Leopardstar's Honor/Chapter 2

"I'm tired of fighting the same battle over and over again. Nothing ever seems to get settled."

— Mudfur's reasoning on why he is not a warrior anymore in Leopardstar's Honor, page 47

Leopardstar's Honor
Chapter number:	2 (of 35)
Page numbers:	21-54
Point of View:	Leopardkit/paw/fur
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 2 (of 35)

Page Numbers: 21-54

Chapter description

Hopping over the stepping stones, Leopardkit notices how far apart they are, getting scared. Getting over to the other side, she hurries into the reeds to take cover, and starts following Graypool and Willowbreeze down a narrow path. Spotting a frog, Graypool immediately drops into a crouch, and quickly lunges after it and delivers a killing bite. Willowbreeze compliments her companion's catch, and the silver tabby she-cat goes over to the next pool. Leopardkit focuses on copying Willowbreeze's hunting crouch, and is very surprised when Whitefang sternly asks why she is out of camp.

Apologizing, Leopardkit states that she wanted to learn how to hunt well, so she decided to copy them, saying that she thought the meadow was safe for kits. Whitefang mutters that no place outside camp is safe for kits when predators fly above them. Leopardkit shows the white RiverClan warrior her hunting crouch, causing Whitefang to critique the yellow tabby kit. Leopardkit then asks if live prey has a different scent than dead prey. The kit seizes on Whitefang's excited gaze, asking if they can find a live frog to show her the difference, but then Whitefang hesitates, telling her that Mudfur will want to know where his daughter has been. Leopardkit asks the snowy-white tom to tell Mudfur that she is ready to become a apprentice, but Whitefang truthfully says that Mudfur listens to no cat when it regards his kit.

Sighing, the RiverClan kit asks if the RiverClan warrior is going to report her to Mudfur, and the latter resignedly states that he will have to as she smells like meadow water. Whitefang carries Leopardkit across the stepping stones, and in camp, Sunkit and Frogkit asks where she has been. Leopardkit replies that she had gone for a simple walk, while Whitefang carries her over to Hailstar's den. Nudging the kit, the white warrior reminds her that Hailstar will eventually find out, and it is better to tell him now than wait. Mudfur spots the pair, asking Whitefang what had happened. The warrior responds that he had caught Leopardkit near the water meadow, and explains that he is taking her to Hailstar's den.

Hailstar invites the three into his den. The RiverClan leader states that it is definitely not safe for young kits to be out and about outside of camp. Mudfur reminds her that she has no training, and must be at maximum a tail-length away from a warrior at all times. Interrupting her father, Leopardkit is about to say something about playing moss-ball when Hailstar silences the kit, reminding her that following rules is necessary to become a warrior. Softening, Hailstar reminds her that in a moon or two, she will begin her training, but Leopardkit tells him that she doesn't want to be a kit while her denmates become apprentices. Leopardkit cites that Whitefang clearly thinks she should begin her training, but Mudfur cautions his daughter to slow down, while Hailstar says that even though StarClan has said that she is special, she will begin her training when Hailstar sees fit. Leopardkit says that she has to serve RiverClan soon, to honor her mother. Hailstar turns to Mudfur, asking the warrior of his opinion. The light brown tom states that whatever Hailstar decides, he will go along with, prompting the RiverClan leader to allow Leopardkit to begin training early.

Leopardpaw watches as Skypaw and Sunpaw enter the river after their mentors. Whitefang reminds Leopardpaw to stay close to the others, but as this was her first fishing lesson, Leopardpaw is frightened. Skypaw and Sunpaw encourage Leopardpaw to follow them, but Whitefang, sensing his apprentice's fear, tells Softwing and the others that he will take Leopardpaw to a shallower portion of the river. Worrying, Leopardpaw wonders what her denmates will say about her being a drypaw, and how she will fulfill her destiny of being important to all the Clans if she can't even swim like a normal RiverClan cat.

Later, Leopardpaw defends herself from Blackpaw's teasing of her being a drypaw. Frogpaw reasons that since Leopardpaw is a bit small, she may be scared that a pike will eat her, causing Blackpaw to say that pikes can swallow kits whole. Leopardpaw pads away, and runs into Sunpaw, who asks her what had happened. Frogpaw reports that Blackpaw is teasing the golden tabby she-cat about being a drypaw. Jerking her muzzle to Skypaw, Sunpaw reminds her that she told her not to say anything. Skypaw nonchalantly defends herself by using the excuse that every cat noticed that Leopardpaw convinced Whitefang to hunt in the shallower part of the river. Not wanting to act like a kit, Leopardpaw decides that she was going to confront her fear of water as she sits down beside Frogpaw and the trout he is eating.

