Fire and Ice/Chapter 22

"It's just that sometimes I dream about being in the forest, hunting with Brackenpaw, and then I wake up and the pain in my leg reminds me I'll never hunt again. It feels too much to bear. I have to pretend that maybe, one day, I'll be able to hunt."

— Cinderpaw to Fireheart in Fire and Ice, page 234

Fire and Ice
Chapter number:	22 (of 30)
Page numbers:	231-242
Point of View:	Fireheart
Chronology

Below contains in-depth information for chapter twenty-two of Fire and Ice. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter Number: 22 (of 30)

Page Numbers: 231-242

Chapter description

Fireheart drags himself around camp, wondering when the next Gathering will be, noting that they had not had one last moon due to the weather and the clouds covering the moon. In the meantime, Fireheart divides his time between hunting and patrolling, and spending time with Cloudkit, Cinderpaw, and Brackenpaw. Fireheart tries to keep Graystripe's apprentice hidden away when his mentor goes missing, but he worries that Tigerclaw will find out and see through the young cat's lies as he tries to protect his mentor from trouble. Fireheart notes that he and Graystripe had barely talked since Fireheart brought his nephew, Cloudkit, to ThunderClan, and that he has given up trying to make Graystripe see sense.

Fireheart takes time out of his day to visit his former apprentice, Cinderpaw, as she recovers in the medicine den from an accident with a monster. While Cinderpaw complains about her exercises, Yellowfang rebukes her and tells her that they are supposed to hurt as that means they are working. Cinderpaw does not like the taste or scent of the herbs, but Yellowfang snaps back that those herbs are what is helping her leg heal as best as it can. Yellowfang tells Fireheart that perhaps he will have better luck at getting Cinderpaw to cooperate, and that the medicine cat will be leaving to go look for comfrey roots in the meantime. After Yellowfang leaves, Cinderpaw and Fireheart talk about the accident, and if Cinderpaw remembers anything about it. She sadly does not, only that Tigerclaw and Dustpaw were not where they were supposed to be, and then she got hit by the monster. Cinderpaw asks Fireheart if she will ever be a warrior, and Fireheart replies that she will not be, and that he is so sorry for that.

Cinderpaw and Fireheart get to talking about Cloudkit, Fireheart's nephew. Fireheart confides in Cinderpaw that he does not like the looks that Cloudkit gets from his Clanmates. He worries that, despite Brindleface's kind and caring nature, Cloudkit will eventually figure out that he is not Clanborn. Cinderpaw says that by the time he does, he will be more than able to prove that kittypets are capable cats, just as Fireheart himself once did. Cloudkit gets along with his adoptive littermates very well, and Brindleface loves him and almost refuses to let him out of her sight to the point that Fireheart has not been able to introduce the little white kit to Cinderpaw yet. Cinderpaw asks about the Gathering, and Fireheart is not sure if he will attend, but he bids Cinderpaw farewell as he goes to ask Bluestar about attending later on that evening. She mews that she cannot take every cat, but she tells Fireheart that he will be attending due to his assistance with WindClan.

Fireheart leaves the leader's den, and makes his way to go and visit Cloudkit, whom Brindleface says is unwell. The gray queen mews that she has just called for Yellowfang, who has returned from her herb gathering expedition. Fireheart remembers that Brindleface had just recently lost a kit, and wanted to make sure that Cloudkit was okay. Fireheart admires Brindelface's cautious nature and says that he will visit Brindleface and Cloudkit after the Gathering. Fireheart exits the nursery, and despite his loss of appetite, he makes his way to the fresh-kill pile to try and eat before the Gathering. His mood is soured, though, as Longtail and Dustpaw have caught wind of Cloudkit's illness and mock the young kit for it. Fireheart ignores them, and goes to talk to Graystripe and Runningwind, both of whom are attending the Gathering. He is soon joined by Sandpaw, who asks if Fireheart is attending the Gathering, and he mews that he is. Sandpaw believes that Bluestar is going to challenge Nightstar and Crookedstar about their hunting practices, although Sandpaw is slightly annoyed that she is not attending this Gathering as a warrior. Fireheart assures Sandpaw that she will get her warrior name soon, and that while he is unsure why it is taking so long, Bluestar has not forgotten about her.

Fireheart wonders if Bluestar will give him Cloudkit to mentor when he gets older, although he is fearful about Cloudkit surviving. Sandpaw assures him that all kits get sick, and she mews that Cloudkit's thick pelt will greatly help in the winter. She says that it will allow him to not be seen in the snow, and he will be able to stay out twice as long as cats like Longtail. Sandpaw gives Fireheart a firm lick on the head and tells him that they should hurry, as Bluestar is calling for the cats chosen to attend the Gathering. Fireheart notes that on the way there, Bluestar did not hesitate at the top of the ridge like she has previously, and that she lead her Clan and they all followed silently, but with purpose.

Characters

Major

• Fireheart
• Cloudkit

Minor

• Brackenpaw
• Graystripe
• Yellowfang
• Cinderpaw
• Dustpaw
• Brindleface
• Bluestar
• Willowpelt
• Longtail
• Runningwind
• Sandpaw

Mentioned

• Tigerclaw
• Swiftpaw
• Speckletail
• Speckletail's kit
• Princess
• Nightstar
• Crookedstar
• Brindleface's kits
• Brindleface's deceased kit
• Goldenflower

Errors

• Sandpaw is mentioned to have an orange pelt.