Leopardstar's Honor/Chapter 12

"It's okay. I know I'll be leaving the Clan in safe paws. I knew I'd made the right choice when I chose you as deputy. We may not always have agreed, but I know you share the same love for our Clan as I do, and that you will sacrifice anything to protect it. [...] I knew I'd made the right choice. Even though Mudfur told me to choose a different cat."

— Crookedstar to Leopardfur in Leopardstar's Honor, pages 240-241

Leopardstar's Honor
Chapter number:	12 (of 35)
Page numbers:	225-245
Point of View:	Leopardfur
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 12 (of 35)

Page Numbers: 225-245

Chapter description

Leopardfur rests by the river after checking the island for danger. She recalls the Gathering and how Nightpelt and Crookedstar had agreed to Bluestar's demands, and that Crookedstar only allowed her to send a single patrol to the moor. She thinks that she would have claimed some of WindClan's territory if she could. As she returns to camp, Mudfur tells her that Crookedstar is ill and that she will be in charge. He warns her about a dream he had had about Tigerclaw and to be wary. Leopardfur leaves to send out patrols, thinking that Tigerclaw's ambition is justified.

Leopardfur gathers a patrol consisting of Blackclaw, Heavypaw, Frogleap, Beetlenose, Whiteclaw, and Sedgecreek to hunt on the moor. Frogleap expresses discomfort with this, but she shuts him down and tells the uneasy patrol that, while moor prey is not preferable, the Clan needs to eat. Whiteclaw wonders if ShadowClan will be there, but she brushes it off. As they reach the moor, Blackclaw and Beetlenose tease Heavypaw about hawks. Leopardfur starts marking the territory, which Frogleap questions, but she again tells him off, reminding him of Mosspelt and that she is in charge. They then find a ShadowClan patrol led by Wetfoot, who informs her of a few WindClan stragglers on the moor.

Noticing movement in the bracken, Leopardfur leads both patrols toward it, and they find the WindClan cats and pursue them. Leopardfur blocks their way, and her patrols surround the WindClan warriors, who have caught a vole. Stagleap tries to stand up to them, but Leopardfur tells him that WindClan's territory belongs to RiverClan and ShadowClan. Despite Stagleap and Pigeonflight's protests that the territory is theirs, they are ultimately forced by their rivals to give up their vole and leave their home. The two patrols go on to hunt, with Leopardfur offering Wetfoot the vole as thanks, and Frogleap is visibly upset on the way home.

Back at camp, Leopardfur confronts Frogleap, who is distressed about her actions on the moor. He argues that the moor belongs to WindClan and that they deserve to eat, and he is disturbed that Leopardfur does not seem to care. Whiteclaw reassures her that she is right and tells her that Mudfur asked for her, and she heads to the medicine den to see Crookedstar. Mudfur tells her that he cannot cure Crookedstar's fever and leaves them to talk. Crookedstar praises her and says that RiverClan will need her, and she tries to reassure him, but he goes on, acknowledging her love for her Clan and believing that she was the right choice for deputy.

To Leopardfur's horror, he reveals that Mudfur had recommended that he choose another cat, and she hurries out, telling Mudfur that Crookedstar needs him. She heads out of camp with Whiteclaw following. He asks about Crookedstar's health and reassures her that she will be a great leader if he dies. She confides in him that Mudfur had said something that hurt her, and he suggests that Mudfur may not understand her. Comforting Whiteclaw, she asks about him, and he confesses to having feelings for Silverstream. Leopardfur advises him to simply tell her how he feels and to be brave, even if Silverstream rejects him. She takes her own advice to heart, resolving to prove herself as Crookedstar's successor.

Characters

Major

• Leopardfur

Minor

• Crookedstar
• Mudfur
• Ottersplash
• Beetlenose
• Lakeshine
• Blackclaw
• Heavypaw
• Frogleap
• Whiteclaw
• Sedgecreek
• Wetfoot
• Two ShadowClan warriors
• ShadowClan apprentice
• Stagleap
• Sorrelshine
• Pigeonflight (Unnamed)
• Tanglewhisker
• Birdsong
• Shimmerpelt
• Silverstream

Mentioned

• Bluestar
• Nightpelt
• Brokenstar
• Timberfur
• Cedarpelt
• Graypool
• Tigerclaw
• Stonefur
• Shadepaw
• Sunfish
• Mosspelt
• Dawnkit (Unnamed)
• Robinkit (Unnamed)
• Woodkit (Unnamed)

Important events

• Crookedstar falls ill.
• Leopardfur leads a hunting patrol to hunt on WindClan land, and they team up with a ShadowClan patrol to chase off WindClan warriors who stayed behind.