Winds of Change/Part 2

"Hawkfrost means to break the warrior code. No—he wouldn't just be breaking it. He'd be killing it and burying it. This goes against everything I've ever learned. Against what it means to be a warrior. And...wouldn't Hawkfrost be doing exactly what Tigerstar did? Exactly what he's accusing Firestar of? So much lying...killing...suffering! But it doesn't matter. It can't matter. Who cares who RiverClan's leader is, or how they get there? WindClan has to come first."

— Mudclaw agreeing to Hawkfrost's plan to kill Onewhisker and Ashfoot in Winds of Change, pages 156-157

Winds of Change
Chapter number:	2 (of 3)
Page numbers:	69-158
Point of View:	Mudclaw
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 2 (of 3)

Page Numbers: 69-158

Chapter description

As WindClan settles into their camp, Mudclaw grumbles how his Clanmates still refer to him for questions despite Onewhisker and Ashfoot being in charge. He's not impressed with their leadership skills either as the new leader and deputy struggle to come up with the appropriate answers how to settle into their new camp. After a day of doing apprentice tasks building the camp's defenses, Tornear attempts to discuss the plentiful prey they experienced during leaf-bare, but Mudclaw is still fixated on Tallstar's decision to replace him as deputy. Tornear believes they should listen to Tallstar's last request, but Nightcloud and Webfoot disagree, thinking that Onewhisker isn't their true leader. The next morning, Mudclaw escorts Barkface to fetch juniper berries for Morningflower's and Darkfoot's illness. After they find the herbs and Mudclaw fights off a dog, Barkface attempts to ease Mudclaw's worries by stating that StarClan is with them in their new home. Webfoot meets them outside of camp with news that Leafpaw, ThunderClan's medicine cat apprentice, is in camp with herbs to treat their ill elders.

They encounter Tornear arguing with Onewhisker in camp that he caught Thornclaw and Leafpaw hunting in the forest on WindClan's land when the border between their territories was decided to be the stream instead. Onewhisker decides to give the woodland territory to ThunderClan, much to Mudclaw's outrage. He angrily challenges Onewhisker for giving territory away, though Onewhisker insists they have plenty of territory regardless and they have no use for the forest. Mudclaw runs off in a fury, and once he cools his temper, he attempts to reason with Onewhisker about his decision, citing the importance of establishing borders now that will be challenged for moons to come. However, Onewhisker believes establishing good relations with the other Clans is more important. At the Gathering, Hawkfrost approaches Mudclaw with rumors he's heard about troubles in WindClan. The RiverClan warrior poses the comparison between WindClan and ThunderClan's alliance, likening it to Tigerstar taking over the Clans. As he leaves, the Gathering starts and Mudclaw muses about Hawkfrost's words when Dustpelt spots a pair of foxes sneaking up on them. Mudclaw, Hawkfrost, and Dustpelt lead the charge to chase them away, and Mudclaw admires Hawkfrost's fearlessness. As the Clans leave, Hawkfrost asks for Mudclaw to meet him on the island tomorrow at moonhigh.

At the meeting, Hawkfrost delves further into his theory, how Firestar is attempting to gain control of WindClan through Onewhisker as a puppet leader and might go after the other Clans too. Hawkfrost encourages Mudclaw, saying they have time to find allies to their cause, and hints that Mudclaw should make him deputy once they regain control of WindClan. Mudclaw is surprised by Hawkfrost's words, but agrees he might have a point. Mudclaw shares this with Crowfeather, Tornear, Webfoot, and Nightcloud, though Crowfeather decides to stay out of it. The group watches Onewhisker struggle to decide for himself whether or not WindClan should mark their borders, and Mudclaw notes that Firestar might be telling Onewhisker what to do in his favor. Tornear warns of what might come of WindClan if Mudclaw perpetuates this theory, though his brother dismisses him. While sharing prey with Webfoot, Onewhisker asks Mudclaw to teach the apprentices how to fight foxes. Mudclaw dismisses him, but Onewhisker firmly orders him otherwise. Mudclaw instruct Weaselpaw and Owlpaw to aim for an opponent's paws to trip them up and has them practice the maneuver. When Owlpaw pins Weaselpaw down, Mudclaw orders Weaselpaw to attack as if Owlpaw is Firestar. Onewhisker stops the training session and scolds Mudclaw for filling the apprentices' heads with Mudclaw's prejudice.

Later, Mudclaw visits ShadowClan's territory to encourage Cedarheart to join his cause. At camp, Mudclaw notices a fox sneaking up on Onewhisker, and Mudclaw wonders if things would be simpler if the fox killed Onewhisker. Tornear notices the fox and calls a warning, and the Clan chases it away. Tornear confronts his littermate for not noticing the fox earlier on purpose and cuts ties with him and his ideas. At another meeting of Mudclaw and Hawkfrost's followers, Hawkfrost continues to perpetuate that Firestar is attempting to control WindClan just like Tigerstar did with RiverClan, and they must attack before things get worse. Eventually, Leafpaw arrives to WindClan with news of the discovery of the Moonpool, and Hawkfrost resolves their group must kill Onewhisker and Ashfoot before the former can gain his nine lives. Mudclaw agrees, and as the group returns to the shore, Hawkfrost lets it slip that his brother Brambleclaw will be taking over ThunderClan. Mudclaw questions what Hawkfrost's own plans are, and Hawkfrost insists that Mudclaw will make him deputy of WindClan and then they'll take over RiverClan and ShadowClan. Mudclaw realizes that Hawkfrost is attempting to do exactly what he's accusing Firestar of, but determines that WindClan must come first. They notice a cat spying from the shadows, but they lose them during a chase.

Characters

Major

• Mudclaw
• Onewhisker
• Hawkfrost

Minor

• Tornear
• Weaselpaw
• Ashfoot
• Owlpaw
• Webfoot
• Nightcloud (Unnamed)
• Morningflower
• Darkfoot
• Barkface
• Leafpaw
• Firestar
• Cloudtail (Unnamed)
• Brightheart (Unnamed)
• Squirrelflight (Unnamed)
• Dustpelt
• Leopardstar
• Blackstar
• Blackclaw (Unnamed)
• Heavystep (Unnamed)
• Cedarheart
• Rowanclaw (Unnamed)
• Oakfur (Unnamed)
• Mistyfoot (Unnamed)

Mentioned

• Tallstar
• Thornclaw
• Tigerstar
• Brambleclaw
• Cinderpelt (Unnamed)
• Littlecloud (Unnamed)
• Mothwing (Unnamed)

Errors

• Weaselpaw is mistakenly depicted without white paws.
• Ashfoot is mistakenly depicted with gray paws.
• Tornear explains to Onewhisker that he caught two ThunderClan cats hunting and eating prey on their land, when in Starlight, it was Thornclaw, Leafpaw, and Cinderpelt sharing the prey.
• Leafpaw is mistakenly depicted with a white muzzle and underbelly.
• In Starlight, Crowfeather is visually appalled when Onewhisker orders him to escort Leafpaw back to camp, but in Winds of Change, Crowfeather and Leafpaw appear affectionate.
• In Starlight, Mistyfoot reports how she spotted Hawkfrost and Mudclaw meeting in the heavy rainfall, but in Winds of Change, Mudclaw and Hawkfrost spot Mistyfoot spying on them with a clear night sky.

Trivia

• This chapter aligns with chapter eleven, chapter thirteen, chapter fifteen, chapter sixteen, and chapter nineteen of Starlight, and chapter fourteen of Onestar's Confession.

Notes and references

Author references

Winds of Change chapters
Part1 • Part2 • Part3