Tigerheart's Shadow/Cliffnotes

Contents

These notes reflect a bulleted list of major and minor events in Tigerheart's Shadow that can be easily navigated. They are intended to serve as a reference for those looking for specific events in re-reading and book discussions and include links to the relevant chapter subpages further detailing each chapter's events.

Prologue - Spire

• A black tom sees the ShadowClan camp in his dream, watching as several cats go about their days.
• The dream is replaced by StarClan where a black she-cat and a brown tom appear.
  • They say he will have strangers in his home and he must let them guide him.
• The dream shifts back to ShadowClan's camp, where several cats are now bleeding and sick.
• The tom jerks awake, and the small kit sleeping beside him whimpers.
  • He soothes the kit, attempting to dismiss the dream, but realizes it feels too real to ignore.

Chapter 1 - Tigerheart

• Tigerheart races through the ShadowClan forest to meet Dovewing, his forbidden mate.
  • He thinks of the lie he had to tell Rowanstar, and feels guilty.
• When he reaches Dovewing, he learns that Dovewing is expecting his kits and that she is having strange dreams.
  • She reveals that she plans to leave ThunderClan, but refuses to join ShadowClan and instead will find the Twolegplace from her dream.
• Tigerheart is shocked and unsure on whether or not to join her, and Dovewing reveals that she will leave the forest with or without him.

Chapter 2

• Tigerheart is still trying to decide whether or not to leave with Dovewing.
• As he hunts with Grassheart and Snowbird, Tigerheart recalls all the troubles he's facing.
  • It's revealed ShadowClan gave up some land for SkyClan, and he was the one who suggested it.
• Sandynose and Rabbitleap catch a ShadowClan rabbit.
• Sandynose returns the fresh-kill, but Snowbird is still irritable.
  • They return to camp, and find Alderheart with Willowshine.
• Alderheart talks about a six-toed cat, but Rowanstar does not know of any cat like that.
• Tawnypelt and Scorchfur break into a fight, and Scorchfur injures Tawnypelt's eye.
• Puddleshine tells Rowanstar and Tigerheart he needs to talk to them.

Chapter 3

• Tigerheart is anxious, unsure if there is time.
  • Strikestone takes the apprentices hunting in an attempt to distract them from Tawnypelt's injury.
  • Tigerheart is grateful to see his Clanmates working together.
• He joins Puddleshine and his father, and the medicine cat delivers the prophecy of the shadows disappearing in a blinding sun.
  • Tigerheart believes this means ShadowClan might disappear if Rowanstar does not step up as Clan leader.
• Conflicted, Tigerheart leaves the camp and reflects on how Dovewing wants to leave the forest the next day.
  • He decides to find Ivypool and see if she will convince her sister to stay.
  • Ivypool refuses to speak to Dovewing.
• After his talk with Ivypool, Tigerheart realizes that it is not his duty to hold his Clan together, and decides to leave with Dovewing.

Chapter 4

• Tigerheart observes his Clanmates, feeling guilty about leaving them.
• Rowanstar approaches him, saying he's to lead a hunting patrol.
  • As he takes Snowbird and Grassheart out, he discovers that Juniperclaw and Scorchfur went to join SkyClan.
  • Tigerheart manages to find them and convinces them to stay.
• His departure is further delayed when he, Juniperclaw, and Scorchfur encounter a badger.
  • The ShadowClan deputy hits his head during the fight, and hopes Dovewing to wait a little longer.

Chapter 5

• Tigerheart reaches the glade, but finds it empty and realizes Dovewing has already left.
• He follows her scent to the Thunderpath, but gives up on crossing as it is too dangerous.
• Tigerheart collapses, and has a similar dream to Puddleshine's.
  • He sees himself at the edge of ShadowClan's camp, shimmering in the sunlight, and realizes he is the sun in the vision.
• Tigerheart decides to stay with ShadowClan, though he feels guilty over leaving Dovewing behind.

