Leopardstar's Honor/Chapter 29

"There aren't four Clans in StarClan. Why is there one rule for StarClan and another for us? Do you think StarClan might enjoy watching our petty quarrels over borders and prey?"

— Tigerstar to Leopardstar in Leopardstar's Honor, page 450

Leopardstar's Honor
Chapter number:	29 (of 35)
Page numbers:	448-458
Point of View:	Leopardstar
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 29 (of 35)

Page Numbers: 448-458

Chapter description

Tigerstar tells Leopardstar that he has come to warn her that ThunderClan has been hunting in Fourtrees. Leopardstar asks if she should challenge them, and he replies that the river is frozen and Sunningrocks is not theirs. He adds that RiverClan and ThunderClan are both short on prey. Leopardstar wonders what he is trying to say, and Tigerstar mews that he would not object if RiverClan crosses borders. She asks if he wants her to steal prey, and the tom says that they could be stronger if they worked together, and he continues that there could be two Clans instead. Leopardstar stiffens, and he points out that there are no borders in StarClan. She thinks that it would go against the code, but also realizes that fewer Clans would mean less borders. Tigerstar mews that it does not matter what others think, and she considers a future with a Clan of true warriors. Leopardstar is hesitant and tells Tigerstar that they can be no more than allies. He replies that he is disappointed, and leaves. However, she still wonders if two Clans could really be a possibility for a better future.

The next day, Leopardstar calls a Clan meeting for Featherkit and Stormkit's apprentice ceremonies. She is somewhat anxious, and wonders if she made the right decision to apprentice them to Mistyfoot and Stonefur. She shakes away her doubt, and calls Featherkit to the center of the clearing, thinking about how much the kit has changed. The leader mews that she will now be Featherpaw, and Mistyfoot will be her mentor. The two cats touch noses, and Leopardstar then calls Stormkit forward. Jaggedtooth and Boulder exchange looks, and she growls at them. Leopardstar states that Stormkit's name will be Stormpaw, and she apprentices him to Stonefur. Stonefur looks happy for the first time in days, and the Clan calls Featherpaw and Stormpaw's names.

Leopardstar tells Stonefur that she wants to talk about patrols with him, Blackclaw, Sedgecreek, and Ottersplash. She thinks about Tigerstar, saying that he would support her in conflicts, and meows to the four cats that she is going to ensure that nobody goes hungry. They ask how she will do so, and she answers that if there is not enough prey, they will cross the ThunderClan border. Stonefur exclaims that it would be trespassing, and Leopardstar hisses, asking if he is loyal or not. He nervously mews that he is, and says that he will always protect the Clan, but then trails off. Leopardstar narrows her eyes, and dismisses the meeting, wondering why the tom is so nervous. She pads out of the camp, Stonefur's words nagging at her. Leopardstar wonders if disloyalty is like a sickness, but then smells Stonefur walking out of camp alone.

Leopardstar follows Stonefur and sees Mistyfoot talking to him. She looks fearful and says that Fireheart knows, and Leopardstar creeps closer. Stonefur mews that some may already know, as it would have been hard for Graypool to pretend that they were her kits. Leopardstar is confused, and the gray she-cat mews that it would have been difficult for Oakheart as well, and Stonefur says that Bluestar probably made him keep it a secret. Leopardstar is curious, and Mistyfoot wonders why Bluestar had to give them up. The leader is shocked as she realizes that the two cats are Bluestar and Oakheart's kits. Mistyfoot meows that they should tell Leopardstar, but Stonefur replies that the leader is too sensitive after what happened with Graystripe. Leopardstar leaves, her mind spinning. She thinks to herself that she made half-Clan cats mentors to other half-Clan cats, and worries if she can really trust their loyalty.

Characters

Major

• Leopardstar
• Stonefur

Minor

• Tigerstar
• Featherkit/Featherpaw
• Stormkit/Stormpaw
• Mosspelt
• Jaggedtooth
• Boulder
• Timberfur
• Cedarpelt
• Mistyfoot
• Primrosepaw
• Pikepaw
• Reedpaw
• Blackclaw
• Sedgecreek
• Ottersplash

Mentioned

• Mudfur
• Crookedstar
• Graystripe
• Fireheart
• Graypool
• Oakheart
• Bluestar

Important events

• Featherpaw and Stormpaw become apprentices.
• Leopardstar learns that Mistyfoot and Stonefur are half-Clan.

Ceremonies

Featherpaw's apprentice ceremony

Leopardstar: Featherkit. You have reached the age of six moons, and it's time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, you will be known as Featherpaw. Your mentor will be Mistyfoot. I hope she will pass down all she knows to you. Mistyfoot, you have been a loyal and brave warrior. You have already given your Clan kits who will, in their turn, become true warriors. Now it is time to pass your skills on to a younger cat. I hope Featherpaw will thrive under your mentorship. Everyone: Stormpaw! Featherpaw! Reference: Leopardstar's Honor, pages 452-454

Stormpaw's apprentice ceremony
Leopardstar: Stormkit. [...] You have reached six moons, and you will be known as Stormpaw. Your mentor will be Stonefur. You are one of our Clan's strongest and most skillful warriors. I expect you to pass on your skills to Stormpaw and train him to become as formidable a fighter and hunter as you are. Everyone: Stormpaw! Featherpaw! Reference: Leopardstar's Honor, pages 453-454

Errors

• Mistyfoot is called pale gray.
• The entire paragraph about Featherpaw's and Stormpaw's apprentice ceremony contains several aspects that do not happen until later in the plot:
  • Jaggedtooth and Boulder are present during the ceremony despite only being stationed in RiverClan after it joined with ShadowClan to form TigerClan.
  • In the hardcover edition, Featherpaw and Stormpaw are apprenticed too early in the plot, as the book later mentions how Skyheart keeps Mosspelt company in the nursery now that Mistyfoot's kits are apprentices. This implies that by this point, Mosspelt is still in the nursery with Featherkit and Stormkit. This is fixed in the paperback edition, with no mention of Mosspelt. Additionally, in the hardcover edition, Tigerstar later also asks Leopardstar if she is still planning to make Mistyfoot and Stonefur mentors to Featherkit and Stormkit, even though their ceremony has already been held. This is fixed in the paperback version, with Tigerstar asking if she had definitely chosen Stonefur and Mistyfoot to be mentors of the young apprentices, but Stonefur is accidentally referred to as Stormfur.