The Blazing Star (book)/Chapter 11

"Yes, of course with Holly. [...] We love each other. I've never felt this way before. She challenges me, and we keep each other on our paw tips. I just hope I can be as good a father as you've been to Turtle Tail's kits."

— Jagged Peak to Gray Wing about the former's coming kits in The Blazing Star, page 100

The Blazing Star (book)
Chapter number:	11 (of 28)
Page numbers:	95-103
Point of View:	Gray Wing
Chronology

Below contains in-depth information for chapter eleven of The Blazing Star (book). If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter Number: 11 (of 28)

Page Numbers: 95-103

Chapter description

Gray Wing awakes in his nest, surprised to find that the kits whom he shared it with were gone. He remembers how Tom had stolen them, and is still on edge about the kits' real father being on the loose. Cats were socializing in the clearing, while Tall Shadow sat on the rock. But he hears a loud yowl from Wind Runner's den, where the little Morning Whisker lay, her belly infected from the symptoms of the sickness. Wind Runner is distraught and panicking while Pebble Heart tries to tend to the kit. Gray Wing tries to shove Pebble Heart away from the dying kit, but the young cat tells him that Cloud Spots left himself in charge as Gray Wing tells himself to let Pebble Heart work. While Pebble Heart gives Morning Whisker tansy, while Owl Eyes walks up next to Gray Wing, asking if the young kit would be okay. Gray Wing is unsure, but tried to reassure Wind Runner that Morning Whisker would be fine. She and Gorse Fur take it into account as the latter adds that he is also uncertain of Morning Whisker's demise.

When Gray Wing asks Owl Eyes where Sparrow Fur is, Owl Eyes says that she set out to find Tom. Set on edge, Gray Wing presses for more information, so Owl Eyes adds that Jagged Peak gave her permission to go. Even more on edge, Gray Wing plans to arrange a search party to find Sparrow Fur. He encounters Jagged Peak and Holly, asking Jagged Peak why the latter gave Sparrow Fur permission to go. Jagged Peak protests that Turtle Tail's kits were almost grown, and could make their own decisions, and that Gray Wing couldn't protect them forever. Gray Wing reminds him that they still need protecting due to Turtle Tail's death, but Jagged Peak repeats his earlier point. Also excited, Jagged Peak tells him that Holly is going to have his kits. At this Gray Wing is shocked and takes a step back, still imagining his little brother as the young kit who had made the journey from the mountains to the forest with him, and finds it hard to believe Jagged Peak was going to be a father.

Cloud Spots and Thunder pad into camp with herbs, and head toward Wind Runner's den. Leaving the herbs there, Thunder and Tall Shadow summon all the cats in the hollow to make an announcement. Thunder tells the gathered cats that no one is allowed to visit or come near Morning Whisker, due to the spreading sickness, even Wind Runner and Gorse Fur, except for Cloud Spots and Pebble Heart. After he finishes the announcement, Gray Wing asks him when Morning Whisker had fallen ill. Thunder tells him it had hit just after moonhigh, but leans in close and notes to Gray Wing that Cloud Spots hadn't managed to find a possible cure for the sickness, and asks what to do, but Gray Wing replies that he doesn't know. Then he wonders if he was holding Thunder back as a leader by staying in the hollow. Gray Wing is about to go to Wind Runner's den when he notices a cat running toward him. He then realizes it was Clear Sky, his fur clumped and dirty.

Characters

Major

• Gray Wing

Minor

• Tall Shadow
• Lightning Tail
• Shattered Ice
• Wind Runner
• Morning Whisker
• Pebble Heart
• Owl Eyes
• Gorse Fur
• Jagged Peak
• Cloud Spots
• Thunder
• Clear Sky

Mentioned

• Tom
• Turtle Tail
• Sparrow Fur