Tigerheart's Shadow/Chapter 34

"Take the kits to ThunderClan."

— Tigerheart's dying words to Dovewing in Tigerheart's Shadow, page 396

Tigerheart's Shadow
Chapter number:	34 (of 35)
Page numbers:	387-396
Point of View:	Tigerheart
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 34 (of 35)

Page Numbers: 387-396

Chapter description

Tigerheart wakes up in a pain of agony. He attempts to stand on his paws, but he collapses. Dovewing, Rippletail, and Cinnamon fret over him, and Cinnamon reveals he has swelling in his belly, indicating that something inside is broken. Tigerheart knows he is dying, and the others catch on quickly to Cinnamon's unspoken words. Dovewing asks Blaze and Shadowkit, who spent so much time with Spiresight, if they can help Tigerheart, but Cinnamon defends the kits from Dovewing's grief-stricken words. Berryheart thanks Tigerheart for saving Hollowkit from the owl, and Tigerheart nearly drifts off from the pain-stricken memory when Dovewing sharply orders him to wake up. She asks Shadowkit how far away the lake is, and her son suspects a two-day walk. The gray she-cat orders her mate to her paws so they can help walk him home.

Fueled by his determination to return home, the other members of the patrol help Tigerheart slowly walk, but he is blinded with the agony of moving. Anytime he tries to close his eyes, Dovewing's sharp words keep him awake, insisting he cannot fall asleep. Sometime later, the group stops to hunt, and Dovewing indicates to her mate the moorland in the distance. They are almost home. Lying on the grass and with each breath hurting more than the last, Tigerheart beckons his kits to him. They nervously ask if he's going to die. Blaze returns from hunting with a mouse for Tigerheart, but the tabby deputy asks Dovewing to share it with their kits since it hurts to swallow. As Tigerheart drifts to sleep again, Dovewing attempts to keep him awake with memories of their youth meeting at the ShadowClan border, but Tigerheart drifts into a dream. His father, Rowanstar, appears to Tigerheart and he reveals how he died after stepping down from leadership as Rowanclaw. Realizing his father speaks from StarClan, Tigerheart wonders if he's dead as well and about ShadowClan's fate when his vision morphs into his brother Flametail's death drowning into the frigid lake water.

Tigerheart wakes up from his dream and is unable to breathe. Gasping for breath, the tabby tom asks for Rippletail and the others to save ShadowClan. His groupmates watch with worry and sorrow as Dovewing and his kits press around him. Drawing in his last breath, Tigerheart asks Dovewing to take their kits to her family in ThunderClan, making the decision that they've been putting off since leaving the city. Feeling at peace, Tigeheart lets go, knowing he'll watch over his family from StarClan.

Characters

Major

• Tigerheart
• Dovewing

Minor

• Slatefur/Rippletail
• Cinnamon
• Cloverfoot
• Sparrowtail
• Ant
• Blaze
• Hollowkit
• Sunkit
• Spirekit
• Berryheart
• Lightkit
• Pouncekit
• Shadowkit
• Rowanclaw
• Flametail (Flashback only)

Mentioned

• Spiresight

Errors

• There is a major inconsistency with Rippletail's appearance on the patrol. In Tigerheart's Shadow, he escapes the Kin and is one of the cats that return to ShadowClan, while in River of Fire, he is a kittypet, and Slatefur takes his place in the patrol back to ShadowClan. Kate later confirmed he had become a kittypet, as in River of Fire, and Slatefur is the one who is actually meant to be on the patrol.

Important events

Deaths

• Tigerheart: Succumbed to his wounds from the owl.

Notes and references

Author references