Squirrelflight's Hope/Chapter 20

"The Sisters will not be bullied. We will not move. If the Clans wish to attack us, we will defend ourselves."

— Moonlight in Squirrelflight's Hope, pages 292-293

Squirrelflight's Hope
Chapter number:	20 (of 30)
Page numbers:	286-294
Point of View:	Squirrelflight
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 20 (of 30)

Page Numbers: 286-294

Chapter description

Leafstar, Squirrelflight, and Tree head over to the Sisters' camp the following morning, and Tree lets the two she-cats walk on ahead so he can practice his speech. Leafstar hopes that Moonlight will be willing to listen to her own son. However, Tree is dismissive that Moonlight will actually listen to him, and Squirrelflight is confused since Moonlight was always cordial to her. Snow greets them when they arrive at their camp, though she is hesitant about letting a grown tom inside their camp until Tree reveals he is speaking for the Clans. In Moonlight's birthing den, Squirrelflight is concerned that the large she-cat still hasn't given birth to her kits. Tree tells Moonlight that the Clans have decided to take the Sisters' land and they should leave immediately to avoid bloodshed, though Moonlight thought that the Clans enjoy fighting after they nearly killed Sunrise. She asks if Tree is threatening her, but Tree insists he is here to reason. Moonlight demands that he reason with his own words instead of quoting what the Clans want, but the yellow tom argues that he is a Clan cat now. Moonlight mocks Tree for joining the Clans, who prioritize ownership over territory instead of protecting the land like a tom. Squirrelflight and Leafstar step in as tensions rise between the two family members, and both she-cats urge Moonlight to leave before blood will inevitably will be spilled. Moonlight adamantly refuses, and Tree leaves in anger at her stubbornness. Squirrelflight pleads with Moonlight one final time before the expectant queen orders her away. As they leave, Squirrelflight laments about their failure and the dire future of Moonlight's kits.

Characters

Major

• Squirrelflight
• Tree
• Moonlight

Minor

• Leafstar
• Snow
• Sparrow
• Sunrise
• Hawk
• Tempest
• Furze
• Creek
• Flurry

Mentioned

• Hawkwing
• Tigerstar
• Strikestone (Unnamed)

Important events

• The Sisters refuse to leave their land.