Fire and Ice/Chapter 26

"It's not [Brokenstar's] last life, and even if it were, I couldn't kill him. [...] He is my son."

— Yellowfang confessing that she is Brokenstar's mother to Fireheart in Fire and Ice, page 268

Fire and Ice
Chapter number:	26 (of 30)
Page numbers:	264-276
Point of View:	Fireheart
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 26 (of 30)

Page Numbers: 264-276

Chapter description

Dustpaw, Sandpaw, and Yellowfang immediately jump into defensive positions alongside the queens as Brokenstar and his group of rogues attack. Cinderpaw limps behind the defensive line to join, but Dustpaw spits at her, and Cinderpaw scrambles back into the medicine den. All the elders grab the kits, hiding them all in the nursery. Fireheart runs to Yellowfang's side, arching his back and hisses that Brokenstar will lose again. Brokenstar disagrees and claims that he cannot be killed due to his many lives. Fireheart says that one ThunderClan life is worth more than ten of Brokenstar's and yowls to attack.

Fireheart leaps for Brokenstar and grasps the starving flea-bitten rogue, but the tom is still strong, biting into Fireheart's hind leg. Brokenstar frees himself; Fireheart lunges again but is attacked by Clawface. Fireheart remembers how the tom killed Spottedleaf in a plot to steal Frostfur's kits, but he never expected to see him again. Fireheart glimpses and smells Spottedleaf, realizing she has come to help avenge her death. The ginger tom hardly feels pain as he flies at him, and Clawface rakes his ear. Fireheart staggers, and Clawface pins him and bites his neck. Fireheart yowls to Spottedleaf, begging for help. The weight is lifted as Graystripe drops the tom's body, having killed him. Fireheart, seeing his horror, tells Graystripe that the rogue killed Spottedleaf.

Fireheart immediately asks if Bluestar is with Graystripe. The gray tom reports that their leader sent him back to get Tigerclaw, as they figured out that Brokenstar is leading the attack. Frostfur is fighting fiercely with a rogue. Fireheart knows she does not need help as she sends the rogues screeching as they flee. She tries to chase them, but Fireheart calls her back. Another rogue runs past with Dustpaw in pursuit, giving him a last bite. Fireheart notes that only Brokenstar and one rogue are left, and he sees Sandpaw pinning the final rogue to the ground. She counters his battle moves and sends him fleeing.

There is a silence as ThunderClan takes a moment to recover before Fireheart wonders where Brokenstar is, and he quickly scans the clearing, worrying about the nursery. A yowl comes from the medicine den and Fireheart rushes over, worrying about Cinderpaw's safety. He finds Brokenstar pinned down by Yellowfang, her eyes glazed, as the tom loses a life. Brokenstar wakes up to his new life, and Fireheart prepares for Yellowfang to take it away, but she refuses to. She reveals that she cannot kill Brokenstar because she is his mother.

Fireheart states that medicine cats aren't allowed to have kits, and Yellowfang reveals the story about her, her mate, Raggedstar, Brokenstar, and her two kits. Fireheart remembers that Yellowfang was horrified when Brokenstar revealed he killed his father, and he now knows why. Yellowfang says she originally thought her two she-kits dying was her punishment, but the true punishment was Brokenstar's crimes. Fireheart asks if he knows she is his mother, and Yellowfang shakes her head before Brokenstar wakes up, wailing that he cannot see. Fireheart prods the warrior, and Brokenstar begs for his life, much to Fireheart's shock. Yellowfang promises to care for him before dragging him to a nest.

Fireheart checks to see if Cinderpaw is all right. Fireheart reports the rogues are gone and about Brokenstar, and he asks if she is okay. Cinderpaw shamefully says she should have fought beside him. Fireheart exclaims she would have been killed, but Cinderpaw replies that Dustpaw told her to go hide with the kits and elders. Cinderpaw continues that she does not mind being killed, as she feels no use to the Clan as she is now. Fireheart feels pity for her and tries to find something to say before Yellowfang calls to Cinderpaw to fetch cobwebs. Cinderpaw obeys, and Yellowfang orders her to bring comfrey roots.

