Ivypool's Heart/Chapter 33

"And I must thank you, too. You have brought this new family and new life to us wildcats. Our ancestor, Galestar, resented the Clans for turning their backs on her and her kits, but now all of that is in the past. Any debt we were owed by the Clans has been more than repaid, and we will always be connected now. We promise that from now on we will be allies of the Clans, joined by blood and friendship."

— Prowl Sleek to the Clan cats in Ivypool's Heart, page 367

Ivypool's Heart
Chapter number:	33 (of 34)
Page numbers:	357-368
Point of View:	Ivypool
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 33 (of 34)

Page Numbers: 357-368

Chapter description

Ivypool and Icewing find themselves back in the physical world, and they back out of the damp log to see that barely any time has passed since they entered. Three elders murmur nearby and when they see the returned cats, Prowl Sleek asks if they were successful. Ivypool answers affirmatively but adds that questions still remain. They are led back to the camp where Strike Slash, Wish Stalk, and Claw Stretch greet them, again inquiring about their journey into the River of Spirits. Ivypool answers much the same, though she leaves out her worries for the Clans, and that they are ready to return to the lake. Wish Stalk and Strike Slash volunteer to accompany the warriors to the cave where the wildcat family is, wanting to bring them home. Claw Stretch also joins in, saying she wants to encourage the young family. Prowl Sleek is the final wildcat to join their party, and they leave at dawn.

They arrive at the cave two days later, seeing all the cats outside of the cave, Clan cats and wildcats alike, relaxing together. Stalk Purr and Tumble Leap are taken aback by seeing so many other wildcats, but they eventually let down their guard since the wildcats are so welcoming. Stalk Purr anticipates joining more of their kind. Prowl Sleek then thanks the ancestors for safe guidance and for sending the Clan cats in their time of need. She then says they must ask the ancestors for their blessing to discover the guide for each kit. Dovewing is confused at why the kits would be assigned mentors so young, and the wildcats are equally confused at her question. Ivypool describes how kits are apprenticed at six moons old and how the leader will give them a mentor to train them to hunt and fight until they are old enough to become a warrior.

Strike Slash explains that a guide is somewhat similar. Other cats will help train the kit when they are older, but guides are spirit cats who will accompany that kit for their entire life. Tumble Leap fondly reminisces about his spirit guide and is delighted that his kits will also experience this. Whistlepaw wonders if they will have to journey back to the Star Tree or the hollow log but Prowl Sleek says that the ancestors will travel to the kits because of their importance for the future. The ceremony must take place during the darkest part of the night, so Dovewing, Rootspring, and Tumble Leap hunt in the meantime. Dovewing tells Ivypool how happy she was to help Stalk Purr with her kits and how it helped her with her grief over Rowankit. Ivypool informs her sister that she saw the kit in StarClan and how Ferncloud was looking after him, comforting the mourning queen. The two sisters sit in silence, each having a deep understanding of the other, and Ivypool is happy for Dovewing despite her own grief over Bristlefrost.

When it is time to perform the ceremony, the cats must open their minds for the ancestors. When Ivypool opens her eyes, she sees that the landscape has slightly changed. Among the ancestors, she sees two who she assumes must be Galestar's kits but does not see Galestar herself. Every cat is in awe of the scene around them. Prowl Sleek introduces the family before the ancestors and asks for guides for the kits. A spirit named Whisper Claw comes forward and chooses Pounce, renaming him Pounce Whisper. Two other spirits claim Stretch, now Stretch Blink, and Hunt, now Hunt Leap. Prowl Sleek promises to look after the kits. Two wildcats greet Stalk Purr and Tumble Leap, introducing themselves as Leap Growl and Purr Roll, the couple's guides, and tell the wildcats how they were not able to reach them since they had been separated from their kind. The spirit cats pledge to look after Stalk Purr and Tumble Leap once again. The world of the ancestors slowly fades away as they return to the living world.

Stalk Purr and Tumble Leap express their gratitude to the Clan cats for saving them and their kits and reuniting them with their kin and ancestors. Prowl Sleek also thanks them for bringing the family to them and repaying the debt owed by the Clans, stating that the wildcats and the Clans will henceforth be always connected. Rootspring returns the sentiment. Ivypool notices a bittersweet look in the tom's eyes at leaving the kits, but Ivypool realizes that Rootspring should be able to move on when he is ready, and she should not hold him back to preserve her own memories of her daughter. Icewing prepares herself for the havoc Splashtail has wreaked while they have been away.

Characters

Major

• Ivypool

Minor

• Icewing
• Prowl Sleek
• Hunt Growl
• Spring Claw
• Strike Slash
• Wish Stalk
• Claw Stretch
• Hop Scratch
• Whistlepaw
• Dovewing
• Tumble Leap
• Stalk Purr
• Pounce/Pounce Whisper
• Stretch/Stretch Blink
• Hunt/Hunt Leap
• Rootspring
• Two unnamed spirit cats
• Whisper Claw
• Unnamed spirit cat
• Unnamed spirit cat
• Leap Growl
• Purr Roll

Mentioned

• Bristlefrost
• Galestar
• Birchkit
• Rowankit
• Ferncloud
• Unnamed kits
• Splashtail

Important events

Ceremonies

Pounce Whisper's ceremony
Whisper Claw: My name is Whisper Claw, and I have watched over these wildcats for many seasons, since I was one of them in the living world. I would be honored to guide the paw steps of this kit, and to give him my name to carry on. He will now be known as Pounce Whisper. Pounce Whisper: Thank you!
Reference: Ivypool's Heart, page 364

Other

• Stalk Purr and Tumble Leap reunite with others of their kind.
• Pounce, Stretch, and Hunt all receive guides and are given new names: Pounce Whisper, Stretch Blink, and Hunt Leap.
• The Clan cats prepare to return home.