Chapter 6

• Tigerheart follows Whorlpaw, Stonewing, and Juniperclaw back to camp from a hunt.
• He thinks about Dovewing, and hopes she is safe, reminding himself that she survived the Dark Forest, and the Kin.
  • He wonders if abandoning his mate and unborn kits was worth his broken Clan.
• News is brought to ShadowClan about Dovewing's disappearance, and Tawnypelt asks Tigerheart if he knows anything.
  • He decides to go find Ivypool, who is furious that Tigerheart left Ivypool to fend for herself, and claws him.
  • Realizing Ivypool is correct, grief threatens to overwhelm Tigerheart.

Chapter 7

• Tigerheart is out hunting, and sees Plumwillow crossing the border to catch the prey, angering the patrol.
  • Juniperclaw and Plumwillow argue, and Plumwillow claims that SkyClan and ThunderClan are protecting ShadowClan while they recover.
  • Tigerheart decides to let her keep the rabbit, though he is unsure that it was the right choice.
• The patrol returns to camp, and Juniperclaw angrily tells Rowanstar about what happened.
  • Rowanstar decides to organize a battle patrol to make SkyClan pay for their theft.
• Rowanstar accuses Leafstar and her Clan of forgetting the warrior code by taking the rabbit.
• Before the two Clans can fight, Tigerheart stops them, and the two Clans come to the agreement that SkyClan will give ShadowClan their next caught rabbit.
  • Rowanstar is angry with Tigerheart for undermining his leadership.

Chapter 8

• Tigerheart struggles to sleep as he worries about Dovewing's whereabouts.
• Tawnypelt tells Rowanstar to go speak to their son.
  • Rowanstar is still angry over Tigerheart's interference, and Tigerheart explains that he wanted to keep the peace since the Clan was still recovering from Darktail and the Kin.
  • Rowanstar bluntly asks Tigerheart if he wants to lead the Clan, shocking Tigerheart.
  • Tigerheart struggles to answer, and Rowanstar reminds him that if he does not want to be leader, he needs to follow his leader's instructions.
• Snowbird and Scorchfur return with a rabbit that SkyClan left at the border, praising Tigerheart for stopping the battle.
  • The two cats declare that they will only follow Tigerheart's orders from now on.
  • Tigerheart wonders if he'll ever be able to escape ShadowClan and rejoin his mate and kits.

Chapter 9

• As he reflects on Snowbird and Scorchfur's declaration, Tigerheart decides to speak with Puddleshine to ask for advice.
• Puddleshine startles awake and reveals that he dreamed of Tigerheart blocking the sun.
  • Tigerheart realizes that Rowanstar faded in the earlier dream because he blocked the sun, and decides to leave the Clan.

Chapter 10

• Tigerheart travels towards a Twolegplace, and decides to ask the local kittypets if they know of the place from Dovewing's dream.
  • He meets Rose, but she does not know of the place he's asking about.
  • Another kittypet appears and introduces himself as Fuzzball, who offers to bring Tigerheart to meet Ajax.
• Ajax knows where the place from Dovewing's dream is, and offers to show Tigerheart how to get there.
  • He leads Tigerheart and Fuzzball to the Silverpath and the Thundersnake that will go to the big Twolegplace.

Chapter 11

• Tigerheart refuses to enter the Thundersnake, and decides to follow the Silverpath on foot.
  • The two kittypets return home.
• Tigerheart enters the Silverpath tunnel, but is almost killed by a Thundersnake.
• He discovers some of Dovewing's fur and realizes that he is going the correct direction.

Chapter 12

• Tigerheart wakes up from a dream about ShadowClan's suffering under Darktail's reign.
• He travels through another Silverpath tunnel, but is startled by Twolegs and finds himself in a pile of their stuff.
  • A Twoleg brings the pile Tigerheart is in onto the Thundersnake, and Tigerheart manages to escape the next time it stops.

Chapter 13

• Tigerheart bolts away from the Thundersnake, and meets a cat named Dash
  • He asks Dash about the den he is looking for, and Dash agrees to help if Tigerheart helps him in return.
  • Tigerheart agrees to fight the two rouges, Floyd and Mae, who took over Dash's rot pile in exchange for directions.
• The two cats drive the rogues away, and Dash shows Tigerheart where the Twoleg gathering place is.

