Squirrelflight's Hope/Chapter 29

"Even though you were outnumbered too. We know what it cost you. Tree told us about Leafpool. We're sorry she died. Our kits owe her their lives. Sunrise does too. Moonlight will always be grateful."

— Snow to Squirrelflight in Squirrelflight's Hope, page 408

Squirrelflight's Hope
Chapter number:	29 (of 30)
Page numbers:	398-410
Point of View:	Squirrelflight
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 29 (of 30)

Page Numbers: 398-410

Chapter description

The morning after Leafpool's vigil, Squirrelflight visits the nursery. While Flamekit and Finchkit eagerly greet her, Squirrelflight spots Sparkpelt sitting disinterestedly on her nest. Stormcloud attempts to encourage her to eat, and Daisy informs Squirrelflight that Sparkpelt has shown little interest in her kits. Attempting to rouse her daughter, Squirrelflight tells Sparkpelt that she saw Larksong and Flickerkit while in StarClan. Sparkpelt is surprised, since no one but her and Larksong knew the name of their third kit. Squirrelflight relays on Larksong's message, urging Sparkpelt that her former mate wants her to live a good life. Squirrelflight encourages the kits to play with their mother, and, after some encouragement from Squirrelflight and Stormcloud, Sparkpelt plays with her kits outside in the camp clearing. Squirrelflight reflects how ridiculous she was for wanting more kits when the entire Clan is her kin.

A few days later, Squirrelflight greets Hawkwing at the SkyClan border and asks to see the Sisters, who have settled on the edge of SkyClan's territory. The SkyClan deputy reveals that Moonlight has died, despite Frecklewish's and Fidgetflake's best efforts to treat her wounds, and the Sisters will be leaving after Moonlight's kits are weaned. Squirrelflight feels frustrated that the battle was for nothing. Hawkwing takes her to their camp to speak with Snow and Tempest. At their camp, Moonlight's three kits play with Rootkit and Needlekit while their mother Violetshine clears away old bedding. Snow is grateful that Violetshine is nursing them, though Tempest adds that they will leave as soon as they can so the kits do not become warriors. Squirrelflight laments for Moonlight's death, though the Sisters reveal they still see her spirit and she might linger until her kits are grown. Snow mentions that Moonlight wanted to thank Squirrelflight for saving her kits from the landslide, and the Sisters add that they also personally thank Squirrelflight for everything she's done for them. They plan to travel beyond the lake and across the moor.

Tree arrives as Squirrelflight is ready to bid the Sisters farewell. Before she leaves, Snow and Tempest reveal the names for Moonlight's kits: Moon, Leaf, and Squirrel after Moonlight, Leafpool, and Squirrelflight. As Tree accompanies Squirrelflight to the border, the mediator is relieved he did not have to delivery her message to Bramblestar. While he does not wish to see his mother's ghost, Tree acknowledges that her kits deserved a mother. He remarks that his own kits, Rootkit and Needlekit, will always have parents and a Clan to turn to, and Squirrelflight notes that he's starting to sound like a warrior.

Characters

Major

• Squirrelflight

Minor

• Daisy
• Flamekit
• Finchkit
• Sparkpelt
• Stormcloud
• Hawkwing
• Sparrowpelt
• Blossomheart
• Leafstar
• Harrybrook
• Sandynose
• Violetshine
• Rootkit
• Needlekit
• Snow
• Tempest
• Moon
• Squirrel
• Leaf
• Tree

Mentioned

• Leafpool
• Bramblestar
• Larksong
• Flickerkit
• Moonlight
• Frecklewish
• Fidgetflake
• Sunrise

Important events

Deaths

• Moonlight: succumbed to her wounds

Errors

• Hawkwing calls the Sisters a group of loners.