Shadow (book)/Chapter 4

"This just proves that I was right to come here. This is exactly RiverClan's problem, and has been since Mistystar died. You're all lying and keeping secrets, not just from me, but from each other! It has to stop, or I'll never be able to trust that you can run your own Clan. I'm not angry with you, Frostpaw. It's hard to speak up when something goes wrong, especially when every cat is depending on you. But from now on, you all need to tell me straight away when you aren't sure what you should do."

— Tigerstar to RiverClan and Frostpaw in Shadow, pages 58-59

Shadow (book)
Chapter number:	4 (of 24)
Page numbers:	39-60
Point of View:	Frostpaw
Chronology

Below contains in-depth information for chapter four of Shadow (book). If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter Number: 4 (of 24)

Page Numbers: 39-60

Chapter description

As Frostpaw is heading back to camp with horsetail, Graypaw and Mistpaw run to her with their mentors following. Frostpaw recalls that she has been avoiding Icewing. Icewing sends Frostpaw's littermates back to camp, and once they and Breezeheart leave, she tries to speak to Frostpaw, but Frostpaw says that she needs to take the horsetail back. Mistpaw asks her to eat with her and Graypaw, and they ask Frostpaw about potential leaders for RiverClan, including Duskfur and Icewing, but she rejects their ideas and asks about their training. The siblings remark that Curlfeather would have felt proud of all of them, and Mistpaw and Graypaw express relief at training to be warriors after having felt jealous of Frostpaw initially. Graypaw and Mistpaw show Frostpaw what they learned, and then invite her to practice. They praise her performance, and she wonders if she could be a warrior.

After treating Mallownose's ear, Frostpaw worries about her false visions. Splashtail arrives to the medicine den, and, seeing that his wound has not healed, Frostpaw scolds him for not resting. He remarks that they need to appear strong to ShadowClan, and as she tends to his injury, he reassures her about her concerns over finding a leader. As she treats Splashtail, Shadowsight arrives, and she sends Splashtail away. Remembering Shadowsight's false visions from Ashfur, she decides to ask about his experience. He explains that he is happy without having visions from StarClan, which comforts Frostpaw. She confesses that she feels pressured to get information, and Shadowsight invites her to talk to him if she needs. He tells her that Icewing wants to speak to her, and Frostpaw decides that she needs to do it.

Frostpaw finds Icewing helping Graypaw and Mistpaw clean the elders' nests. They take a walk outside camp, and Icewing offers sympathy for Frostpaw's plight and praises her work as a medicine cat. This leads Frostpaw to confess everything to her, and Icewing decides that they should speak with Mothwing. They find her in the medicine den, and Icewing confronts Mothwing, who argues that admitting their situation to Tigerstar will only make things worse. The next day, Frostpaw is woken up by noise, and she finds that Tigerstar is in camp with Slatefur and Hopwhisker. Icewing and Mothwing inform him that Frostpaw cannot communicate with StarClan, enraging the RiverClan cats. Once Icewing and Frostpaw have quieted them, Tigerstar tells RiverClan that they need to stop lying and address their problems with him. This angers RiverClan, which is worsened when Tigerstar says that they are temporary members of ShadowClan and that RiverClan should address him as their leader. Despite the arguments around her, Frostpaw feels relieved and excited to be a warrior.

Characters

Major

• Frostpaw
• Icewing

Minor

• Graypaw
• Mistpaw
• Breezeheart
• Mothwing
• Cloverfoot
• Unnamed ShadowClan warrior
• Tigerstar
• Duskfur
• Mallownose
• Splashtail
• Shadowsight
• Mosspelt
• Hopwhisker
• Slatefur
• Gorseclaw
• Havenpelt
• Podlight
• Harelight

Mentioned

• Owlnose
• Curlfeather
• Mistystar
• Reedwhisker
• Bramblestar
• Ashfur
• Bristlefrost
• Puddleshine
• Leafstar

Important events

• Frostpaw confesses to Icewing that her visions were false.
• Tigerstar tightens his hold over RiverClan upon finding out Frostpaw's secret.

Errors

• Breezeheart is referred to as a tom.