Ivypool's Heart/Chapter 18

"I've never lost my sense of guilt. Our cats had trusted us, and they followed us to their death, all because Stripestar and I wanted to be together."

— Galestar about StormClan in Ivypool's Heart, page 223

Ivypool's Heart
Chapter number:	18 (of 34)
Page numbers:	216-231
Point of View:	Ivypool
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 18 (of 34)

Page Numbers: 216-231

Chapter description

In the hunting grounds of the wildcats' ancestors, Whistlepaw calls out, and a purr reverberates from two wildcats. Whistlepaw excitedly leaps forward to greet them, and Ivypool is put at ease by their friendly appearance. One of the wildcats proclaims how wonderful it is to see Clan cats after such a long time, and the other wildcat invites the Clan cats to follow them.

They are led to a series of small pools flowing from a stream. A multitude of cats mingle together around the water, their relaxed demeanor reminding Ivypool of the Clans before a Gathering starts. Their appearances vary greatly, with tabbies as large as Stalk Purr and Tumble Leap; slightly smaller cats, with fluffy pelts like the Sisters; even smaller cats, like the Clans; and pelts of every color.

A black-and-white she-cat introduces herself as Galestar, surprising the questing cats. She explains that she used to be a leader of StormClan, and she sent the vision to Whistlepaw which prompted their journey. The Clan cats are confused by the mention of a sixth Clan. Galestar draws the same symbol in the earth that appeared in Whistlepaw's vision and then explains the tragic story of the lost Clan.

Long ago in the history of the Clans, Galestar, then leader of WindClan, fell in love with Stripestar, leader of ThunderClan. Neither wanted to break the warrior code by leaving their Clans, but they could not suppress their feelings for each other, so they decided to merge their Clans into one: StormClan. While ThunderClan and WindClan were accepting of this, the others firmly protested, fearing that StormClan would amass too much power. Stripestar and Galestar denied this, but several cats brought up that StarClan wanted there to be five Clans. The merger initially worked, and Galestar explains that the symbol she drew symbolized the unity of StormClan: lightning with thunder and clouds crossing the sky when the wind blows, all connected by vines.

The other Clans did not like this arrangement and when Twolegs began to drive away prey and steal territory, the Clans blamed StormClan. Because of the hostility between the Clans, StormClan decided to move away from the forest and find their own territory. Hardships followed them along on their journey, and they could not find a place to settle down. Some cats decided to go back to the forest, potentially reforming WindClan and ThunderClan, and others died from sickness and predators like hawks. Galestar started to consider returning until she learned that she was with kits. StormClan made their way to the sun-drown-water where Galestar birthed three kits. Cats grew restless as leaf-bare approached, but Galestar did not want to risk the safety of her young kits by traveling. Stripestar sided with his Clanmates, however, and StormClan left the water.

As they were leaving, a strong storm suddenly came upon them, and Galestar fell far behind the rest of StormClan. Realizing that she could not wait for them to notice her absence and return, she sought shelter in a crevice near the water, hoping that once the storm passed, she and her kits would be found. A rockslide blocked the entrance, trapping the queen and her kits in the dark crevice. After some time, she heard cats calling for her, but they could not hear her response past the rocks, and they eventually left. Galestar was deeply hurt by her mate's apparent abandonment.

Whistlepaw realizes that this was what her vision was about. She reveals that Stripestar did not intentionally abandon Galestar, but his Clanmates convinced him to leave. Galestar praises Whistlepaw's wisdom and says that is why she sent the vision to the apprentice instead of Kestrelflight. Whistlepaw urges Galestar to continue her tale. Galestar believed that she and her kits would die of starvation, but then the boulder was pushed away, and wildcats started speaking to her with their strange speech. Although she was initially terrified, the wildcats took her to their camp and welcomed her and her kits to their home. StormClan were too far away to follow, and Galestar and her kits were too vulnerable to travel. She considered leaving each day until she stopped thinking of it. Galestar fell in love with a wildcat, Bound Hunt, and had kits with him, and her kits took wildcat mates. She never saw any other Clan cats, and she assumed they thought she was dead. She ended up giving up her Clan duties and nine lives and when she died, she joined the wildcats' ancestors.

Galestar explains that she wants the Clan cats to help her descendants like the wildcats helped her. She reveals that she did not send the warning of blood in the vision and that another force must have sent it. Icewing notes that Stalk Purr and Tumble Leap do not want to escape, but Galestar informs them that there are more wildcats just beyond the mountains and they are not the last wildcats. She then explains the route to this group. She also reveals that Twolegs will give away Pounce, Stretch, and Hunt as soon as they are kitted, demonstrating her connection to the unborn kits. Ivypool promises to return the wildcat couple to their kin, remembering the pain of separation from her own kit.

Characters

Major

• Ivypool
• Galestar

Minor

• Whistlepaw
• Unnamed wildcat spirit
• Unnamed wildcat spirit
• Thrush Roll (Unnamed)
• Pebble Lunge or Fog Nuzzle (Unnamed)
• Rootspring
• Two unnamed spirit cats
• Icewing
• Dovewing

Mentioned

• Tumble Leap
• Stalk Purr
• Stripestar
• Bristlefrost
• Kestrelflight
• Bound Hunt
• Wander Blink (Unnamed)
• Ripple Purr (Unnamed)
• Run Pounce (Unnamed)
• Wish Yowl (Unnamed)
• Pounce
• Stretch
• Hunt

Important events

• Galestar reveals that she sent the vision to Whistlepaw.
• Galestar explains the story of StormClan to the journeying cats.
• The Clans cats discover that there are more wildcats living beyond the mountains and determine to rescue Stalk Purr and Tumble Leap.

Errors

• Dovewing comments on Galestar's story; however, she should not be there as she is guarding the Star Tree.