentices leave their den, Dovepaw senses Rosepetal on guard and suggests a secret way out of camp. She leads Ivypaw to a hidden exit behind the medicine cat den, and they climb out of the camp. Ivypaw asks how she found it, and the gray she-cat reveals that Lionblaze told her. Dovepaw feels a brief flash of satisfaction for making her own decisions. She casts her senses throughout the Clans, hearing Twolegs in RiverClan territory and a wailing kit in ShadowClan.

Ivypaw dares Dovepaw to go to the abandoned Twoleg nest, but she declines the offer. Instead, Dovepaw tells her sister she wants to go to the moorland, right into WindClan's camp. When Ivypaw is surprised, the gray she-cat explains that she hasn't seen Whitetail or Sedgewhisker since their journey together. Her sister is hurt, saying she has friends in ThunderClan. Dovepaw, avoiding explaining Sedgewhisker's injury, insists that they go to their camp. Narrowing her eyes, Ivypaw finally agrees.

As the sisters reach the moorland, Ivypaw comments that she's glad she isn't WindClan, as she dislikes the idea of sleeping under the open sky. Dovepaw begins to compare WindClan territory to part of her recent journey but stops herself, remembering that her sister is still upset about not being able to go. Ivypaw worries that they'll get caught by a night patrol, but Dovepaw reassures her that there aren't any out. They cross the scent line; Ivypaw begins to have doubts about their plan. Dovepaw pleads with her to keep going, as she uses her senses to make out Sedgewhisker sitting in her nest, sniffing at her wound. As Dovepaw comes up with a plan to get the tabby WindClan warrior's attention, her and Ivypaw reach WindClan's camp. The silver-and-white she-cat initially protests searching for Sedgewhisker and Whitetail, but she gives up after Dovepaw enters the camp anyways. A guard is keeping watch at the entrance to the camp; Dovepaw reassures her sister that he won't see them.

Sitting behind the warriors' den, Dovepaw calls Sedgewhisker's name, and the WindClan warrior wakes up. To the gray apprentice's surprise, Sedgewhisker sounds cross rather than overjoyed to see her. Dovepaw expresses concern for her wellbeing after the dog chase, but the warrior accuses the young she-cat of spying on WindClan. Ivypaw is shocked to hear about the dog, as Dovepaw hadn't told her about it prior. Sedgewhisker insists that she's fine, and WindClan doesn't need a ThunderClan apprentice to watch out for them. Weaselfur wakes up, padding over to ask his Clanmate what's going on. Spotting the two ThunderClan apprentices, he announces their presence to the Clan. Several WindClan cats rush over, trying to find out if the apprentices are alone. Harespring is sent with Leaftail and Owlwhisker to search the area for other ThunderClan cats. His gaze stern, Onestar begins to question Dovepaw and Ivypaw as to why they came and how they knew about the dog.

As Whitetail approaches the group, Dovepaw thinks about how she doesn't want the WindClan she-cat to be disappointed in her as well. Whitetail gently explains that Dovepaw's loyalty must be to her own Clan now that the journey is over. Onestar sends his warriors back to their dens, assigning Heathertail and Breezepelt to escort the apprentices home. The gray she-cat is filled with anger and sadness as she's nudged down the hill by Heathertail. On the way, Breezepelt occasionally growls; his Clanmate scolds him, saying they're just apprentices.

The group reaches the scent line, but the WindClan warriors insist they're going to take them all the way to ThunderClan camp. Ivypaw whispers that Firestar is going to kill them. Rosepetal bounds toward them as they reach the thorn barrier, asking the WindClan warriors what they're doing at their camp. Heathertail reveals the two apprentices, and the ThunderClan warrior is shocked. Rosepetal offers to take them to their den, but Breezepelt asks to talk to Firestar. After a brief argument, Rosepetal dips her head and goes to get the ThunderClan leader. ThunderClan cats begin to filter into the clearing, wondering what's going on. Ashamed, Dovepaw wishes fiercely that the prophecy didn't exist, and she could be an ordinary cat.

Characters

Major

• Dovepaw
• Ivypaw

Minor

• Sedgewhisker
• Blossompaw
• Briarpaw
• Rosepetal
• Whitetail
• Unnamed WindClan guard
• Weaselfur
• Heathertail
• Harespring
• Unnamed tabby tom
• Leaftail
• Nightcloud
• Breezepelt
• Onestar
• Owlwhisker
• Unnamed WindClan apprentice
• Cherrykit
• Poppyfrost

Mentioned

• Lionblaze
• Unnamed ShadowClan kit
• Bumblepaw
• Firestar