Chapter 14

• As he enters the Twoleg den, the guardian cats meet him and ask who he is.
  • The cats introduce themselves as Fierce, Cobweb, and Ant.
• Dovewing decides to see Tigerheart, and is initially angry at him for not leaving with her.
  • He explains what happened, and she decides that she is happy he's there.
• The next morning, Tigerheart meets Spire and Blaze. Spire mentions he was expecting two cats to arrive, to Tigerheart's confusion.
  • Blaze explains that Spire dreams about special things.
• Tigerheart is introduced to Cinnamon, and he explains to Fierce a little bit more about Clan life and why he came here.
  • Fierce tells him that a fox has taken over a place where the guardian cats usually gather herbs, and Tigerheart agrees to help them drive the creature away.

Chapter 15

• Fierce, Ant, Cinnamon, Cobweb, and Tigerheart investigate the area where the fox lives.
  • Two foxes appear, and Tigerheart holds them off long enough for them to escape.
  • Tigerheart and Fierce realize the foxes are likely mates.

Chapter 16

• Tigerheart wants to train the guardian cats to fight, but Pipsqueak and Dotty are not pleased with the idea.
  • Tigerheart realizes the guardian cats do not follow any of the ways he knows.
  • Fierce agrees to learn fighting techniques from the tom, along with Ant, Cinnamon, Rascal, Mittens, Pipsqueak, and Dotty.
• The cats work to create a plan for dealing with the foxes.
  • Dovewing initially suggests using herself as bait, but Spire steps in instead.
• The next day, the cats confront the foxes, and successfully drive them away from the herb patch.
• When he returns, Dovewing asks Tigerheart if he feels like he belongs with the guardian cats, and he agrees.
  • He assumes they will return to the lake eventually, worried about their kits' futures.

Chapter 17

• A few days pass and the foxes have not returned.
• Boots comforts Marigold, an ailing she-cat, nearby.
• Spire slips out of the den, and Tigerheart follows him.
  • He notices Tigerheart and explains that he went on a walk to think for a while.
  • Tigerheart offers to leave, but Spire allows him to stay and begins speaking about his dreams.
  • Spire dreamed about a tree falling and slicing through a shadow, and Tigerheart wonders if it represents Rowanstar.
• Twolegs appear at the top of the den for their yowling time.
• Tigerheart and Spire return to the den, and Tigerheart begins to explain Spire's dream.
  • Dovewing does not feel its important, and is frustrated that Tigerheart still wants to return to ShadowClan someday.
• Dovewing's kitting begins.

Chapter 18

• Fierce guides Tigerheart away so Peanut and Spire can assist with Dovewing's kitting.
  • Tigerheart and Blaze bring Dovewing a stick to bite on and water, respectively.
• Shadowkit, Lightkit, and Pouncekit are born.
• Spire reveals that Marigold has died.
• Dovewing agrees to return to the Clans once the kits are old enough to travel.
• Spire tells Tigerheart that his son will see into the shadows.

Chapter 19

• Tigerheart grows irritated with the guardian cats' way of life now that two moons have passed and leaf-bare has arrived.
  • He worries for his kits' futures.
• Cinnamon is confronted by rogues while guarding collected scraps, and Tigerheart manages to chase them off.
• Spire reveals that Tigerheart and Dovewing's kits will be warriors.
• Tigerheart catches a thrush for his kits to try, but only Lightkit seems to enjoy it.

Chapter 20

• Tigerheart, Dovewing, Fierce, Spire, and Ant go on a patrol, where Tigerheart scents one of the rogues who threatened Cinnamon.
  • He accuses her of invading the guardian cats' territory, though Fierce points out they do not have a territory.
  • Fierce invites the two cats, Fog and Tuna, to stay.
• Having a hard time adjusting to the guardian cats' lifestyle, Tigerheart asks how long until he, Dovewing, and their kits can return to the lake.
• The cats stop to hunt rats, but Fog, Tuna, and Streak accidentally scare them away.
• Tigerheart insists on setting borders and establishing a territory, irritating the other cats, and continues struggling to adapt to life outside of the warrior code.

