Yellowfang's Secret/Chapter 19

"You're doing great. Don't worry, these mouse-brained warriors will get used to this in a couple of day, when somethign else catches their attention. I think you'll make a fine medicine cat, Yellowfang. And remember this- when your apprenticeship is over, cats like Foxheart and Lizardstripe will be coming to you for help."

— Stonetooth comforting Yellowfang after becoming a medicine cat apprentice in Yellowfang's Secret, page 245

Yellowfang's Secret
Chapter number:	19 (of 40)
Page numbers:	240-255
Point of View:	Yellowfang
Chronology

Below contains in-depth information for chapter nineteen of Yellowfang's Secret. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter Number: 19 (of 40)

Page Numbers: 240-255

Chapter description

Cedarstar asks Yellowfang if she is sure she wants to become a medicine cat apprentice. He wonders if the WindClan battle and the recent hunger is making her abandon her warrior duties. Yellowfang agrees that becoming a medicine cat is what she wants. Cedarstar agrees with her and applauds her devotion to helping the Clan differently. Yellowfang and the leader walk out of his den and onto the Clanrock. He calls for a Clan meeting and announces Yellowfang's decision to become Sagewhisker's medicine cat apprentice. The Clan rings in silence as she gazes over her Clanmates. Brightflower congratulates her daughter's decision, as well as her father. Her siblings give Yellowfang mixed reactions, and Sagewhisker asks her to come to the medicine cat den.

Sagewhisker gives Yellowfang her first task as a medicine cat apprentice, instructing her to control her powers of feeling her Clanmates' pain and sicknesses. Yellowfang tries to concentrate on her health and the confines of her own body. After, the white she-cat instructs her to organize the herb storage and to grab new moss bedding. Yellowfang tries to decline the task until Sagewhisker reminds her that she is an apprentice again. She leaves the den to take care of Nettlespot and Cloudkit, and Yellowfang jumps onto her tasks. Foxheart mocks her decision to become a medicine cat apprentice. She reminds her about the lack of apprentices in ShadowClan and continues to taunt her. Yellowfang ignores her and internally judges Sagewhisker for forcing her to do her dirty work. Lizardstripe calls to her from the fresh-kill pile and mockingly asks her to replace her bedding, along with the elders. She ignores the tabby she-cat as well, and Stonetooth calls her to attend to her warrior duties. The deputy applauds Yellowfang's strength in becoming a medicine cat. He comforts her, saying the warriors will forget about the recent events and will come to her for help soon. Yellowfang thanks Stonetooth for his kind words, and she returns to the medicine cat den. She gazes over the herb storage and ponders about reorganizing Sagewhisker's setup. Sagewhisker enters the hole and scolds her for not working fast enough. Sagewhisker watches her as she begins sorting the herbs, correcting and analyzing every move the new medicine cat apprentice makes. Yellowfang defends herself from Sagewhisker's constant bickering, and they restart their session.

Yellowfang and Sagewhisker begin their trip to Highstones. She remembers her last visit with Deerleap to the Moonstone and grows anxious about StarClan's purpose for her. The medicine cats arrive at the final hill, and Sagewhisker introduces her to Brambleberry, Goosefeather, Featherwhisker, and Hawkheart. Hawkheart confides with Yellowfang and admits he was a warrior before discovering his path to become a medicine cat. Goosefeather beckons the cats to continue to the Moonstone, and they follow. Once they enter the base of the cave, Sagewhisker begins a medicine cat ceremony for the she-cat. She instructs the gray cat to lay her nose on the Moonstone. Yellowfang listens and touches her nose on the freezing stone. She wakes in an empty forest and recognizes Silverflame ahead of her. The two cats greet each other, and the orange-and-gray she-cat congratulates her on her decision to become a medicine cat. Silverflame reminds Yellowfang to trust her instincts and that she will be watching over her. The StarClan cat wishes her good luck and fades into the air. She wakes up against the Moonstone, next to the rest of the medicine cats. She prays that she will become a great medicine cat.

Yellowfang is organizing the herb storage when she feels a painful stab in her paw. She spots Finchflight limping and asks her what she needs. Finchflight gives Yellowfang mocking confidence while she finds the proper herbs to heal her injury. Yellowfang focuses on her training to push away the pain. As she attempts to take the thorn of Finchflight's paw, she bites the tom's pads. He winces in pain, and Sagewhisker takes over. Sagewhisker compliments Yellowfang on controlling her pain and gives her tips on helping her Clanmates. She visits Cloudkit and Nettlespot in the Nursery. The queen thanks Yellowfang for saving her son as Cloudkit plays in the moss. At that moment, a wave of pain floods her, and a yowl of pain rings through the camp. Once Yellowfang gains control over her pain, she runs to the medicine cat den and prepares to heal her wounded Clanmates.

Characters

Major

• Yellowfang
• Sagewhisker

Minor

• Raggedpelt
• Cedarstar
• Brightflower
• Brackenfoot
• Nutwhisker
• Rowanberry
• Nettlespot
• Cloudkit
• Foxheart
• Lizardstripe
• Stonetooth
• Brambleberry
• Goosefeather
• Featherwhisker
• Hawkheart
• Silverflame
• Finchflight

Mentioned

• Deerleap

Important events

Ceremonies

Yellowfang's medicine cat apprentice ceremony

Sagewhisker: Yellowfang, is it your wish to share the deepest knowledge of StarClan as a ShadowClan medicine cat? Yellowfang: It is. Sagewhisker: Warriors of StarClan, I present to you this cat. She has shown great courage in turning aside from the path of a warrior. My pride in her could not be greater. Grant her your wisdom and insight so that she may understand your ways and heal her Clan in accordance with your will. Reference: Yellowfang's Secret, page 249

Quotes

"That's such a boring job! I wouldn't go back to being an apprentice, no way! Will you have to check the elders for ticks, too? After all, there are no warrior apprentices in the Clan now. Wow, you are going to be busy!"

―Foxheart taunting Yellowfang ^{Yellowfang's Secret, page 244}

"Sagewhisker just wanted someone to do all her dirty work! I ever thought my destiny would include this kind of thing! I hope StarClan has a word with Sagewhisker and makes her treat me with more respect!"

―Yellowfang's thoughts about Sagewhisker ^{Yellowfang's Secret, page 244}

"Yellowfang, you have your full name already, so you must have been a warrior before you decided to follow the way of a medicine cat. I was a warrior first, like you. I've found my warrior training very useful, and I expect you will too."

―Hawkheart comforting Yellowfang in her decision to become a medicine cat ^{Yellowfang's Secret, page 249}