Lost Stars/Chapter 11

==Chapter description==
:Two days after the Gathering, Dewspring and Reedclaw are training Rootpaw and Needlepaw by teaching them a new battle move. Dewspring tells them to pay attention, and that despite being bigger and heavier, Needleclaw will be able to beat her. Rootpaw is excited and full of energy, and after the mentors' demonstration, he manages to surprise Needlepaw and catch her off-guard when she thinks she has won.
:On their way back to camp, Rootpaw thinks about Bristlepaw and how amazing she is. Remembering how distant she had seemed when they talked at the Gathering, and the skinny and miserable state almost all cats seemed to be in, he wishes there was a way for him to help.
:His thoughts are interrupted by Needlepaw calling out to him. He catches up with them at the camp entrance, and they meet Tree on his way out. Dewspring and Reedclaw tell him about how well his kits' training is going, and although he thanks them, he doesn't seem particularly pleased. Before letting Rootpaw and Needlepaw go, he quietly reminds them not to be too obedient. Rootpaw is unable to share his sister's easy acceptance of their father's advice.
:Rootpaw thinks back to Bristlepaw, and compares her to Tree, wishing he acted like a real Clan cat like her. Upon seeing that although the fresh-kill pile wasn't full but would be enough to feed all of SkyClan, Rootpaw gets an idea and approaches Leafstar and Hawkwing about it.
:After Hawkwing asks about his and Needlepaw's training, Rootpaw hesitates to tell the two of them about his idea. Hawkwing prompts him, and he explains how he's been thinking about ThunderClan and how generous and kind they were while he recovered in their camp. He proposes the idea of bringing Bristlepaw a piece of prey that he'd catch himself as a show of gratitude. Initially Leafstar doesn't seem to like the idea, but Hawkwing reminds her that it's not unusual for Clans to share prey, and that Rootpaw might have a point. Leafstar eventually agrees on the condition that Rootpaw catches the prey himself, makes sure their own fresh-kill pile is stocked, and gets permission from his mentor.
:Rootpaw sets out towards ThunderClan with a vole, and is accompanied by Dewspring and Sunnypelt. Sunnypelt argues that this feels weird, but Dewspring tells her that it's nice for an apprentice to not only think of his own belly.
:The three stop at the border, and is approached by a patrol consisting of Berrynose, Poppyfrost, and Birchfall. They disapprove of Rootpaw's idea, and Poppyfrost even accuses the SkyClan cats of stealing their prey, but Rootpaw assures her that he caught it on his own territory. Birchfall convinces his Clanmates to let him come over.
:Once in camp, Rootpaw feels uneasy when met with the unfriendly faces of ThunderClan. He realizes now that they might not be as kind to him as when he had been sick, and he's now glad that Dewspring and Sunnypelt had decided to come with him.
:While Poppyfrost fetches Bramblestar, Bristlepaw is called to meet Rootpaw. He explains that he wants to repay the debt he owes her for saving him, but he thinks he ends up sounding too formal instead of friendly. Worse yet, Bristlepaw seems embarrassed by this, and wants to refuse the vole. She looks toward her hungry Clanmates, and ends up accepting this gift only because of them. Rootpaw wishes she had taken it for herself instead of giving it away.
:He reminds Bristlepaw that he will never forget what she's done for him, but their interaction is cut short by Bramblestar approaching them. He thanks Rootpaw for being so generous towards his Clan. Rootpaw is unnerved by Bramblestar, thinking he sees a shadow over him, but he's uncertain if there is just something wrong with him. While Dewspring bids Brambelstar farewell, Rootpaw says he might see Bristlepaw during the next Gathering, and he is devastated to hear her unenthusiastic reply.
:On the way back home, Sunnypelt comments that this was a waste of time and prey, and Rootpaw finds himself internally agreeing with her. What he set out to do just feels wrong now. He asks Sunnypelt and Dewpsring if they noticed anything weird about Bramblestar, but neither of them think so.
:Rootpaw wonders if he should ask Tree about it, since his father knows all about weird stuff, and might be able to give some advice. He quickly changes his mind when they come across Tree seemingly in conversation with himself, likely talking to a deceased cat not from StarClan. Rootpaw laments that he just wants to be a good, normal warrior, but his spirits is quickly lifted when Dewspring praises him for being so eager to return to his training.
==Characters==
====Major====
====Minor====
==Notes and references==
Category:Lost Stars
Category:The Broken Code arc
Category:Chapter subpages