StormClan's Folly/Chapter 24

"I can't leave without Galestar and my kits!"

— Stripestar arguing with Spotnose in StormClan's Folly, page 352

StormClan's Folly
Chapter number:	24 (of 32)
Page numbers:	344-357
Point of View:	Stripestar
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 24 (of 32)

Page Numbers: 344-357

Chapter description

As the storm finally ebbs, Stripestar decides that it is time for StormClan to leave the sun-drown-place, and begins to wake the other cats. Pebblekit demands to know where they are going, and Stripestar assures his kits that they will go somewhere safe. While the kits are all excited, Stripestar struggling with uncertainty, especially as he watches Thrushkit climb onto Galestar's back, still injured from the rock falling on him. He reminds Thrushkit to protect Galestar, noting that she has not spoken to him in days. When Stripestar tells her he will lead the group, her response is cold.

Stripestar looks over his dejected Clan, thinking about the times they have done this in the past. They set out to leave, struggling to make progress on the slick cliffs thanks to the rain and wind. Stripestar yowls for the Clan to stop, but his voice is lost as it begins to downpour. He calls for Galestar at the same time that he tries to keep his Clan together, but the cats are forced to scatter as rocks begin to fall from the cliffs.

Spotnose careens over a ledge, and Stripestar lunges for her at the same time as Berryfall. The fall reminds him of Rosebush, but he and Berryfall manage to rescue Spotnose, and together, they struggle to follow the path StormClan has taken. They eventually catch up, but Stripestar realizes with horror that Galestar and their kits are nowhere to be found. He repeatedly calls her name as the other warriors scramble to search for the missing cats, ordering Tinyclaw to send out patrols to search as he, Berryfall, and Spotnose take off.

As he searches, his thoughts race, worried that a rock might have struck them at the same time as wondering if they found shelter. During their search, he hears a high-pitched cry, though Spotnose is convinced it is just the wind, and Stripestar realizes his family is gone. Numb with grief, Stripestar realizes that he has to lead StormClan to safety, still clinging to the hope that his family is okay and that he will find them. Spotnose tries to convince him to leave, but he insists on finding Galestar and their kits.

Stripestar signals for Tinyclaw to lead the Clan to safety, deciding to remain at the edge of the cliffs in the hopes of spotting Galestar. Eventually, he is forced to follow his Clanmates, deep in mourning for his lost family. He sits alone, grateful that Tinyclaw does not speak, and stares into the storm throughout the night.

Having accidentally fallen asleep, Stripestar wakes to Tinyclaw calling his name and clear skies. The second he is standing, he calls for Tumbletail and Frecklepelt, though Tinyclaw hesitantly suggests sending cats to hunt until Stripestar angrily snarls that she is in charge until he returns. He runs back to the cliffs with Tumbletail and Frecklepelt, only stopping to gaze at the endless expanse of water. Without the storms, he is able to see how beautiful the area is, but it only makes him more frustrated. He repeatedly calls for Galestar as his patrol scours the rocks, with Frecklepelt and Tumbletail calling his kits' names to no avail.

During their search, Stripestar recalls the strange noise he had heard the prior night, feeling foolish for thinking it could have been another cat. With their search continuing to fail, he resolves himself to believing they are still alive as long as he does not find their bodies, dreading the possibility of finding them as he peers over a precipice. Frecklepelt suggests checking the rockslide, but as Stripestar continues to think of the ways his family could have been killed, he does not respond.

Stripestar watches a gull land nearby, which reminds him of his dream. It leaves him wishing he had told Galestar about it right away, wishing that StormClan never found the cliffs, and wishing he could have convinced Galestar to leave earlier. While he convinces himself that it is his fault, he refuses to give up the search.

Characters

Major

• Stripestar
• Galestar
• Pebblekit
• Fogkit
• Thrushkit

Minor

• Spotnose
• Berryfall
• Tumbletail
• Hazelfrond
• Tinyclaw
• Tumbletail
• Frecklepelt

Mentioned

• Rosebush

Important events

• During a severe storm, Galestar, Pebblekit, Fogkit, and Thrushkit are separated from StormClan.