Crookedstar's Promise/Chapter 17

==Chapter description==
:Crookedpaw's meal is interrupted by Hailstar asking how his visit to the Moonstone went. Crookedpaw says it was great, and Hailstar tells Crookedpaw to walk with him and leads him out of camp. In the soft evening light, Hailstar and Crookedpaw talk about Crookedpaw's long apprenticeship. Hailstar asks Crookedpaw if he's jealous of Oakheart, but Crookedpaw says that he's not, and all he wants is to be the best for his Clan. Hailstar says that Brambleberry's worried, but Crookedpaw angrily says that he'll do anything to become a great warrior. Hailstar begins to say that being a warrior is more than just courage and fighting battles, but starts padding away before he finishes. 
:Crookedpaw races back to camp, wondering what Brambleberry told Hailstar to make him so worried. He runs into Shellheart, who asks what's wrong. Crookedpaw ignores him and storms into the medicine den, demanding Brambleberry to tell him why she thinks he can't be a warrior. Brambleberry mutters that she worries about all the apprentices, but when Crookedpaw asks her if she worries about whether Willowpaw is jealous of Graypaw or not, Brambleberry doesn't answer. Crookedpaw asks the medicine cat if she's had an omen about him, and sees a flash of fear in Brambleberry's eyes. He demands to know what she's seen, and Brambleberry tries to explain, but Crookedpaw snaps that he will be a great warrior and barges out of the den.
:A moon passes, and the days grow longer and warmer. The Clan feasts in the glow of the setting sun, sharing tongues and prey. A dog barks close by, a familiar sound for the RiverClan cats, as the creature lives on the farm beside the meadow that contains the Twoleg Greenleaf place. Crookedpaw asks if Willowpaw and Graypaw are back from training, and Timberfur says that they'll be safe from the dog, as Brightsky and Owlfur are with them. Crookedpaw excitedly suggests chasing the dog away, and begins formulating a plan involving Shimmerpelt and Softwing, who are fast runners and could lure the dog into a trap. Whitefang and Hailstar agree, and Hailstar says that he'll lead an attack patrol and that Shellheart will shadow Shimmerpelt and Softwing. The leader has Cedarpelt, Whitefang, Rippleclaw, Beetlenose, Oakheart, Ottersplash, Rainflower and Piketooth join Crookedpaw on his patrol. Fallowtail asks to join too, and Hailstar says that's fine before leading the warriors out of camp.
:Hailstar takes the patrol to the meadow, and Crookedpaw sees Brightsky giving instructions to Willowpaw and Graypaw. The patrol crosses the meadow and Hailstar halts a few tail-lengths away from a Twoleg fence, behind which the dog barks excitedly. Hailstar lets Crookedpaw decide where the attack party should wait, and Crookedpaw tells the patrol to hide in the trees. Beetlenose scoffs, but the rest of the warriors do as Crookedpaw says. Oakheart leaps onto Crookedpaw's branch, and Crookedpaw watches as Shimmerpelt and Softwing sneak into the meadow and let out an earsplitting screech.
:The dog turns and hurtles toward the two she-cats with a growl. Shimmerpelt and Softwing dash under the fence, and the attack patrol tenses. The dog explodes into the meadow, Shimmerpelt and Softwing ahead of it. Crookedpaw spots Shellheart keeping pace with them. As the two she-cats pass under the waiting patrol, Hailstar orders his cats to attack, and they descend in front of the dog. The dog flees from the spitting wall of cats, toward the beech copse where Willowpaw and Graypaw are training. Crookedpaw darts after the dog and hears Owlfur's panicked yowl as the training ground erupts into hisses and shrieks. Owlfur, Brightsky, and Graypaw cling to the trees, but the dog has Willowpaw cornered. Crookedpaw attacks the dog and gets it to chase him away from Willowpaw. Crookedpaw leads the dog to Hailstar's patrol and they attack it, causing it to flee. Oakheart leads the rest of the patrol after the dog, chasing it back to where it came from. 
:From behind Crookedpaw, Willowpaw thanks the apprentice for saving her life. Crookedpaw stammers, hot with embarrassment as she rubs her muzzle against him. The other RiverClan cats crowd around them, praising Crookedpaw for his bravery. Crookedpaw glances toward Hailstar, wondering if he impressed the leader. Mapleshade whispers in his ear that of course he did, as this is what happens when he puts his Clan first. 
:Later, as Oakheart and Crookedpaw walk along the shore of the river, Oakheart teases Crookedpaw by mimicking Willowpaw's grateful mews. Crookedpaw dives into the water and catches a fat trout, dropping it onto the bank with a swift killing bite. Oakheart compliments Crookedpaw on his catch, then asks if it's really serious between him and Willowpaw. Crookedpaw is surprised, and Oakheart informs him that the whole Clan's been gossiping about it since sunhigh. Crookedpaw snorts and says that Willowpaw's just a denmate, denying it when Oakheart asks him if she's anything more. He affirms that he only likes her as a denmate, asking if that's against the warrior code. Oakheart replies that he guesses it's not before diving into the river. Crookedpaw irritably follows him in, thinking that learning to be a great warrior is far more important than if Willowpaw likes him or not.
==Characters==
===Major===
*Crookedpaw
*Willowpaw
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Errors==
*Graypaw is called by her warrior name before she receives it.
*Oakheart is mistakenly called by his apprentice name.
==Notes and references==
fr:La promesse de l'Élu/Chapitre 17
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:Crookedstar's Promise
Category:Super Edition arc