Onestar's Confession/Chapter 17

"If you had a fraction of Ashfoot's knowledge, of course I would listen to you. But you don't! You will have to earn my trust, just like every deputy, before and after the Great Battle. Now accept this: I have given you my final answer about the stoats."

— Onestar to Harespring in Onestar's Confession, page 270

Onestar's Confession
Chapter number:	17 (of 33)
Page numbers:	268-279
Point of View:	Onestar
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 17 (of 33)

Page Numbers: 268-279

Chapter description

Several seasons later, Onestar's new deputy Harespring suggests that they should ask ThunderClan for help with the stoats in the tunnels. Recalling his promise to turn his back on ThunderClan, Onestar sharply disagrees. Harespring mentions how he knows Onestar only picked him as deputy to demonstrate trust in the former Dark Forest trainees, but the younger tom hopes that Onestar can confide in him as he did with Ashfoot. Recalling his sister's recent death during the Great Battle, Onestar rebukes Harespring for questioning him. The two discuss who they should bring to the Gathering, with Onestar wanting to bring his strongest warriors, including Breezepelt.

At the Gathering, Onestar announces that Nightcloud is dead from stoats living in the tunnels, though the new leader of ThunderClan, Bramblestar, interrupts Onestar, asking why he hasn't informed ThunderClan of this new threat. Mistystar advises Bramblestar to wait until Onestar has finished his report before speaking. After Onestar finishes, Weaselfur publicly challenges Breezepelt why he survived the tunnels but Nightcloud did not. As gossip fuels the crowd, Breezepelt gets into an argument with Spiderleg and Berrynose until Crowfeather breaks them apart. Jayfeather questions why WindClan was in the tunnels to begin with, and Kestrelflight explains his dream of a great wave of water sweeping out from the tunnels and destroying WindClan. Bramblestar prods Onestar if he was planning on sharing Kestrelflight's vision sooner, but Onestar insists it is a vision meant for WindClan only. Abruptly, Lionblaze and Breezepelt argue in the clearing, resulting in the WindClan warrior storming off. The Gathering quickly ends after, though Bramblestar comments to Onestar how Crowfeather and Breezepelt still are not getting along. The ThunderClan leader adds how raising kits can teach you humility, and Onestar wonders if Bramblestar knows anything about Smoke and Darkkit. He once again dismisses Bramblestar's offer for help with the stoats, though Onestar cannot stop thinking about Smoke and Darkkit.

Onestar has a nightmare of a fire in the old territory, and he calls out to Smoke and Darkkit. He finds Darkkit, now all grown up, but his son pins his father down and prepares to slash his throat. Onestar wakes up in his den but he still hears yowling outside. He initially believes the white creatures with black tails is Darkkit manifested from his dream, but Onestar realizes with horror that stoats are attacking the camp.

Characters

Major

• Onestar

Minor

• Harespring
• Blackstar
• Mistystar
• Bramblestar
• Weaselfur
• Breezepelt
• Spiderleg
• Berrynose
• Crowfeather
• Jayfeather
• Kestrelflight
• Lionblaze

Mentioned

• Nightcloud
• Firestar
• Ashfoot
• Larkwing
• Heathertail
• Sedgewhisker
• Gorsetail
• Smoke
• Darkkit
• Stoneteller

Errors

• Onestar mentions how it's the first Gathering since the Great Battle, but it's actually the second.
• Onestar mentions that WindClan has two apprentices, when they actually have four.

Trivia

• This chapter aligns with chapter eleven of Crowfeather's Trial.