Graystripe's Vow/Chapter 28

"Graystripe looked around at the trapped kittypets. It thrilled him to see something that had been missing from their eyes this whole time: hope."

— Graystripe's thoughts about the kittypets in Graystripe's Vow, page 374

Graystripe's Vow
Chapter number:	28 (of 31)
Page numbers:	367-391
Point of View:	Graystripe
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 28 (of 31)

Page Numbers: 367-391

Chapter description

Graystripe is still unable to find a way out of the nest. He checks on Daffodil, who is being comforted by Petunia, and she seems hopeless. Graystripe tells her that Fang has returned, which seems to cheer her up, and he reflects that Fang has been gone for a while. Petunia encourages Daffodil to rest until Fang returns, and Graystripe leaves them, impressed by Petunia's ability to care for the sick she-cat. He leaps up to a window and tries to open it, but fails, and he longs for freedom. He is unable to see Fang and worries about his safety. However, he then spots a piece of wood sticking up from the floor, and he tries to pull it, grumbling about the others not helping. Lily retorts that they tried that already, and Graystripe again sees the cats' suffering and despairs. Scratching sounds alert Graystripe to Fang's return, and he finds that the loner has brought WarriorClan to help. He tells Fang that he and WarriorClan can push the wood from beneath the nest, while Graystripe pulls from inside. As they struggle with the wood, the kittypets notice and eagerly rush to help, hopeful at last. Lily suggests that they all pull and push together, and they are successful.

The kittypets begin leaving the nest while Lily retrieves any stragglers, and Daffodil reunites with Fang. However, Petunia refuses to leave, keeping her promise to stay with her Twoleg. Relishing his newfound freedom, Graystripe joins the others, and he notices that while some seem to enjoy being outside, others are frightened. He is praising Fang and WarriorClan when a Twoleg comes to the nest. The Twoleg notices the cats and attempts to enter the nest, then leaves, holding something to his ear. Alarmed, Graystripe tells the cats that it is time to leave, but several express fear and uncertainty, as they do not know how to survive. Fang sharply reminds them of Gremlin's death, and he, Daffodil, and Graystripe persuade them to live wild. Graystripe leads them away from the nest, though they do not get far before Daffodil and the older cats need rest, and he tells the cats to hide while he and Fang hunt.

Once the weaker cats have eaten, they prepare to move on, but a monster arrives at the nest, and they hide. Twolegs with black-and-white pelts begin looking for them, and Lily says that they take cats away, and younger Twolegs will eventually take them home. Graystripe wonders if that may be the best option for some of the cats. Another monster appears, making a loud sound, and Graystripe tells them that they must leave. However, Sunflower proposes that he distract the Twolegs, and the old tabby she-cat agrees. Daffodil tells Fang that she is too weak to follow him, and Fang offers to go with her, but she says that the Twolegs will separate them anyway and that the others need him.

When Graystripe turns back to the nest, he sees Petunia's Twoleg being carried away by medicine Twolegs, with Petunia wailing after her as they leave. He goes to her and tries to reassure her, telling her to come with them. She initially refuses, determined to wait for her Twoleg to return, though Graystripe believes that she never will. He convinces her by telling her that the black-and-white Twolegs will take her away, and they flee just as the Twolegs spot them. The older cats and Daffodil distract the Twolegs while Graystripe leads the rest into the forest. When the WarriorClan cats express excitement, Graystripe and Fang remind them that the Twolegs simply do not understand them. Fang and Graystripe hunt, and once the cats are fed, they all rest. Fang mourns the loss of his mate, and Graystripe comforts him.

Characters

Major

• Graystripe

Minor

• Petunia's Twoleg
• Daffodil
• Petunia
• Fang
• Lily
• Monkeystar
• Bigteeth (Unnamed)
• Chester (Unnamed)
• Clawwhistle
• Bugeater
• Black-and-white she-cat
• Unnamed queen with three kits
• Sunflower
• Old tabby she-cat
• Fireface

Mentioned

• Firestar
• Stoneteller
• Gremlin
• Millie

Important events

• Graystripe, Fang, and WarriorClan help the kittypets escape.
• Petunia's Twoleg is taken away by the medicine Twolegs and Petunia flees with the other cats.