Tallstar's Revenge/Chapter 8

"A tabby can't change his stripes. Shrewpaw was born with a burr in his fur. I'll just have to put up with it."

— Tallpaw talking to Dawnstripe about Shrewpaw in Tallstar's Revenge, page 87

Tallstar's Revenge
Chapter number:	8 (of 45)
Page numbers:	80-92
Point of View:	Tallpaw
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 8 (of 45)

Page Numbers: 80-92

Chapter description

Dawnstripe reassures Tallpaw as the apprentice worries about his training with Doepaw, Stagpaw, Ryepaw, and Shrewpaw. As Tallpaw walks into the bank of heather, his paws touch rabbit tracks. He follows the tracks hoping they would lead him to the rock Cloudrunner had mentioned to him previously. Tallpaw breaks for the rock, hiding his scent in the heather and rabbit-droppings, but catches the smell of his Clanmate, Stagpaw. Once the sounds of the other apprentices grow closer, Tallpaw breaks his path and swerves around trees and bushes, hoping his scent will waver. However, once he continues his path toward the rock, Ryepaw, Stagpaw, and Doepaw leap out of the heather and chase him. Stagpaw leads the other two apprentices with him in an attempt to surround Tallpaw but he notices their plan and bolts in the other direction.

The apprentices gain upon his advances once more, but Tallpaw tactically drifts pass them as he slows down. Tallpaw once again runs for the rock and the three apprentices chase after him. The leading apprentice quickly grows closer to the rock, but is quickly shoved away moments before reaching the great stone. Stagpaw leans over Tallpaw, and Doepaw asks if he's all right.

Cloudrunner tells them they did good work, and Dawnstripe exclaims to her apprentice that he nearly made it. Hareflight joins them, mewing that he was impressive. Shrewpaw glares at Tallpaw, claiming if it had been him, he would have made it to the rock. Cloudrunner points toward Fourtrees and says they're going to test the other apprentices hunting skills. Stagpaw leaves with the others behind him, and Dawnstripes scents the air, meowing that it smells like they will find good hunting. Tallpaw attempts to taste the scents in the air, but only smells the wind. Dawnstripe assures him that before long he will be able to scent prey halfway across the moor.

Glancing hopefully to the trees along the bottom of the moor, Shrewpaw asks if they can hunt too, but Hareflight tells him they will practice battle moves first. Shrewpaw's tail droops at the idea of practicing with Tallpaw, who wouldn't know any yet. Dawnstripe calls after Shrewpaw as he stomps across the grass, saying Tallpaw needs to learn defense first. She tells the older apprentice to attack him, but to be careful since it is only his first session. Dawnstripe nods to Tallpaw and meows that the simplest defense is to raise his forepaws and focus on protecting his face and push the attacker away.

Heart thumping, Tallpaw steadies himself and Shrewpaw flies at him, yowling. Tallpaw is too slow to block him, and Shrewpaw's claws rake his nose. Hareflight sharply meows to his apprentice that Dawnstripe said it was his first time. Shrewpaw rolls his eyes, wondering why he got stuck training with a kit. Tallpaw faces him, hissing that he's not a kit and try again. Shrewpaw leaps at him, and Tallpaw is faster this time, easily pushing him away with a hard shove. As Shrewpaw dramatically rolls onto the ground, Tallpaw feels a twinge of satisfaction.

Shrewpaw's hind leg thrusts out as he rolls and strikes Tallpaw's side, and he leaps to his paws, apologizing and claiming it to be an accident. Dawnstripe encourages them to try again, telling Tallpaw to move as he pushes him away so he can land and be ready for the next attack. Shrewpaw springs and Tallpaw freezes for a heartbeat, then ducks beneath his denmate and bucks, pushing his spine into Shrewpaw's belly. Tallpaw throws him backward, causing the brown tom to yelp and he lands on the grass. The young apprentice rears over him, and Shrewpaw stares at him with shock. With his forepaws raised, Tallpaw bares his teeth for a moment before dropping back on all fours.

He walks away, asking Dawnstripe how he did, and his mentor replies it's not what she had expected, while Hareflight purrs it was excellent and praises Tallpaw. Scrambling to his paws, Shrewpaw scowls, meowing that he was supposed to practice defense, not attack and says he cheated. He pushes past Tallpaw into the heather and asks if they can get something to eat. Exchanging glances with Dawnstripe, Hareflight catches up to his apprentice. Dawnstripe praises Tallpaw, and tells him not to worry about Shrewpaw.

When he ducks into camp later, Barkpaw calls Tallpaw over to share a rabbit. As they eat, his friend asks how training went, and Tallpaw wishes he could tell Barkpaw what a pain Shrewpaw is, but knows they're littermates and thinks that a true warrior didn't complain about his Clanmates. He tells Barkpaw it was great. The medicine cat apprentice goes on to tell him that he learned how to make a dressing to draw out infection from wounds. Tallpaw says it sounds interesting, while feeling ill.

Barkpaw tells him he made it for an infected tick bite on Whiteberry's ear and describes how swollen it was, and Tallpaw changes the subject, asking about Hawkheart. Barkpaw says it's hard keeping up with him, but he's a good teacher and he's learning a lot. Shrewpaw joins them and Barkpaw glances uneasily between them and blurts that it must be fun training together. Shrewpaw says it's okay, which surprises Tallpaw, and he agrees, thinking they shouldn't worry Barkpaw that they weren't getting along.

Tallpaw leaves them after he's finished eating. He sees Palebird outside of the nursery with Meadowslip pacing next to her. Palebird gazes blankly across the camp and Tallpaw frowns, wondering why she isn't restless and if she ever wanted to go back onto the moor or into the tunnels. Tallpaw stops next to her and mews she should come watch him train, saying it would be good for her to get out of camp. Brackenwing pads over, telling him not to bother the black and white queen, as she needs rest.

Meadowslip explains that she hasn't been sleeping well, and Palebird meows to her son to tell her about it later. Tallpaw lashes his tail crossly and moves away from the nursery, and notices how Barkpaw and Shrewpaw are chattering like birds now that was gone. He overhears Meadowslip behind him, asking the other queens if they think the visitors will return for greenleaf. He sits down and washes, while listening in on their conversation until Dawnstripe calls him over to go and practice more battle moves.

As she leads him out, he asks her who the greenleaf visitors are, and she pauses, asking who told him about them. He wonders if the visitors are a secret, and Dawnstripe meows they don't talk about them when they're not around, especially outside of the Clan. Tallpaw asks why they come, and his mentor replies they just always have. Tallpaw peppers her with more questions and wonders if they are rogues.

Dawnstripe stops and says you could call them rogues, since they don't follow the code of the Clans. Tallpaw asks if they have to let them stay with them, and Dawnstripe answers of course not, they choose to make them feel welcomed and tells him that not all rogues are bad. He wonders why it's a secret, and Dawnstripe meows that it's best the other Clans don't know. She says that he sounds like a kit and to stop asking questions, and to show her the move he used on Shrewpaw earlier. Tallpaw wonders if WindClan is breaking the warrior code.

Characters

Major

• Tallpaw

Minor

• Dawnstripe
• Stagpaw
• Ryepaw
• Doepaw
• Aspenfall
• Cloudrunner
• Larksplash
• Hareflight
• Shrewpaw
• Barkpaw
• Palebird
• Meadowslip
• Brackenwing

Mentioned

• Whiteberry
• Hawkheart
• Hickorynose
• The greenleaf visitors
• Wee Hen