Chapter 21

• Mittens and Rascal bring back two new sick cats.
• Lightkit, Pouncekit, and Shadowkit ask about the forest.
• Tigerheart joins some of the guardian cats to steal food from the Twoleg gathering later that evening.
  • Fog and her group are also scavenging, and Tigerheart antagonizes them.
  • The Twolegs notice, forcing both groups of cats to leave.

Chapter 22

• Fierce and Fog face off, and Tigerheart intimidates Fog into leaving.
  • Fierce scolds Tigerheart for intervening, as there was peace before he arrived.
• Tigerheart and Dovewing discuss which Clan they will return to, and agree to join ShadowClan so Tigerheart can become leader.
• Tigerheart begins to plan how to get Fog's old home back.

Chapter 23

• Tigerheart comes up with a plan to drive out the foxes that took over Fog's home.
  • With some convincing, the guardian cats agree to help.
• Spire has a vision of Blaze living by the lake without him.
• Dovewing takes the kits outside to play while the guardian cats train.
  • Tigerheart notices Blaze is a natural fighter.
• Training is interrupted when Pouncekit gets stuck in a trap.

Chapter 24

• A Twoleg appears to check the trap.
• Fierce grabs a stick to wedge open the mesh trap with.
  • Together, she and Tigerheart open the trap enough for Pouncekit to escape.
• Tigerheart realizes the kits aren't anywhere near ready for the journey to the lake.
• The Twoleg reappears with another trap, this one containing Streak, while Fog chases after it.
  • The guardian cats hide, and Tigerheart shoves Fog behind a wall.
    • Fog reveals Streak is her brother.
  • Growler shows Fierce, Cobweb, and Tigerheart where more traps are hidden.
  • Tigerheart tells Fog he wants to help her reclaim her old home.
    • Fog tells him there are five foxes living there.
  • Fog doesn't agree to fight with him, but does promise to go home if Tigerheart can drive the foxes out.

Chapter 25

• The guardian cats find three more traps around the gathering place.
  • Tigerheart tells them about his conversation with Fog and suggests using the Twoleg traps to capture them.
  • Fierce, Ant, and Cobweb offer to lead the foxes to the gathering place.
• Tigerheart asks Tuna to bring him to the fox den, and Tuna agrees.
• The next morning, Tigerheart's patrol leaves early and meets up with Tuna before breaking into two groups.
• The foxes appear, and the cats fight them before working to lure them through a maze of passageways.
  • Once they reach the clearing, the cats work to drive the foxes into the traps.
• The cats succeed in trapping the foxes, allowing Fog and her group to return to their original home.
  • Fierce warns them to not return and claims the area for the guardian cats.

Chapter 26

• Pouncekit, Shadowkit, and Lightkit wander off, and Tigerheart and Dovewing panic as they realize no one has seen them.
  • Both cats realize they never told their kits to not leave the den, and Tigerheart realizes he has taken Clan rules for granted.
• Dovewing spots them sitting in a tree, where the three kits are watching Twolegs.
• A Twoleg kit runs towards them, and Dovewing begins to guide them down the trunk.
• Tigerheart scolds them, frustrated that the kits are arguing.
• They return to the den, and Tigerheart sees Spire having a vision.
  • Spire tells Tigerheart that the shadows are fading.

Chapter 27

• Tigerheart struggles to sleep, knowing he needs to return to the lake soon.
  • He tells Dovewing about Spire's vision, worried about her reaction.
  • Dovewing tells Tigerheart that she will not make him choose between her and ShadowClan, and decides to go with him.
  • She reveals that Shadowkit has had strange dreams, and she believes the cat he saw may be her sister, Ivypool.
• Dovewing is torn between whether to return to ThunderClan, or join ShadowClan with Tigerheart, before ultimately deciding to make her decision later.
• Tigerheart tells Fierce that he and his family are going to return to the lake.
  • The guardian cats begin to say their goodbyes.
  • Spire, Blaze, Cinnamon, and Ant decide to make the journey back to the Clans.

