Twilight/Chapter 10

"That's nonsense. You are a true medicine cat. You've done nothing to cause this sickness, but we need to find out where it comes from."

— Leafpool to Mothwing in Twilight, page 155

Twilight
Chapter number:	10 (of 24)
Page numbers:	146-174
Point of View:	Leafpool
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 10 (of 24)

Page Numbers: 146-174

Chapter description

Leafpool drops herbs in front of Daisy, saying that Cinderpelt wants her to eat them. The two cats look at Daisy's three kits, who have since nearly recovered from their journey. Leafpool notices that Daisy's fur is soft and silky again, while the kits are curled up in a purring heap. When she bends down to examine them, she asks Daisy what their names are. The cream-colored queen points them each out, naming them Berry, Mouse, and Hazel. When Leafpool tells the queen that those names will work well as Clan names and calls them Berrykit, Mousekit, and Hazelkit, Daisy looks doubtful.

Ferncloud enters the nursery carrying a mouse, giving it to Daisy before Leafpool exits the den. She begins to think about her encounter with Crowfeather a half moon ago, torn between happiness at the time spent with him and guilt that she agreed to see him again, thinking that if she were a true medicine cat, she wouldn't even be thinking about him. She worries that if Cinderpelt found out, she would scold her.

When a cat enters the camp, Leafpool thinks it is Sorreltail, but sees that it is Mosspelt, a RiverClan warrior. She seems surprised to see Leafpool, but then begs her to come back to RiverClan, saying that there's sickness spreading through the camp and that Mothwing said Leafpool would understand.

Cinderpelt asks Mosspelt about what happened, the tortoiseshell she-cat explaining that there was a sickness in RiverClan and that many of their cats were in danger of dying. Leafpool begs Cinderpelt and Firestar to let her leave, feeling guilty that she hadn't done more to help before now. Firestar asks Leafpool to find out all she can about the sickness, to which Leafpool agrees but then worries about leaving Cinderpelt alone. Brightheart offers to help while Leafpool is away.

When Leafpool and Mosspelt leave the camp, Leafpool mentally runs through the herbs she may need, praying to StarClan for help in showing her what to do. As they cross WindClan territory, a patrol of warriors stops them, Crowfeather among them. When Tornear reaches the two she-cats, he asks what they are doing in a formal tone. Leafpool attempts to ignore Crowfeather's gaze as Mosspelt explains that they are on their way to RiverClan, but offers no further details. Leafpool thinks that she doesn't want WindClan to know that cats are sick, and adds that they've stayed close to the lake as the leaders decided at the Gathering.

Webfoot notices Crowfeather's staring, growling that there are enough WindClan cats for him to pad after, causing both him and Leafpool to freeze. Tornear unintentionally comes to their rescue, reminding Webfoot that Leafpool is Squirrelflight's sister. Crowfeather awkwardly asks Leafpool to say hi to her sister for him before the patrol departs and the she-cats make their way to RiverClan.

Crowfeather doesn't split off from the patrol immediately, following Leafpool and asking her to meet him by the island at twilight before loudly reminding her to talk to Squirrelflight when she returns. Guilt and excitement course through Leafpool, and she wonders if something that makes her happy could really be wrong.

As soon as they cross the border, Leafpool can smell the sickness hanging heavy in the air, picking up her pace as an eerie wail sounds in the direction of the camp. When they arrive, Leopardstar emerges from the ferns, saying in a calm voice that Ivytail is dead. She asks if Leafpool can do anything to help, the tabby replying that she needs to talk to Mothwing first. She asks the golden medicine cat about the sickness, calming her down before being led into the medicine den.

Leafpool thinks about the time the elders were sick from poisoned water, with Mothwing still distraught about not knowing what to do. Leafpool and Mothwing discuss remedies, agreeing to try making them sick with yarrow. Mistyfoot and Reedwhisker arrive to help, with Reedwhisker being sent away to collect more yarrow with his apprentice and Mistyfoot being asked to see if she can find the source of the sickness around the territory.

Mothwing and Leafpool start to divide the yarrow between the kits, making all three sick with the herbs before moving on to the apprentice. Before Leafpool can treat him, Mistyfoot comes back and asks her to come with her, leading her in the direction of the ShadowClan border where she's found a Twoleg object leaking a sticky, silvery-green liquid onto the ground. Leafpool tells Mistyfoot, Blackclaw, and Hawkfrost that other cats need to be warned to stay away from the area, before being told by Mistyfoot that they need to construct a boundary around it to keep others away.

Leafpool asks Mistyfoot how the kits could have been exposed, and the gray deputy explains that they had run away from camp on their own one day and must have played in the liquid. Leafpool is surprised they told no cat what they'd found, and says she's going to have a word with them once they wake up.

As they return to camp, the sun is starting to set, and Leafpool explains to Mothwing what they had found. The medicine cats go to check the sick cats, where Willowkit asks them to look at Beechpaw, who is choking. Willowkit's paw is small enough to scoop the debris out of his throat, saving his life. The kit is ecstatic, asking about what it's like to be a medicine cat to the two older she-cats.

With Willowkit watching over Beechpaw, Leafpool and Mothwing examine the other sick cats, examining the kits. Two seem to be recovering well, but one has since died, much to the dismay of the she-cats. Leafpool tells Mothwing to not say anything to the kits, not wanting them to have to deal with their grief until they are stronger and Dawnflower is able to care for them.

Minnowkit is asked if she and her littermates ran away from camp, and she admits to playing in the Twoleg liquid with them and dared Pebblekit to drink from it. Leafpool explains to them that they should never touch anything strange, before leaving the kit to sleep. Mothwing hisses that she wanted to claw their ears off, irritated that they played in the substance, but is calmed by Leafpool before curling up to sleep for a while.

Leafpool dismisses Willowkit, telling her to go back to the nursery as she can now keep an eye on the sleeping cats. She settles down beside Beechpaw and sends a prayer to StarClan, thankful that the sickness seems to be under control, before realizing that she had forgotten to meet Crowfeather at twilight.

Characters

Major

• Leafpool

Minor

• Daisy
• Berry
• Mouse
• Hazel
• Ferncloud
• Mosspelt
• Firestar
• Sandstorm
• Brightheart
• Cloudtail
• Sootfur
• Thornclaw
• Cinderpelt
• Crowfeather
• Tornear
• Owlwhisker
• Webfoot
• Leopardstar
• Heavystep
• Hawkfrost
• Mothwing
• Tumblekit
• Minnowkit
• Pebblekit
• Dawnflower
• Voletooth
• Mistyfoot
• Reedwhisker
• Beechpaw
• Blackclaw
• Willowkit

Mentioned

• Sorreltail
• Squirrelflight
• Ivytail
• Mudfur
• Spottedleaf
• Ripplepaw