Squirrelflight's Hope/Chapter 15

"I wasn't going to question them, but I want to see how they react when I tell them about Larksong. There are too many rumors in ThunderClan. I need to tell our Clanmates that I saw for myself that ShadowClan has nothing to do with this."

— Squirrelflight to Bramblestar about ShadowClan and Larksong in Squirrelflight's Hope, page 181

Squirrelflight's Hope
Chapter number:	15 (of 30)
Page numbers:	214-229
Point of View:	Squirrelflight
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 15 (of 30)

Page Numbers: 214-229

Chapter description

Squirrelflight offers to go with Alderheart and Jayfeather to visit ShadowClan. The two medicine cats want to consult with Puddleshine, ShadowClan's medicine cat, after one of their Clanmates, Larksong, fell ill due to some tainted prey. While Lionblaze believes they should send a whole patrol to ShadowClan, Squirrelflight and Bramblestar are not sure that ShadowClan is responsible, and they do not want to start any more fights with other Clans. Jayfeather tells Squirrelflight that she should ask Bramblestar for permission, but Squirrelflight says that he is out hunting.

Despite the urgency, Alderheart, Jayfeather, and Squirrelflight manage to track down Bramblestar. Much to Squirrelflight's surprise, Bramblestar is okay with Squirrelflight going to ShadowClan to gauge their reactions upon the mention of Larksong's illness. With Bramblestar's blessing, Squirrelflight heads back to find Alderheart and Jayfeather, and asks Alderheart if he is able to talk to Puddleshine about Larksong's illness. The small group of cats is soon discovered by a ShadowClan patrol, and they are escorted back to ShadowClan's camp, with Snowbird, Snaketooth, and Cinnamontail leading the way.

Alderheart and Jayfeather make their way to the medicine den to convene with Puddleshine, while Squirrelflight insists on talking to Cloverfoot, ShadowClan's deputy. Initially wanting to talk to Tigerstar, she settles for Cloverfoot upon hearing that Tigerstar is out hunting. Snowbird is concerned that Squirrelflight, Jayfeather, and Alderheart are bringing the sickness to ShadowClan, but Jayfeather retorts that a medicine cat would never intentionally spread any illnesses. Snowbird vanishes into a den on the other side of the clearing, and Squirrelflight looks around ShadowClan's camp. She notices that many cats are looking at her, none of them very glad to see her and some have their claws out. Accepting that ShadowClan was likely angry with her, Squirrelflight forces herself to stay calm and not to say anything she will regret later. She soon sees Cloverfoot at Snowbird's heels, and she is met with an icy greeting. Squirrelflight warns that one of her warriors is sick, and that it may come from tainted prey. Cloverfoot thanks Squirrelflight for letting her know, and tells the ginger she-cat that none of ShadowClan's cats are sick.

Cloverfoot urges Squirrelflight, Alderheart, and Jayfeather to leave ShadowClan immediately, but Tigerstar returns to camp before they can leave. He glares at Squirrelflight and demands to know why she is here. Cloverfoot mews that Squirrelflight has come to report a sickness, and Tigerstar snaps back that there are wounded in camp thanks to ThunderClan. The ShadowClan leader explains that RiverClan had attacked Tigerstar and ShadwoClan over the territory dispute in an attempt to get their land back, injuring many cats in the process. Squirrelflight apologizes for RiverClan's actions, but says that ThunderClan should not be held accountable something that another Clan does, despite what happened between Harestar and Bramblestar. Squirrelflight and Tigerstar quarrel for a few more moments, about RiverClan's attack and ThunderClan's agreement with WindClan. Jayfeather urges them to leave instead of fighting more, saying that this is a pointless endeavor. Tigerstar agrees with Jayfeather, and orders ThunderClan to leave their camp, sending Dovewing and Scorchfur to escort them off ShadowClan territory. Tigerstar tells Squirrelflight that if this dispute goes on for much longer, ShadowClan will act on its own.

On their trip back to ThunderClan territory, Dovewing mews that she understands where ShadowClan is coming from, and that Tigerstar has a point. Squirrelflight objects, but Dovewing lowers her voice and says that it is because of how ThunderClan acts sometimes. It bothers the other Clans, and that she believes ThunderClan only seems to care about their own Clan and not any of the others. She insults Bramblestar, saying that he believes he always knows what is best. Squirrelflight says it is because Bramblestar is smart, but Dovewing says that so is Tigerstar, Mistystar, and the other cats as well. Dovewing says that the Clans have a plan, but Bramblestar is too caught up in making sure feelings do not get hurt. When Squirrelflight brings up the Sisters, Dovewing mews that they are just rogues, and they do not even want the land they are currently using. Jayfeather agrees with Dovewing, saying that she has a point. Squirrelflight disagrees, and says that being a warrior means doing what is right, and that means doing things that are not always pratical in nature. As Dovewing retreats to shadow the patrol, Squirrelflight worries that she is angering StarClan and her ancestors by trying to protect the Sisters.

Characters

Major

• Squirrelflight
• Alderheart
• Jayfeather

Minor

• Lionblaze
• Cinderheart
• Poppyfrost
• Cherryfall
• Molewhisker
• Bramblestar
• Berrynose
• Dewnose
• Snowbird
• Cinnamontail
• Snaketooth
• Sparrowtail
• Whorlpelt
• Yarrowleaf
• Berryheart
• Lightpaw
• Pouncepaw
• Oakfur
• Ratscar
• Puddleshine
• Cloverfoot
• Tigerstar
• Dovewing
• Strikestone
• Scorchfur

Mentioned

• Larksong
• Leafstar
• Mistystar