Tallstar's Revenge/Chapter 39

"I'll always be your friend, Talltail. But I'm a kittypet, and you're a warrior. You'll always be a warrior."

— Jake to Talltail about being a warrior in Tallstar's Revenge, page 433

Tallstar's Revenge
Chapter number:	39 (of 45)
Page numbers:	423-433
Point of View:	Talltail
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 39 (of 45)

Page Numbers: 423-433

Chapter description

Talltail is dreaming, and realises he is standing up. He sees light spilling around him, clearing the darkness. A tawny pelt slinks through the heather, and Talltail realizes the cat is Brackenwing. His heart leaps, and he edges towards her, but she is moving too quickly for him to catch up. Talltail calls out for Brackenwing, but she does not stop. Talltail hurries after her, and thinks he must chase after her. He reaches out for Brackenwing and calls that it's him, Talltail, but she doesn't move. He sees more cats: Palebird, Dawnstripe, Hareflight, and Hickorynose. Brackenwing is looking at WindClan territory. Talltail howls for Palebird, but she doesn't hear him. He calls for Dawnstripe, but his mentor doesn't turn back either.

Talltail tries to run faster, but it only makes him slower as his paws become heavy. He continues calling for Dawnstripe, but a paw pokes him in the shoulder. Jake appears and asks if it was another dream and Talltail frowns, meowing not really. The bright flame-colored kittypet asks if he is ok, and Talltail meows that his belly and paws hurt. Jake tells him his home is calling him, and Talltail asks what he means. Jake meows that doesn't he know, and Talltail that replies he doesn't either.

Jake tells him that Clan cats aren't used to leaving their home, and that he knows the pain Talltail has, as he is far away from his housefolk and feels pain as well. Talltail asks really, and his friend meows that everyone must belong somewhere. Talltail meows that he doesn't belong anywhere, and Jake asks about WindClan. Talltail meows that he left, and Jake shrugs, telling him the pain will stay with him until he returns home. Talltail asks Jake if he'll accompany him back, and Jake meows that for a while he will. Talltail also asks Jake if he'll want to return to his Twolegs, and Jake replies that he belongs there, and can't stay with his friend forever. Talltail meows that he won't stop Jake from doing so, but feels pain wash over him, as he has not done as he had planned: killing Sparrow. He feels lost and dumb, like going home without prey. He wonders if he can actually let Jake go.

Jake suggests catching a rabbit, and he catches it, making Talltail feel impressed by his skill. He had chased it, but Jake was the one who had actually cut off their escape route and killed it. He looked thrilled, teasing Talltail that he can teach warriors things about hunting. They had buried the remains of the rabbit, and made their way into the valley. Jake asks what can he see, and Talltail squints, meowing that he can see the fields and the Twolegplace. Jake asks about beyond that, and Talltail meows that he can see ThunderClan territory. The kittypet asks what is beyond that, and Talltail narrows his eyes, seeing the moor. His paws pull him towards his old home, and he forces himself to be still.

The flame-red kittypet meows that if they follow a bird and go around the Twolegplace, they can reach Clan territory. Talltail asks why they need to go there, as there are lots of other places to go. Jake reminds him that he has always wanted to see the Clans, and now he can see them close up. Talltail meows that ThunderClan wouldn't be happy showing their home to a kittypet, and Jake meows that he only wants to take a look, and they won't get caught.

Talltail mutters that they will only look, and then leave. He meows to Jake to lead when they reach the Twolegplace, and the kittypet hops easily onto the fence. Talltail follows suit. He spots trees, and can smell the faint ThunderClan scent. He sniffs the floor, and Jake suddenly exclaims that he can smell the Thunderpath. Talltail realizes it must be the Thunderpath that cuts through ShadowClan and ThunderClan, and Jake gets excited, meowing that the moor must be close. The black-and-white tom meows that it must be close enough, and Jake suggests to take a look. Talltail meows that it will be risky to do so, but Jake tells him that they have done dangerous things before, and he wants to see WindClan territory. Talltail wants to argue, but follows Jake, memories flooding back to him. He feels pain.

Jake asks where to go next, and Talltail meows to go along the forest edge, in case a ThunderClan patrol spots them. He sniffs the air and leads Jake into the forest, smelling ThunderClan and ShadowClan. Talltail dashes towards Fourtrees, quickening his steps and calling out, feeling at ease. He circles the trees, and Jake exclaims that they are so huge, and asks which way WindClan territory is. Talltail meows to his friend to follow. Jake asks Talltail why he ever wanted to leave, and Talltail cannot answer, for he thought he left because he didn't belong here. Cloudrunner had died recently and Dawnstripe too, along with Larksplash. Talltail replies that he cannot go home as they won't welcome him back, as he broke the warrior code, and feels panicked.

Jake asks if he's sure, as he won't know unless he returns. Talltail thinks about Palebird and her kits, and if they would be eating fresh-kill by now. Jake meows that WindClan is where Talltail belongs; it's his home. Talltail thinks about WindClan, and replies that he knows. Jake meows that he'll miss him. Talltail exclaims that he can't go yet, and invites Jake to come meet WindClan. Jake tells him he belongs with his housefolk, as they will be wondering where he is, and he doesn't belong there, but Talltail does. Talltail asks Jake if he'll see him again, and Jake is unsure, saying maybe. Talltail meows that Jake would be a great warrior, as he hunts well and can fight off foxes. Jake meows that he wouldn't be happy that way and declines, and Talltail asks if he wouldn't be happy with him, feeling hurt. The kittypet replies that he cannot be with Talltail, but he'll always remember him, and now, he knows where he truly belongs.

Talltail blurts that he'll go and live in the Twolegplace with Jake, but Jake tells Talltail that he'd be unhappy, which he would hate to have happen. Talltail asks Jake why he is leaving then, as he is his best friend. Jake meows that he'll always be his friend, he is a kittypet but Talltail is a warrior, and he always will be.

Characters

Major

• Talltail
• Jake

Minor

• Brackenwing (Vision or Dream)
• Palebird (Vision or Dream)
• Dawnstripe (Vision or Dream)
• Hareflight (Vision or Dream)
• Hickorynose (Vision or Dream)

Mentioned

• Sparrow
• Doespring
• Stagpaw
• Wrenkit
• Hopkit
• Cloudrunner
• Larksplash