Tallstar's Revenge/Chapter 36

"I was born a kittypet. I'm not doing any harm. And if I'm eating kittypet food, it means there's more prey for rogues like you."

— Jake to Reena about being a kittypet in Tallstar's Revenge, page 394

Tallstar's Revenge
Chapter number:	36 (of 45)
Page numbers:	391-398
Point of View:	Talltail
Chronology

Below contains in-depth information for chapter thirty-six of Tallstar's Revenge. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter Number: 36 (of 45)

Page Numbers: 391-398

Chapter description

Reena asks Talltail if he is going hunting in the forest, while chasing a squirrel. Talltail stumbles over a rock, blinking in surprise as Jake overtakes him. He leaps over a frosty log and asks Jake how is he is so good at this, dodging a branch before it hit him in the muzzle. Jake mutters that it is a bit like alley running, and disappears over a wall of bracken. Talltail runs after him, sunshine seeping through the gray clouds. He cannot see Reena anymore, but hears her curse. Talltail races after the she-cat, seeing a fluffy tail flickering above the branches. Jake asks if she can climb after the squirrel, and Reena replies that she will not climb so high. Talltail suggests that they go and try out the field, and Jake stares at him and asks if it is the one with the monsters. Reena's gaze shifts away from the squirrel as it disappears from the trees, and she says that the monsters will not be there today, as they only come occasionally. Talltail mutters that it is great and dashes past the tree. He feels sick of the forest and his muscles ache, and he feels quite knotted sleeping next to Sparrow, thinking about how to get revenge for killing his father. He believes he needs to gain Sparrow's trust to get him alone.

Talltail asks himself if Sparrow trusts him already and thinks it is hard to tell what the rogue is thinking. He wonders if Sparrow realizes he had caused Sandgorse's death and becomes angry at the thought. Talltail calls that he sees the field and races for it. He can smell the Thunderpath behind him, the horrible scent prickling his nose. Reena calls to wait for them, and Jake asks if Talltail is really going to catch a rabbit. He opens his mouth and responds if he can find one, and leads the way across the grass. Reena purrs that it is great she has someone young to hunt with, and meows that she is glad Talltail stopped being such a grumpy badger. Jake meows that Talltail is not grumpy, and Talltail wants to remind his friend of how he had reacted when he was locked up in Jake's nest.

Reena recalls that during her time when she was staying with WindClan, she did not dare talk to him. Talltail reminds her that they need to catch a rabbit while feeling grief overwhelm him, and Reena calls him a grumpy old badger. Jake replies that he is not grumpy with him. Reena shrugs and asks if there are any rabbits to hunt. Talltail meows that they are probably asleep and Jake wishes they will wake up soon, as he is starving. Reena licks her paw and meows it is because he misses kittypet food, and Jake replies perhaps, as hunting is hard work.

Talltail thinks that it is harder when cats have to hunt for elders and kits as well and wonders if WindClan has enough prey this leaf-bare, since there is no more tunneling. Talltail thinks that it is not for him to worry about now, as he has to only look after himself and Jake. He thinks about how long they can spend together before they have to depart. He feels a pain stab his heart, and Reena suddenly asks if Jake is embarrassed. Jake is confused, and Reena asks if he is embarrassed about being a kittypet. Jake is baffled, and Reena meows that taking food from a Twoleg is undignified. Jake is even more confused and asks if it is, and Reena replies a cat should survive depending on itself, not on others.

Jake points out that being a kittypet does no harm, and if he is eating their food, rogues will have more to eat. Just then, he notices something moving in the distance, making Talltail excited as he spots a rabbit. He tells Reena that kittypets have the same instincts like they do. However, Reena meows Jake cannot catch the rabbit, unlike Talltail. He looks at Jake, who is glancing across the field. He asks what now, and Talltail tells them to circle around it. Jake's eyes sparkle and he meows it is the method they used to catch a thrush together, and Talltail nods, saying he will stalk it when it gets there. He drops into a crouch and sees Reena and Jake stalking the rabbit, closing in. Talltail wants to catch it before the others and quickens his step. He wants to give it to Sparrow to gain more trust, and wishes the brown tom would choke on the rabbit.

He feels rage overwhelming him after realizing he is hunting for the cat who killed Sandgorse, and lets out a growl. The rabbit leaps off and Talltail tries to chase it. He focuses hard on the rabbit while Reena howls behind him. Talltail thinks about the rabbit and where it will go. Even if it goes inside the burrow, he thinks he can manage as he is a tunneler's son. Talltail lands on the rabbit and Reena shrieks his name again. He grabs the rabbit until it stops struggling. Reena dashes towards him, telling him to not move. Talltail is confused why, dropping the rabbit. Reena orders him to just walk with her.

Talltail picks up the rabbit again and asks what is wrong, and Reena croaks he almost fell off the edge. He is confused and Reena explains that there is a cliff. Talltail stiffens and asks if it is like a gorge, remembering when he almost fell into the river as an apprentice. Reena swallows and says it is worse. Jake halts beside his friend and meows he would have died if he had fallen over. Talltail closes his eyes and thinks that he could have been killed. However, he feels excitement, realizing that Sparrow could die that way, and he just has to push him down and into a monster's path. Talltail's heart pounds as he promises himself that he will avenge Sandgorse's death and make sure Sparrow will never hurt a cat again.

Characters

Major

• Talltail

Minor

• Reena
• Jake

Mentioned

• Sparrow
• Sandgorse
• Heatherstar