Leopardstar's Honor/Chapter 33

"Stop feeling sorry for yourself and do something! You can't change the past. But you can change the future. You can save the Clans, and you will. You're strong and smart, and these cats decided to follow you, even after everything that's happened. They're looking to you to protect them. You can't let them down, not after everything they've been through. You owe them one last fight."

— Mudfur to Leopardstar in Leopardstar's Honor, page 527

Leopardstar's Honor
Chapter number:	33 (of 35)
Page numbers:	509-528
Point of View:	Leopardstar
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 33 (of 35)

Page Numbers: 509-528

Chapter description

Leopardstar reminds Blackclaw that once the fighting starts, RiverClan will fight against ShadowClan, not ThunderClan. Tigerstar questions what she is whispering about to her warriors, but she asks in return if he wants to win his fight and if he does, she needs to speak to her own cats. With a grunt, the powerful tabby turns and addresses the cats to start fighting when he says to. TigerClan stand above the Fourtrees hollow, with Leopardstar sticking close to the RiverClan cats who were still feeling the effects of the previous day's attack on WindClan. She wonders if the moorland Clan would show up, or if they were strong enough to fight once more. The leader takes note of how some ShadowClan warriors eye her own cats as though they haven't spent the past quarter moon sharing a camp. With a quick whisper to Blackclaw to ensure the safety of the apprentices, the leader notices the young cats and notes that this would be their first battle. With a longing thought, Leopardstar wishes for RiverClan back and for her Clan's health and safety.

Tigestar looks down the slope, asking if there were any signs of Firestar. Darkstripe replies he can't scent them and Blackfoot questions if they'll even arrive. Leopardstar freezes at that thought, wondering if it would mean further suffering for RiverClan. Blackclaw questions if TigerClan would be able to defeat WindClan and ThunderClan. Tigerstar remains sure they will, pointing out that they won't be fighting alone. Leopardstar watches as Scourge steps out, followed by his own cats. Tigerstar explains to her that RiverClan hadn't been as strong as he had hoped, so he had Scourge provide the numbers to help destroy ThunderClan and WindClan. He introduces the new cats as BloodClan and they're there to help TigerClan win the forest. His comment earns a narrowed glance from the smaller tom, which the tabby takes in stride. He instructs the cats to move into the hollow. Blackclaw tells his leader that they can't fight BloodClan as well, which she agrees with and that it leaves them no choice but to fight for TigerClan. Leopardstar has him pass on word to the rest of RiverClan as she notices Scourge and BloodClan hanging back. Scourge tells her he would wait, noting the Clans would likely discuss their own business first.

TigerClan moves down the slope, but Tigerstar tells them to wait as he scents WindClan and ThunderClan. Leopardstar spots Firestar and Tallstar beneath the great oaks, and notices the sorry state of the latter's warriors. She looks to Tigerstar for his signal, and with it, they all descend into the clearing. Firestar greets the large tom, questioning if he were still looking for his lost prisoners. Leopardstar perks up at the statement, hoping her Clanmates were indeed safe in ThunderClan camp. The ginger tom's comment annoys Tigerstar as he questions if the other leaders had thought about the offer to join TigerClan. Firestar spares a glance to Tallstar and answers that they both will decline the offer as the forest should not only have one Clan, especially led by a cat like the dark tabby. Leopardstar briefly moves away from the tabby to whisper to Blackclaw. She tells him to defend the apprentices, and to make sure each RiverClan warrior is seen fighting like the others, fearing repercussions if they aren't seen pulling their weight. Tigerstar begins announcing his victory over StarClan and introduces BloodClan as Leopardstar tries to catch Firestar's gaze to show her sympathy. Firestar stands up to the challenge, which has the dark tabby calling for the Twolegplace cats to attack, but none of them move on his order. Scourge steps forward and introduces himself to Firestar, who also introduces himself.

