Onestar's Confession/Prologue

"Darktail could not have known that Onestar had only one life remaining. But terror of the fate he had foretold had sent Onestar fleeing from the battle, calling his Clan to retreat with him, tilting the balance of the fight against the Clan cats. Digging his claws deeper into Darktail's shoulders, Onestar saw terror flare in his enemy's eyes. But he found that his own fear had left him. All he felt now was a desperate hope: that perhaps he had redeemed himself by ridding the Clans of the cat who would have destroyed them all. Then darkness enfolded him utterly, and his senses swirled away."

— Onestar's thoughts before drowning with Darktail in Onestar's Confession, page 2

Onestar's Confession
Chapter number:	Prologue (of 33)
Page numbers:	1-5
Point of View:	Onestar
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: Prologue (of 33)

Page Numbers: 1-5

Chapter description

Fighting with Darktail under the water at the lake, Onestar thinks to himself silently to not let go. Although his instincts are telling him to force himself upward, he forces himself to hold on. Darktail tears at his pelt, his other paw on Onestar's throat. The WindClan leader wonders to himself how things went so wrong and thinks on how his son's hatred has cost him and the Clans so much. He realizes that they're both going to die, as neither of them were willing to loosen their grip on each other.

The realization brings Onestar relief, as he realizes that all his seasons of regret, lies, and betrayal was over, especially when he refused to fight Darktail and the Kin. He remembers what Darktail said about him: that a cat that had rejected and killed his own son would surely end up in the Dark Forest, and also remembers how the terror of that fate Darktail had foretold had made him retreat from the battle alongside WindClan, despite knowing that Darktail had no idea that he was on his last life. Digging his claws into Darktail's shoulders, he sees fear in his eyes, but finds that all fear inside of himself had escaped, and that he was only left with the desperate hope that he had redeemed himself by killing his evil son. Darkness falls upon the WindClan leader.

Opening his eyes, Onestar notices a place similar to WindClan's territory in the old forest. The breeze carries rich scents of plants and prey, and he’s no longer wet. Cold shock courses through him as he sees Darktail sitting just a few fox-lengths away, giving him a cold glare. Onestar braces himself for an attack, but Darktail doesn't move. He tries to speak, but no sounds comes. Darktail then begins to fade, leaving just white mist. Onestar digs his claws into the ground, expecting to fade just like his son, but he doesn't. Looking around, Onestar recognizes Tallstar, and Onestar states that he doesn't know what this place is, as it’s not the Dark Forest, but says that he surely doesn't belong in StarClan. Tallstar tells Onestar that StarClan is deciding his fate, and the place they are in is just a waiting room. The pale brown tabby asks if there is anything left for him to do, and after Tallstar telling him no, Onestar reflects back on his life. He remembers the Great Battle, the Great Journey and his unexpected leadership, and finally he slips into his apprentice days.

Characters

Major

• Onestar
• Darktail

Minor

• Tallstar

Mentioned

• Deadfoot (Unnamed)

Important events

Deaths

• Darktail and Onestar drown each other, the latter being on his last two lives and losing both of them.