Crookedstar's Promise/Chapter 36

==Chapter description==
:Brambleberry's voice prods Crookedjaw back to reality. He struggles to process Hailstar's death and, despite Brambleberry's words of comfort, Crookedjaw believes he could've saved Hailstar if Mapleshade hadn't shoved him away. The wounded pale tabby insists on carrying Hailstar's body back to camp alone despite the pain of his injuries. When the RiverClan cats arrive home, Crookedjaw collapses, and he later wakes up in a panic with Willowbreeze reassuring him he hasn't missed the vigil. In the camp clearing, his Clanmates grieve Hailstar's death. Brambleberry prompts Crookedjaw that they need to leave for the Moonstone so he can receive his nine lives.
:As they cross over WindClan's territory, Crookedjaw worries about Brambleberry's silence, recalling how she was previously warned by StarClan to not trust him when Hailstar named him deputy. The pale tabby frantically asks Brambleberry to tell him what she knows before he can face their warrior ancestors. Brambleberry reveals she has seen him training with a Dark Forest cat and wonders how such a dedicated tom could be swayed by a monster. Crookedjaw admits that he originally believed Mapleshade to be a StarClan cat, but he has since cut ties from her. When he asks if StarClan can trust him, the medicine cat insists StarClan knows all, and the pair continue walking. They are confronted by a WindClan patrol led by Reedfeather, but the two RiverClan cats are allowed to pass after Crookedjaw explains that Hailstar has died. They arrive at the Moonstone just as the moon illuminates it, though Crookedjaw worries who will be waiting for him on the other side.
:Crookedjaw wakes up in a dark hollow, and he momentarily fears he's in the Dark Forest, but Hailstar soon appears to greet him. Crookedjaw laments not being able to save Hailstar from the rats, but his former leader insists it was his time. Hailstar grants his deputy a life for courage, and Crookedjaw's mind is filled with memories of numerous battles that Hailstar fought in. Duskwater appears next, an elder who died in the storm that Crookedjaw and Oakheart were born in, and she gives him a life for a mother's love. Crookedjaw is shocked by the ferocity of her gift. Troutclaw grants Crookedjaw a life for justice. Three cats unfamiliar to Crookedjaw appear next; Mossleaf gives him the gift of trust, Lilyflower grants him compassion, and Lightningpaw bestows him the gift of humility. Brightsky and her three kits appear next, and the RiverClan queen gives him the gift of hope. Another unfamiliar spirit, Sparrowfeather, grants him a life for patience.
:With only one life left, Crookedjaw expects his mother Rainflower to be next, but instead his father Shellheart arrives. He explains that his mother is here, but Shellheart has been chosen to grant him his last life. The former RiverClan deputy grants his son a life for loyalty and advises him that his warrior ancestors will be with him always. StarClan welcomes the newest RiverClan leader with his new name, Crookedstar. As Crookedstar reopens his eyes, he's greeted by Mapleshade in the Dark Forest. She's pleased that she's kept her promise that he would become leader, and she wonders if Crookedstar will thank her for the sacrifices she's made for him. Realizing she's referring to Rainflower's and Hailstar's deaths, Crookedstar instead reiterates that he wants nothing to do with her, but Mapleshade vows that he can't ever walk away from her.
==Characters==
===Major===
*Crookedstar
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
*Mudfur
*Fleck
*Rainflower
==Important events==
*Crookedjaw reveals to Brambleberry that he's been training with Mapleshade in the Dark Forest, though she admits she already knew.
*Crookedjaw is granted nine lives and is renamed Crookedstar.
===Ceremonies===
==Errors==
*Crookedjaw is called Crookedpaw after becoming deputy.
==Notes and references==
fr:La promesse de l'Élu/Chapitre 36
Category:Crookedstar's Promise
Category:Super Edition arc
Category:Chapter subpages