Graystripe's Vow/Chapter 26

"Well? Kill Snake and the traitor dies. Is that what you want, ThunderClan leader?"

— Fury challenging Graystripe in Graystripe's Vow, page 349

Graystripe's Vow
Chapter number:	26 (of 31)
Page numbers:	335-349
Point of View:	Graystripe
Chronology

Below contains in-depth information for chapter twenty-six of Graystripe's Vow. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter Number: 26 (of 31)

Page Numbers: 335-349

Chapter description

Graystripe burrows into his nest to try and avoid his thoughts, reflecting that despite two moons passing since Firestar's leave, he felt it wrong to sleep in the leader's den. His thoughts then drift to impending BloodClan attack and he reaffirms with himself his trust in Gremlin and that ThunderClan is ready to fight.

At dawn, he fetches his Clanmates from their dens instead of calling a Clan meeting. Graystripe notes that if there were BloodClan cats listening in, they must only hear the ordinary sounds of patrols being assigned, like normal. As ThunderClan huddles around him, Graystripe states that BloodClan will attack them when the sun clears the tops of the trees and that they have to convince the invaders that they don't suspect the attack at all. He turns to Frostfur and Goldenflower and asks if they would like to return to warrior duties for a day, to which the pair of she-cats eagerly agree to. He sends them on the dawn patrol, telling them to ignore any signs of BloodClan if they come across them. The acting leader then proceeds to send Brackenfur to lead a hunting patrol, and have Thornclaw, Dustpelt, Cloudtail take their apprentices to the sandy hollow for battle training. He and the rest of ThunderClan remain in the ravine and begin preparing for the invading cats.

Graystripe and Cinderpelt briefly discuss what she is to do in the battle. The medicine cat tells him that she'll seek out Gremlin and try and get her to the safety of Sunningrocks. As the cats of ThunderClan follow his orders, Graystripe feels optimistic at them winning against the invaders, knowing that the Clan were treating him as their leader. However, as he waits in camp his anxiety starts the climb. The tom spots movement in the gorse tunnel, but reassures himself that he must trust his instincts and remain firm. From the tunnel, Brackenfur and Brambleclaw emerge, the golden tabby reporting BloodClan's whereabouts. Graystripe responds to them calmly and sends them to hide in the grass near the camp.

As the sun clears the treetops, BloodClan pours into ThunderClan's camp, Fury leading them. As she calls to ThunderClan, taunting them, Graystripe calls the attack. With that, the battle surges as cats begin fighting one another. The acting leader sees Fury a few tail-lengths away from him, fighting with skill and determination despite her missing eye. Beside her, he spots Scraps fighting, and notes that they better not cross paths as Graystripe would rather not have to kill him. Graystripe spots the ThunderClan warriors becoming overwhelmed by the mass of BloodClan cats. For a moment, he forgets his pursuit of Fury and saves Sorrelpaw from a large BloodClan cat. Despite her argument, he sends her to defend the nursery. He shoves her in the direction and notices that he had lost track of Fury altogether.

While in search for the leader, he comes across Brick, a cat that Gremlin had told him about. The two engage in a quick fight as Graystripe is aided by Gremlin's advice to attack his weak spot. However, Brick faces him with the help of Snipe, another BloodClan cat. The two mock Graystripe and go to attack him. However, Brambleclaw comes to the acting leader's aide and helps fight the two enemy toms off. Amongst the fighting, Graystripe spots Gremlin and Cinderpelt along the edge of camp, but he's not the only one that does. Fury spots the BloodClan queen and announces her a traitor, sending Snake and Ice after her.

The two toms head after the tortoiseshell, capturing her as Cinderpelt is pushed away. On Fury's order, the two bring Gremlin towards Highrock. However, before they can succeed, Scraps reaches her side and defends her. In doing so, he is called a traitor and is killed while protecting Gremlin, much to both her and Graystripe's horror. Graystripe manages to push his way to them and knocks Snake away, ready to end his life in the process. But, a yowl from Fury stops him in his tracks as he notices that Gremlin is pinned by two other BloodClan cats. From Highrock, Fury challenges Graystripe to kill Snake, stating that if he does, the traitor will die as well.

Characters

Major

• Graystripe
• Fury
• Gremlin

Minor

• Cinderpelt
• Longtail
• Frostfur
• Goldenflower
• Brackenfur
• Brambleclaw
• Sootpaw
• Thornclaw
• Dustpelt
• Cloudtail
• Rainpaw
• Sorrelpaw
• Brightheart
• Ferncloud
• Dappletail
• Speckletail
• One-eye
• Ashfur
• Mousefur
• Scraps
• Two unnamed BloodClan cats
• Tabby BloodClan cat
• Brick
• Snipe
• BloodClan tom
• Snake
• Ice

Mentioned

• Firestar

Important events

Deaths

• Scraps is killed by Ice and Snake.