StormClan's Folly/Chapter 9

"I don't know. Perhaps I'll become a rogue. But whatever happens, I will dream of the day that WindClan runs on the moors once again. When our camp is full of fresh-kill, and the nursery rings with the cries of newborn kits. That's my dream, Galestar. And my greatest wish is that..."

— Crowflight to Galestar about staying behind in StormClan's Folly, page 118

StormClan's Folly
Chapter number:	9 (of 32)
Page numbers:	114-140
Point of View:	Galestar
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 9 (of 32)

Page Numbers: 114-140

Chapter description

Galestar wakes, aware that it is the day that StormClan will leave. She leaves the den to make dirt, only to find her sister, Crowflight, waiting for her on the way back. Crowflight is upset with the idea of leaving, but Galestar insists that StormClan must depart for its survival. Crowflight confesses that she wishes to stay behind, as she is a WindClan cat. She reminds Galestar of their promise to their mother that they would always stay together, and tells Galestar that she has a responsibility to protect WindClan. When Galestar remains adamant, Crowflight says that she is not the only cat who will stay. She hisses at Stripestar when he approaches, and stalks away. Stripestar asks Galestar if she wants to stay, but she assures him otherwise. StormClan soon prepares to leave, and the cats who are staying begin to say their goodbyes to their friends and kin, though Crowflight and Galestar avoid one another. Fawnpelt's kits are distraught that Tumbletail and the other cats are leaving, and cannot be consoled. Crowflight approaches her sister at last for a final goodbye.

Three days later, StormClan travels through a pine copse, with Stripestar ushering his cats onward, frustrated by their lack of progress. Padding on with delight, Galestar hears a low roaring sound, and the group comes upon a tangle of Thunderpaths. Stripestar eagerly points out woodland beyond them, suggesting that it could be a place to settle. The cats struggle to come up with ideas as to how to cross, but, encouraged by the sight of a bird of prey heading toward the woodland, Galestar pushes them on. Investigating the Thunderpath, she devises a plan for StormClan to cross two at a time. Rosebush and Pigeonkit go first, making it across safely, despite Rosebush stepping on a stone.

After some time, only Galestar, Pebblenose, Stripestar, and Kestrelwing are left. Galestar and Pebblenose cross successfully, but when she turns back, Galestar is concerned about how unsteady and disoriented Kestrelwing seems because of the heat. She curses herself and Stripestar for making him wait so long to cross. The Clan offers encouragement for Kestrelwing, and he seems to recover himself. After a monster passes by, with a glinting object falling from its side, Kestrelwing and Stripestar make their way slowly across, with Stripestar supporting him.

Kestrelwing suddenly pushes forward on his own. Just as hope sparks within Galestar, a burst of wind pushes the Twoleg object into Kestrelwing's path, tripping him. Stripestar fails to notice until Galestar calls to him, but by then, it is too late, as Kestrelwing is crushed by a large monster. StormClan huddles together in grief, shocked and horrified by Kestrelwing's death. Unable to retrieve Kestrelwing's body, StormClan moves on and stops in a clearing, where they settle in exhaustion. At twilight, they sit together for Kestrelwing, slowly falling asleep. Galestar is tormented by dreams of Kestrelwing, knowing that StarClan no longer cares for StormClan and will not be watching them.

Alerted by shifting leaf litter, Galestar spots Petalstep sneaking away from StormClan. She rises to follow and confront the older warrior in anger, and Petalstep expresses her horror over Kestrelwing. She is unhappy with the path StormClan is taking and plans to become a kittypet, to Galestar's disgust. Petalstep asks if Galestar truly believes in Stripestar's dream for StormClan, and she replies that she does. With that, Petalstep says her goodbye to Galestar and leaves, to Galestar's distress. However, Galestar comes upon a new resolve to ensure that Kestrelwing's death had not been for naught.

Characters

Major

• Galestar
• Stripestar
• Crowflight
• Kestrelwing

Minor

• Goldenleaf
• Stoneflower (Unnamed)
• Grassfoot
• Curlkit
• Russetkit
• Fawnpelt
• Nettlesting
• Quailkit
• Quailkit's sister (Unnamed)
• Quailkit's littermates
• Pebblenose
• Huntheart
• Thrushcall
• Roughpelt
• Rosebush
• Whitestep
• Tinyclaw
• Pigeonkit
• Fernwhisper
• Harewhisker
• Petalstep

Mentioned

• Ripplegrass
• Galestar and Crowflight's father
• Galestar and Crowflight's ancestors
• Windstar
• Tumbletail
• Galestar's stillborn kits
• Swiftstar

Important events

• Crowflight and several other cats stay behind, while StormClan departs.
• Petalstep leaves StormClan, aiming to become a kittypet.

Deaths

• Kestrelwing: crushed by a monster

Quotes

Crowflight: "I'm not...good with words like you are, my sister. But I don't want to leave. It feels wrong. All of this has felt wrong, from the beginning. I am WindClan. I have always been WindClan. And my home is on the moor."

Galestar: "I can't believe it. We've always been together. Always the same Clan. And now it has to end?"

^{StormClan's Folly, page 116}

«I can't believe it. The medicine cat who tended to me when I was heavy with my kits. Who delivered them. Who guided our Clan, even when he thought we were doing the wrong thing. He's gone.»

—Galestar's thoughts about Kestrelwing ^{StormClan's Folly, page 135}

«Finally, she shook off her sorrow. Petalstep hadn't believe in StormClan, and neither had Kestrelwing. Maybe if she had listened to him, the medicine cat would still be among them. But either way, Kestrelwing wouldn't have died for nothing. Galestar wouldn't allow it.»

—Galestar's thoughts about Petalstep and Kestrelwing ^{StormClan's Folly, page 140}