Winds of Change/Part 3

"Onewhisker...I give you a life...for determination. You must protect WindClan...in the way you think is best. And please believe me...I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. I hope you can forgive me."

— Mudclaw giving Onewhisker a life and asking for forgiveness in Winds of Change, page 203

Winds of Change
Chapter number:	3 (of 3)
Page numbers:	161-204
Point of View:	Mudclaw
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 3 (of 3)

Page Numbers: 161-204

Chapter description

As Mudclaw, Hawkfrost, and their followers prepare to strike on WindClan's camp, Mudclaw reflects how he feels sickened but knows that this is what is best for WindClan. He calls for the assault to begin and leads the charge to attack his Clanmates while they sleep. Mudclaw slashes Ashfoot in the face, and the entire camp erupts into a fight. However, to Mudclaw's horror, Firestar and a patrol of ThunderClan warriors arrive to aid Onewhisker. As Mudclaw battles Tornear, he spots Onewhisker fighting Webfoot, and Mudclaw kicks his brother away to launch himself at WindClan's leader. He and Webfoot pin Onewhisker down when Firestar commands them to get away from Onewhisker. When they don't listen, Firestar flings Mudclaw off of Onewhisker and Mudclaw angrily insists WindClan will have a new leader. He and Tornear pin Firestar down when another ThunderClan patrol arrives.

Mudclaw realizes his plan has failed as his supporters are outnumbered and they need to flee. As his followers run away, Hawkfrost angrily retorts that Mistyfoot was the one who told Firestar about their plans. He and Mudclaw flee, but Brambleclaw spots them and gives chase. Mudclaw knows he can't outrun him, and confronts him. He's prepared to kill Brambleclaw when Hawkfrost pounces on him, betraying Mudclaw. Hawkfrost insists he can't let Mudclaw kill his brother and lies that Mudclaw manipulated him to join his cause. Mudclaw insists that it was all Hawkfrost's ploy and had ambitions to become WindClan's deputy. Hawkfrost denies this, and Mudclaw calls Hawkfrost a liar, fleeing near the lake shore. Mudclaw wonders in bewilderment why Hawkfrost betrayed him, and realizes the horrid truth in his actions; what else has the RiverClan warrior was lying about? Before he can react, lightning strikes a tree on the island, causing it to fall on the mainland shore and crushing Mudclaw to death.

Mudclaw wakes up in StarClan with Tallstar greeting him. Tallstar acknowledges that he should've told Mudclaw earlier about his plans to replace him as deputy, but it was too late. Mudclaw questions what he did wrong to fault Tallstar, but his former leader insists he was an excellent deputy, but WindClan needs a new kind of leader. Mudclaw realizes he's in StarClan and questions why he's there since he attempted to kill his leader. Tallstar explains that Mudclaw did what he thought was best for the Clan, going on to say that the Clans will need peace and unity to survive what comes next. He shows Mudclaw a pool of water, and after seeing what is there, Mudclaw understands. Tallstar also explains that the tree that fell will serve as a bridge to the island for Gatherings, securing Mudclaw's legacy to protect the Clans. Mudclaw questions what kind of legacy is that, and Tallstar brings Mudclaw to the Moonpool where Onewhisker is prepared to receive his nine lives, explaining that he can be apart of it. Mudclaw gives Onewhisker a life for determination, and asks for forgiveness. Onewhisker insists he's already forgiven, and Mudclaw welcomes Onewhisker as Onestar, promising to work together to protect WindClan.

Characters

Major

• Mudclaw
• Hawkfrost

Minor

• Rowanclaw (Unnamed)
• Blackclaw (Unnamed)
• Webfoot
• Nightcloud (Unnamed)
• Cedarheart
• Oakfur (Unnamed)
• Ashfoot
• Tornear
• Crowfeather
• Weaselpaw
• Dustpelt
• Sandstorm (Unnamed)
• Cloudtail (Unnamed)
• Firestar
• Brackenfur (Unnamed)
• Brightheart (Unnamed)
• Thornclaw (Unnamed)
• Brambleclaw
• Onewhisker
• Owlpaw
• Ashfur (Unnamed)
• Rainwhisker (Unnamed)
• Sootfur (Unnamed)
• Sorreltail (Unnamed)
• Mousefur (Unnamed)
• Tallstar
• Barkface

Mentioned

• Leafpool (Unnamed)
• Cinderpelt (Unnamed)
• Barkface (Unnamed)
• Littlecloud (Unnamed)
• Mothwing (Unnamed)
• Mistyfoot

Important events

• Mudclaw is killed by a falling tree, and is accepted into StarClan because he believed he was doing the right thing.

Ceremonies

Onestar's leader ceremony
Onewhisker: M-Mudclaw? Mudclaw: Onewhisker...I give you a life...for determination. You must protect WindClan...in the way you think is best. And please believe me...I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. I hope you can forgive me. Onewhisker: You're already forgiven, Mudclaw. I'll do my best for our Clan. I promise. Mudclaw: And I'll watch over you...Onestar. Together, we'll do our best to keep WindClan safe.
Reference: Winds of Change, pages 202-204

Errors

• Mudclaw and Hawkfrost strike on the night the medicine cats are at the Moonpool, but Leafpool and Cinderpelt are shown in camp when Mistyfoot brings news of Hawkfrost and Mudclaw's impending fight in Starlight.
• In Starlight, Firestar orders Cloudtail and Brightheart to watch over the camp and for Thornclaw to lead a patrol to check on ShadowClan, but in Winds of Change, all three appear in Firestar's patrol to fight Mudclaw in WindClan's camp. In addition, Mousefur is shown participating in the battle, despite retiring earlier in Starlight.
• Hawkfrost is mistakenly shown without his white belly.
• The speech bubble for Tallstar in the bottom panel has outlines overlapping.

Trivia

• This chapter aligns with chapter twenty-one and chapter twenty-three of Starlight, and chapter fourteen and chapter fifteen of Onestar's Confession.

Notes and references

Author references

Winds of Change chapters
Part1 • Part2 • Part3