Ivypool's Heart/Chapter 31

"You have a mate, and kits, who love you. You have a Clan that respects you. You are Clan deputy. You are needed. There would be such grief and loss if you never returned."

— An unknown voice persuading Ivypool not to enter the Dark Forest in Ivypool's Heart, page 344

Ivypool's Heart
Chapter number:	31 (of 34)
Page numbers:	341-350
Point of View:	Ivypool
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 31 (of 34)

Page Numbers: 341-350

Chapter description

Ivypool, Galestar, and Icewing ride a floating log along the River of Spirits. Ivypool clings tightly to the wood, barely reassured by Icewing's promise to pull her to safety if she should fall in. Ivypool's anxiety settles as they traverse the current, passing several wildcat ghosts. Galestar points out that they have been forgotten through time and will disappear from the afterlife to become part of the natural world again. Further along the river, the three she-cats see a distant, snowy mountain. Ivypool believes it is the Tribe of Endless Hunting's territory, and Galestar tells her to concentrate on it. As she does, she sees a dark-colored cat entering a cave, growing excited over finally witnessing how the Tribe lives. Icewing is equally delighted by the sight, and the three cats cross multiple other terrains.

For a few moments, Ivypool wonders if Bristlefrost's ghost may still be present. They pass the Dark Forest, and Icewing says she did not expect all the afterlives to be connected in such a way. Galestar explains that Clan cats cannot usually access the River of Spirits, as only the wildcats have learned how. While Galestar and Icewing talk, Ivypool focuses on the Dark Forest, hoping to catch sight of her beloved daughter. Icewing scolds Ivypool for wishing to enter the Dark Forest and brutally tells the grieving mother that her daughter is gone. Ivypool, even though she knows Icewing is right, struggles to accept her words until an unknown voice begins to speak in her mind. The voice reminds Ivypool of her duty to ThunderClan as their deputy, and Ivypool remembers her duty to complete the quest as well.

Further on, the log reaches a riverbank in StarClan territory. The cats leave the river, though Ivypool is immediately torn. She remembers how she has neglected her Clanmates and duties, as well as her training in the Dark Forest and killing Antpelt's spirit. She admits that she does not feel she deserves to be here, and Icewing immediately disagrees, explaining that it is a gift. Tallstar and a brown she-cat approach the group, and Ivypool immediately recognizes how strong Tallstar looks now versus at the end of the Great Journey. He introduces Ivypool, Icewing, and Galestar to Windstar, the first WindClan leader, and Windstar welcomes them. Other cats begin to join the group: Mistystar, looking strong and healthy once more; Thunderstar, the first leader of ThunderClan; and Riverstar, the first leader of RiverClan. Ivypool spots three kits playing nearby and recognizes Dovewing's lost kit, Rowankit, now being cared for by Ferncloud. The two cats greet each other cheerfully, and Ferncloud initially thinks Ivypool has died. Ivypool tells her she is only visiting before Thunderstar calls the cats' attention once more.

Thunderstar asks who Galestar is, and Ivypool explains that she and her mate once led StormClan together. The StarClan cats are visibly confused at this, though Windstar begins to recall the vague details of how ThunderClan and WindClan merged. When Icewing asks how they all forgot StormClan's history, Windstar explains how once the last living cat has forgotten a cat who died, StarClan also begins to forget them. Windstar turns to Galestar and requests that the StormClan leader share her story.

Galestar explains how she and Stripestar became close friends as apprentices. They continued to be friends even after becoming warriors, deputies, and eventually leaders in their respective Clans, before falling in love. Ferncloud is horrified and asks how they kept it a secret, to which Galestar admits that, at first, they did not want to act on it. Eventually, Galestar and Stripestar decided to merge their Clans and create StormClan, despite the risks. She recalls a few cats being incredibly angry over the idea, though they eventually managed to finish the merge. The other Clans remained angry, however, and StormClan decided to leave the forest. Galestar states that StormClan struggled to find a new home, but she found comfort in the fact that she and Stripestar would soon be having kits. As she speaks, several ghosts begin to reform around her, listening to her speak. Ivypool asks who they are, and Galestar looks around, surprised. Furious, Galestar remarks that the newcomers are all StormClan cats, specifically the ones who she feels betrayed her.

Characters

Major

• Ivypool
• Galestar
• Icewing

Minor

• Unnamed spirit
• Tallstar
• Windstar
• Mistystar
• Thunderstar
• Riverstar
• Two unnamed StarClan kits
• Rowankit
• Ferncloud

Mentioned

• Bristlefrost
• Fernsong (Unnamed)
• Thriftear (Unnamed)
• Flipclaw (Unnamed)
• Antpelt
• Dovewing
• Stripestar
• Whitebreeze
• Swiftwing
• Rosebush
• Galestar's kits

Important events

• Ivypool, Icewing, and Galestar travel the River of Spirits, eventually meeting Tallstar, Windstar, Mistystar, Thunderstar, and Riverstar. Galestar tells StarClan the full story of StormClan.
  • Several faded spirits begin to rematerialize as they are remembered.

Errors

• Ivypool recalls how frail Tallstar had become by the end of the Great Journey despite not having been born.
• Rosebush is called Shadebush.