Chapter 28

• Cinnamon helps Tigerheart find his way back to the Silverpath, and the group enters the Thundersnake nest.
• The group meets Dash again, and Tigerheart introduces the young tom to the group before asking for help traversing the area.
• Dash leads them along the Silverpath, deciding to stay with them until they reach the outside again.
• The cats emerge from the tunnel, and Dash returns to his home.
• The group makes camp for the night.

Chapter 29

• The group continues traveling towards the lake.
  • Tigerheart is grateful for the former guardian cats distracting and playing with the kits.
• Spire has another vision, and urges the group to leave the track and find the orange sun.
  • Tigerheart is initially confused, but Blaze urges them to follow his directions.
  • The group ultimately decides to make camp for the night, but Spire insists on finding the orange sun.
• Dovewing asks Tigerheart if it is another vision about ShadowClan, but Tigerheart is uncertain.
• Blaze interrupts them to tell the group that Spire has wandered off.
  • Dovewing, Tigerheart, and Blaze search for him, eventually finding Spire's paw marks in the ground.
• The three cats pick up Spire's scent near a strange Twoleg wall with symbols on it that remind Blaze of the things Spire used to draw to explain his visions.
  • Past the wall, Tigerheart sees Spire speaking to Rippletail and Berryheart, and realizes Berryheart is expecting kits.

Chapter 30

• Tigerheart reveals that ShadowClan believes that Rippletail and Berryheart are dead, scolding them for not returning to the Clan.
  • Berryheart asks after Yarrowleaf, and Tigerheart explains that she may be a rogue now.
  • Rippletail tells Tigerheart that Sparrowtail and Cloverfoot are with them, and that Sparrowtail is the father of Berryheart's kits.
• The four cats invite Tigerheart, Dovewing, Spire, and Blaze to their den to talk more.
  • Cloverfoot explains that the four of them were unsure if they would be welcomed home.
  • Rippletail declares that they will spend their lives making it up to ShadowClan.
  • Tigerheart explains his reasoning for leaving the Clan, and his worries about Rowanstar's leadership.
  • Cloverfoot, Sparrowtail, Berryheart, and Rippletail agree to return home with the other cats.
• Shadowkit tells Tigerheart and Dovewing that Rippletail wants to know what Clan they will belong to.
  • Tigerheart is uncertain, as ShadowClan may no longer exist.
• A Thundersnake approaches, and Spire panics.
  • Lightkit is nearly killed, but Spire manages to save her.
  • Spire urges them to leave the Silverpath, as it is too dangerous.
  • The group questions whether or not leaving the Silverpath is the right decision, but decide to trust that Spire's dreams will lead them to the lake.

Chapter 31

• Spire and Blaze lead the group back towards the lake, moving quickly.
• Sparrowtail and Rippletail discuss Spire's weird antics, concerned that he may be leading the group astray.
  • Tigerheart worries about the same thing, but does not tell anyone else.
• Tigerheart manages to catch up to Spire and Blaze, and asks them to slow down.
  • Spire refuses, as something is tugging him forward and they do not have time to waste.
  • Tigerheart is still concerned, but does not know what else to do, and decides to keep following Spire's directions.
• They find the river Spire talked about, and begin to discuss how to cross the Thunderpath arcing over the water.
  • Spire insists they continue on despite the danger.
  • The Thunderpath lifts, and Pouncekit nearly falls through the gap.
  • Spire saves her, but falls into the river below.

