The Apprentice's Quest/Chapter 20

"Then we'll have to find our own way back to camp from here. If they give up looking for us, that's where they'll go."

— Alderpaw to Needlepaw in The Apprentice's Quest, page 245

The Apprentice's Quest
Chapter number:	20 (of 24)
Page numbers:	240-253
Point of View:	Alderpaw
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 20 (of 24)

Page Numbers: 240-253

Chapter description

After escaping the river, Alderpaw anxiously wonders if they should be searching for Molewhisker and the others, but Needlepaw insists they should rest first since they are both exhausted and there are numerous Twolegs and monsters nearby. They rest underneath an elder bush. Alderpaw wakes up a few hours later, and Needlepaw arrives with fresh-kill. They head upstream to search for the others, climbing up the waterfall that the two apprentices were swept down earlier. Needlepaw detects their Clanmates' scents between the roots of an elm tree where they must have slept earlier, but Molewhisker, Cherryfall, and Sparkpaw are long gone. Confused about how they must have missed their companions earlier, Alderpaw and Needlepaw follow their scent tail down the waterfall and past their temporary nest; Alderpaw concludes that the water must have washed out their scent while their Clanmates were looking for them. They lose their scent amongst the Twolegs and monsters, and Alderpaw insists the two apprentices must find their own way home.

They follow the river downstream to search for a way across. After passing by a Twolegplace, Alderpaw reasons they will have to cross through it. Needlepaw suggests they should find a local kittypet for directions to cross the river and to eat their food, much to Alderpaw's disgust. After crossing a Thunderpath, Needlepaw brushes up against a male Twoleg for food. Alderpaw shoves her away from the Twoleg, but Needlepaw explains how she does it all the time with the Twolegs at the greenleaf Twolegplace. Around the next corner, they spot a ginger kittypet sleeping on a ledge. Needlepaw warmly greets the kittypet, who introduces himself as Bob. He explains how three other cats were searching for a place to cross the river earlier at sunrise, and Alderpaw recognizes them as his Clanmates. Bob provides directions to cross the river using a Twoleg bridge. When Alderpaw asks if he's seen a larger group of cats passing by, Bob explains that he hasn't. Alderpaw's patience grows thin when Needlepaw asks Bob if he can share his kittypet food but chooses to wait outside. When Needlepaw returns after feasting, she is pleased that her idea worked. However, Alderpaw suddenly blurts out how his quest to find SkyClan has failed.

Characters

Major

• Alderpaw
• Needlepaw

Minor

• Bob

Mentioned

• Sparkpaw
• Molewhisker
• Cherryfall
• Sandstorm