Fireheart leaves the den and orders Dustpaw to guard Brokenstar. He thanks Graystripe for saving his life, and Graystripe replies that he would give his life for his friend. Fireheart thinks happily that their friendship is not over. Bluestar rushes into camp with Longtail and Swiftpaw, scanning the camp with wide eyes. She asks if Brokenstar attacked, if he is dead, and what happened to the other rogues. Fireheart answers her questions, and Bluestar orders Sandpaw and Swiftpaw to bury Clawface, since he does not deserve the honor of their ritual. Bluestar asks of the elders' status, to which Fireheart reports they are in the nursery. Halftail emerges alongside the other elders and kits.

Cloudkit scampers out and asks to see Clawface's body, but Brindleface quickly hushes him. Bluestar asks about Tigerclaw, and Fireheart reports that Tigerclaw went to attack a ShadowClan patrol. He adds that he sent Brackenpaw to stop him, to Bluestar's disapproval. Fireheart admits he was the only warrior and had no choice, and Bluestar is glad that he did not leave the camp unguarded.

She orders Fireheart to send Yellowfang to her after she treats Brokenstar, and Tigerclaw's patrol rushes in. Fireheart is relieved to see Brackenpaw is unhurt. Tigerclaw reports they had not even crossed the Thunderpath before Brackenpaw found them. He asks if Brokenstar is dead, and Bluestar explains that Yellowfang is caring for him. This causes outrage, and Tigerclaw growls they should kill him. Yellowfang exits the medicine den, ready to speak to Bluestar.

Tigerclaw asks if she left Brokenstar alone, but Yellowfang replies that Dustpaw is guarding him, and she gave him poppy seeds. She reveals that the tom is now blind, and Tigerclaw snarls that they can let the forest kill him. Yellowfang refuses to kill him, and Bluestar asks Whitestorm for his opinion. Whitestorm thinks that it will be a burden to care for Brokenstar, but he admits Yellowfang is right, killing him will disappoint StarClan.

One-eye steps forward and suggests taking Brokenstar prisoner, as they have done it in the past. Tigerclaw questions the thought of keeping the rogue in camp, and Fireheart internally agrees with the deputy, fearing Brokenstar's potential. Bluestar gives permission for Yellowfang to care for him until his wounds are healed, and she states they will discuss his future after. Bluestar declares he will be known as Brokentail now, for he is not a leader anymore.

Characters

Major

• Fireheart
• Yellowfang
• Brokenstar

Minor

• Dustpaw
• Sandpaw
• Goldenflower (Unnamed)
• Speckletail (Unnamed)
• Cinderpaw
• Smallear (Unnamed)
• Patchpelt (Unnamed)
• Dappletail (Unnamed)
• Frostfur's kits (Unnamed)
• Brindleface's kits (Unnamed)
• Brindleface
• Cloudkit
• Clawface
• Graystripe
• Frostfur
• Bluestar
• Longtail
• Swiftpaw
• Halftail
• Tigerclaw
• Whitestorm
• Darkstripe (Unnamed)
• Willowpelt (Unnamed)
• Brackenpaw
• Mousefur
• Runningwind
• One-eye

Mentioned

• Spottedleaf
• Raggedstar
• Lizardstripe (Unnamed)
• Hopekit (Unnamed)
• Wishkit (Unnamed)

Important events

Deaths

• Clawface: Killed by Graystripe.
• Brokenstar: Loses a life, killed by Yellowfang.

Other

• Brokenstar leads an attack on ThunderClan while most of the warriors are out.
• Graystripe saves Fireheart's life, reigniting their friendship.
• The attack is a failure. Brokenstar is demoted from leader to elder and renamed Brokentail after being taken prisoner.

Trivia

• This chapter aligns with part one of The Prophecies Begin, volume 2.