The Silent Thaw/Chapter 10

"If you get in trouble, I'll do everything I can to help you. But I know you can do this. Squirrelflight needs to know, and if any cat can persuade her, you can."

— Tree to Rootpaw in The Silent Thaw, page 139

The Silent Thaw
Chapter number:	10 (of 24)
Page numbers:	129-142
Point of View:	Rootpaw
Chronology

Below contains in-depth information for chapter ten of The Silent Thaw. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter Number: 10 (of 24)

Page Numbers: 129-142

Chapter description

Rootpaw follows Dewspring back to camp as his mentor scolds him for messing up his training, to which the apprentice blames the appearance of Bramblestar's ghost for his failing. He thinks about Bramblestar's request of getting a message to Squirrelflight, but, Rootpaw is stumped for how he is going to fulfill the ghost's wishes. Back in SkyClan camp, he apologizes to his mentor and promises to try harder, but as he does, Leafstar approaches them. Dewspring informs her that he still isn't concentrating, prompting Leafstar to sternly talk with Rootpaw, believing him to be mooning over another cat. Rootpaw tells her that he isn't mooning to which Leafstar tells him that Dewspring had told her that most training sessions involved him staring into the trees instead of watching prey. Rootpaw tries to apologize, not knowing how he can tell her or Dewspring that it's Bramblestar's ghost he is watching instead. Leafstar leaves after telling him to improve and Dewspring tells him to try harder.

The apprentice, afraid of not passing his assessment, decides to consult his father about Bramblestar's ghost, having already consulting Fidgetflake. Rootpaw finds Tree who shows concern for his son after seeing Leafstar and Dewspring talk to him. The young cat asks to speak with Tree outside of camp, prompting his father to ask if Violetshine should join them. Rootpaw tells him that she wouldn't be able to help and proceeds to tell Tree about Bramblestar's ghost. Tree believes his son's information, pointing out that Bramblestar's behavior has been strange as of late and his obsession with the codebreakers. Rootpaw suggests warning the Clans, but, Tree points out that despite in the past the Clans have seen spirits, they might think that they are stirring trouble. The apprentice also asks Tree to use his position of the Clans' mediator to get the real Bramblestar's message to Squirrelflight, but, the older cat tells him he can't as it might reflect badly on SkyClan.

As they talk, Bramblestar's ghost appears and begins asking Rootpaw questions, prompting the apprentice to tell his father of the ghost's presence. When Tree can't see the ghost, Rootpaw asks why and Tree tells his son that he can't see every dead cat and wouldn't want to. Bramblestar asks Rootpaw if Tree is going to help them to which Rootpaw tells him that he can't. The three cats work out how to get the ghost's message to Squirrelflight and the eventually agree that Rootpaw needs to be the one to deliver it, using Bristlefrost as an excuse to get closer to ThunderClan camp.

Wasting no time, Bramblestar helps Rootpaw through ThunderClan territory. However, as he follows the ghost along branches, Rootpaw begins panicking before being found by a ThunderClan patrol consisting of Molewhisker, Finleap, and Bristlefrost. Rootpaw apologizes to the patrol as they cause Bristlefrost of knowing he was coming. With an angry gaze, Molewhisker decides to take him to Bramblestar so that the apprentice can explain to the leader why he is trespassing on ThunderClan territory.

Characters

Major

• Rootpaw

Minor

• Dewspring
• Tree
• Bramblestar
• Leafstar
• Molewhisker
• Bristlefrost
• Finleap

Mentioned

• Squirrelflight
• Needlepaw
• Wrenpaw
• Kitescratch
• Violetshine
• Palesky
• Pigeonfoot
• Fidgetflake
• Thornclaw
• Emberfoot
• Bramblestar's impostor (As Bramblestar)

Errors

• Pigeonfoot is referred to as male.
• Molewhisker is called Mousewhisker.