Ivypool's Heart/Chapter 1

"I think it's so hard to shake our grief because Bristlefrost died in the Dark Forest. That means she's gone—gone forever. We can't even look forward to seeing her spirit in StarClan."

— Ivypool to Rootspring about Bristlefrost in Ivypool's Heart, page 9

Ivypool's Heart
Chapter number:	1 (of 34)
Page numbers:	7-18
Point of View:	Ivypool
Chronology

Below contains in-depth information for chapter one of Ivypool's Heart. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter Number: 1 (of 34)

Page Numbers: 7-18

Chapter description

Ivypool and Rootspring watch the stars glittering on the lake, mourning the loss of Bristlefrost together. Rootspring reminisces about her rescuing him from the lake, and Ivypool calls her the bravest cat she has ever known. Rootspring mentions how he planned to leave SkyClan to join ThunderClan and take her as his mate. Ivypool adds that they would have had beautiful kits and tells him that their meetings have helped her. He agrees that it helps him, too, since they both continue to struggle with losing Bristlefrost. Ivypool says that she does not feel excited about being Squirrelstar's deputy, and Rootspring mentions another cat, Wrenflight, showing interest in becoming his mate.

Rootspring asks Ivypool if they will ever be able to move on. She thinks on it for a moment, eventually replying that it is hard for them to move on, knowing Bristlefrost died in the Dark Forest, and they will not see her spirit in StarClan. Ivypool looks out over the lake before realizing they have both lost track of time and she will be late to her duties. She runs through the forest, slipping back into the dirtplace tunnel and hopes no one noticed her absence. Her Clanmates wait in the middle of the hollow for her to assign patrols for the day. Ivypool lies and says she ate a piece of crow-food by accident.

Ivypool assigns Birchfall, Lilyheart, and Bumblestripe to the dawn patrol. She asks Lionblaze and Sparkpelt to lead two hunting patrols: Lionblaze takes Stormcloud and Sorrelstripe, and Sparkpelt takes Twigbranch and Shellfur. As the cats begin to leave, Squirrelstar approaches, and Ivypool initially fears reprimand before seeing how troubled the leader looks. Ivypool and Squirrelstar discuss how Nightheart, Sunbeam, and Frostpaw went to RiverClan to spy on Splashtail, and that they have not returned. Ivypool recommends they wait, worried that going after the cats will increase tensions between the Clans. Before Squirrelstar can reply, Thriftear sounds an alarm.

Several WindClan cats enter the camp. Hootwhisker, Heathertail, and Kestrelflight are escorted in by Stormcloud, and request to speak to Squirrelstar. They describe the vision their medicine cat apprentice, Whistlepaw, had, about a stream in RiverClan's territory running red with blood. Ivypool recalls another prophecy involving RiverClan, resulting in Brambleclaw killing his brother Hawkfrost to save Firestar's life. Kestrelflight requests that the ThunderClan medicine cats attend a meeting at the Moonpool that night, before leaving to relay the message to the other Clans.

Ivypool suggests that the vision may be about Splashtail, though Squirrelstar does not seem convinced. Later that night, Ivypool struggles to sleep, eventually slipping away from her mate, Fernsong, to leave the den. She thinks about her family, and how her mother, father, mate, sister, and mentor are all still alive. Ivypool wonders how anyone gets over their grief, feeling guilty about letting her daughter venture into the Dark Forest to fight Ashfur, especially after having trained there herself. She then recalls Antpelt, injured so badly during training that he had died in the real world, and how she ended up having to kill him again as a spirit. Fernsong startles her from her thoughts, curious about Whistlepaw's vision, before asking if she is thinking about their daughter again.

Fernsong tells Ivypool he is worried about her, angering Ivypool as she thinks he expects her to set aside her grief. She snarls at him that he does not understand, but his only reaction is one of compassion. He explains that he misses Bristlefrost and asks if Rootspring understands better. Ivypool is shocked, and while he is not upset, he tells Ivypool that he wishes she had told him. She snaps at him again, and Fernsong reminds Ivypool that he spent time in the nursery with their kits, and that he misses Bristlefrost deeply. Jayfeather and Alderheart return to camp, and Squirrelstar goes to greet them, peppering them with questions. She asks about the meeting, and Alderheart replies that they must act, or risk the Clans being torn apart.

Characters

Major

• Ivypool

Minor

• Rootspring
• Birchfall
• Lilyheart
• Bumblestripe
• Lionblaze
• Stormcloud
• Sorrelstripe
• Sparkpelt
• Twigbranch
• Shellfur
• Squirrelstar
• Thriftear
• Hootwhisker
• Heathertail
• Kestrelflight
• Fernsong
• Alderheart
• Jayfeather

Mentioned

• Bristlefrost
• Wrenflight
• Nightheart
• Sunbeam
• Frostpaw
• Splashtail
• Whistlepaw
• Brambleclaw
• Hawkfrost
• Whitewing (Unnamed)
• Dovewing
• Tigerstar
• Cinderheart
• Ashfur
• Antpelt
• Thistleclaw

Errors

• Brambleclaw is mistakenly called Bramblestar, despite no longer being Clan leader.