During training, Leopardpaw suggests practicing battle moves, reasoning with Whitefang that the other apprentices and warriors had been by the river and scared all the fish away. A few days go by, with Leopardpaw reflecting on how she had improved hunting in shallow water, but how she keeps postponing overcoming her fear of water, knowing that she need that skill for her assessment. At battle training, Timberfur orders Leopardpaw and Frogpaw to practice a move, and when Leopardpaw succeeded, Timberfur made her do it again with Frogpaw as they would be done when both apprentices finish. Beside Sunpaw, Leopardpaw confides in her friend that she thought she'd be able to swim in the day's training session, but that she just froze. Sunpaw ponders if Whitefang was angry, but Leopardpaw states that her mentor just sounded disappointed as he pointed out a trout in a shallower part of the river.

The next morning, Reedpaw brings Frogpaw and Leopardpaw a bream, prompting them to eat it with him. Sunpaw bursts into Leopardpaw's view, telling the RiverClan apprentice to follow her to get the best catch of her life. Hesitantly, Leopardpaw follows Sunpaw to the river, and finds her friend looking at a carp. The pale gray she-cat tells the yellow tabby she-cat that if she manages to swim in the river and catch it, they will share it together. Noticing a heron close to the carp's location, both apprentices note that if they don't hurry, their catch will be lost. Jumping in, Leopardpaw feels like a ThunderClan warrior, clumsy and awkward, but then she recalls her swimming lessons with Mudfur. With newfound strength and energy, she realizes that she's actually swimming. The RiverClan apprentice catches the carp, and after giving the heron a look, she swims back to Sunpaw.

Whitefang, now aware of his apprentice's swimming abilities, makes Leopardpaw swim everyday in their training sessions. Leopardpaw recalls on that morning, they had done battle training, and she had fought and managed to beat Blackpaw. She gives credit to her boring training sessions with Frogpaw and Timberfur, as those had given her patience to realize that Blackpaw put too much of his weight on his hind paws, which let the yellow tabby she-cat unbalance the black tom.

The apprentice sits with her fellow denmates, Sunpaw and Skypaw, as they eat their prey. Skypaw brags about how, when she becomes a warrior, she will volunteer on every patrol, and notes aloud of her hopes that Hailstar will let her lead some as well. Looking at the camp entrance, Leopardpaw wonders aloud why the Sunningrocks border patrol isn't back yet. The conversation turns into a debate on how ThunderClan should back off of Sunningrocks as Leopardpaw believes that it always has and always will belong to RiverClan. Skypaw ventures on to say that Reedpaw thinks that if he becomes leader, he would take Sunningrocks back immediately. This causes the other two she-cats to find out about Skypaw's crush on the pale gray tabby tom, and Leopardpaw learns that her friend Sunpaw likes Beetlenose. Skypaw and Sunpaw tease the yellow tabby she-cat about Frogpaw and how the two train together a lot, but before Skypaw can complete her sentence, Hailstar, Voleclaw, and Crookedjaw pad through the camp entrance. Leopardpaw's belly tightens as she spots Mudfur leaning on Crookedjaw, gashes along his sides, and his muzzle bleeding.

Hailstar beckons Leopardpaw away, stating that Brambleberry will assure that Mudfur stays safe and recovers well, and to leave it to the warriors. Crookedjaw explains that Mudfur fought representing RiverClan against Adderfang, who represented ThunderClan, for Sunningrocks, with Voleclaw adding that Mudfur won the duel. Skypaw comforts Leopardpaw, reminding her that Mudfur will be okay soon. Ottersplash dashes toward them, explaining that Mudfur is becoming a medicine cat. Stunned, Leopardpaw internally assures herself that her father would never have wanted to become a medicine cat, or at least he would have told her.