Chapter 32

• Tigerheart freezes in shock, only moving when nudged forward.
  • For a moment, he wonders if Spire forsaw the events and yet continued onward despite the risk.
• Rippletail asks how they will find their way now that Spire is gone, angering Blaze.
  • The group decides to continue towards a Twolegplace Spire mentioned to Blaze before he fell.
• The group makes camp in a clearing, and Tigerheart suggests they honor Spire's sacrifice.
  • The others agree, and Tigerheart uses his position as ShadowClan deputy to send Spire to StarClan as a full warrior, naming him Spiresight.
  • The cats sit vigil for the lost tom.
• Berryheart begins to kit.
  • Tigerheart realizes that the group will need to stay put until her kits are old enough to travel.
  • Berryheart gives birth to Sparrowtail's kits: Hollowkit, Sunkit, and Spirekit, the latter named after Spiresight.
• Dovewing and Tigerheart wonder if it is common for StarClan to guide cats beyond the lake territories, and if they were meant to leave the Clans all along.
  • Tigerheart vows to strengthen ShadowClan once he and the others return.

Chapter 33

• A moon has passed since Hollowkit, Sunkit, and Spirekit were born, and the cats have created a small camp to keep them safe.
• Shadowkit and Dovewing talk privately, and Shadowkit tells Tigerheart that he had a dream about how to get to the lake.
  • Tigerheart recalls Spiresight's words on how Shadowkit would see into the shadows, and wonders if the other tom meant this.
  • Shadowkit is confident that he can lead the group back to the lake, insisting that they depart as soon as they can.
• Tigerheart tells the other cats about Shadowkit's dream, and they decide to leave after another quarter moon has passed.
  • After the quarter moon passes, Shadowsight insists they leave a night early.
• An owl attacks the camp, nearly taking Hollowkit with it.
  • Tigerheart tries to fight it off, but is carried away and then dropped to the ground.

Chapter 34

• Tigerheart wakes in pain and with an injury in his belly.
  • Cinnamon and Blaze are unsure of how to treat the injury, and Tigerheart's condition deteriorates.
  • He recalls saving Hollowkit as Berryheart thanks him.
• Dovewing forces him to his paws, and the group begins to hurry toward the lake so he can be treated by a medicine cat.
  • Tigerheart struggles alongside them, continuing to weaken.
  • They reach the moors that WindClan lives on, where Tigerheart's kits fret over him.
• Tigerheart's strength continues to fade.
  • Dovewing tries to encourage him to stay awake, reminding him of milestones in their relationship.
• Tigerheart falls asleep and dreams of his father.
  • Rowanstar reveals that he is now Rowanclaw and that he now hunts with StarClan.
  • Tigerheart's dream shifts, and he sees himself drowning along with his brother, Flametail.
• Tigerheart wakes, struggling to breathe, and realizes he is dying.
  • He tells Dovewing to bring their kits to ThunderClan, vowing to watch them from StarClan.

Chapter 35

• Tigerheart wakes in StarClan's hunting grounds, mourning for his kits and mate.
• Spiresight greets him, but explains that Tigerheart cannot meet any of his dead kin, as he should not be in StarClan.
  • Spiresight shows Tigerheart the living world, where Tigerheart's body is being carried towards home.
  • Tigerheart questions this, and Spiresight explains that ShadowClan must be restored.
• Tigerheart agrees that he needs to go back, and finds himself in a different part of StarClan's hunting grounds.
• Rowanclaw greets his son, and explains the only way to return to the living world is to have his leadership ceremony.
  • Rowanclaw gives Tigerheart a life for strength.
  • Kinkfur gives Tigerheart a life for courage.
  • Pinenose gives Tigerheart a life for compassion.
  • Dawnpelt gives Tigerheart a life for hope.
  • Yellowfang gives Tigerheart a life for forgiveness.
  • Sagewhisker gives Tigerheart a life for persistence.
  • Littlecloud gives Tigerheart a life for acceptance.
  • Raggedstar gives Tigerheart a life for loyalty.
  • Flametail gives Tigerheart a life for love.
  • Rowanclaw reveals that Tigerheart will not receive a ninth life, having already used one.
• Tigerheart is named Tigerstar and becomes ShadowClan's leader.
• Tigerstar wakes at the Moonpool, where Puddleshine greets him and explains that the other cats carried him there.
  • Tigerstar reunites with the others, where Dovewing reveals that she will stay in ShadowClan with him and their kits.
• Tigerstar greets his Clanmates for the first time as leader, and vows that ShadowClan will be ready to face whatever comes next.