The ginger tom then proceeds to lay forth all of Tigerstar's crimes to the gathered cats. He details the tabby's role in Redtail's and Bluestar's demises, and the plot to destroy ThunderClan with dogs. Leopardstar looks on in shock, and even more so when Scourge announces he knew of the dogs but hadn't been told the plan had failed. Tigerstar attempts to reason with his ally, but Scourge announces he will think about Firestar's words before proceeding with a fight. However, Tigerstar calls him a traitor and leaps at the small tom. Leopardstar and the Clans look on in horror as Scourge attacks the fearsome tom and deals a killing blow that slowly takes his nine lives. The golden she-cat watches as ShadowClan cats break away from the clearing, and sees the looks of pure terror on her own warriors. Scourge addresses the Clans, announcing that he and BloodClan will take over the forest and gives the Clans three days to decide to either leave or fight.

In the following days, Leopardstar remains with her Clan, focusing on keeping them fed. She notes that some ShadowClan had remained with them after Scourge made his intentions clear. The leader thinks of Mistyfoot, Featherpaw, and Stormpaw, hoping they would have returned but they had instead chosen to remain under ThunderClan's care. Leopardstar remains distrustful of the ShadowClan warriors that remain with her, so she has them stay at the island away from camp where more vulnerable cats are. She also is thankful for the river thawing as it's bounty was enough to feed both groups of cats, not wanting to endanger anyone with Scourge's cats looming. At Bonehill, Leopardstar sits with her thoughts and wonders if she should dismantle the tower of prey bones. She thinks of Stonefur and how he should be sorting out patrols, but he was gone for good. Blackfoot sits away from her with Darkstripe, mindlessly picking at the bones. The latter notices Blackfoot pushing bones into the river to wash away, and calls him out on it. Angered, Blackfoot tells him no true warrior would collect crow-food. Loudbelly approaches Leopardstar, asking if he should take Pikepaw training. She hesitantly answers and admires the warrior's courage when she bluntly mentions their possible fate against BloodClan.

Mudfur then approaches her, coming across the clearing. He asks if she's decided what they will do against Scourge and BloodClan. Leopardstar tries brushing it off, stating the enemy had only given that choice to Firestar and Tallstar, and that if they were lucky Scourge might give them some territory. Mudfur, however, remains doubtful and reaffirms to his daughter that she will save the Clans. Leopardstar bitterly replies to the statement and points out the current situation to the medicine cat, trying to get him to see they are on the losing side. But, the old tom disregards it to try and persuade her to help Firestar fight against their threat. He also tells her that she's a good leader and needs to stop dwelling on her loses and that she cannot change the past but can change what is to come. Something clicks within Leopardstar as she spares a glance across the clearing, watching her Clanmates. She asks Mudfur if he truly believes in her, and he tells her that her decision will make the difference against a win or loss against BloodClan. Leopardstar gives it one last thought and notices the pelt of Firestar across the clearing and decides that despite the danger, they will fight.

Characters

Major

• Leopardstar
• Tigerstar
• Scourge
• Firestar
• Mudfur

Minor

• Blackclaw
• Blackfoot
• Darkstripe
• Jaggedtooth
• Boulder
• Loudbelly
• Heavystep
• Dawnpaw
• Primrosepaw
• Pikepaw
• Reedpaw
• Bone (Unnamed)
• Tallstar
• Graystripe
• Vixenleap
• Voleclaw
• Sedgecreek
• Reedtail
• Ottersplash
• Mosspelt

Mentioned

• Mistyfoot
• Featherpaw
• Stormpaw
• Redtail
• Oakheart
• Lionheart
• Cinderpelt
• Brokentail
• Bluestar
• Runningwind
• Brindleface
• Skyheart
• Stonefur

Important events

Deaths

• Tigerstar is killed by Scourge with one blow.

Errors

• Tigerstar says, "TigerClan and BloodClan will rule forever," but in The Darkest Hour, he says, "TigerClan and BloodClan will rule together." This is fixed in the paperback edition.
• Scourge is called a kittypet.
• RiverClan stays as Tigerstar dies, while ShadowClan flees, when in The Darkest Hour, the entirety of TigerClan fled before he lost his final life.
• Leopardstar's talk with Mudfur and her renewed attitude to fight BloodClan contradicts The Darkest Hour where Firestar finds her defeated by the prospect of the Twolegplace cats.

Trivia

• This chapter aligns with chapter twenty-one, chapter twenty-two, and chapter twenty-six of The Darkest Hour.