As Skypaw leaves Leopardpaw to help Softwing, the yellow tabby apprentice goes over to Mudfur, who assures his daughter that he will be fine, as he's no longer going to be a warrior. As Leopardpaw asks why, the light brown tom answers that he is tired of fighting the same battles over and over again, seeing as the battles are basically pointless. Brambleberry quietly adds that being a warrior isn't the only way to serve one's Clan, and Mudfur states that RiverClan has only one medicine cat. Leopardpaw states that she might make RiverClan so strong that no more battles have to be fought, but Mudfur chuckles at the statement, saying that he would love that.

A half-moon later, Leopardpaw thinks that Whitefang has worked very hard with her, and now she has to perform on the day of her assessment. She looks down at her two voles, wondering if water voles were land or river prey, as the assignment was to catch land prey. Looking up, Leopardpaw spots Skypaw, on a branch, as she quietly stalks a squirrel. The pale brown tabby she-cat pounces, but the squirrel, already alert of the cat's presence, escapes, leaving Skypaw frustrated and irritated. Leopardpaw approaches the RiverClan apprentice, expressing her sympathy for the missed opportunity. She offers her denmate one of the voles she had caught, but Skypaw turns on her as she exclaims that she will not be caught cheating on her assessment.

Back at camp, Leopardpaw drops her caught prey at Whitefang's paws, asking if they were land prey. Her mentor states that she caught them on land, so therefore, she had passed her warrior assessment. Hailstar asks about Skypaw, so Leopardpaw replies that she's still hunting and will be back soon. Turning to her denmates, the yellow tabby apprentice states that if Skypaw doesn't pass, they should ask if their naming ceremony could be postponed so they could all get their warrior names at the same time. Frustration meets her statement, but Leopardpaw remains firm in doing so. Skypaw trods back into camp, paws empty. Although Softwing states that her technique was very good, Hailstar states that no warrior can receive a name on technique alone, therefore he cannot pass Skypaw. Leopardpaw pads forward, telling her leader that her and the other apprentices will wait until Skypaw passes her next assessment before receiving their warrior names. Admiring the loyalty of his apprentices, Hailstar accepts this, postponing the naming ceremonies.

A moment before her naming ceremony, Leopardpaw glances at all her denmates, who had already received their new, warrior names. Mudfur mentions to Leopardpaw that Brightsky is watching, and to make her mother proud. Whitefang prompts his apprentice to step forward to receive her warrior name. Hailstar gives Leopardpaw the warrior name of Leopardfur, honoring her independence, determination, and loyalty. Looking around, she spots Mudfur and Whitefang with grins on their faces as Leopardfur notes that she can at last follow her destiny.

Characters

Major

• Leopardkit/paw/fur
• Whitefang
• Mudfur

Minor

• Graypool
• Willowbreeze
• Sunkit/paw/fish
• Frogkit/paw/leap
• Hailstar
• Skypaw/heart
• Voleclaw
• Softwing
• Blackpaw/claw
• Timberfur
• Shellheart
• Reedpaw/tail
• Crookedjaw
• Troutclaw
• Brambleberry
• Ottersplash
• Piketooth
• Rippleclaw
• Loudpaw/belly
• Oakheart
• Sedgepaw/creek

Mentioned

• Brightsky
• Beetlenose
• Adderfang

Important events

Ceremonies

• Leopardkit becomes an apprentice, and later becomes a warrior.
• Frogkit and Sunkit become apprentices, and later become warriors alongside Sedgepaw, Reedpaw, Loudpaw, Blackpaw, Skypaw, and Leopardpaw.

Leopardfur's warrior ceremony

Hailstar: I call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. With no mother to guide her, she has been raised by the Clan, and it is with special pride that we watch her today pass from apprentice to warrior. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a RiverClan warrior. Leopardpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan even at the cost of your life? Leopardpaw: I do. I really do. Hailstar: Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Leopardpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Leopardfur. StarClan honors your determination, your independence, and your loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of RiverClan. Reference: Leopardstar's Honor, pages 53-54

Other

• Mudfur decides to train as a medicine cat.

Errors

• Leopardpaw is apprenticed a moon early while the others are apprenticed on time, but in Crookedstar's Promise, Leopardpaw is apprenticed on time while the other apprentices are apprenticed a moon late.
• Crookedjaw is mentioned as RiverClan's deputy despite still being a warrior at that point. This error is fixed in the paperback edition.

Trivia

• This chapter aligns with chapter thirty-one of Crookedstar's Promise.